Dictionary

ANCHOR - A foundation in tension, usually attached to a tendon to transfer the load to a structure. A common anchor application would be a buried plate in the earth using a rod or cable to hold a structure subject to wind loads such as a mobile home.

AASHTO - The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. This group of government and private companies studies methods and material applications and sets performance standards for materials and procedures.

BEARING PLATE - The CHANCE anchor system utilizes "bearing plates" to carry the loads. The CHANCE bearing plates are formed in the shape of a helix so that they can be rotated (screwed) into the soil. Bearing plates are one of the most efficient methods of transferring loads to the soil. A slab or a footing are other types of bearing load transfers.

BOCA - The Building Officials and Code Administrators International. This group sets minimum building standards for the USA's Midwest and Northeast.

COMPRESSION - the force pushing or loading down. This can be caused by dead weight, live loads, rotation of structure, etc...

FHWA - The Federal Highway Administration. This is the federal governmental body that regulates highway construction, oversees and inspects design and construction of federal highways.

FOUNDATION - a structure in or on the soil to transfer the load to soil to stabilize the super structure.

HELIX, HELICES - This is defined as one flight of a screw thread, often called a spiral or auger shape. The CHANCE bearing plates are shaped in a helix with a 3 inch pitch so the bearing plate advances into the soil 3 inches with each revolution of the anchor shaft. When multiple helices are used, the helices are spaced in increments of 3 inches so that the helices can "track" the leading helix; this minimizes soil disturbance.

ICBO - The International Conference of Building Officials. This building code group sets minimum building standards for most of the USA west of the Mississippi River. Some states, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Texas, and West Virginia, have two codes or different codes. Not all counties or municipals adopt building codes.

INSITU - Refers to the existing soil in place, the original material at the construction site.

ISO 9001 - This is an international organization that sets the minimum criteria for quality standards a company must have in place to participate in the ISO program.

MOORING - A place to tie or fasten a boat. As used in the CHANCE web site, this is a line or chain to a floating buoy that fasten to a submerged screw anchor.

NEMA - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association. This organization sets standards for manufacturers on utility electrical type products.

PAPI and NAVID - FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) acronyms for landing and navigational control systems.

PILES - Supply and install all different types and sizes of steel pipe piles and square shaft piles.

SBCCI - The Southern Building Code Congress International also called the Standard Building Code. This group sets the minimum building codes for the southeast section of the USA from the Mississippi River east and north to the 36.5 degree parallel. Some states, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Texas, and West Virginia, have two codes or different codes. Not all counties or municipals adopt building codes.

SHEAR STRENGTH - A measurement test to determine the ability of soil to hold loads (cohesive soil, clay).

SOIL NAIL - A state of the art method of stabilizing a soil mass. A soil nail is to soil as steel reinforcing bar is to concrete. The object of soil nailing is to create a gravity wall to act as a retaining wall.

TENDON - The shaft of an anchor used to pull against the anchor plate to hold a structure.

TENSILE - The force pulling an anchor system. This can be caused by wind, ice loads, wall pressures, etc...