A quick guide to fixings

The range of fixings is nearly as big as the range of nails. We will give you an overview.

Instructions

There is a wide range of fixings to choose from. They are available in short, ribbed or spiral versions. But what is each fixing suitable for?

To select the right fixing, the building material in which the fixing is intended to bear load must be taken into consideration. A distinction is made here between wood, the various types of concrete, dense masonry walls (limestone, brick, clinker), porous walls (porous concrete, aerated concrete, pumice concrete) and board materials.

The types of fastening are distinguished according to the type of force transmission into the structure – these being friction closure, form closure and material closure.

Plastic fixings are most commonly used for friction closure. The most simple type is the classical expansion plug, which holds best in concrete and masonry made of solid stone. The expansion part of the plug is pressed against wall of the drill hole; the friction created by this holds the plug in the building material.

With form closure, the fixing folds open in the cavity of the building material. In other words, it adopts the shape of the cavity in the building material. These kinds of fixings are particularly suitable for fitting in hollow core bricks or board materials. They are available in different versions, e.g. as all-purpose or cavity fixings.

The third type of anchorage is material closure. The fixing is literally glued to the wall material, e.g. by means of mortar or a reaction resin. This type of anchorage is suitable for fittings, which are very close to the edge, in all materials.

The drilling diameter for a fixing joint is usually stated on the packaging by the manufacturer. Normally, the diameter of the drilled hole should match that of the fixing. The hole also has to be deep enough to hold the fixing and screw. After drilling, you have to remove the drilling dust from the hole because otherwise the fixing will not hold very well.

There are two common types of fixing installation. The best-known type is pre-insertion mounting: the fixing is inserted into the drilled hole until it is flush with the wall. The object that is being fitted is then secured with a screw. With through-insertion mounting, the fixing is inserted through the object that is being fitted and into the drilled hole. This method makes it easier to, for example, fit objects with several fastening points.

 

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