In January of 2014, Allfasteners sales manager Bruce Carmichael was conducting a blind bolt installation demonstration with members of the Crown Castle Construction team in New Albany, OH. Discussion arose about a long-term, industry-wide challenge – reinforcing existing monopole foundations with post-installed anchor rods and epoxy.
“Threading a 6’ anchor rod through the nut under a monopole base plate and hoping the epoxy doesn’t begin hardening before the rod is fully installed, presented a very difficult task for the contractor in the field,” says Carmichael. While further analyzing the issue with Crown Castle’s Engineering Manager, Matt Branagan, it became clear that an unconventional solution was in order.
Using a napkin in his pocket, Carmichael began drafting a concept. “Our team began creating a structural hex nut design that could be placed anywhere on the anchor rod. The “split nut” was born,” he says. Collaborating with Branagan, the concept quickly became a reality. After a prototype, field installation, and third-party testing, Allfasteners provided a sample for owner approval.
Fast forward, Crown Castle has since specified the Allfasteners Split Nut for tower modifications. According to the Carmichael, the innovative design has “allowed for steady flow of tower modifications to be done with not only labor savings but a consistent reduction in post installed anchor rod pull test failures.”
When you use the split nut, it is not necessary to grout under tower base plates that have split nuts installed, explains Carmichael. This eliminates debris and moisture build up at the base plate which in turn, adds to the longevity of the tower asset.
“The split nut as we know it today has been a proven success story of innovation, partnership, and efficiency for Allfasteners and the tower owners, engineers, and contractors who specify and install it every day,” says Carmichael.
For more information about Allfasteners visit here. For more information specifically about the split nut product visit here, and for more information about Crown Castle, visit here.
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