Unistrut Concrete Inserts 101
October 6, 2026
When it comes to construction, there's no avoiding concrete. It is often the surface of the ceilings, floors, and walls of new builds, requiring all other materials to mount to it. A secure connection relies on a reliable concrete anchor and meticulous planning.
Concrete anchors can be added to build sites after the concrete has cured, but that involves drilling into the concrete, which can compromise the strength of the surface and release potentially harmful dust into the air. Instead, Unistrut recommends concrete inserts that are installed in pre-cast, pre-stressed, and poured-in-place surfaces. This creates an embedded anchor system that provides strength and convenience.
Unistrut's concrete inserts come in two types: spot inserts and continuous inserts. Deciding which anchor is right for your job comes down to what you want to support and where.
Unistrut Spot Concrete Inserts
As the name suggests, spot inserts create an attachment point at a single spot in the concrete. These fixed points are useful when there are obstructions on the ceiling, allowing for a secure connection without requiring much ceiling space.
While spot inserts can have a rather high point load, up to 1500 pounds for Unistrut spot concrete inserts, that is also the total allowable uniform load. With only one fixed point of connection, your solution has fewer options for both location and weight limits. They also require precise measurements and are labor-intensive to install.
One of the primary benefits of the Unistrut system is its flexibility and ease of use. This comes from the weldless connection that can occur at virtually any point on the Unistrut channel. Using a spot insert limits that connection point. That's why Unistrut also offers a continuous concrete insert.
Unistrut Continuous Concrete Inserts
Unistrut continuous concrete inserts create a channel in the concrete, resulting in an adjustable connection point for your Unistrut system. Instead of a singular point, Unistrut channel nuts can attach anywhere along the continuous insert, taking full advantage of the flexibility of Unistrut. This means you can rearrange, adjust, or swap out your Unistrut material as necessary both at the time of installation and in the future without drilling into the concrete for a new anchor point.
In addition to the increased ease of use, continuous concrete inserts provide an increased maximum allowable uniform load when compared to spot inserts; up to 5000 pounds depending on which part is used. See the charts below for more information.
Unistrut Heavy Duty Concrete Inserts
Unistrut heavy duty spot concrete inserts can accommodate up to 5700 pounds of tension in 3000 psi concrete, and Unistrut heavy duty continuous concrete inserts have a maximum allowable uniform load of 5000 pounds.
P3246
P3754
Unistrut Standard Duty Concrete Inserts
Unistrut standard duty concrete inserts can accommodate maximum allowable uniform loads of 500 to 4000 pounds.
P3200 Series
Unistrut Light Duty Concrete Inserts
Unistrut light duty concrete inserts can accommodate maximum allowable uniform loads of 400 to 3000 pounds.
P3300 Series
Unistrut Midwest is a full-service solution partner with decades of experience in Unistrut and secondary construction. For assistance selecting the right concrete insert for your project, contact our knowledgeable team.
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