The following is a special excerpt of a feature article by GluDown President Chad Bruce published by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association.

It is fair to say that the OSHA 1926.1153 ruling that went into effect in September of 2017 has had a tremendous impact on the construction industry as a whole.

During the annual TCA Convention in Miami, we spoke with several contractors who understood the impact this regulation would have on their current drilling and nailing process.

As part of these conversations, we recognized a need for a best practices guide related to how to use adhesives in the forming process. Here is a quick overview of the guide, highlighting the stages and topics discussed, as well as some wise words from experienced professionals within the industry and a video demonstrating tilt-up forming material spacing. To view the detailed guide with images, be sure to check out the full article on Tilt-Up Today.

Materials

“If you don’t use moisture resistant or treated materials on a job you are gluing, you are asking for trouble.” Russell Frank – CMC Construction Services Dallas, TX

Best Practice Issues Addressed

  • Materials, curving/warping, moisture resistance, dry prep, gap filling, quality

Prepping

“Proper slab and material preparation is critical to successfully using adhesives on a Tilt job.” Barclay Gebel – Concrete Strategies St Louis, MO

Best Practice Issues Addressed

  • Moisture in slab, dirt and debris, bond breakers and densifiers, solvents and mineral spirits

Techniques

“Our team has been using adhesives for years and proper technique has been critical to our success. Our experienced guys are great at teaching the new comers these methods, which keeps the success coming.” Greg Kreiling – KB Concrete Denver, CO

Best Practice Issues Addressed

  • Flash/ready time vs. open time, time to reach maximum strength, application amount, heavy loads, inconsistencies in bonding

Environment

Best Practice Issues Addressed

  • Temperature: low and high limits, seasonal concerns, proper storage, materials expansion in heat
  • Water: seals and bond breakers, proper slab cleaning, rain considerations

Regulations

Best Practice Issues Addressed

  • VOC content, other chemicals, state-to-state differences, confirmation of compliance

Clean-Up

Best Practice Issues Addressed

  • Long-handled scrapers, water, chemical cleaning agent, riding trowels, walk-behinds

Success of Adhesives in the Market

“Knowing the proper application techniques and procedures is critical to a successful bond, so on-site training and customer support is very important.” John Adams – AH Harris Construction Supplies, New York, NY

  • Transitioning from drilling and nailing to using adhesives

Be sure to read the full article on best practices in using construction adhesives.

Tilt Up Forming Material Spacing

It’s important to use the proper spacing when bonding materials to the slab. Hopefully this video will save you some future headaches.