--- title: "What Are Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) Used For?" description: "Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) (Trade series (nail-in anchor)) are used for fixing steelwork, plant and services to concrete and masonry, where the anchor i…" url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/drive-anchors/ source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners --- # What Are Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) Used For? Anchors & Concrete Fixings · Trade series (nail-in anchor) · Application guide Typical applications, the industries that specify drive anchors (nail-in anchors), and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint. Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) are used for fixing steelwork, plant and services to concrete and masonry, where the anchor is set in a drilled hole and its capacity is governed by the base material rather than by the steel. They are manufactured to Trade series (nail-in anchor), and selection is driven by the nominal diameter, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment. - **Primary duty:** Fixing steelwork, plant and services to concrete and masonry, where the anchor is set in a drilled hole and its capacity is governed by the base material rather than by the steel - **Governing standard:** Trade series (nail-in anchor) - **Nominal diameter range:** 5 mm to 8 mm - **Category:** Anchors & Concrete Fixings Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation. ![What Are Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Drive-Anchors.webp) Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) are used primarily for fixing steelwork, plant and services to concrete and masonry, where the anchor is set in a drilled hole and its capacity is governed by the base material rather than by the steel. This page lists the industries and assemblies where they are specified, the selection criteria that matter for each application, installation practice, and the cases where a different fastener type is the correct choice. Parts are supplied to Trade series (nail-in anchor). Stocked across roughly 5 mm to 8 mm, they cover general to heavy-duty work. ## Typical Applications for Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) The most common settings where these are specified: - **Fit-out & drylining:** fixing to plasterboard, block and hollow wall where there is no solid backing. - **General machine building:** fastening covers, brackets, motors and sub-assemblies on production equipment. - **Maintenance & repair (MRO):** a stocked size for servicing existing plant where the original fastener spec must be matched. - **Fabrication & metalwork:** bench and on-site assembly of steel frames, enclosures and weldments. - **Structural fixing to concrete:** base plates, brackets, rails and steelwork bolted to a concrete slab or wall. 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This product spans 5 mm–8 mm; check the full table below for the exact dimensions of each size. - **Material:** Choose the material and finish for the service environment — plated steel for general use, stainless for corrosion resistance. - **Environment:** For damp, coastal or chemical exposure prefer A4/316 stainless or a suitable coating; indoors, plated steel or A2 is usually sufficient. - **Standard:** This product is supplied to Trade series (nail-in anchor). Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers. ## Where Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) Are Not the Right Choice Match the fastener to the load, environment and whether the joint must be reopened; the wrong class or style is the usual cause of joint failure. Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing ## Need a drive anchors (nail-in anchors) outside the standard range? Length and corrosion protection are the usual specials. The load a fixing will take is decided by the concrete and the edge distance, not by ordering a longer anchor. Made by hot forging or thread rolling. Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval. [Custom anchor & concrete fixing manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/anchors/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/anchors/#rfq) ## Technical Drawing Dimensioned line drawing of 5 Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) to Trade series (nail-in anchor). Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected. - **Drill hole diameter (mm):** 5 - **Anchor length (mm):** 30 - **Embedment depth (mm):** 25 - **Head diameter (mm):** 10.0 - **Head type:** Mushroom - **Material:** Zinc plated steel - **Removable:** No ## Dimensions & Specifications (Trade series (nail-in anchor)) | Nominal diameter (mm) | Drill hole diameter (mm) | Anchor length (mm) | Embedment depth (mm) | Head diameter (mm) | Head type | Material | Removable | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5 | 5 | 30 | 25 | 10.0 | Mushroom | Zinc plated steel | No | | 5 | 5 | 40 | 25 | 10.0 | Mushroom | Zinc plated steel | No | | 6 | 6 | 40 | 30 | 12.0 | Mushroom | Zinc plated steel | No | | 6 | 6 | 60 | 30 | 12.0 | Mushroom | Zinc plated steel | No | | 8 | 8 | 60 | 35 | 16.0 | Countersunk | Zinc plated steel | No | Inside the plant ## Manufactured in our own plant This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided. 1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift. 2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g. 3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1. 4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What are Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) used for? Fixing steelwork, plant and services to concrete and masonry, where the anchor is set in a drilled hole and its capacity is governed by the base material rather than by the steel. They are supplied to Trade series (nail-in anchor). ### Which industries use Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors)? They are commonly specified in structural fixing to concrete, building services and plant & machine installation, among other sectors. ### How do I choose the right size of Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors)? Match the nominal size to the mating thread or hole. This product is available from 5 mm to 8 mm; the full dimension table on this page lists each size. ### What material should Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) be for outdoor use? For damp, coastal or chemical environments specify A4 (316) stainless or a suitably coated steel. For indoor or dry use, A2 (304) stainless or zinc-plated steel is normally adequate. ### Can I get a quote for Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) in the size and material I need? Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time. ## Related Pages Product page: [Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/drive-anchors/) ### Drive Anchors (Nail-In Anchors) Specification Guides ### Related Fastener Applications