Tag ASTM

The term “lock washer” can include a huge variety of different products used in many different applications that often are very specific and can include many different grades, materials and purposes. When our customers refer to a lock washer, we assume they are referencing a “split lock washer” that is a generic lock washer that you would see on any general construction site. Generic split Lock washers are not regarded as structural components, since they are just fixing a nut into place, and thus do not have the same amount of scrutiny that nuts and bolts have. Due to this, there is currently no ASTM specification that covers a generic split lock washer. Also, there is no high strength lock washer specification by ASTM and generic lock washers are often used with high strength bolts, since there is no “high strength” lock washer specification or any grades at all for that matter.

The typical imported lock washer that would be commonly sourced does not have any paperwork or certifications and is only manufactured to dimensional requirement called for by ASME B18.21.1. Portland Bolt also stocks some domestic lock washers that do have certifications. These certifiable lock washers are typically made with 1060 material and have paperwork that will typically, but not always, state the material they were made from, the chemical analysis of the material, perhaps the hardness, and galvanization specification that they are hot-dip galvanized to, if they are galvanized. On the vast majority of construction jobs that Portland Bolt has been involved in, if not virtually all of them, when we are required to supply a lock washer we supply a generic lock washer without certifications that is perfectly acceptable. It is possible to have lock washers made or sourced in high strength materials, in specific configurations or manufactured to certain strength requirements, but this would be an unusual and highly custom part that would have to specified by an engineer.

No. Just like in the case of anchor bolts being specified as A325, supplying anchor bolts as ASTM A490 is technically something that should be avoided. This is because the A490 specification is intended to cover heavy hex head bolts for structural steel connections only. This is mentioned in several places within the A490 specification. There are a couple of problems with trying to make A490 anchor bolts or rods. First, because the A490 specification is intended for a specific application, it calls for very short thread lengths that are tied to the bolts diameter (regardless of bolt length). The second problem is that the A490 specification has very stringent testing requirements including a magnetic particle inspection test that is not required by other ASTM fastener specifications. This adds unnecessary cost and lead time delays to the production that there is simply no need for. For anchor bolts with the same strength and chemistry as an A490 structural bolt, but without the constraints on application, configuration, thread length, and special testing requirements, ASTM A354 Grade BD should considered. As can be seen in the chart below, in the diameters covered by the A490 specification (1/2”-1-1/2”) the two specs have nearly identical strength requirements.

Grade Marking	Specification	Material and Treatment	Nominal Size (In.)	Mechanical Properties					Hardness Rockwell
				Proof Load Min (ksi)	Yield Strength Min (ksi)	Tensile Strength Min (ksi)	Elong % Min [9]	RA % Min [10]	Min	Max
	A490 Type 1	Medium Carbon Alloy Steel, Q & T	1⁄2" - 11⁄2"	120	130	150 min 173 max	14	40	C33	C38
	A354 Grade BD [6]	Medium Carbon Alloy Steel, Q & T	All Sizes	-	130	150-173	14	40	C33	C38

Portland Bolt manufactures a wide range of bolts and fasteners to numerous standards set by many different organizations and specifying committees. There are many different organizations for fasteners, all of which have their own set of standards and guidelines for manufacturing. We, as estimators, are often asked what the acronyms for such organizations and committees stand for. Here is a detailed list with explanations for each of these organizations and committees.

ASTM International (Formerly American Society for Testing and Materials)

ASTM International is a globally recognized leader for developing international standards. Currently, there are at least 12,000 ASTM standards that are used throughout the world. These standards are used to improve product quality and enhance safety in the products consumers are purchasing. There are more than 30,000 members of the world’s top technical experts and business professionals, from 150 countries, currently contributing to ASTM’s development. Portland Bolt employees, Dane McKinnon and Gary Rusynyk, are voting members on Committee F16 that oversees fastener specifications.

ASTM specifications provide crucial manufacturing information for fasteners. These specifications outline the chemical and mechanical properties that the bolt must conform to in order to meet the specification. The requirements also include, but are not limited to: testing, strength and marking requirements.

