What size should my anchor bolts be? The size of the anchor bolts should be determined by the equipment manufacturer.
How many anchor bolts do I need? The number of anchor bolts is determined but the equipment manufacturer.
What is stretch length? The stretch length is free unbound length of an anchor bolt that is needed to stretch in order provide hold down. The typical length is generally 8 to 10 times the bolt diameter.
Does my pump need anchor bolts? Yes anchor bolts resist upward forces created by the pump.
Does my compressor need anchor bolts? Yes anchor bolts resist upward forces created by the compressor.
What type of anchor bolts should I use? Anchor bolts should be made of steel and conform to ASTM-A36 or ASTM A575-M1020.
How long do my anchor bolts need to be? The number of anchor bolts are determined by the rotating equipment manufacturer.
What keeps anchor bolts from pulling through? Anchor bolts are required to have an anti-pull out device generally this is a washer with a nut that is tack welded on the end so it cannot be unthreaded.
What keeps anchor bolts from pulling out? Anchor bolts are required to have an anti-pull out device generally this is a washer with a nut that is tack welded on the end so it cannot be unthreaded.
When should I torque anchor bolts? Final torque should be taken on an anchor bolt after the grout is cured and the temporary leveling devices are removed.
How much should I torque anchor bolts? An anchor bolt should have a torque 80 to 85% of bolt yield provided it has a proper stretch length.
What material should I use to set anchor bolts? When setting anchor bolts it is recommended they are set in a two-part epoxy, Chockfast Grey.
How big should I core holes for anchor bolts in concrete? When coring holes in a concrete foundation for anchor bolts, the diameter of the core should be 3 times the bolt diameter.
Should I set anchor bolts with cement or epoxy? Epoxy is recommended to be used for setting anchor bolts due to its superior adhesion properties.
What is the best method of installing anchor bolts? The best method for installing anchor bolts is set them in the foundation, inside the rebar cage. This should be done with the required pipe sleeve at the time the foundation is poured.
What if my anchor bolts are broken? If the anchor bolt breaks you will need to core drill the broken anchor bolt out and install a new anchor bolt in its place.
Who should specify how many anchor bolt are needed? The equipment manufacturer should specify the required number of anchor bolts.
How should I attach mounting plates to a foundation? Mounting plates should be attached to a foundation with anchor bolts.
How large of a diameter should I core for an anchor bolt? When installing an anchor bolt the hole to be cored should be 3 times the bolt diameter.
What should I use as a non-bonding filler at the top of an anchor bolt pocket? The non-bonding fill at the top of an anchor bolt can be an elastic material or an expanding foam, Great Stuff for instance.
How should I install an anchor bolt in a new foundation? An anchor bolt should be installed and set with a proper pipe sleeve in the foundation and tied to the rebar cage prior to pouring the foundation.
What makes up an anchor bolt? An anchor bolt is made up of a threaded steel in accordance with ASTM A36 or ASTM A575-M1020.
What is an anti-pullout on anchor bolts? An anti-pull out is generally a plate or washer at the bottom of the anchor bolt with a nut where the nut or plate is tack welded to the anchor bolt.
How far above the base plate should the anchor bolt extend? Anchor bolts should extend at least 2 inches above a fully engaged nut.
Do anchor bolts need to be dry prior to grout? An anchor bolt pocket needs to be dry prior to the bolt being grouted.
How far from an anchor bolt can I place and expansion joint? An expansion joint should be at least 6 inches from an anchor bolt.
Expansion Joints
Do I need expansion joints? When a large area of epoxy grout is poured, it is recommended to install expansion joints to reduce the possibility of the grout cracking.
How often should I install expansion joints? It is recommended that expansion joints be installed every 4 to 6 feet.
What is the purpose of an expansion joint? The purpose of an expansion joint is to engineer a controlled crack in the epoxy grout to reduce the possibility of random cracking, when machinery to grout temperature differentials of 50°F are encountered.
How wide should I cut expansion joints? An expansion joint should be one half inch to an inch wide.
How do I maintain expansion joints? Make sure the top of the expansion joint is sealed with an expansion joint material, elastic epoxy seam sealant or silicone caulk capable of expanding.
What type of material should I use to fill an expansion joint. You can fill an expansion joint with silicone caulk, however it is recommended to use an elastic epoxy seam sealant after the grout is fully cured, such as Chockfast Expansion Joint material.
How do I seal expansion joints? After the grout is cured, remove about a half inch of the expansion joint material and seal the top with an elastic epoxy seam sealant such as Chockfast Expansion Joint material.
