Connecting to a building

Working with hoists or mast climbers? This page explains the ways to connect to a building.

There are three main ways to connect to a building:

• embedment or cast in elements
• post fixed anchors
• through bolting.

Embedment or cast in elements

The cast in style anchor must be installed before the building slab is poured. It generally takes 24 hours for the slab to be strong enough to take the loads applied by the hoist tie. The installation drawing should provide a slab capacity that is required. The builder can confirm it has been achieved before installation.

Installation drawing

Cast in anchors are the preferred method for face fixing ties for most hoist applications.

Post fixed anchors

The types of post fixed anchors are:

• screw
• expansion
• adhesive.

In all cases they have a minimum distance they can be installed apart and from a slab edge. This will be shown on the installation drawing.

Post fixed anchors should only be used to face fix ties when low load is applied. For example, with small capacity hoists or short wide ties.

Through bolting

Bolting through the slab is required when the slab itself is not suited to cast in or post fixed anchors. For example, precast concrete or hollow core slabs.

Install the through bolts where specified. This is to make sure the slab can support the loads from the mast and hoist when fully loaded and operating.

The installation design drawings will show how these are to be installed. They will generally require plate washers installed on the opposite side of the concrete to the tie plate.

Through bolting can be used both horizontally and vertically with little difference in their strength.

Through bolting