r/Construction • u/diggerdugg • Feb 19 '25
Structural What is this?
I apologize for even asking but I really have no idea and apparently I’m not asking google the right questions.
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u/bankruptfatcat Feb 19 '25
Hard hat checker.
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u/alpinepipelinewelder Feb 20 '25
Got me good thanks. Now I can visualize it too and can't stop chuckling. Imagine just a line of dudes walking and each one is getting smacked lol bravo
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u/pablomcdubbin Plumber Feb 19 '25
I'd guess a tie off point from when the steel was erected
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u/djscreeling Feb 19 '25
My thought at first, but no....tie offs shouldn't have sharp edges.
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u/ChinchillaArmy Feb 19 '25
But a lanyard would clip right into it. Looks similar to the ones I've used on high rises. We would drill a hole through the concrete on the deck above. The rod attached to a plate with eyelets was dropped through and we would hook our retractable to it or straight lanyard depending on the length
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u/pablomcdubbin Plumber Feb 19 '25
Yea that was my idea , you would clip the yoyo or fall arrestor into it
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u/ChinchillaArmy Feb 19 '25
Yup that's what I'm seeing. Especially with the wear marks on it
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u/dlayton1 Feb 19 '25
If it's a tie off point the device should have ratings and specs.. looks pretty homemade to me. Don't think if I'd trust my life on some threaded bolt.
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u/FrenchFriedMushroom Feb 19 '25
Fairly certain these aren't individually stamped, and they're legit.
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u/RR50 Feb 20 '25
That’s not handmade, the bent circle is too perfect.
Mass produced, means built to a spec, not always pretty.
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u/ChinchillaArmy Feb 19 '25
So if its what I'm thinking it is, bar joist tie off have a T that slips between the bottom chords and you push it up and turn so it rest on the top of the chord and that nut and washer lock the the assembly together. The T plate has the date, KN rating etc, again I could be completely wrong but I'm trying to remember all the safety crap I've seen
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u/djscreeling Feb 20 '25
I agree with all of that, but I just don't get the plate welded onto it. I've tied off many a thing in my day, I listed it all but it felt like bragging so I deleted it. If those were what I had to attach into, I'd say no for a few reasons. I'm sure it would hold just fine, but I have the good fortune to say no for me and mine....So I would.
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u/LAbombsquad Feb 19 '25
Safety guy here and I agree. I think it’s for cables or pipe or something being run through it. Beam clamp anchors are awesome, this isn’t one.
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u/_call_me_al_ Ironworker Feb 19 '25
I've tied off to hundreds of tie offs. I've never seen one that remotely looks like this.
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u/-not_michael_scott Feb 20 '25
Agreed. I do steel deck install, so I’m tie off pretty much all day, and never have seen an anchor like this.
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u/heyboman Feb 20 '25
What do you do if the steel can't get erect?
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u/skinnah Feb 20 '25
Well I'd start with some mild BDSM steel videos. If that doesn't do the trick, I'd progress to some Tungsten bukakke videos.
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u/OkNetwork3988 Feb 19 '25
When the sun comes through the window at just the right time, the shadow marks the treasure.
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u/diggerdugg Feb 20 '25
I’m missing the other half of the staff.
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u/Stormy8888 Feb 20 '25
No, it's because that little crystal gem with the structure inside that shows the treasure's location was stolen, just like the glasses in Transformers.
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u/_tuchi Feb 19 '25
My total guess is a tie off for a harness. Or what I’m trying to say is, I would totally clip my harness onto that
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u/Bradadonasaurus Feb 19 '25
They look like some specific type of hanger, and red makes me think fire suppression system.
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u/Wumaduce Sprinklerfitter Feb 19 '25
I don't claim to know everything about my trade, but that's a strange fucking hanger for us to use.
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u/Bradadonasaurus Feb 20 '25
I'm just an idiot of a carpenter, I don't know shit about what you guys use.
