Pretec’s guide to concrete screws
What is a concrete screw?
A concrete screw is used for all types of concrete fastening. It is normally used for medium-load applications in concrete, solid brick, hollow brick, or stone surfaces. Concrete screws can also be used in compression-resistant natural stone and green concrete.
Concrete screws are designed to provide a strong and secure grip and to be installed quickly and efficiently, even in hard substrates. They can be fixed close to the concrete edge without risk of damaging the concrete. With a small hole diameter, the concrete screw still offers very high pull-out values and is suitable for both standard and reduced embedment depths.
Concrete screw, concrete anchor, concrete bolt, screw anchor in concrete – a dear child has many names.
How is a concrete screw used?
A concrete screw is used for fast permanent or temporary fastening and is a direct installation into a pre-drilled hole without a plug. The concrete screw provides expansion-free heavy anchoring and cuts its own thread into the concrete, allowing installation close to edges and adjacent anchors without damaging the concrete. Installing with an impact driver means there’s no need for a torque wrench. It’s fast, reliable, and reduces the risk of installation errors.
When installing a concrete screw, it’s important to follow the ETA installation instructions and not skip cleaning the holes to ensure safe application. After installation, the screw can also be adjusted if needed – provided it’s done according to the ETA installation guidelines.
In case of reuse, a gauge (Go/No-Go gauge) should be used to ensure the hole dimension. The concrete screw can be loaded immediately – no curing time is required, unlike with chemical anchoring. It is also fully removable.
Concrete screws are available with different head types for a wide range of applications. Please contact us if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How do you choose the right concrete screw?
Concrete is usually classified as either “cracked” or “non-cracked.” Zones such as walls, columns, and floors are considered non-cracked concrete, while zones subject to tensile stress, such as the underside of beams, balcony floors, and ceilings, are considered cracked concrete.
Concrete screws approved for both cracked and non-cracked concrete are referred to as option 1, while concrete screws approved only for non-cracked concrete are referred to as option 7.
The concrete screw is used in a wide range of applications, including fastening collision protection in concrete/asphalt, railings, fall protection, pallet racks, wall supports, installations in concrete with close edge distances, and fastening weld plates in concrete ceilings.
Concrete screws are available with different head types for a variety of applications – ask us if you’d like more information.
Concrete fastening – what do we offer?
- Concrete fastening with high load capacity and high performance, both mechanical and chemical options
- Many products in the range covered by ETA – European Technical Assessment
- Seismic options
- Fire-rated options
- Technical support available by phone and email
