Epoxy of bolts for pole lights

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Craigse

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I have a pole light that fell over due to rust and the anchor bolts are too rusted to use. Is there some UL approved means of epoxying in new bolts? This is for a 23 foot 4"x4" straight square steel pole with one 400W MH shoebox head on it.

Any help on this would be much appreciated
 
I don't think UL has anything to do with this engineering problem.

I would talk to a suppler of concrete fastener systems and they should be able to direct you to the proper product and method to fix your base.

We have epoxied in pole base bolts a few times when replacing poles.

In our case we used 18" of 3/4" threaded rod held in place by a two part epoxy.

Simple quick and effective.
 
There is a 2 part epoxy mix that is used just for this purpose.It is widely used here in florida when the footer rebar for the block cells is in wrong location.Go to your local building supply house and they can give you the brand name .
 
I've used 2 part epoxy in the past to anchor industrial silos.
It's quick and easy, although I'm still skeptical about it's durability.
Epoxy anchors were used to fasten concrete panels to the ceiling in the "Big Dig" project. I assume that you've heard about it.
steve
 
We've used the Hilti brand epoxy without problems. The Hilti requires us to have one of there trained/certified techs witness the installation in order to warrant the product so the AHJ requires that also.

Bob on the left coast.
 
We have converted over from expansion anchors to epoxey anchors. They are less expensive and hold better. I like the epoxey anchors as they can be set in green concrete.
Luminare poles are typically installed with J bolts. The anchor strength is determined by pole height, wind load, siesmic zone and bolt grade.
You need to get the glue in anchor that meets the above. It may end up being a 3/4" dia grade 5 bolt x 12 " long.
I recommend core drilling the holes. With a roto-hammer there is a lot of dust and it has to be brushed out.
 
jim dungar said:
Didn't they "improperly" use epoxy anchors in the Boston Big Dig project?

Yes,....yes they did.

The finger pointing is only just beginning, bad design, bad install or maybe both.
 
Anyone know how the epoxy anchoring systems by Hilti compare strength-wise (in plain English) to hydraulic cement, such as Super Por-Rok. I've used both for various applications, but the choice was made by others.
 
We've used a lot of "Epcon" epoxy anchors. Generally hold more than the rod if installed right. Their acrylic sets up nice and fast. Make sure to clean the hole with a vacuum.
 
I've had epoxy anchors not set, but not on a critical load. But on a 3/8" 304 SS anchor, in solid concrete, when you tighten it, it will almost break in shear before it pulls loose. An expansion anchor may break out the concrete.
 
I would use these. Basically it's a chemical suppository that you stick in the hole and drive a stud or threaded rod into. Since the OP mentioned corrosion I would use stainless steel studs and hardware. These chemical bonds are supposed to be stronger than the studs themselves.

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Here's an interesting article about chemical anchors:

http://www.safeclimbing.org/education/adhesivebolts.htm
 
Everyone has a opinion, and rightly so.
My opinion is that there will be problems down the road with these epoxy anchor systems. Only time will tell.
steve
 
I have just as much faith in properly mixed and cured epoxy as I do in properly mixed and cured concrete, after all they are both based on chemical reactions
 
jim dungar said:
I have just as much faith in properly mixed and cured epoxy as I do in properly mixed and cured concrete, after all they are both based on chemical reactions

It won't matter to you and me in a hundred years, but it might to someone else.
No offense intended, but comparing a relatively new product to one that has withstood the test of time (thousands of years) sounds somewhat cavalier.
Can you guarantee that the epoxy that you use will be stable and not de-compose, shrink or otherwise fail in the next 50 years? How about 10 years?
How about 100 years?
When it starts to fail (which I think will happen), who's to blame?
The comparison between anchors set in properly mixed and cured concrete verses properly mixed and cured epoxy resin may look good at present.
Will they (epoxy) stand the test of time?...I think not.
IMO, if the Big Dig engineers had used anchors tied to the steel and set in concrete, the roof panels would still be hanging. If the (failed) epoxy had been properly installed and cured, they still would have failed, it would have only taken longer.
Just a opinion
steve
 
The "Big Dig" and falling roof panels are back in the news again,
Hate to say it (again), but expoxy anchors won't stand the test of time.
I would never use them in a critical application.

Just a opinion
steve
 
As "left coast Bob" said, epoxy bolt installations usually require you to have a deputy inspector on site to witness the drilling, clean out and installation.
 
I've used chem-studs to great success in the past but now I lean more towards using a good anchoring cement. I think part of the switch was cost the second was certain AHJ's had problems with utilizing the epoxy anchors or chem-studs. I guess there is no right answer...
 
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