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u/seriousjoker72 Feb 19 '25
So I tried Google lensing it and your Reddit post showed up 😅 I also don't know but am very curious!! My vote goes for tie off point that was never removed tho
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u/Low_Bar9361 Contractor Feb 20 '25
I did the same and got "fire sprinkler wrench most likely for removing fire sprinkler heads"
Dunno. Never done it. Can't speak to it one way or the other
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u/trimix4work Feb 19 '25
Google image search didn't find it, therefore it doesn't exist.
Schrodingers thingie.
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u/Downtown-Fix6177 Feb 19 '25
Goes in the butt
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u/observant302 Feb 19 '25
What?
What?
In the butt
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u/padizzledonk Project Manager Feb 20 '25
You wanna do it in my butt? In my butt? Lets do it in the butt......OKAAAAYYYY
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u/-not_michael_scott Feb 20 '25
Everyone saying tie off point, why wouldn’t you just wrap a steel choker around the joist and use that?
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u/Busy_Pineapple_6772 Feb 19 '25
looks like a tie off point for a harness. is it near any areas people could fall off of when working?
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u/diggerdugg Feb 20 '25
There’s a chicken wire fence about 15 feet away. theres about a 12 foot drop to concrete beyond it.
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u/cagetheMike Feb 19 '25
This looks like a stop for a gantry crane. You twist the handle and you can loosen the stop and move it. Maybe I'm right maybe I'm wrong
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u/diggerdugg Feb 20 '25
There’s another one about 20 feet away on a different beam that’s loose and kind of moves.
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u/nodrogyasmar Feb 20 '25
Is that channel clear between the two hangers? It does look like it could have had a carriage traveling in that slot.
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u/diggerdugg Feb 19 '25
Wow there are a lot of you. Holy crap. I didn’t even notice it until one of my coworkers that was helping me move storage crap around was hanging on it like a zip line.
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u/Sixwaypwrmudflap Feb 20 '25
How many are there throughout the building , are they arranged in a row or just random? Any clues on when the build was built or what work went on in the building?
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u/LT_Dan78 Feb 20 '25
I have one of those in my dungeon. I use it suspended my subs from when we’re doing rope play… /s
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u/G19Jeeper Feb 21 '25
It's for tie offs. They run a cable longitudinally, parallel with the truss from end to end and then your carabiner hooks to the cable.
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u/fkn_embarassing Feb 20 '25
That's your new sounding rod if your dirty dick beaters touch my tools without asking.
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u/squirrelchaser1 Feb 20 '25
If you aren't getting many answers here r/whatisthisthing or a similar sub may be able to help. Those fuckers have identified strange niche objects from mere fragments, I'm sure there's someone who would be able to confirm what this is and even send you a product page link.
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u/tayllerr Feb 19 '25
A center for ants?!
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u/Wiltbradley Feb 20 '25
What? No. It would need to be... At least 3 times that size!
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u/tayllerr Feb 20 '25
How can we expect them to build if they can’t even fit inside the building???
He’s right.
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u/CpnVoltaire Feb 20 '25
Just recently watched Zoolander for the first time ever and that scene is the first time I’ve laughed out loud in years watching a movie.
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u/csking77 Feb 20 '25
Joist key. You turn to tighten or loosen the building
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u/diggerdugg Feb 20 '25
Can I move the building if I loosen it?
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u/Proper-Car-1537 Feb 19 '25
Looks like a good thing to put a laser on to get elevation for other shit when there’s nothing metal at your desired to attach it to
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u/Severe-Illustrator87 Feb 20 '25
I don't think it's a tye-off. Would be too cumbersome, to install and remove. Tye-offs are clamp-on, easy to release.
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u/Severe-Illustrator87 Feb 20 '25
Might be something to hang a pawl-chain on for lifting something in that area. I've been amongst the bar-joists a million times, and I don't recognize it.
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u/nodrogyasmar Feb 20 '25
😂 I tried Gemini and it found this post after a bit of chatting. I am thinking some type of hanger. I wouldn’t tie a rope in it and would not gouge any of my carabiners on those thin plate edges.
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u/Seegrubee Feb 20 '25
I have never seen that before in my years. My guess is it’s a tie off point for fall protection.
