Asphalt Anchor Installation Guide

Asphalt Anchors are specifically designed for anchoring structures to asphalt using adhesive bonding rather than mechanical pressure.

Anchor Specifications

Model	Rated Pull	Drill Depth	Drill Diameter	Bolt Torque	Adhesive per Anchor
SP10/AM625	1,500 lbs	6”	7/8”	200 lb-in	60 mL
SP12	2,000 lbs	12”	7/8”	200 lb-in	120 mL
SP18	2,500 lbs	12”	1”	280 lb-in	150 mL
SP58	5,000 lbs	10”	1.5”	720 lb-in	290 mL

Spacing requirements: Ratings assume 12” minimum between anchors. For closer spacing, derate all but the first anchor by 6% for every inch less than 12”.

Asphalt thickness: Ratings based on 3” thickness. For thicker asphalt, increase capacity proportionally (e.g., 4” asphalt = 1.33x rating).

Installation Overview

1. Drill - Create hole to specified depth and diameter
2. Brush - Thoroughly clean hole with nylon tube brush
3. Pour - Fill hole roughly 2/3 to the top with adhesive (EPX2 or EPX3)
4. Hammer - Insert anchor with twisting motion until flush
5. Top Up - Ensure adhesive reaches surface around anchor head
6. Flush - Clean excess adhesive immediately

Required Supplies

• Drilling: SDS+ or SDS MAX drill & masonry bit
• Cleaning: Hole Cleaning Brush BRH, compressed air or blower
• Adhesive: EPX2 (cement) or EPX3 (epoxy)
• Installation: Mallet

Adhesive Selection

EPX2 - Expanding Cement

• Packaging: 2.5lb tubs, 12oz bags (6-pack) or 10 lb tubs
• Temperature: Cannot be applied below 50°F
• Work time: <10 minutes at 75°F
• Cure time: 15 min initial, 1 hour full cure, wait 2 hours before loading
• Cost: Most economical option

EPX3 - Epoxy Cartridge

• Packaging: Cartridge for caulk gun (requires 40:1 high-thrust gun)
• Temperature: Can apply as low as 14°F (cartridge must be 50°F+)
• Work time: 4-6 minutes at 68-86°F
• Cure time: 45 min to 24 hours depending on temperature
• Advantage: Works in cold weather, no mixing required

Critical Installation Steps

Drilling

• Use only SDS+ or SDS MAX drills - standard chucks will fail
• Don’t apply excessive force; this prevents jamming
• Clean drill bit flutes after each hole
• If holes fill with water, use EPX3 instead of EPX2

Hole Cleaning

1. Blow debris from around hole
2. Use nylon tube brush with aggressive up/down motion for first 4-6”
3. Tap brush frequently to clear dust
4. Make 5+ passes until all dust is removed and walls are roughened
5. Final blow-out to clear remaining debris

This step is critical for bond strength - do not skip or rush.

EPX2 Mixing

Mix for 4 anchors at minimum (smaller batches are hard to measure):

Anchor	Water (4 anchors)	EPX2 Powder (4 anchors)
SP10/AM625	0.4 cup (2.9 oz)	1.6 cups (12.4 oz)
SP12	0.5 cup (3.7 oz)	2.0 cups (16.3 oz)
SP18	0.6 cup (4.9 oz)	2.6 cups (21.2 oz)
SP58	1.4 cups (11 oz)	6.0 cups (47.6 oz)

Mixing technique:

1. Pour water into container first
2. Slowly add powder while stirring continuously
3. Target consistency: syrup-like (not too thin, not lumpy)
4. Add more water 1 tablespoon at a time if needed

EPX3 Application

1. Attach mixing nozzle to cartridge
2. Pump full nozzle length and discard until uniform gray mix emerges
3. Insert nozzle deep into hole
4. Slowly retract while filling to eliminate air pockets

Anchor Insertion

1. Push anchor with slow up/down motion to coat entire length
2. When anchor head is 2” from surface, check adhesive level and top up if needed
3. Push anchor flush with surface (use mallet if needed)
4. Success indicator: Adhesive squeezed out around anchor head
5. Immediately clean excess adhesive with water or scrape away

Attaching Objects

1. Wait 2 hours before loading (24 hours for maximum strength)
2. Remove bolt and washer
3. Ensure mounting surface is flat and contacts anchor head
4. Tighten to specified torque - never use an impact wrench
5. Minimum thread engagement: greater of 5 turns or 0.75”

Loading Guidelines

Dynamic loading (wind/snow/ice on stable structure): Use 80% of rated pull capacity

Static loading (continuous pull on anchors): Limit to 20% of rated pull capacity

Asphalt flows under continuous stress but is resilient under short-duration forces. The adhesive creates a stress-free bond that holds for years, unlike expansion anchors which loosen in asphalt.

Temperature Considerations

See our bad weather article for specific details on hot, cold, and wet condition installations.

Common Errors to Avoid

• Insufficient hole cleaning (causes weak bond)
• Not using sufficient adhesive - there must be squeeze out with anchor fully inserted
• Over-torquing bolts or using impact wrench
• Mounting anchor on top of anything other than the asphalt

Anchor Removal

Before adhesive cures (15-60 minutes):

1. Over-tighten bolt with wrench to break adhesive bond
2. Rotate anchor counterclockwise to thread out
3. If needed, use flat screwdrivers or nail puller under anchor head

After adhesive cures:

• Over-tightening may break anchor head off body
• Drill out remaining body with metal drill bit

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Safety Warnings

• EPX2 is caustic before curing - can burn eyes and skin
• Keep aluminum away from cured EPX2 (not an issue with EPX3)
• Do not use EPX2 with Dacromet or aluminum-containing coatings
• Have 20% overage of materials on site due to variability in soil conditions