EJOT

An EJOT fixing combination, which is designed for rapid installation of flat roof systems with tapered insulation, has been instrumental in market-leading retirement property developer McCarthy & Stone meeting the strict completion deadline at one of its latest developments in Wiltshire.The scheme at Wichelstowe in Swindon is formed of two blocks that accommodate a range of one and two-bedroom apartments designed to offer stylish independent living for the over 60s, with around 120 new properties in total. McCarthy & Stone has co-developed the site with Anchor Hanover Group (Anchor), England’s largest not-for-profit provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, to deliver a retirement community close to the picturesque Wilts and Berks Canal.The developer’s firm commitment to delivering the scheme to new residents on time, as promised, meant that the construction team had to pull out all the stops to find creative solutions to keep the build schedule on track. One particular challenge resulted from the relatively small window available to install the extensive flat roofs of the apartment blocks, which fell at a time when temperatures had plummeted unexpectedly.The original proposal was for a tapered insulation system, incorporating a Bauder PVC membrane plus the insulation, to be bonded to the concrete deck. However, given the cold weather conditions, it was not possible to apply the adhesive during the planned installation window.As waiting for the temperature to rise to the required level would have resulted in unpalatable delays to the construction programme, nationwide roofing contractor Protec Roofing was tasked with finding a solution that would ensure the proposed flat roof system could still be used.Protec Roofing’s managing director, Ian Green, approached EJOT UK’s flat roofing specialist, Kevin Rackley, for assistance. He had recently been introduced to EJOT’s mechanical fixing solution for flat roof systems involving a combination of the JBS-R fastener and EcoTek tube-washer at an industry event, and after recommending it to the project team, it was subsequently approved for use by Bauder.The EJOT JBS-R/EcoTek combination brings together a high-performing organically coated concrete screw (JBS-R 7.5) with a high-quality telescopic tube-washer (EcoTek) to provide a fixing solution that is adjustable to fit the required depth of insulation. It is suitable for all types of commonly used tapered insulation, principally mineral fibre, EPS, XPS and PIR.The combination is suitable for any insulation depth of between 70mm and 590mm, and it has the benefit of requiring fewer fastener/washer combinations than any other current mechanical fixing approach. As a result, fastener use can be significantly rationalised, subject to the application, a site survey and pull-out tests, which EJOT UK is able to assist with.At the Wichelstowe development, the tapered insulation depth on one of the roofs ranged from 90mm to 330mm, using four lengths of JBS-R fastener of between 80mm and 210mm. The roof on the second building involved insulation depths between 140mm and 380mm, which required three fastener lengths of between 120mm and 210mm.In addition to keeping the construction schedule on track during the cold weather, the installation process also proved popular with the team on site. Installation of the EcoTek/JBS-R combination is easy because only one embedment depth is needed, whatever the insulation thickness. Easy adjustability is also provided through the innovative way that the EcoTek tube-washer is driven into place using a custom tool with the fastener already in place.Where the roof features a particularly deep layer of tapered insulation to maximise thermal performance, as was the case at Wichelstowe, EJOT’s flanged A-cone and driver bit extension is used to avoid the awkwardness associated with drilling deep using standard SDS drills. This means installers can avoid a highly delicate procedure requiring long-length SDS drills, which are often difficult to source.The simplified installation process offered by the EcoTek/JBS-R tube-washer and fastener combination also means that fewer on-site calculations were required compared to using other mechanical fixing approaches.Luke Pickering, Protec Roofing’s site supervisor on this project, said:“Switching from the proposed bonded application method to using the EcoTek/JBS-R combination proved to offer far more benefits than simply allowing us to continue installation during the cold weather, as critical as this was. We were working with insulation depths of up to 380mm, so we knew the fastening approach would make a huge difference to how efficiently we could work on site, and we were really pleased with how the process worked out.“The single embedment depth, regardless of the length of fasteners, and how EJOT’s tooling allowed us to make simple adjustments, saved a considerable amount of time compared to other mechanical fixings we’ve used in previous tapered insulation projects. The A-cone and extension tooling helped here too, making it easier for our team to drill at the deepest point and achieve a consistent efficiency and quality across the roof area.”Long-term performance is assured when using the JBS-R/EcoTek fastening system, given the quality materials used to manufacture both fastener elements. The JBS-R fastener is manufactured from case hardened steel and the EcoTek tube-washer is formed from high quality plastic to provide a lasting solution.Kevin Rackley is EJOT UK’s Business Development Manager for Flat Roofing products:“The Wichelstowe project is a perfect example of how the EcoTek/JBS-R combination can contribute to more efficient construction and help developers avoid site delays due to the UK’s highly unpredictable weather.