Post-installed rebar connections have proved their worth in everyday construction, be it for connecting new walls, columns or stairs, closing existing floor openings, extending floor plates, concrete covers or foundation extensions. Heavy-duty chemical fixings are frequently used for applications such as these during new builds and renovations. The fixing specialist fischer provides reinforced concrete construction specialists with a secure and efficient solution for post-installed rebar connections with an ETA with its new RebarConnect FIS RC II vinyl ester hybrid mortar. The ETA covers applications with reinforcing bars with a diameter of 8 to 32 mm embedded at depths of up to 2 m. 
Short processing and curing times enable quick work progress in drill holes created either with hollow or hammer drills. Possible temperatures of -10 °C to +40 °C in the anchor substrate according to the ETA allow for flexible and universal applications. FIS RC II has also been approved for post-installed rebar connections with a service life of up to 100 years. The injection mortar’s ETA enables designs up to fire resistance class R 180. FIS RC II is available in container sizes of 360 ml and 825 ml shuttle cartridges. The battery-operated dispensers FIS DB S Pro and FIS DB SL Pro are suitable for the two cartridge sizes and complete the product range. 

A strong compound for a firm hold
fischer furthermore offers a versatile solution for embedding reinforcing bars in concrete in the long term with the FIS EM Plus injection mortar. In addition to ETA-17/1056 and its ICC approval, its use for post-installed rebar connections is now regulated by ETA-22/0001 - Post-installed reinforcing bar (rebar) connections with improved bond-splitting behaviour. This allows structural engineers to plan post-installed rebar connections with the fischer FIS EM Plus in compliance with both DIN EN 1992-1-1 (EC2) with national annex as well as with the TR 069 Technical Report by the European Organisation for Technical Approvals. This is based on ETA-22/0001. The new design method complements the previous procedure in accordance with EN 1992-1-1 (rebar theory) and EN 1992-4 (anchor theory) and closes the gap between, or rather combines, the rebar and anchor theories. 

The core advantage is the TR 069 permits the design of post-installed, rigid rebar connections that do not have to be carried out as overlapping joints (with continuing reinforcements in existing members). These applications are therefore covered by regulatory requirements. The special design method covers rigid connections under static and quasi-static loading, even in cases where there is no starter bar in the provided existing member and only relatively short embedment depths are possible. This can be achieved as the bond stresses that may be applied for the design according to TR 069 are significantly higher than under EC2 part 1-1. Likewise, the TR 069 design concept also covers both ultimate and serviceability limit states.

In general, the FIS EM Plus is a safe choice and a versatile solution to permanently and securely transfer heavy loads into concrete, even under extreme conditions. According to the ETA, it has a service life of up to 100 years. The injection mortar is also approved for applications under seismic loading and can be used in diamond-drilled drill holes without requiring additional roughing up.

Services for post-installed rebar connections
Planners and users also have access to a reliable and safe programme for designing post-installed rebar connections with the REBAR-FIX module from the fischer FiXperience software suite. Depending on the on-site options and requirements, the REBAR-FIX programme enables verification in line with various standards and guidelines with verifiable printouts. fischer’s technical field service and technical hotline are available in case planners and users have any queries. The fischer Academy also offers e-learning training on post-installed rebar connections through live online and in-person seminars. The programme contains regular training sessions that allow participants to obtain a certification from The German Institute for Structural Engineering upon completion. German companies and tradespeople require this certification in order to be allowed to execute post-installed rebar connections.