Select the Right Chemistry for Concrete, Masonry & Structural Anchoring

Different anchor conditions call for different adhesive technologies. ICCONS® | Adhesive – Chemical Systems cover the Chemselect range of injection resins & capsule systems used with compatible threaded rod, reinforcing bar & other approved anchor elements across concrete, masonry, structural steel installation, civil works & commercial construction.

Before selecting a cartridge, establish what the connection actually requires: substrate, anchor element, drilled-hole diameter, embedment, concrete condition, installation environment & project specification. Compare  Anchor Bolts for related anchoring hardware,  Structural Fasteners & Bolts for structural connections or  Concrete Cutting & Drilling Tools for the drilling stage.

The ICCONS Chemselect family includes:

► BIS-PE Pure Epoxy Gen3
► BIS-E Epoxy
► BIS-HY Hybrid Gen2
► BIS-V Vinylester
► BIS-P PolyPRO Gen2
► VDP-Quartz Glass Capsules

What Are ICCONS® Adhesive – Chemical Systems?

Chemical anchors form a bonded fixing within a prepared hole rather than relying solely on mechanical expansion against the substrate.

Depending on the selected system & its documented applications, they can be used with compatible:

► Threaded rod
► Threaded studs
► Reinforcing bar
► Internally threaded sockets
► Other approved anchor elements

Typical work can include structural baseplates, steelwork, machinery, balustrades, façades, awnings, post-installed reinforcement & other specified concrete or masonry connections.

Each ICCONS chemical system has its own capabilities, installation conditions & technical requirements.

Six Chemselect Options, Different Installation Priorities

Choosing between ICCONS chemical anchors becomes clearer when the project conditions are compared before the resin chemistry.

Use the current information for the individual system when making the final product choice.

BIS-PE Gen3 for Demanding Anchor Conditions

High-specification concrete connections can require documented capabilities beyond those needed for routine chemical fixing.

BIS-PE Pure Epoxy Gen3 sits within the performance end of the Chemselect family & carries a documented 100-year design life under its applicable conditions.

Assess it against the complete installation:

► Concrete condition
► Anchor element
► Drilled-hole dimensions
► Embedment
► Installation temperature
► Project specification
► Required approvals

A capability documented for BIS-PE Gen3 should not be assumed to apply to another resin simply because both products carry the ICCONS name.

For a wider look at the role fastener selection plays in the completed connection, read Why Good Fasteners Matter More Than the Tool You Drive Them With.

BIS-HY Gen2 When Installation Timing Matters

Site temperature & curing requirements can influence how quickly work can progress after an anchor is installed.

BIS-HY Hybrid Gen2 provides another high-performance Chemselect option & also carries a documented 100-year design life under its applicable conditions.

Before scheduling the work, confirm:

► Working time at the expected temperature
► Required cure period
► Concrete condition
► Anchor type
► Embedment
► Installation procedure
► Applicable project requirements

Working time & cure time are separate considerations. Neither should be estimated from previous experience with a different adhesive.

BIS-V Where the Specification Calls for Relevant Seismic Capability

Seismic requirements need to be checked against the individual chemical anchor rather than the adhesive category as a whole.

ICCONS BIS-V is a vinylester injection adhesive with documented C1 seismic certification.

For a connection subject to seismic requirements, review:

► Required seismic classification
► Concrete condition
► Anchor element
► Diameter
► Embedment
► Design requirements
► Installation method

Use the certification & technical information belonging specifically to BIS-V when assessing its suitability.

BIS-E Provides an Epoxy Injection System

Where an epoxy chemical anchor is being considered, BIS-E provides a dedicated ICCONS option within the Chemselect family.

Product selection should still begin with the connection rather than resin type alone.

Check the current BIS-E information for:

► Approved substrates
► Compatible anchor elements
► Hole dimensions
► Installation conditions
► Cleaning requirements
► Injection method
► Working & curing periods

Comparing these requirements early can prevent the wrong cartridge or supporting equipment reaching the installation area.

BIS-P Gen2 Covers Applicable General Anchoring Work

Routine fixing conditions do not automatically require the highest specification available in the range.

BIS-P PolyPRO Gen2 provides a Chemselect option for applicable chemical anchoring applications.

Determine suitability from:

► Base material
► Required fixing performance
► Anchor element
► Hole condition
► Installation environment
► Working requirements

Selecting to the application avoids overspecifying one connection while underspecifying another.

For additional context around anchor families & common fixing methods, see the Fastener Guide Bolts Screws Anchors.

VDP-Quartz Changes the Delivery Method Completely

Glass capsules remove the cartridge & mixer nozzle from the installation sequence.

ICCONS VDP-Quartz uses a vinylester capsule system for compatible anchoring applications.

Before proceeding, confirm:

► Capsule size
► Anchor diameter
► Drill-hole diameter
► Embedment
► Base material
► Setting procedure
► Required installation equipment

Do not apply cartridge-injection instructions to a capsule installation.

The product still belongs to the chemical-anchor family but its method of installation is fundamentally different.

Identify the Base Material Before Drilling

Concrete, solid masonry & hollow masonry present different fixing conditions below the surface.

The individual chemical anchor determines which substrates & conditions are covered.

Establish whether the project involves:

► Cracked concrete
► Non-cracked concrete
► Solid masonry
► Hollow masonry
► Another specifically permitted base material

Hollow construction can also require a compatible sleeve to retain resin around the anchor element.

Where a chemical system is unnecessary for a lighter masonry connection,  Anchors & Wall Plugs provides alternative mechanical fixing options.

Cracked Concrete Must Be Addressed in the Specification

Whether concrete is treated as cracked or non-cracked is not a decision to make from its surface appearance.

Where cracked concrete forms part of the design condition, confirm that the selected chemical anchor is approved for that use.