What is an expansion joint sealant? Expansion joint sealant is an elastic epoxy seam sealant such as Chockfast Expansion Joint material.
Are expansion joints necessary? When a large area of epoxy grout is poured, it is recommended to install expansion joints to reduce the possibility of the grout cracking.
What if don’t install expansion joints? If you do not install expansion joints on a large enough grout pour, the grout is more likely to crack. This does not mean it has failed, however, you need to fill the crack to prevent any liquids from reaching the foundation.
What materials can I use for expansion joints? Expansion joints should be made one half inch to one inch thick of a closed-cell neoprene foam rubber or polystyrene.
Do I need to seal the expansion joint to the prepared foundation? It is recommended that the expansion joint be sealed to the top of the prepared foundation with a silicone caulk (RTV).
What can I use to seal the expansion joint to the prepared foundation? Generally, the expansion joint is sealed to the prepared foundation with a silicone caulk (RTV).
Does the expansion joint need to extend into the concrete foundation? The expansion joint is generally installed on top of the concrete foundation and below the base plate within the area where the epoxy grout will be poured.
Can a crack form next to an expansion joint? Yes, a crack can occur next to an expansion joint, this does not mean the gout has failed, however, you will need to seal up that crack with expansion joint material or a silicone caulk (RTV) to prevent liquids from getting to the foundation.
What do I do when I get a crack in the epoxy grout? When you get a crack in the epoxy grout you will need to seal up the crack with expansion joint material or a silicone caulk (RTV) to prevent liquids from getting to the foundation.
Foundation
How big should my equipment foundation be? For rotating equipment, the foundation mass should be three times the mass of the equipment. For reciprocating equipment, the foundation mass should be five times the mass of the equipment.
How soon can I set equipment after concrete is poured? Concrete needs to be completely hydrated which is typically 28 days with standard concrete. Concrete could be hydrated faster than 28 days but would need to be tested to verify full hydration.
How soon can I pour grout equipment? Assuming the concrete is properly cured, grout can be poured after all concrete laitance is removed.
How do I prepare my concrete foundation for grout? A concrete foundation should be prepared for grout by removing all laitance with a chipping hamper with a chisel bit.
What temperature should my foundation be to install grout? A foundation should be between 65°F to 90°F to install grout. Having the right temperature is important to ensure proper flow, adhesion and cure of the grout material.
How deep does my equipment foundation need to be? The depth of the foundation should be beep enough to properly embed the anchor bolts. This would vary based on the size of the equipment. First, consider the mass required for the foundation. Next, consider the 30 degree rule for a stable footprint.
What strength of concrete should my foundation be? All concrete should have a minimum compressive strength of 4000 psi at 28 days.
How do I prepare my concrete foundation for grouting? Remove all laitance with a chipping hammer. Make sure the concrete is properly hydrated. Be sure the concrete is free of any oil or contaminants.
Can my equipment foundation be multiple pours of concrete? Multiple concrete pours are not recommended as there will be a cold joint between pours and vibration will not transfer across a cold joint.
Do I need to protect a foundation when preparing to grout rotating equipment? A cover may be necessary to protect a foundation from sun, wind and rain.
What protection should be provided to a foundation during a hot weather grout pour? The foundation should be covered to keep the grout from being exposed to direct sunlight.
What protection should be provided to a foundation during a cold weather grout pour? The foundation should be completely enclosed and provided with a heat source to raise the entire foundation and equipment to a temperature above 65°F for 48 hours prior to and after a grout pour.
Can I sand blast a foundation to prepare the surface for gout? It is unacceptable to sand blast a foundation in preparation for grout. Preparation will need to be done with chipping hammers. A chipping hammer will properly profile the foundation and remove the laitance layer.
Can I use a high early concrete mixture for my foundation? A high early concrete should only be used with the approval of the equipment user. Consider the use of Gill 33 for quick compressive strength and hydration.
Can I set multiple pieces of equipment on the same foundation? Equipment should be set on separate foundation as not to pollute adjacent equipment with sympathetic vibration.
How big should the foot print of a foundation be? It should be big enough as to not violate the 30-degree rule.
What is the 30-degree rule? The 30-degree rule is a best practice. If you drop a plumb line down from the center of the rotation shaft and rotate this line 30-degrees in both directions, the line should go through the bottom of the foundation and not the side. This will ensure stability of the foundation.
