ACI 318-19 · ICC Compliant · Professional Grade
Anchor Specification
Engine
Enter your project parameters — get exact fastener specs, pilot hole sizes, torque values, edge distances, and a printable installation guide.
Structural safety gates
Real torque values
Printable spec sheet
Step 1 of 6 — Project Type
1/6
Step 1 — What are you installing?
What's the job?
Select your application — this sets the load classification and code requirements.
📺
TV / Monitor mount
Wall bracket — shear load
📚
Shelving system
Floating or bracketed
🗄️
Cabinet / vanity
Kitchen, bathroom, storage
🚧
Railing / handrail
IBC §1015 — structural
🏗️
Deck ledger / post
Outdoor — ICC R507
⚙️
Mechanical equipment
HVAC, pump, electrical panel
🪧
Sign / overhead load
Tension load — critical
🔧
Other / general
Standard bracket mount
Load input
Estimated total weight
Include the object and maximum contents. Use 1.6× for dynamic loads (gym equipment, climbing wall).
50 lbs
Medium load
5 200 400 600 800+
Step 2 — Substrate & Geometry
What's the wall?
Select your substrate. This determines anchor type, pilot hole spec, and embedment depth.
Solid concrete
Hollow block / CMU
Brick / masonry
Drywall over studs
Plaster / lath
Tile over concrete
Structural steel
Substrate thickness
6 inches
3″ 8″ 12″ 18″ 24″
Step 3 — Fixture Details
About your bracket
These inputs directly calculate required anchor length and load per anchor point.
Bracket / fixture thickness
1/4″
TV bracket
3/8″
Steel plate
1/2″
Railing post
3/4″
Wood / cabinet
1″
Heavy plate
1-1/2″
Lumber / ledger
1-3/4″
Double lumber
3-1/2″
4× lumber
Number of anchor points
4points
= 12.5 lbs per anchor
Load direction
↓
Shear (gravity)
Load pulls down
←
Tension (pullout)
Load pulls away
↙
Combined
Both directions
Step 4 — Layout & Edge Conditions
Placement geometry
Edge distance and anchor spacing are the most commonly violated code requirements — and the most common cause of anchor failure.
Distance to nearest edge or corner
Tight
Under 3"
Close
3" – 6"
Clear
6" or more
Is the anchor exposed to weather or moisture?
Interior / dry
Standard carbon steel OK
Exterior / wet
Stainless or HDG required
Seismic design category (if known)
A or B (low)
C (moderate)
D, E, or F (high)
Unknown
Step 5 — Tools on hand
What do you own?
Check only what you actually have. The tool gap analysis tells you exactly what to buy.
✓
SDS / Rotary hammer drill
Required for all masonry
✓
Cordless drill (18–20V)
For wood and drywall
✓
Carbide masonry bits
Various sizes 3/16″–1/2″
✓
Diamond-tip tile bit
For tile-over-concrete entry
✓
Torque wrench or socket set
For expansion anchor torquing
✓
Spirit level (24″+)
For bracket alignment
✓
Electronic stud finder
Required for drywall installs
✓
Air compressor / blow gun
For hole clearing — critical
✓
Depth gauge / drill stop
For precise embedment depth
Building your spec…
ACI 318-19 calculation engine running
⚡
Analysing load & substrate
📐
Calculating embedment depth
🔩
Selecting fastener diameter
⚠️
Checking edge & spacing limits
✦
Generating AI expert notes
✓
Installation complete
How did the spec perform?
👍
Spot on
😐
Close enough
👎
Off the mark
Specifications are calculated per ACI 318-19 §17 and ICC 2021. Results are for guidance only and do not replace engineered drawings or local AHJ approval. Structural-critical installations (IBC §1604) must be reviewed by a licensed structural engineer. Torque values are manufacturer-specific — always verify against the anchor packaging. Full methodology →