What should I do if a hammer drill hits steel while drilling anchors in a concrete slab?

Stop drilling immediately. Do not force the bit through steel in a post-tension or structural slab. Mark the location, protect the hole, and get direction before relocating anchors or scanning the slab.

['Hitting steel while drilling anchors is not a normal “push harder” moment. In commercial slabs, especially post-tensioned decks, that obstruction could be rebar, a tendon, embed, sleeve, conduit, or other structural component.', 'The field move is to stop the bit, mark the location, tell the foreman, and verify the slab condition before changing the hanger layout. The likely recovery is an approved shifted hanger location, a different anchor detail, or a GPR/scan layout. Final anchor placement belongs to the approved support detail, foreman, and structural/project direction.']

Stop if

• Use this as training guidance. The foreman, approved drawings, project specs, manufacturer installation instructions, employer safety policy, and AHJ/code requirements always control the final answer.

Check

• Damaging a tendon, structural steel, conduit, or embedded system can create a major safety, structural, electrical, or liability problem.

Steps

• Stop drilling and keep the bit from chewing deeper into the obstruction.
• Mark the hole location, gridline/room, deck elevation, and affected hanger or trapeze.
• Check whether the slab is post-tensioned, structural concrete, metal deck, or has embedded services.
• Look for project rules requiring scanning/GPR before drilling.
• Ask before shifting anchors, abandoning holes, or changing the support layout.

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