If there is contamination on an existing foundation can I grout over it? All existing foundation contamination must be removed by removing the concrete that is contaminated prior to grouting.
What is the maximum allowable height of a foundation? The maximum height of a foundation should allow a minimum of one and a half inches for grout placement.
How deep should an equipment foundation be placed? The foundation should be of sufficient depth to prevent damage to the piping or machinery due to frost penetration. This depth can vary with geography. Also, consider the 30 degree rule and the required mass.
Should you use an OEM foundation drawing? Typically, OEM foundation drawings locate anchor bolts within a foundation while the rest of the foundation should be suited to the site conditions for proper support and vibration transfer.
What do you have to consider in a foundation design? You need to consider the weight of the equipment, driver and base plate weight and make sure the soil is strong enough to support this weight (3 to 5 times mass) in both static and dynamic loads.
What is the minimum width a foundation should be outside of a base plate? A foundation should be at least 6 inches wider than the base plate for motors up to 500 HP and should be 10 inches wider for 501 HP and up.
How do vibration damping properties compare between Concrete and steel? Concrete has six-time greater damping capabilities compared to steel.
How do vibration damping properties compare between Escoweld/Chockfast epoxy grout and concrete? Escoweld and Chockfast epoxy grout has twenty-six times greater damping capabilities compared to concrete.
Is it recommended to add additional mass to an existing concrete foundation? When you add new concrete to existing concrete the interface will result in a cold joint and vibration will not transfer across a cold joint. In this situation, special materials will need to be considered in order to bond with the existing concrete. A foundation or mass can be extended with Escoweld or Chockfast materials if the correct concrete preparation is done.
How does concrete tensile strength relate to its compressive strength? Tensile strength is approximately 10% of concrete’s compressive strength.
What is the minimum tensile strength recommended for a concrete foundation that will have epoxy grout used to set rotating equipment? You should have concrete with a minimum tensile strength of 350 psi. This recommendation would be considered a “best practice” when using Escoweld, chockfast or most other epoxy grout brands.
Vibration
How do I keep my equipment from vibrating? Equipment creates vibration when in operation. Most vibration can be dissipated from the equipment, if installed properly. A good installation would include a properly sized foundation mass, specific to the equipment being installed. Epoxy equipment grout is important to the success of the installation. A good epoxy equipment grout will form a positive bond between the equipment and the foundation, providing a pathway for vibration to travel.
Why do I need to grout? Grout is the effective conduit transferring unwanted vibrations form the equipment to the foundation. A good epoxy grout is a vital component for vibration transfer.
Why use cement based grout? A cement gout is good for static loads only. Cement will not resist any lateral or horizontal forces.
Why use epoxy grout? Epoxy grout has excellent adhesion properties to both concrete and steel. Epoxy grout is the only equipment setting material with the ability to resist vertical, horizontal, and axial forces.
What does vibration do to equipment? Vibration in equipment causes premature wear on bearings, seals and other components causing increased down time. Vibration will make the equipment less reliable and decrease its overall lifespan.
How do I reduce vibration from equipment? You can reduce vibration in the equipment by properly transferring the vibration out of the machine to a properly sized foundation. This should be done through use of epoxy grout material.
What is a monolithic structure? A monolithic structure is one that operates as a whole. When epoxy grout is placed between concrete and a steel base plate, a monolithic structure is formed.
Can vibration jump an air gap? Vibration cannot jump or be transferred across an air gap. It is important to have a positive bond between the foundation and the baseplate. This can only be done with epoxy grout systems.
Can vibration jump a cold joint in concrete? Vibration cannot jump or transfer across a cold joint in concrete.
What happens if I do not properly channel the vibration out of the rotating equipment? If you don’t get the vibration transferred out of the rotating equipment, the result is premature bearing and seal failures. This will result in an unreliable piece of equipment.
How does removing vibration from my equipment increase my reliability? If you properly get the vibration out of the equipment, its reliability will increase by a factor of 8 to 10 times.
What is the means of transmitting vibration from rotating equipment? The means of transmitting vibration is the epoxy grout. Epoxy grout acts as the conduit to transfer vibration from the equipment to the foundation where it can be dissipated.
What happens if I don’t get vibration out of my equipment? If you don’t get the vibration out of the equipment, it will fail prematurely. Once you have vibration, it will compound until the equipment has failed.
Can vibration effect other rotating equipment? If multiple equipment is set on the same foundation, one piece of equipment can pollute the other piece of equipment causing a sympathetic vibration.