SAE International (Formerly Society of Automotive Engineers)

SAE is a U.S. based, global association of more than 138,000 engineers and technical experts with a primary focus in  the aerospace, automotive, and commercial-vehicle industries. The SAE core proficiencies are life-long learning, and voluntary consensus standards development.

The primary SAE specification for fasteners is J429; which includes Grades 2, 5 and 8 bolts. Another common SAE specification is J995 for steel nuts. These specifications provide mechanical and material requirements for the fasteners and/or nuts used in automotive and other related industries.

AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

This standards organization publishes test protocols, specifications and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction through the U.S. AASHTO not only represents highways, it also represents air, rail, water and public transportation systems. The primary goal of this association is the further development, operation and maintenance of the national transportation systems.

Many state transportation projects call out AASHTO designations for their bolts. This AASHTO specification often translates directly to an ASTM specification. This ASTM to AASHTO Conversion Table shows the direct correlation from AASHTO to ASTM specifications. Portland Bolt is an approved supplier for 100% domestic highway fasteners for State Departments of Transportation throughout the U.S. We manufacture products to AASHTO specifications on a daily basis.

AISI: American Iron and Steel Institute

The AISI is an association of North American steel producers. It has been in existence for over a century, making it the oldest trade association in the U.S. This organization advocates for public policies that support competitive domestic manufacturing while providing high-quality products to a wide range of customers. One of the goals of the AISI is to increase the market for North American Steel in both traditional and innovative applications.

This organization is attempting to make steel the primary choice of material used in a variety of applications, fasteners being one of them. They provide information on many types of steels used throughout the fastener industry which furthers the understanding of each type of steel that can be used as a high performance product. This helps advance the use of steel in the current competitive marketplace.

ANSI: American National Standards Institute

This institution is known as the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system. They oversee the creation, promulgation, and use of thousands of guidelines that directly impact business in nearly every sector. They have guidelines ranging anywhere from acoustical devices to construction equipment, and from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution. They also are active in accreditation programs that assess conformance standards and management systems.

ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

This non-profit organization enables the collaboration, career enrichment, and skills development across all engineering disciplines toward a goal of helping the global engineering community develop solutions to benefit lives and livelihoods. Founded in 1880, this organization has grown to now include more than 130,000 members in 158 countries. ASME serves a wide range of quality programs, including codes, standards and publications.

ASME standards provide manufacturers with guidelines and tolerances that their bolts must conform to. Some types of bolts, such as hex cap screws used in the automotive industry, require very tight tolerances, whereas other construction grade fasteners have looser tolerances. All of these tolerances are defined by the specifications in the ASME and are crucial for the manufacturing process.

IFI: Industrial Fasteners Institute

The IFI is an Ohio-based trade and standards organization and publisher. Established in 1931, the primary focus of the IFI is to represent the interests of North American mechanical fastener manufactures. Their standards are frequently used as a design guide by mechanical engineers, machinists, and other manufacturers of machine screws, bolts, nuts, and other engineered fasteners.

In regard to fasteners, the IFI does not create their own standards but they do manage fastener standards. They are responsible for creating technical information and writings which are featured in their IFI handbook, but their main function is to support, protect and represent fastener manufacturers.

CSA: Canadian Standards Association

CSA is a standards development organization that was established in 1919. They are accredited to develop standards in both Canada and the United States. Since their beginnings in 1919, the CSA group has grown to be the largest standards development organization in Canada. They also hold the largest subject area recognition. Currently, their library consists of over 3,000 standards and codes. The standards that affect the fastener industry provide chemical and mechanical properties for the manufacturing process.

