For over a decade, curtain wall contractors have entrusted in Hilti to help securely attach their curtain wall façades to the building structure. Over this time, Hilti's Façade Team has gathered data to develop a more optimized and cost-effective anchor channel portfolio for curtain wall applications. In 2022, Hilti introduced the new HAC-V anchor channel portfolio which outperforms its predecessor by up to one embed size. HAC-V is the result of the dynamic collaboration between our trusted façade customers and Hilti.

OPTIMIZED ANCHOR CHANNEL DESIGN

The HAC-V anchor channels are an optimized embed portfolio tailored for curtain wall façade applications with simplicity in mind. The enhanced design of the new HAC-V anchor channel include:

1.    Increased lip capacity
2.    Increased flexural capacity of the channel profile
3.    Increased connection capacity
4.    Improvement connection robustness
5.    Optimized anchor length
6.    Reduced edge distance



Beyond the higher performance, some additional benefits of the new HAC-V anchor channel portfolio include:

• helping reduce the number of different embeds on-site
• reduction of clashes with slab’s elements
• reducing the number of t-bolts
• changing rebar channels to studs, and others

HILTI HAC-V PORTFOLIO

The new HAC-V portfolio consists of the following anchor channel solutions:

• Standard HAC-V Anchor Channel – a cast-in anchor channel with upgraded load capacity and multiple embedment depths for more economical fastening of curtain wall facades.
• HAC-V Rebar XTS – cast-in anchor channel for front-of-slab applications
• HAC-V Edge (Lite) – serrated cast-in anchor channels in custom sizes and length for top-of-slab installations of curtain wall facades catering to 3-dimensional loading.

SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION WITH ONE T-BOLT TYPE

The Hilti anchor channel portfolio maintains a similar channel profile geometry throughout the different channel sizes offered, thus allowing for one t-bolt type to be utilized in light-duty to heavy-duty anchor channels. The benefits of a single t-bolt type include:

• Help avoid installation mistakes and field fixes by utilizing the same installation torque for all t-bolts
• Less components on-site helps simplify operations and installation
• Economies of scales optimize the production cost of the t-bolt, bringing additional project savings

HILTI RESOURCES FOR CAST-IN ANCHOR CHANNEL DESIGN

Do you have a project where you are challenged to find a suitable façade attachment solution? Hilti offers a variety of resources to help with your design.

• Visit our website to see the details of HAC-V Anchor Channel and T-Bolt.
• Download the ICC Evaluation Report ESR-3520 for the HAC-V portfolio.
• Design your anchor channel system using Hilti’s PROFIS Engineering Software. PROFIS Engineering Software, calculating and modeling software is designed to help you produce more accurate anchor channel system designs in less time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jesus Barreda, P.E., is the Director of Façade Business Development at Hilti North America.