Born from the need to prevent failures like Boston’s Big Dig, the Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchors Council (AEFAC) is working to keep structures safe.
They are often the smallest parts of a project, yet their failure can bring down tonnes of concrete and steel. Anchors and fasteners rarely stand out on a blueprint, but their integrity can determine whether a structure lasts for decades or collapses without warning. For Australia, the push for stronger standards began with a tragedy thousands of kilometres away.
When a section of tunnel ceiling collapsed during Boston’s Big Dig in 2006, it claimed a life and exposed a gap in industry knowledge that was global in scale. The chemical anchors used were not inherently defective; the fault lay in their installation. Installers lacked the technical understanding to ensure they were secure, and engineers did not have the means to verify them. The failure prompted a reckoning. Across several countries, including Australia, industry leaders saw the need for design standards and installer training that could prevent such an event from recurring.
This momentum led to the formation of AEFAC in 2012. AEFAC is a national industry body dedicated to lifting the standard of structural anchors and fasteners in Australian construction, from specification and design through to selection and installation.
The council brings together manufacturers, distributors, academics and engineers, all committed to creating a safer built environment. Among its founding board members was Hobson Engineering, known for its focus on high-quality fasteners and its drive to lift industry practice.
Before AEFAC, the anchor industry in Australia was a patchwork of proprietary systems. Each supplier issued its own design guides, often using different testing methods and performance measures.
“With so many players in the market, it could be confusing for end users. Without a common framework, comparing products was difficult, and verifying safety was inconsistent,” says Alex Sharp, senior engineer at Hobson Engineering and an AEFAC board member. “AEFAC’s goal was to develop standards and educate the market on how to use these products safely and compare them between suppliers.”
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The council’s solution was to introduce a unified standard: AS 5216 for post-installed anchors and anchor channels. Referenced in the National Construction Code (NCC), it draws on the European Technical Assessment (ETA) system so that all products are tested under the same plan and requirements. For engineers, this means the ability to compare anchors on an equal footing, relying on independent, internationally recognised data rather than supplier-specific claims.
The adoption of the ETA has also driven up product quality across the board. By aligning with an established global system, Australia can incorporate the results of international research into its own practice, while tailoring requirements to local conditions.
Embedding the standard in regulation was a milestone, but compliance on paper does not guarantee performance on site. The challenge now is ensuring it is applied correctly, which is where installation comes into focus. While design principles can be codified, correct installation depends on the skill and knowledge of people on site.
AEFAC’s Installer Certification Program assesses both theoretical understanding and hands-on competence. Certified installers must follow manufacturer instructions, assess site conditions and know when to seek engineering advice. Sharp says this is where safety gains are most tangible.
“The biggest risks often come from poor installation rather than product quality,” he says. “Too often, products are handed to someone without the right experience, and the result can be poor installation. Training, witnessing some of the installations, and proof-load testing after installation can drastically improve safety and confidence in the outcome.”
Hobson Engineering’s commitment to quality made its involvement with AEFAC a natural fit. The company sees its role not only as a supplier but as an advocate for better products, stronger standards and widespread education. Supporting AEFAC’s work means contributing to an industry where catastrophic failures like the Big Dig are far less likely.
“For us, that means constant education, better products and better installation practices,” says Sharp.
AEFAC’s work continues to expand with recently formed committees for concrete and timber fastening, recognising that other structural connections warrant the same rigour. The timber fastening group is focusing on elements such as structural screws and nail plates in mass and engineered timber projects. While research into timber products is extensive, the fastenings that hold them together have not been examined to the same degree.
This attention to overlooked risks across different construction materials mirrors AEFAC’s broader approach of identifying gaps, looking to international examples and applying those lessons to local conditions. Following the Grenfell Tower fire in London, the fire performance of anchors has become a pressing topic, even though it is not yet addressed in Australian standards.
“AEFAC is working to address that,” says Sharp. “Seismic performance is another focus, especially given earthquake events in Australia and New Zealand. Durability expectations have also shifted from 50 years to 100 years or more, so we need to ensure anchors will perform over that timeframe.”
Over the past decade, AEFAC has changed the way anchors are specified and used in Australia. Safer products, clearer design guides and higher installation standards have lifted the baseline for structural safety.
Yet, as Sharp pointed out, the work is far from done. The evolution of construction materials, the drive for longer-lasting infrastructure and the lessons from major international events will continue to shape the council’s forward agenda.
His message to contractors, engineers and procurement teams? Know exactly what is happening on site before work begins.
“Assigning installation to someone without the right experience is a risk that can be avoided through proper training, oversight and testing,” says Sharp.
For those with questions, AEFAC remains an open resource. Whether it is guidance on installation, help with a specific application or troubleshooting an issue, the council’s aim is to support safe and effective use of anchors and fasteners in every project.
The safety of a structure can rest on components small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, yet capable of holding tonnes of weight. When anchors and fasteners are specified, tested and installed correctly, they become unseen guardians of safety. They hold firm through decades of service and help ensure that a preventable tragedy like the Big Dig remains a lesson, not a legacy.
AEFAC’s objectives
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