CONFAST

A: Country of origin on this line is the US. That is the fact we hold on record; for a federally funded project your submittal will still need the manufacturer's own documentation.

A: Yes. The 304 stainless construction and Wet location rating make these suitable for exterior slabs, wash-down areas, and damp interiors where a zinc-plated carbon steel anchor would rust and bleed onto the concrete. For an interior dry mechanical room a plated wedge anchor does the same mechanical job, so the stainless is what you buy when moisture, not load, is the issue.

A: No, not intact. A wedge anchor is a permanent expansion anchor: the clip flares against the wall of the hole as the nut is tightened and it will not come back out. If the fixture may move, the usual approach is to cut or grind the stud flush and patch, or use a removable option such as a machine screw anchor with a threaded insert instead.

A: Installation torque is by diameter: 5 to 10 ft-lbs for 1/4 inch, 25 to 30 ft-lbs for 3/8 inch, 50 to 60 ft-lbs for 1/2 inch, 75 to 90 ft-lbs for 5/8 inch, and 150 to 175 ft-lbs for 3/4 inch. Use a torque wrench rather than an impact gun. Overtightening a stainless wedge anchor can gall the threads or pull the cone past its set.

A: A drop-in is the one to use when you want a flush, internally threaded (female) anchor point you can bolt into and unbolt later, which is why overhead trapeze, strut and hanger rod work uses them. A wedge anchor leaves a stud sticking out of the concrete permanently and can't be removed cleanly. Set the drop-in flush, then thread in rod or a bolt of the right length.

A: Yes, and it is not included. A drop-in is set by dropping it in a clean, correctly drilled hole and driving the internal expander plug down with a matching setting punch until the tool shoulders on the anchor lip. Each diameter takes its own setting tool, so if you are buying more than one size, count on a tool per size. Skipping the tool and hammering the bolt will not expand the shell properly.

A: The bit size is larger than the bolt size, because the hole has to take the anchor body, not the bolt. For the CONFAST zinc plated drop-in anchors: 1/4 inch anchor uses a 3/8 inch bit, 3/8 inch uses 1/2 inch, 1/2 inch uses 5/8 inch, 5/8 inch uses 7/8 inch, and 3/4 inch uses a 1 inch bit. Match those to a carbide hammer-drill bit and drill the hole at least as deep as the minimum embedment.

A: 15 in. lbs. maximum. Zamac is a zinc alloy, not steel, so it strips well before a steel anchor would. Snug the fixture down with a hand driver rather than an impact gun.

A: They are not interchangeable in application. Single expansion anchors, like the CONFAST unit here, expand at one point and are meant for solid concrete. Double expansion anchors expand along more of the body and are the usual choice for softer or less consistent base material such as brick or block. If your substrate is sound poured concrete, the single expansion version is the one to use, and the published pull-out ratings, 131 lbs at 1/4 inch up to 1825 lbs at 3/4 inch, are based on that.

A: The bolt comes out, the anchor does not. Backing the bolt out lets you lift the fixture and re-bolt to the same anchor later, which makes these useful for equipment that gets serviced or swapped. The anchor body itself stays expanded in the hole permanently; it cannot be pulled and reset in a new location.

A: Nothing extra to order. The CONFAST stainless hex sleeve anchor ships as a complete assembly, sleeve, expander, washer and hex nut, all in 304 stainless so you do not create a dissimilar-metal problem at the head. One part number per size gets you the whole fastener.

A: No sleeve, shield, or plug is needed. These are direct-to-concrete screw anchors, meaning the screw cuts its own threads in a pre-drilled hole in the base material. That also makes them removable, which is why maintenance crews favor them over expansion anchors for temporary or re-serviceable mounts.

A: Minimum edge distance is 2-1/4 inches for the 3/16 inch screws and 3 inches for the 1/4 inch screws. Minimum spacing between anchors is 3 inches for 3/16 inch and 4 inches for 1/4 inch. Going tighter than that risks spalling the concrete and losing the values you designed to.

A: Solid concrete. It's a concrete anchor, sized 1/4 inch x 1-1/2 inch for a prepared hole in a concrete substrate. Hollow block, brick or other masonry is a different anchor selection.

A: That is the typical use. It sets in the wood and accepts 3/8 inch all-thread, which is the standard rod size for conduit and pipe hanger drops. CONFAST files it under their electrical department line. Confirm your rod diameter is 3/8 inch before ordering, since the anchor is threaded for that size only.

A: These are rated for dry locations. The zinc plating gives some corrosion resistance for interior commercial and industrial use, but it is not a stainless or hot-dip anchor. For exterior exposure, washdown areas, coastal sites, or anywhere standing moisture is likely, specify a stainless steel sleeve anchor instead.

A: A lag shield is a female anchor, meaning the lag screw threads into it and can be backed out, leaving the shield in the hole. That makes it a good pick for equipment, conduit strut, railings and fixtures that may come off for service. A wedge anchor is a male stud that expands permanently and cannot be reused once set, so if you need to remove and reinstall a fixture, the lag shield is the type you want.