Anchor Pull-Out Test: What It Is and When You Need One
A pull-out test checks that an anchor installed on your site can actually hold the load it was designed for. It is the simplest way to prove to a consultant, client or safety officer that the anchoring work is sound.
What the test does
A calibrated hydraulic jack is fixed over the installed anchor and pulls it straight out with a slowly increasing force. The force is read on a gauge. In a proof-load test the anchor is loaded to a set value and must hold without slipping; in a failure test on sacrificial anchors the load is increased until the anchor or concrete fails, to find the real capacity.
When is a pull-out test needed?
- The consultant or project specification asks for it.
- The base material is unknown or doubtful – old buildings, weak or cracked concrete, brick or block.
- Safety-critical fixings: facades, railings, heavy services, signage, solar structures.
- Post-installed rebar in retrofitting work.
- Installation quality needs to be checked after work by a new contractor.
How the test is done
- Agree the test load and number of anchors with the engineer.
- Install anchors exactly as in the real work – same product, drilling and cleaning.
- Wait for full curing time for chemical anchors.
- Set up the jack and bridge, apply the load in steps and record readings.
- Note the result for each anchor and any displacement.
What the report shows
Location, product and size of each anchor, embedment depth, base material, test load applied, result (pass / fail or failure load) and photos. This report can be submitted to your consultant or client.
Book a test
Fasteners King provides on-site pull-out testing in Delhi NCR, Guwahati and Dubai. See our pull-out test service or call +91 90057 00569.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pull-out test damage the anchor?
A proof-load test at the agreed load does not damage a good anchor. A failure test does, so it is done on extra sacrificial anchors.
How many anchors should be tested?
The number is set by the engineer or specification, usually a small percentage of the anchors on the job.
Why do anchors fail a pull-out test?
The most common reasons are poor hole cleaning, wrong drill size, too little embedment, loading chemical anchors before full cure, or the wrong product for the base material. See our anchor selection guide.