Review the relevant documentation for:

► Concrete condition
► Anchor type
► Anchor diameter
► Embedment
► Spacing
► Edge distance
► Applicable design capacity

Never extend a cracked-concrete approval from one ICCONS product across the complete Chemselect range.

Post-Installed Rebar Has Its Own Requirements

Bonding reinforcing bar into existing concrete can involve substantially deeper embedments & different design requirements from a typical threaded anchor.

Depending on the specified connection, consider:

► Rebar diameter
► Drill-hole diameter
► Embedment depth
► Adhesive system
► Hole preparation
► Injection depth
► Installation temperature
► Engineering requirements

For adjoining reinforcing requirements, browse  Concrete Reinforcement.

Use the documentation governing the post-installed reinforcing connection rather than transferring dimensions from a threaded-rod installation.

Hole Preparation Is Product-Specific

Two drilled holes of similar size do not necessarily require identical preparation when different chemical systems are being installed.

Before adhesive enters the bore, establish the procedure for the selected product.

That can include requirements around:

► Drilling method
► Hole diameter
► Hole depth
► Brushing
► Blowing
► Cleaning sequence
► Permitted hole condition

Complete each specified stage through the required depth.

A clean-looking opening provides no reliable indication of conditions further inside the bore.

Core Drilling Needs to Be Checked Separately

A core-drilled bore has a different internal surface from a hole produced with conventional percussion drilling.

If the project uses core drilling, verify that the selected chemical system & installation method cover that condition.

Review:

► Drilling technique
► Bore dimensions
► Surface preparation
► Anchor element
► Embedment
► Installation procedure

Suitable Power Tool Accessories can support the wider drilling & installation setup where compatible equipment is required.

Moisture Conditions Can Change Product Suitability

Dry, damp, wet & water-filled holes should not be treated as equivalent installation environments.

If moisture is present, check the exact chemical anchor for:

► Permitted hole condition
► Required preparation
► Installation method
► Cure requirements
► Applicable limitations

Never assume an injection resin will simply displace water & perform as it would in a dry bore.

The individual product information determines whether the installation can proceed.

Temperature Changes the Clock

Chemical curing is affected by site conditions, making the day's temperature relevant to installation planning.

Before opening the first cartridge, confirm:

► Base-material temperature
► Permitted installation range
► Adhesive working time
► Required cure period
► Planned loading time

Cold conditions can produce a different installation window from warmer conditions.

Use the timings documented for the selected adhesive at the applicable temperature rather than relying on a standard waiting period.

Working Time & Cure Time Answer Different Questions

Working time tells the installer how long the material remains within its installation window. Cure time determines when the connection reaches the stage specified for subsequent loading.

Plan both before beginning a larger anchor run.

Consider:

► Number of prepared holes
► Crew installation rate
► Cartridge quantity
► Ambient conditions
► Anchor insertion sequence
► Required loading schedule

Resin appearing hard at the hole entrance does not establish that the specified cure period has been completed.

Deep Embedments Need Planned Resin Placement

Longer holes make it increasingly important to consider where injection begins & how adhesive is placed through the bore.

Depending on the system, deep installations can require suitable extensions or other specified injection accessories.

Check:

► Total embedment
► Bore diameter
► Hole orientation
► Nozzle reach
► Injection procedure
► Anchor element

Arrange the required equipment before dispensing begins.

Stopping halfway through an installation to solve a reach problem can waste adhesive & valuable working time.

Hollow Masonry Changes How Adhesive Is Contained

Open cavities behind brick or block can allow resin to move away from the intended fixing zone unless the specified installation controls it.

Applicable ICCONS chemical systems may use compatible sleeves in hollow substrates.

Confirm:

► Masonry construction
► Sleeve type & size
► Drilled-hole diameter
► Chemical adhesive
► Anchor element
► Installation procedure

Do not assume the solid-concrete method applies simply because the same threaded element is being installed.

Match Threaded Hardware to the Designed Connection

Chemical adhesive doesn't determine the complete fixing by itself.

Threaded element material, diameter, embedment & associated hardware still need to correspond with the project requirements.

Chemical anchoring may be encountered around:

► Structural steel baseplates
► Handrails & balustrades
► Machinery
► Façade supports
► Steel stairs
► Awnings
► Brackets
► Post-installed reinforcing

Consider the complete assembly rather than evaluating the resin independently from the hardware it retains.

Read the Cartridge Before It Reaches the Applicator

Product identification is especially important when several Chemselect systems are present on the same project.

Before use, verify:

► ICCONS product name
► Cartridge type
► Product condition
► Relevant date information
► Correct mixer nozzle where required
► Intended fixing application

Colour coding can assist identification but should not replace reading the product information.

Keep different systems separated where practical.

Prepare Multi-Anchor Work as a Sequence

Baseplates, steel brackets & repetitive structural connections can involve many anchor positions moving through drilling, cleaning, injection & insertion.

Before dispensing starts:

► Complete the required drilling
► Finish applicable hole preparation
► Organise anchor elements
► Confirm adhesive quantities
► Have compatible nozzles available
► Plan the installation order
► Check expected site conditions

For broader preparation ahead of busy project periods, Spring Jobsite Prep Getting Your Gear Ready covers practical equipment & consumable readiness.

Don't Transfer One Product's Capabilities to Another

The Chemselect name covers several chemical technologies with different documented characteristics.

Depending on the individual system, relevant considerations can include:

► Cracked concrete
► Seismic performance
► Fire requirements
► Design life
► Post-installed rebar
► Hole condition
► Core-drilled applications
► Overhead installation

Check each requirement against the actual chemical anchor being specified.

This is particularly important where an engineer, project document or approved fixing schedule nominates defined performance criteria.