Epoxy resin to secure safe to concrete slab? Advice needed

swagge1 · Aug 17, 2014

Hi guys, in the next few weeks I'll be starting construction on my new house. I'll have 2 24 gun safes and I want to secure them to the concrete floor. We are doing scored and stained concrete so there is no issue with wood, tile, carpet, etc there. This will be a post tension slab, so it'll have cables under high stress running through the concrete. The drawings do have the cable locations, and I will be able to take pics and measurements as the concrete is poured over them. Even with all this data I'm still going to be leery of drilling into the slab with a Hilti drill for anchor bolts. Is anyone aware of any epoxy resins or like products to secure steel safes to a concrete slab?

Thanks for any help/experience.
-Scott W.

ColbyLang · Aug 17, 2014

I'm afraid that if you would use an epoxy of sorts, it would eventually harden and you would lose your bond. Out of curiosity, why the need to bond it down? The safe weighs 700-800 # empty. Afraid that someone is gonna steal the whole damn thing? My two aren't anchored. Hell, I can barely budge one of em by myself.

pullstart · Aug 17, 2014

Use a Hilti threaded insert. You only have to drill those in less than 2". The cables are located near the bottom of the slab surface.

RedStickChick · Aug 17, 2014

ColbyLang said:
I'm afraid that if you would use an epoxy of sorts, it would eventually harden and you would lose your bond. Out of curiosity, why the need to bond it down? The safe weighs 700-800 # empty. Afraid that someone is gonna steal the whole damn thing? My two aren't anchored. Hell, I can barely budge one of em by myself.

I agree with this. My dad has 2-3 large safes, none of which are bolted down.

What's your reasoning to bolting them down? Do you not want to ever move them in the future?

swagge1 · Aug 17, 2014

The safes Im buying weigh about 500# each. And after watching the following video I plan on always bolting them down. The safes will stay with the house as I plan on living in it for 30ish years.

The action starts about the 30 second mark.

swagge1 · Aug 17, 2014

pullstart said:
Use a Hilti threaded insert. You only have to drill those in less than 2". The cables are located near the bottom of the slab surface.

I will look into these inserts. Thanks for the info. I didn't know they made such a device.
Is this what you are talking about? http://www.ohioservicesupply.com/adhesive-anchoring/HIT-Z-anchor-rods.php

It shows minumum hole depth to be 2 3/8". Thats not too bad

Expert684 · Aug 17, 2014

Bolt them together? You could always unbolt them if you had to move them. Unless they are in two separate rooms?

swagge1 · Aug 17, 2014

Expert684 said:
Bolt them together? You could always unbolt them if you had to move them. Unless they are in two separate rooms?

They will be in the same room. Bolting them together...interesting idea, but I think that would probably void the warranty somehow.

pullstart · Aug 17, 2014

Below are the anchors I am referring to. With a drop in anchor, you mark the floor, drill the hole and set the anchor. Then you install a bolt from inside your safe and snug it down tight. It would be very difficult to set the safe in place if you use anchors that have thread sticking out of the slab.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hilti-HDI-1-2-in-Steel-Drop-In-Anchors-4-Pack-337954/100325188

US Infidel · Aug 17, 2014

Although I have a raised house and have mine lagged down, it's also in a closet with shelving built in around it; all screwed together and overlapping the edges of the safe. It would take a little more work to get it out. I don't know anything about epoxy but there are products to do what your asking. They use them in construction.

A5Mag12 · Aug 17, 2014

pullstart said:
It would be very difficult to set the safe in place if you use anchors that have thread sticking out of the slab.

Actually it's quite easy. You set the safe in place then drill through the safe into the floor and install a standard Hilti bolt.

A5Mag12 · Aug 17, 2014

If you just wanted to bolt them together have a piece of plate steel cut to fit under both and bolt them to the plate.

pullstart · Aug 17, 2014

Point taken regarding installing a threaded wedge anchors through the base of the safe, however I have not had great success with such anchors. Once you hammer them in place I have difficulties with the threads accepting the hardware. I have had others pull out once I have tightened on them, therefore I prefer to use inserts for this application. If I for some reason had to use a threaded anchor I would want to somehow verify its snug before setting the safe in place. I also would not want to have (4) threaded bolts sticking up in my safe. If you decide to ever move the safe, the threaded inserts will make moving the safe much easier.

