Nail-In Anchors vs. PAF and Drop-In

[skeletron]

I'm looking at attaching an interior non-loadbrg wall to metal deck (with concrete above).

Contractors love using PAF, but can't in my jurisdiction due to a technical bulletin that limits them from anchorage/seismic restraint/seismic tension loading.

Screw anchors will work, but should be more costly and may be an overkill solution. Expansion bolts are way overkill for this application.

I'm wondering if smack pins aka drive-pin anchors aka nail-in anchors could be argued as different from PAF and Drop-In, and therefore acceptable? To me, it is the mechanism of installation (smack pin = pre-drill + manual hammer action to set the expansion VS. PAF = power driven VS. Drop-In = shallow hammering) and the sustained direction of force that matters. In this case there is no sustained tension, and only potential for cyclic shear.

 

[dik]

Can you use Tapcons? They are a nice screw anchor...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[Ingenuity]

I agree with dik.

I personally prefer and use HILTI Kwik-Con II concrete screws. The "system" uses a custom-sized drill bit to a cordless drill and with a 1/4" cordless impact driver they are fast to install. I use 1/4" dia screws, with Torx hex head. A box of $100 costs sbout $100, depending on the screw length.

 

[skeletron]

Yeah. I just looked at it again and the screwing isn't so bad, nor is it overly expensive. I think I'll go the screw route and just move on.

 

[dik]

Thanks Ingeniuty... just looked... another fastener to use... look pretty good and good load capacity. I was installing a ramp a couple of years back and used Tapcons from Canadian Tire... weren't 'real' ones and they 'twisted off. before fully installed. Some sort of off shore stuff. Never had a tapcon twist off...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[XR250]

I second KwikCons. Have had too many real Tapcons break in old concrete. Never had a KwikCon fail.
Might need a special bit to bore thru the metal deck first.

 

[Ingenuity]

I was installing a ramp a couple of years back and used Tapcons from Canadian Tire... weren't 'real' ones and they 'twisted off. before fully installed. Some sort of off shore stuff. Never had a tapcon twist off...

Yep, stay with the known-name brands (Tapcon, Hilti, Simpson) and I think you are good. TAPCON were first patented by ITW (Illinois Tool Works) and have been copied so many times so much that they are the 'kleenex', 'zerox' of screw fasteners, but often not with the quality with known-name products.

 

[Ingenuity]

Have had too many real Tapcons break in old concrete. Never had a KwikCon fail.

Interesting. The Tapcons failed in the shank during driving?

I have failed Hilti KwicCon's - but always in formwork applications where I am reusing screws for a 5th or 6th time. Which I should not do.

 

[dik]

I looked at the package afterwards, and I think they were off shore tapcons from some questionable source... I'd used dozens before with no failure... and from this source, nearly all of them twisted off...

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik