PAF, GAF or Pass? Part 1: A Guide to Selecting a Power-Actuated Fastening Solution

“PAF, GAF or Pass?” is a question that designers are often faced with when they need to attach wood or mechanical, electrical, or plumbing (MEP) fixtures to concrete, steel, or masonry structuresbecause there are several considerations to be made when deciding whether to utilize a direct-fastening solution or to pass and utilize a different attachment methodThis is Part One of a two-part series discussing poweractuated fasteners and their applications. Before we get into the nitty-grittylet’s define these acronyms and discuss how these types of fasteners work. 

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Anchor Anatomy 101: Heli-Tie™ Helical Wall Tie

This is the fourth Anchor Anatomy 101 blog post focusing on anchor systems. The goal of each post is to review anchor components, installation processes, and common applications to help you make informed anchor selection decisions based on your project’s unique requirements. The prior Anchor Anatomy 101 blog post focused on wedge type anchors. This blog post “drills down” into helical wall ties.  

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Anchor Anatomy 101: Strong-Bolt® 2 Wedge Anchor

We’re back today with our third Anchor Anatomy 101 blog post focusing on anchor systems. Each post is designed to clarify anchor components, installation processes, and common applications to help you make informed anchor selection decisions based on your project’s unique requirements. Our preceding post focused on adhesive anchor systems, while this post will look at wedge anchors. 

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Anchor Anatomy 101: SET-3G® Adhesive Anchoring System

Welcome to our second Anchor Anatomy 101 blog post focusing on anchor systems. Each post is designed to clarify anchor components, installation processes, and common applications to help you make informed anchor selection decisions based on your project’s unique requirements. Our first article focused on screw anchors; this blog looks at adhesive anchoring systems. 

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Anchor Anatomy 101: Titen HD® Concrete and Masonry Screw Anchors

Today’s blog post is the first in a series called “Anchor Anatomy 101.” Each post is designed to clarify anchor components, installation processes, and common applications to help you make informed anchor selection decisions based on your project’s unique requirements.  

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Concrete Results: The Titen Turbo™ Dust Channel Delivers Dependable Installations

Discover the innovation driving our Titen Turbo concrete screw anchors. In the following post, Ken Cho, Senior Product Engineer at Simpson Strong-Tie, explains how the patented dust channel design simplifies installations, eliminates frustrations and enhances overall efficiency. Revolutionize your concrete fastening projects with our latest offering now also available in black! 

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Overview of the Strength-Based Cracked and Uncracked Masonry Design Standards for Adhesive Anchors

We’re entering the year 2024 — welcome to the world of cracked and uncracked masonry. The last time Simpson Strong-Tie wrote a blog post regarding design criteria for post-installed anchors in masonry was in 2019, and ICC-ES was considering the adoption of a revised version of AC58, the Acceptance Criteria for Adhesive Anchors in Cracked and Uncracked Masonry Elements. Acceptance Criteria, or ACs, outline the testing that a manufacturer must comply with in order to get an evaluation report. In some cases, the ACs contain calculations methods if they are otherwise unavailable. If you missed the previous blog post, here is a link so you can explore a bit of the history that has led us to where we are today.

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Innovation Redefined: The Future of Structural Testing with Our Million Pound Rig

The future of full-scale structures testing and product development is here – and it is BIG. Our Tyrell Gilb Research Laboratory built a brand-new Million Pound Rig to help in the testing of our new Yield-Link® brace connection (YLBC), along with our many other products. Hear from Mike Wesson, Engineering Manager, Tyrell Gilb Research Laboratory, about this latest addition to the research lab. 

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Common Engineering Technical Inquiries — Part I: Anchors

Over the next few months, I will be doing a short three-part series going over common technical inquiries we receive in the engineering department. There is a wealth of information available on our website and in our literature, but so much content can sometimes be difficult to navigate. It is often said that knowledge is power, so my hope is to empower you with all the technical support you need so you can complete your job quickly and efficiently.  

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Mechanical Anchors: Screw vs. Expansion: — Which Is Right for Me? 

Not all post-installed mechanical anchors are created equal. There are key differences between screw and expansion anchor types — differences that include how they gain their holding strength, installation requirements, and overall anchor performance. In the following post, field engineers Todd Hamilton, Chris Johnson and Derek Gilbert compare the two anchor types. 

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