The most common steel specification from the CSA is G40.21. This specification covers the mechanical and chemical requirements for structural steel shapes, plates and bars for use in general construction and engineering. The most common grade of G40.21 is 44W (300W). Most steel mills in the US manufacture their round and flat bar to meet this grade and ASTM A36 so that both countries’ requirements may be satisfied. Another grade, 50W, has become more common in recent years. This grade is similar to the ASTM specification A572 Grade 50. All of Portland Bolt’s A36 round bar will cross-certify to meet the Grade 44W requirements and our Grade 55 round bar will meet the Grade 50W requirements.

The short answer is, yes! In 2015, ASTM created F3125 which is a new, all-inclusive specification for structural bolts that consolidated and replaced the following six stand-alone ASTM standards: A325, A325M, A490, A490M, F1852 and F2280. Under the new F3125 specification, A325 fasteners can be made in head styles other than heavy hex as long the as the bolts are stamped with “A325S”. The “S” on the end of the grade marking denotes “special”. Under the new F3125 specification, Portland Bolt is able to manufacture A325 bolts in countersunk form and many other head styles. F3125 Grade A490 countersunk bolts can also be manufactured.

There is no mention of any ASTM A615 grade being specifically used for anchor bolts in any ACI, AISC or ASTM specifications that we are aware of. Simply, the A615 grade is a rebar specification for concrete reinforcement; it is not an anchor bolt or raw steel specification. Using rebar for anchor bolts does present some complex issues, such as threading, that would need to be addressed. Before designing or ordering an A615 rebar anchor bolt, the ASTM F1554 specification should be considered as the preferred anchor bolt specification to be used in most instances. However Portland Bolt can also manufacture many additional grades of anchor bolts.  Before ordering any rebar anchor bolts, contact Portland Bolt and we can discuss your requirements.

ASTM A320-L7 is a specification covering bolts, studs, and screws intended for low temperature service. Portland Bolt regularly supplies both plain finish and hot-dip galvanized A320-L7 fasteners to numerous customers in Canada and Alaska. Recently in our Portland Bolt Live Chat, an engineer asked this question as he needed to know what grade of nuts and washers to specify on his project plans.

• Nuts: The compatible nuts for use with A320-L7 are either ASTM A194 Grade 4 or A194 Grade 7 heavy hex nuts.  Grade 7 nuts are more readily available and are most frequently used with A320-L7 bolts, but Grade 4 nuts may be used in cases where Grade 7 is not readily available. Since the assumption is that in most cases the A320-L7 bolts will be used in a cold temperature environment, Supplement 3 of the ASTM A194 specification should be specified which requires the nuts to undergo Charpy impact testing which confirms their ability to perform in low temperatures. An “L” is added to the grade marking of these nuts.
• Washers: The compatible washer for use with A320-L7 bolts is ASTM F436. Made from heat treated, hardened steel, F436 washers are capable of withstanding a broad range of environments including low temperature service.

Note: A194 Grade 4 and Grade 7 nuts are typically only available in plain finish. Galvanized Grade 4 or Grade 7 nuts will normally have to be specially made on a per order basis, as plain nuts cannot be used with galvanized bolts.   

ASTM standards are typically called out by their ASTM number and year of revision, for example F1554-07. Occasionally, when small revisions are made at ASTM that do not necessitate a full year revision, the year is annotated with a letter. We fielded a chat recently where this question came up. Below is the correspondence and answer.

7:37:04 AM: Robert:

What does the designation “ae1” after ASTM F1554 mean?

7:41:08 AM: Dane McKinnon:

Hi Robert. It has to do with revisions. Major revisions are noted as a new revision year i.e. -03 (2003) or -07 (2007). Minor revisions are designated as “a” and editorial (typo) revisions get the epsilon “e”. So -07ae1 is the 07 revision with one minor revision and one editorial change.

7:42:42 AM: Robert:

Thanks! Do you have any idea what the minor revision might have been?

7:44:04 AM: Dane McKinnon:

Let me go look at an older book. Give me one second.

7:47:18 AM: Dane McKinnon:

It looks like the minor change was switching the hot-dip galvanizing reference from A153 to F2329 and changing the mechanical galvanizing class of B695 from class 50 to class 55.