#1bambam · Aug 17, 2014

You can also screw them to the wall studs.

Richard in LA · Aug 18, 2014

If you're willing to drill 2-3/8" to put an insert, why not just drill the same depth and use standard concrete anchors? I recently moved and did just this, my safe BARELY fit in the closet it's in, took a lot of friends to maneuver it in there. It's bolted to the slab, wall and I built close fitting shelves above it and on the side of it. If I move again, I'm just buying a new safe it was such a pain to get in there. Had to remove baseboards and shoe molding and even bust a little drywall to get it in.

US Infidel · Aug 18, 2014

Another option, have your builder lay a steel plate in the slab to drill and tap into. Or get an in-floor safe in place before they pour the slab. or see if your builder has suggestions for it, or if they know of the correct epoxy if you go that route. Quick search: http://chemcosystems.com/tech_platebond.html

A5Mag12 · Aug 18, 2014

Since this is new construction you could have a combo storm room/gun vault built into the house. They sell safe doors that swing in that can be opened from the inside just for this. You want one that swings in so when the house is destroyed in a storm and pilled up in front of the door you can still open it up and get out.

kingfhb · Aug 18, 2014

OPTION 1:
Measure the bottom of the safe, then have the concrete pourers make indentations to recess the safe into the concrete about two inches... then fill the recesses about 1/4th of the way with concrete anchoring epoxy.

OPTION 2:
Measure a sheet of 1" plywood (or steel) to cover the base of both safes.
Measure your bolt holes in the bottom of the safes and mount bolts in the plywood where your safe will sit.
Have the concrete pourers lay the sheet of plywood into the concrete before it's 100% dry.
mount your safes on top of the plywood.

OPTION 3:
Measure a sheet of 1" plywood (or steel) to cover the base of both safes.
Measure your bolt holes in the bottom of the safes and mount bolts in the plywood where your safe will sit.
Have the concrete pourers create a or 2" recess in the concrete where you will place the safe.
Secure the plywood to the concrete floor with concrete anchoring epoxy.
mount your safes on top of the plywood.

OPTION 4:
Have them put long bolts and steel base plates in the floor BEFORE they pour the slab.

Are you really worried about someone carting off two 500lb safes?? They would more than likely pass on it and not even try.

Some other solutions...

1. Stop bragging to people how many weapons you've got and no one will know you have them!!
2. Don't build a house in a neighborhood where you're expecting expert safe crackers ( What is this oceans eleven?) to defeat your security system (hopefully you're installing one) just to steal your weapons.
3. Get better friends that you can trust!
4. See someone about your trust issues and paranoia.

:rofl:

mike84z28 · Aug 18, 2014

24 gun safes are not as heavy as you would think. A good refrigerator dolly can move one with ease. I would have the concrete guy set 8 plate anchors in the slab at the location of the safes. These are very common and cheap as concrete guys set them on the perimeter of most conventional slab houses to bolt down the walls. Use the dolly to set your safes onto the threaded portion of the anchor and your done.

whitsend · Aug 18, 2014

That video is terrible.

Who has a safe that is sitting in the middle of the floor, not up against a wall? Preferably in a corner.

Since you are building and the safe will be staying put, have it in a corner and build a third wall on the other side. Bolt it to all three walls.
You can also build a shelf/ceiling on top (after the safe is in) so there is no way to get it out without tearing out the walls..

Or better yet, since you are building, build a safe room with a vault door.
http://www.ftknox.com/vaults/vault-room-doors/
http://www.libertysafe.com/safe-vault-doors-safes-ps-13.html
http://www.rhinovault.com/
http://www.pentagonsafes.com/storm-shelters.html

Epoxy resin to secure safe to concrete slab? Advice needed

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