“We offered two options to mechanically fix the Bauder membrane and the insulation – one using the JBS-R system and the other using one of our other concrete screws, the FBS-R. Both would have provided an effective fixing solution, but with fewer different lengths of the JBS-R required, we could help the Protec Roofing team rationalise fastener use as much as possible for a more streamlined installation process.”The EcoTek/JBS-R combination is part of EJOT’s extensive range of fastening solutions for flat roofing, encompassing fully mechanical and part-bonded systems, and fully compliant with the guidelines published by the Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA). Flat roof designers, contractors and installers benefit from highly specialised support from the EJOT UK team at all stages of the flat roofing project to ensure all the performance objectives can be met without compromise.

Road tunnels present a major challenge to metal fastening systems of all kinds given the highly corrosive atmosphere that is present within them. But where mechanical anchoring is concerned, specifiers and engineers can comfortably achieve their performance and durability goals in these demanding environments as a recent project by EJOT UK demonstrates.The installation of the electrical services and public address (PA) system in one of the UK’s most high-profile new road tunnel projects involved the installation of more than 6,000 high performance mechanical anchors.Tasked with providing these anchors was EJOT UK. They supplied EJOT and LIEBIG branded HCR (high corrosion resistance) anchors for the major civil engineering project to BISON UK, who are a nationwide market-leading supplier of fixings, support systems and bracketry to the M&E and building engineering services sectors. Ready-made solutions, ready-made for corrosive environmentsThe company approached EJOT UK for an anchoring solution that could be deployed throughout the new tunnel’s main bore and separate under-tunnel - beneath one of the UK’s most significant waterways - to meet the demanding performance specification required for the highly corrosive environment. At the same time, BISON also sought to ensure the solution would enable the main contractor to keep the project on track and on budget by avoiding the lengthy lead times and high unit costs often associated with such products.EJOT’s UK anchoring team was able to meet the requirements of the brief with maximum efficiency. They recommended two products from its portfolio – the EJOT BA-E Plus HCR through-bolt manufactured in 1.4529 high corrosion resistance stainless steel, and the LIEBIG Superplus BLS-P self-undercutting heavy duty expansion anchor manufactured in A4 stainless steel. Understanding applications demands through dedicated supportThe BA-E Plus 10/10 HCR through-bolt anchors specified have been used to securely attach the bracketry for the electrical system trays throughout the tunnel development. EJOT was able to provide a bespoke version of this versatile 120-minute fire-rated through-bolt which features an additional washer to offset the brackets from the tunnel wall and prevent moisture collecting. A special tool was also supplied by EJOT to enable easier overhead installation of the anchors. Vibration resistance an added benefitBespoke LIEBIG Superplus BLS-P anchors in two different lengths were specified for use in stand-off applications that included speakers and other components associated with the tunnel’s PA system. These anchors met a slightly different brief in that they were also required to demonstrate a high level of vibration resistance resulting from vehicle flow through the tunnel. The PA system bracketry then utilised the anchors two lengths to accommodate the size and shape of the speakers in the context of the tunnel’s curved walls.Bill Browning, Business Development Director at BISON UK, said: “The combination of exhaust emissions from vehicles and the moisture laden air, given the close proximity to the water, demanded anchors with a high degree of corrosion resistance, and it was clear that the EJOT and LIEBIG products recommended by EJOT’s anchoring specialist consultants would achieve the performance specification.“But it was also imperative that these could be provided within relatively short lead times and to a strictly controlled budget, and here the EJOT package met the brief without compromise. The EJOT team provided all the technical data necessary to demonstrate that both the BA-E Plus and Superplus BLS products would perform in-situ, with the added assurance of European Technical Assessments (ETAs), and enable fast, efficient installation.“And because of the way their business is set-up, they could offer the flexibility we required to accommodate the bespoke anchor design and smaller volumes involved in this project.”Both the anchors supplied by EJOT for this tunnel project are designed for use in cracked and non-cracked concrete where only a relatively shallow embedment depth is possible. They provide medium to high load capacity in a diverse range of applications including nuclear facilities and industrial plants.

