Method and apparatus for securing a duct bank via hold-down bars

A method for securing a duct bank in a trench, the method comprising:

• a) placing a hold-down bar across a top of the duct bank in the trench;
• b) placing a one-way retainer a specified distance from a near end of a securing rod;
• c) placing a far end of the securing rod through an orifice of the hold-down bar until the far end of the securing rod rests on a bottom of the trench;
• d) securely embedding the far end of the securing rod into the trench until the one-way retainer slightly deforms the hold-down bar;
• e) repeating the steps of b) through d) for each orifice of the hold-down bar using a separate securing rod and a seperate one-way retainer for each orifice of the hold-down bar;
• and
• f) optionally, placing one or more additional hold-down bars across the top of the duct bank and repeating steps b) through d) for each orifice of the one or more additional hold-down bars, using a separate securing rod and a seperate one-way retainer for each orifice of the one or more additional hold-down bars.

A method for securing a duct bank in a trench, the method comprising:

• a) placing a hold-down bar across a top of the duct bank in the trench;
• b) placing a one-way retainer into a counterbore of a one-way retainer installation tool;
• c) placing the one-way retainer onto a near end of a securing rod using the one-way retainer installation tool until the near end of the securing rod bottoms out in the one-way retainer installation tool;
• d) removing the one-way installation tool from the securing rod;
• e) placing a far end of the securing rod through an orifice of the hold-down bar until the far end of the securing rod rests on a bottom of the trench;
• and
• f) securely embedding the far end of the securing rod into the trench until the one-way retainer slightly deforms the hold-down bar;
• g) repeating the steps of b) through f) for each orifice of the hold-down bar with a separate securing rod and a seperate one-way retainer for each orifice;
• and
• h) optionally, placing one or more additional hold-down bars across the top of the duct bank and repeating steps b) through f) for each orifice of the one or more additional hold-down bars, using a separate securing rod and a seperate one-way retainer for each orifice of the one or more additional hold-down bars.

A tool for placing a one-way retainer onto a securing rod for embedding in a trench to secure a duct bank in the trench, the tool comprising:

• a handle on a proximal end of the tool;
• a counterbore for mounting the one-way retainer on a distal end of the tool;
• and
• a gauge for placing the one-way retainer a specified distance onto the securing rod,
• wherein the duct bank is secured in the trench by a first end of the securing rod embedded in the trench and the one-way retainer secures a hold-down bar atop the duct bank near a second end of the securing rod.