Chemical Anchors
Epoxy, Vinylester, Hybrid & Polyester Injection Mortars
Chemical anchors (also called adhesive anchors or resin anchors) use an injectable mortar -- epoxy, vinylester, hybrid, or polyester -- to bond a threaded rod, rebar, or anchor element into a drilled hole in concrete, masonry, or rock. The mortar fills the annular gap between the anchor element and the substrate, creating a bond that transfers load through adhesion, mechanical interlock, and micro-keying along the bore surface.
Chemical anchors dominate safety-critical structural applications because they offer higher load capacities than mechanical anchors at equivalent embedment depths, perform better in cracked concrete, and allow reduced edge distances and anchor spacing. However, chemical anchor performance is highly sensitive to installation variables: hole cleaning, hole moisture, mortar mixing ratio, insertion technique, and cure time all directly affect the bond strength the anchor achieves in service.
This installation sensitivity is precisely why chemical anchors require more rigorous testing than mechanical anchors. A chemical anchor that has been poorly cleaned, installed in a wet hole without appropriate mortar, or not fully cured may sustain a visual inspection but fail under load. Proof load testing and displacement monitoring detect these hidden installation defects before the anchor is placed into service.
Chemical anchors are the most testing-intensive anchor category. ATA conducts proof load testing (non-destructive verification of installation quality), ultimate load testing (destructive capacity determination), and displacement monitoring (bond failure detection) for chemical anchor systems. Displacement monitoring is particularly critical for chemical anchors because the meandering hole phenomenon can produce misleading load-only results.
Design of post-installed and cast-in fastenings in concrete
Code of practice for post-installed anchors
Australian site testing guidance
Bonded anchors specification
European assessment for chemical anchors
Non-Destructive Verification of Post-Installed Anchor Performance
Destructive Testing to Determine Actual Anchor Capacity in Specific Substrates
Precision Measurement of Anchor Movement Under Load
Engineering Guidance on Anchor Selection, Test Specification & Failure Criteria
Book proof load or ultimate load testing for chemical anchors.
Chemical Anchors tested by ATA
Hilti HIT-HY 200-R V3
The Hilti HIT-HY 200-R V3 is a hybrid injectable mortar (vinylester hybrid resin) designed for heavy-duty structural anchoring in concrete and masonry. It is one of the most widely specified chemical anchoring products in Australian commercial construction, carrying multiple ETAs covering concrete, masonry, and seismic applications.
Hilti HIT-RE 500 V4
The Hilti HIT-RE 500 V4 is a pure epoxy injectable mortar designed for the highest-performance structural anchoring applications. It delivers the highest bond strength in the Hilti chemical anchor range and is specifically designed for applications requiring maximum capacity, long pot life, and resistance to sustained loading and creep.
Ramset ChemSet Maxima Spin Capsule
The Ramset ChemSet Maxima is a capsule-style chemical anchor that uses a glass capsule containing acrylic resin and hardener. The capsule is inserted into the drilled hole, and the anchor stud is driven through the capsule using a rotary-hammer drill, which breaks the glass, mixes the resin and hardener, and seats the rod in a single operation.
Fischer FIS V 360 S
The Fischer FIS V 360 S is a styrene-free vinylester hybrid injection mortar designed for heavy-duty anchoring in concrete and masonry. It is one of Fischer's core chemical anchoring products, carrying an ETA for structural applications in cracked and uncracked concrete. The "S" designation indicates the current-generation styrene-free formulation.
Fischer FIS EM Plus
The Fischer FIS EM Plus is a pure epoxy injection mortar designed for the most demanding structural anchoring applications. Like Hilti's HIT-RE 500, FIS EM Plus offers maximum bond strength, superior creep resistance under sustained loading, and the longest service life of Fischer's chemical anchor range.
Würth WIT-PE 500
The Würth WIT-PE 500 is a pure epoxy injection mortar designed for high-performance structural anchoring. It is styrene-free, offers maximum bond strength, superior creep resistance, and is approved for use in cracked concrete, water-filled holes, and diamond-cored holes.
Sika AnchorFix-3+
The Sika AnchorFix-3+ is a high-performance two-component epoxy resin anchoring adhesive designed for heavy-duty structural anchoring in concrete, solid masonry, and natural stone. It is Sika's premium anchoring product, carrying an ETA for structural applications and offering high load capacities. The product is solvent-free, styrene-free, and low-odour.
ICCONS BIS-E Epoxy Injection Adhesive
The ICCONS BIS-E is an epoxy-based injectable adhesive designed for structural anchoring in cracked and non-cracked concrete. As an Australian-owned product, ICCONS offers local technical support, competitive pricing, and responsive supply chain performance for Australian contractors and project managers.
Chemset Reo 801
The Chemset Reo 801 is a heavy-duty vinylester injection mortar designed for structural anchoring in concrete. It is one of the most recognised products in the Australian chemical anchoring market, widely available through major hardware and construction supply chains.
DeWalt Pure 110+
The DeWalt Pure 110+ (formerly Powers Pure 110+) is a pure epoxy injection mortar designed for heavy-duty structural anchoring. It was one of the first ETA-certified pure epoxy anchoring systems available in the market and maintains a strong specification history on infrastructure and structural projects.
Book chemical anchors testing with ATA
Send your anchor schedule, specification, or project details. ATA will scope the testing programme, define the proof loads, and mobilise to site.