The design principle of the LIEBIG Superplus BLS range is simply unique. Available in zinc-plated carbon steel and A4 stainless steel, its design offers the high load capacity and reliability of an undercut anchor, with the ease of installation normally associated with an expansion anchor. That means that, unlike any other competing product, the Superplus range does not require the expense of any special drill bits or setting tools. Performance Benefits and Characteristics:Unique automatic self-undercut / mechanical lock anchorVery high load performanceSetting is torque controlled - no special tools requiredMinimal expansion forces allow small spacings and edge distancesM8 – M16, push-through or pre-installation optionsTwo embedment depths per anchor diameterRange includes shallow embedment optionSimplest, quickest and safest solution availableFor static, quasi-static and seismic loadsUKTA approvalETA approval - Option 1 Approved for cracked and non-cracked concreteACI 355 Nuclear Performance StandardZinc Plated for dry indoor and temporary outdoor use Modularity means more kN per £ investedWith modular design at its core, the LIEBIG Superplus BLS range provides engineers and architects with a reliable concrete anchoring solution that balances superior performance with cost. Developed to provide an alternative to concrete anchors that need pre-preparation of the hole using an undercut tool, Superplus BLS is UKTA approved for use in cracked and non-cracked concrete to provide assured high capacity anchoring in a wide variety of applications and conditions. Read more... Modularity means installation simplicityUnlike other undercut anchors, the mechanical design of Superplus BLS means that it does not require an exact hole depth, to achieve a secure fixing. The teeth on the anchor’s innovative sleeve will always engage to deliver a durable mechanical interlock which allows for easier, more efficient working on site with less risk of installer errors.A key benefit of Superplus BLS is its suitability for concrete applications where only a relatively shallow embedment depth is possible. It can also be used in applications with reduced edge distances and anchor spacings, and is available as standard in Zinc plated carbon steel and A4/80 stainless steel, making the anchor suitable for meeting the most demanding environmental conditions. Read more... Modularity means more flexibilityThe range is available in sizes from M8 to M16 and with standard lengths capable of fastening fixture thickness of between 5mm & 300mm. Thanks to its modular design the anchor can be specified in bespoke lengths. This makes it easy to arrive at an anchoring design to suit the application, with anchors manufactured and delivered to site in short lead times. Read more... Modularity means more versatilityPaul Papworth, who is responsible for Specification Sales at EJOT UK said: “LIEBIG Superplus BLS is a unique anchor which allows engineers and architects to think differently about how they approach anchoring into concrete. In addition to providing the best value ‘cost per kilonewton’, the anchor’s performance characteristics, backed by United Kingdom Technical Assessments, are reliably robust – in line with every concrete fixing solution in the LIEBIG range.”“The anchor represents suitability for such a wide range of applications, with the undercut principle around which the anchor is designed, offering that extra level of performance assurance, safety and risk avoidance.”“Part of the EJOT fastening systems portfolio since 2017, LIEBIG has long been the global go-to brand for concrete anchoring, which today benefits from UK manufacture, technical support and customer service. It all adds up to a locally-delivered package that helps project engineers achieve a solution that meets the specification without compromising project timescales and budget.”Superplus BLS is part of a wide range of LIEBIG and EJOT anchoring solutions, which also includes advanced chemical based systems, concrete screws and through-bolts to cater for every type of concrete and solid base application. Read more...