Wood Post Anchoring System
It seems a direct response from myself is required to clearly express the state of the Titan Post Anchor if users wish to use them in wood rail applications 60cm above grade or higher where the Ontario Building Code or Canadian Building Code applies.
It can be confusing for most people and is the reason why we are in the final stages of actual railing section tests by Intertek having already gathered a large body of data for the performance of single free standing posts. The OBC Table 9.8.8.2 states: the completed guard rail system, must withstand a uniform load of 0.5 kN/m (34 lb/ft) over the length of given rail OR;concentrated load of 1.0 Kn (224 lbs) at any point along the rail. The Canadian Building Code, section 4.1.5.14 (1b) states that a guard in a residential environment must resist a concentrated horizontal load of 1.0 Kn (224 lbs) and a uniform load of 0.75kN/m (51 lb/ft) over the length of given rail. My company has invested much resources in conducting extensive tests to provide accurate guidance to users so they will be able to determine how to build their wood rails to easily surpass these standards. Intertek, the global testing experts for guard rail products has confirmed on the basis of three sample testing average loads on single 42″ posts as follows: 4×4 42″ post and anchor – 337 lbs4×4 42″ post and anchor – (chicago bolt) power bolt – 425 lbs Tested May 20104×4 42″ post and anchor – post brace – 608 lbs Tested May 2010 6×6 42″ post and anchor – 503 lbs6×6 42″ Titan Max post and anchor – 643 lbs – Tested May 2010 In each and every case the concentrated load on a single post is actually greater than the minimum design load required of a finished railing (plurality of posts). This is not the most difficult standard to meet and in fact when a point load is shared by a number of posts our testing of sections shows point loads of as high as 700 and 800 lbs. The uniform load is what determines the maximum distance posts can be spaced apart from one another. This is determined by the total load of a given rail divided by the distance between corner to corner. The OBC sets this at 34 lb/ft and the CBC sets it at 51 lb/ft. Total loads of 700 to even 800 lbs (120 lb/ft to 133 lb/ft) have been achieved. This surpasses both code minimums by a factor by at least 2.35x. Keep in mind this sample is a 36″ high rail section so a 42″ section would be slightly lower – but still well above minimum loads required.
Our final set of testing, currently under way with Intertek will determine the guidance we give users as to post spacing in any given railing design. This is what most people are waiting for. So you will have to be patient. But even without that documention any engineer can accurately calculate total loads that any given number of posts will provide by adding up the single post load values and dividing by the rail span distance from one end or corner to the next. Intertek is now engaged in verifying independently the same style of test: two posts and rail subjected to a maximum concentrated load. This body of data on railing sections will be added to the single post data to create comprehensive guidance on virtually any post or rail configuration.
I have personally conducted numerous load analyses based on our Intertek data for customers in Muskoka and Wasaga and had their engineers review our numbers from Intertek and approve the various designs. But I can not do this for hundreds of customers at a time. And this is what a growing group of people have been asking for and so this is what we are committed to providing. I wish this could happen at the snap of a finger but this is a major capital investment for a small but growing Canadian company. And my employees and I gratefully thank you all for your support and business. We recently received notice from the Canadian Patent office and were issued a patent for this product. We have also received notice from the US Patent Office that a patent will issue in the coming months. As you and tens of thousands of customers across Canada and the US can see, the concept of using a lightweight hollow tube to impale the core of a wood post provides an added level of strength that is missing if lag screws only are used while eliminating big ugly rusty external wrap around brackets. Rest assured you are dealing with a company that conceives, develops and brings to market some of the most innnovative building products in the world – and with engineering to back it up where required. If your region requires this kind of enhanced engineering reports, please stay tuned. You will very soon be able to offer your customers the most advanced surface mounted wood post anchor system in the world.
Kind regards, Richard Bergman, B.Comm, LLB
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