Guardrail Post Pocket
Guardrail Post Pocket
(OP)
Does anyone have any resources or recommendations for material to use in guardrail post pockets? We are working on concrete balcony repairs. The aluminum rail posts were originally embedded. I am considering blocking out pockets at the rail bases in the repair areas and filling the pockets after the concrete repair material has set. My question is what is the best material to fill those pockets.






RE: Guardrail Post Pocket
http://www.wagnercompanies.com/rockite.aspx
Good luck.
RE: Guardrail Post Pocket
RE: Guardrail Post Pocket
Also be careful of galvanic corrosion cell between the aluminum and steel, such as any steel bolts holding the aluminum in place. I am aware of a situation where the steel bolts formed a corrosion coating around their diameter which casued expansion forces sufficinet tio crack the surrounding aluminum in two at the bolt hole.
Personally I would not embed aluminum rail posts into concrete. I think it is asking for trouble.
RE: Guardrail Post Pocket
RE: Guardrail Post Pocket
I agree with the comments above, aluminum and concrete are not compatible. For an alternate idea to embedded posts, the railing manufacturer's in our area would typically install the railings on the top of the repaired surface with aluminum baseplates and 4 anchors per baseplate. We specified an inert material between the aluminum baseplate and the concrete.