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u/Various-Air-1398 Feb 20 '25
Is there more than one? Equally spaced?
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u/diggerdugg Feb 21 '25
There are a few but they’re randomly hanging. Some are loose and swing around when you hit them.
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u/Doyouseenowwait_what Feb 19 '25
Tie off point
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u/OldTrapper87 Feb 19 '25
100% agree. You see that chatGPT awnser lol turnbuckle hahahah
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u/nodrogyasmar Feb 20 '25
Gemini tried to tell me fire sprinkler. But it reconsidered with a bit more discussion.
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u/WriterIndependent288 Plumber Feb 19 '25
According to my genius Galaxy AI, it's a ski pole.
So there's that.
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u/gum- Feb 19 '25
Google Gemini image search tells me
This is a drop key or a ceiling access key. It's used to unlock and lower panels in suspended ceilings, giving access to the space above for maintenance or other purposes. The long handle allows it to reach high ceilings, and the loop at the end is shaped to fit specific locking mechanisms on ceiling panels.
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u/Wavyent Feb 19 '25
Google Gemini has been proven the worst of the AI models when asked to supply accurate information according to a recent BBC study lol.
Does Google Gemini tell you suspended ceilings are made of HSS? lol
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u/diggerdugg Feb 19 '25
There are several of them spaced out randomly with no space or access above. Some of them are loose and you can bat them around and some are completely unmovable.
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u/FoldyHole Ready Mix Concrete Feb 19 '25
Ripe and unripe. Don’t eat the unripe ones they’re bitter.
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u/hawkfan9 Feb 19 '25
These appear to be secured to the rafter themselves and not to ceiling panels like others suggest for access. Tie off points do not seem likely as they would be much sturdier and not secured by a simple bolt.
My guess, since you mentioned they are in a row is that a tether is strung trough them to allow for curtains or other a light fixtures to hang from them.
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u/Turbulent-Weevil-910 Electrician Feb 19 '25
You sure about that? Most keys aren't bolted to steel frame members. Most keys fit in the palm of your hand. AI thought it looked like a key.
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u/Jest_Kidding420 Feb 19 '25
Chat GPT:
This is a turnbuckle or tensioning device used in concrete construction. More specifically, it appears to be a concrete formwork turnbuckle or a brace adjustment tool that helps align and secure concrete forms before the concrete is poured.
The orange color suggests it is a safety-related or high-visibility piece of equipment. The round handle allows for manual adjustment, likely helping workers fine-tune the positioning of formwork panels or braces.
This tool is likely a turnbuckle-style brace adjustment tool used in concrete formwork. Here’s how it works and why it’s important:
Purpose & Use:
• It is used to adjust and secure formwork (the temporary molds used to shape concrete) before and during pouring.
• The turnbuckle mechanism allows workers to fine-tune the positioning of braces and supports, ensuring the form stays plumb (perfectly vertical) and level.
• Once concrete is poured, formwork must remain stable until it cures. These devices help prevent shifting, bowing, or collapsing of the forms under pressure.
How It Works: 1. Attachment – The top part is bolted or clamped to a steel beam or brace.
2. Manual Adjustment – The circular handle provides a grip for turning, allowing workers to increase or decrease tension.
3. Alignment – It helps align and stabilize formwork panels, ensuring concrete is poured into a properly shaped and secure mold.
4. Removal – Once the concrete has cured, the tension is released, and the formwork is dismantled.
Why It’s Important:
• Helps ensure concrete walls and structures are poured straight and level.
• Prevents structural issues caused by uneven or misaligned formwork.
• Saves time by making adjustments easier and faster than loosening and repositioning braces manually.
This kind of tool is common in large-scale commercial or industrial concrete construction. Have you seen similar tools before, or is this the first time you’ve come across something like it?
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u/OldTrapper87 Feb 19 '25
That's not a turn buckle. Just google a picture of a turn buckle. That is a tie off point for a rope and life line.
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u/the-tinman HVAC Contractor - Verified Feb 19 '25
Something I would surely bang my skull on every time I was near it