Simpson Strong-Tie® Anchoring Adhesives

Choosing the Right Simpson Strong-Tie Anchoring Adhesive

Strong-Bond™ — everyday anchoring and repair

A fast-cure adhesive for handrails, gate and fence posts, lights, signs, crack repair and decorative stone. Color Cure™ technology dispenses blue and turns gray when cured, and the cartridge fits a standard caulking gun. It is not code listed, so use it only where no engineered or inspected anchor is required.

AT-3G™ — cold weather and same-day loading

A code-listed hybrid acrylic for threaded rod and rebar in cracked and uncracked concrete. It installs in concrete as cold as 23°F and cures in 30 minutes at 68°F, so anchors can be loaded the same day. Evaluated under ICC-ES ESR-5026 with a Florida HVHZ supplement.

SET-3G™ 8.5 oz and SET-3G™ 22 oz — maximum strength

Simpson's high-strength 1:1 epoxy for threaded rod and rebar in cracked and uncracked concrete and in grouted or ungrouted CMU, with a long working time for deep holes and large diameters. Code listed under ICC-ES ESR-4057 (concrete, with Florida HVHZ supplement) and ESR-4844 (masonry). Choose the 22 oz cartridge for larger jobs and post-installed rebar connections.

Code-Listed vs. Non-Specified Adhesives

When plans, an engineer or a building inspector call for an adhesive anchor, the product must be evaluated for that use in a current code report, such as an ICC-ES ESR, and installed exactly as its printed instructions require. AT-3G and SET-3G meet that requirement. Strong-Bond is intended for everyday, non-specified anchoring and repairs.

Installation Basics

1. Drill the hole with a rotary hammer to the diameter and depth the product instructions or your design require.
2. Clean the hole thoroughly, following the blow-brush-blow sequence on the cartridge label.
3. Check the expiration date and the temperature limits for the product you are using.
4. Attach the mixing nozzle supplied with the cartridge and dispense to waste as the label directs.
5. Fill the hole from the bottom up, insert the rod or bar, and leave it undisturbed for the full cure time before loading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which adhesive should I use in cold weather?

AT-3G is the code-listed choice for cold weather and installs in concrete down to 23°F. Strong-Bond cures down to 14°F for non-specified work. SET-3G requires concrete at 40°F or warmer and cures slowly at low temperatures.

Can I use a regular caulking gun?

Only with Strong-Bond. AT-3G and SET-3G must be dispensed with Simpson Strong-Tie dispensing tools: the CDT10S for the 8.5 oz and 9.5 oz cartridges, and the EDT22S, EDTA22P or EDTA22CKT for the 22 oz cartridge.

Which adhesive is approved for block walls?

SET-3G is code listed for grouted and ungrouted concrete masonry under ICC-ES ESR-4844.

Can I use stainless steel threaded rod?

Yes. The SET-3G and AT-3G code reports both cover stainless steel threaded rod and permit it for exterior and damp exposures, where zinc-plated rod is limited to dry, interior locations.

Which size should I buy for rebar splices and development length?

Use the SET-3G 22 oz cartridge with a Simpson 22 oz dispenser for post-installed rebar connections.