Ramset hosted a webinar on post-installed anchors in Australia, introducing its next generation epoxy solution: ChemSet™ Reo502™ XTREM™. If you’re asking, “Which anchor is best for high-load concrete applications?” here’s the straight-up answer – and what engineers, specifiers and contractors should keep an eye on.

Which anchor is best for high-load concrete applications?

For high-load fixings into concrete, chemical anchors (especially premium epoxy systems) are often the go-to. Instead of “gripping” the concrete through expansion like mechanical anchors, chemical anchors bond along the full embedment length. In practical terms, that can mean more consistent performance on demanding jobs – particularly when edge distances are tight or site conditions aren’t perfect.

In Australia, post-installed anchor design is governed by AS 5216:2021, which sets the qualification and design requirements across uncracked concrete, cracked concrete and seismic categories. The main takeaway is simple: for high-load work, don’t choose based on best-case figures. Choose a system with documented performance data for the conditions you’re actually designing and installing for.

What is post-installed anchoring?

Post-installed anchors are installed into hardened concrete after the pour has cured (as opposed to cast-in anchors, which go in before the pour). Typical uses include steel-to-concrete connections (anchor stud model) and concrete-to-concrete connections using bonded reinforcing bar.

What makes a chemical anchor suitable for high-load applications?

For high-load jobs, you’re looking for more than “it sticks” – you need a system that’s been qualified under tougher conditions (cracked concrete and seismic categories included) and backed by the right assessment data. Under AS 5216, capacity can reduce significantly as conditions become more demanding, so selecting a product with verified performance data is critical.

Introducing ChemSet™ Reo502™ XTREM™

Available since 2 March 2026, ChemSet™ Reo502™ XTREM™ replaces REO502 Plus and Epcon C8 Extreme as Ramset’s single premium epoxy anchor solution. Highlights include:

• 100% Australian made (manufactured in Victoria) to reduce offshore delays and help deliver the full 24-month shelf life to site
• Distinctively orange, providing a clear visual check that the specified epoxy has been installed
• Certified for all conditions: uncracked, cracked, seismic C1 and seismic C2, plus 100-year working life and fire exposure characteristic values
• Future-proofed for the upcoming AS 5216:2026 revision, including TR069 improved bond strength data
• Site-practical: suitable for dry, wet and flooded holes; pumpable at 5°C; 7-hour cure at 20°C for same-day loading

Free design software: iExpert

Reo502™ XTREM™ is integrated into Ramset’s iExpert online design tool (no fee, no registration, no download). It walks you through a six-step AS 5216 design process and generates a PDF calculation report with clause-by-clause references – making the design pathway clear for specifiers and reviewers.