Recess plug for precast concrete panels

Abstract

A recess plug for positioning lifting anchors in precast concrete panel includes first and second hollow plug halves having complementary, frictionally-engaging mating surfaces, and also having pairs of projecting bosses positioned to overlap, when the plug halves are joined together, such that holes therethrough are in registry to receive nails therethrough for locking the plug halves together in enclosing relation with the head of an anchor as they are mounted on a vertical formwork wall. The plug halves also include boss portions for attaching a reinforcing bar to the plug assembly so that the reinforcing bar is properly positioned relative to the anchor held by the recess plug to bear the stresses applied to the anchor when the panel is lifted by the anchor. Each plug half includes a rear wall having a notch which forms an opening with the notch in the mating plug half sized to receive the shank of an anchor therethrough. The interior of each plug half is hollow and includes a pair of webs spaced apart to receive the shank of an anchor and including cutouts to receive an anchor head. The cutouts, webs and opening enable the recess plug to hold a lifting anchor firmly in cantilevered relation to the form wall on which the plug assembly is mounted without movement of the anchor relative to the plug during formwork set-up and concrete pouring of the precast concrete panel. Then after the formwork is dismantled, the plug is torn away to expose the anchor head for tilt-up use.