8/6/2009
NEWS BRIEFS
Concrete Bolt Epoxy Scrutiny Continues

Substandard anchor bolt adhesive similar to product utilized in Boston’s Big Dig Tunnel was reportedly used in major repair work on Taipei’s Xinsheng Overpass in Tawian, according to the Taipei Times.

Officials are reportedly looking into whether adhesive manufacturer Sika USA adequately notified city government after the company’s recall of Sikadure AnchorFix-3 and Sikadure AnchorFix-4 in January, the Times reports.

“The injection gel was used to bond bolts and cement together in quake-proof enhancement constructions such as the widening of bridge cap beams and the installation of sear blocks that prevent cap beams from shifting horizontally and bridge rail anchoring,” City Bureau of Highways chief Chen Jin-yuan was quoted in the China Post.

The city government has stopped using Sikadure AnchorFix-4 for construction and demanded that the contractor “use adhesive from other manufacturers and conduct a safety assessment within a week.”

The 25-year-old Xinsheng Overpass has undergone a $48 million repair process in the past year, and is scheduled to reopen in September.

Faulty fastener epoxy made international headlines in July 2006 when a Boston woman was crushed to death after portions of the Big Dig’s concrete ceiling collapsed. The collapse occurred when about 20 epoxy bolts popped out, releasing several 4,500-pound ceiling panels onto the woman’s car.

In that case, epoxy manufacturer Powers Fasteners agreed to pay $16 million in exchange for one count of manslaughter being dropped against the company. ©2009 GlobalFastenerNews.com