Article courtesy of the Fastener Training Institute
training: faqs
It’s important to know your fastener facts and standards to ensure a high level of safety and accuracy when assembling structural buildings or applications.
What are some critical structural fastener facts you should know? The late Joe Greenslade, an icon in the fastener industry, once wrote: “The technology of mechanical fasteners is much more complex and varied than most people understand until they embark on a career where they either supply or specify the use of mechanical fasteners.” Those with a career in the industry can most certainly attest to the accuracy of this statement. Those who are in the process of training or upgrading their skills can also likely relate to the importance of learning about the different fastener types, materials, tools, and assembly methods available. After all, these components are responsible for holding or joining
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applications together. It’s extremely important to specify and choose fasteners wisely and install them correctly. Greenslade taught mechanical fastener technology for 45 years, publishing more than 300 informational articles. He also served eight years as the director of Engineering & Technology at the Industrial Fasteners Institute, a trade organization for North American mechanical fastener manufacturers. In 2015, Greenslade compiled a list of his most frequently asked questions with answers that cover the specifying, inspecting, and installing of mechanical fasteners — and more. Here are a few of his answers that
December 2021 www.fastenerengineering.com
are mostly related to structural bolts, materials, and related standards. What are the four most commonly used structural bolt material standards and what material strength levels are they associated with? The most commonly used structural bolt material standards are ASTM A325 and F1852, which are 120 ksi tensile strength, and A490 and F2280, which are 150 ksi tensile strength. These grades are covered in the ASTM F3125. What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 3 structural bolts? DESIGN WORLD
