12 Steps to Install Earth Anchors: Round Rod and SS Anchors
Written by Tim Staelens on April 17, 2019
Follow these 12 simple steps to install square shaft and round rod anchors.
Once all safety concerns have been addressed, attach the Kelly bar adapter and installing tool assembly to the Kelly bar on the installing truck.- Insert the upper end of the anchors’ lead section into the installing tool. Position the anchor at the desired guy location and at a near vertical position; screw the first helix into the ground.
- When the first helix is buried, begin to make the angular adjustment for the desired guying angle.
- Remember, final angular adjustments should be made before the second helix penetrates the ground.
- When the installing tool becomes 12”-18” from the ground, disconnect it from the section in the ground and reconnect it to the next extension.
- Align the extension with the section in the ground and bolt them together. Make certain that the bolt and nut are securely tightened.
- Continue to drive the anchor and add extensions until the desired torque is reached and maintained for a minimum of three feet or three times the diameter of the largest helix.
- A minimal installation depth of three times the diameter of the largest helix (below the freeze/thaw line) is required. This depth should equal or exceed five times the diameter of the largest helix from the top surface of the soil vertically.
- If this cannot be achieved (while still maintaining an adequate safety margin below the anchor’s minimum ultimate torsional strength, the anchor should be removed and replaced with an anchor having smaller or fewer helices. The replacement anchor should be installed at least 5 feet from the first installation site.
- Although square shaft anchors can be installed over 100 feet deep, one should always consider the economics of using a shallower anchor with more or larger helices or extensions with helices.
- If the desired protrusion from the ground cannot be achieved without exceeding the rated torque, the last extension may be replaced with a shorter extension by excavation along the rod to the coupling bolt, but never by unscrewing the anchor.
- When the anchor reaches the desired setting the guy adapter is attached using the same attachment method as the extensions. The guy wire should not be attached to the guy adapter pulling eye.