7:50:11 AM: Robert:

OK Thanks again. I tried to google ae1 and various other things but had no luck.

7:50:44 AM: Dane McKinnon:

You are welcome. We are happy to help.

The answer to this question is yes! All three grades within the ASTM F1554 specification, Grade 36, Grade 55, and Grade 105, can be either hot-dip galvanized or mechanically galvanized.  The issues of hydrogen embrittlement and/or mechanical properties being alerted during galvanizing are not an issue with any of these three grades.  In Section 7 – Protective Coatings, the F1554 Specification states that hot-dip galvanizing must be done in accordance with ASTM Specification F2329, as well as stating that mechanical galvanizing must be done in accordance with Specification B695, Class 55. It further goes on to state in Section 7.1.4 that, “When no preference is specified, the supplier may furnish either..” of these finishes at their discretion so long as the corresponding components (bolts and nuts) are coated by the same process. Other coatings (such as zinc plating) may be used under Section 7.2 – Other Coatings, but in the case of coatings other than the two expressly outlined in the F1554 Specification, the responsibility lies with the purchaser to include the appropriate specification covering the desired coating as part of their purchase order.

There are many grades of nuts available in the marketplace, from your “run of the mill” nuts like you’d find at a hardware store, to specialized high strength structural nuts. These nuts are made from different materials and get their strength in different ways. Low strength nuts are made from a variety of materials and attain their strength as a function of their chemistry. High strength, or structural nuts, get their strength through a combination of chemistry and heat treatment. We will address these types of nuts separately.

Structural Nuts

In general, steel items which have been heat treated for strength should generally not be welded since welding inevitably heats the items past the tempering point, resulting in a loss of strength in the heated area and other more unpredictable effects like cracking. Structural nuts are typically heat treated, so welding to them could cause issues and loss of strength. In cases where a weld is called for, it will be up to the engineer of record on the job; whether a particular weld would have noticeably detrimental effects is largely a matter of engineering judgment. Some engineers are comfortable with a small tack weld in certain applications, while others are not. In the case of A563 Grade C and C3, where it is uncertain if the nuts were heat treated, attention should be paid to the chemistry of the nuts. In many cases the carbon and manganese contents may be too high to allow welding, regardless of heat treatment.

AISC Design Guide 21 has this to say about welding to bolts and nuts in general,

“Occasionally, it becomes desirable to weld bolts to structural steel, or bolts to nuts. As a general principle, welding should not be done on bolts or nuts. However, if essential, the composition of the bolt (and nuts if involved) must be carefully considered.”

So the position the AISC takes is that whenever possible, welding to bolts and nuts should be avoided, however there are times when it is necessitated. In those cases special care should be taken to assure that the bolts grades being welded to are made from weldable steel and will not be detrimentally affected by the addition of heat.

Non-Structural Nuts

The non-structural grades are where weldability gets a bit gray. These are often referred to as low carbon nuts, and little attention is paid to their specific chemistry. In a random sampling of numerous sizes of nuts in our inventory, representing five different manufacturers, it appears that smaller nuts, those 1″ and below, are cold formed and made from 1008 or 1010 steel, which has low carbon, low manganese, and would chemically be considered weldable. Above 1″ diameter however, the nuts are hot formed and are made from medium carbon steel similar to AISI 1045. These nuts have a carbon content of approximately 0.45%, much too high to fall under the umbrella of what is normally considered weldable.  Assuming that this random sampling remains accurate across other manufacturers, we can draw the conclusion that non-structural nuts 1″ and below can be welded, and for nuts above 1″, welding should be avoided. That said, because capabilities vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, we cannot be certain that this rule of thumb will always be true. The safest bet will always be to obtain mill test reports from your supplier prior to welding, and have an engineer assess the chemistry and weldability.

Alternative Designs

Since the weldability of most nuts can be called into question, are there any alternatives? Yes. When anchor rods require a nut to be welded to the embedded end, consider using a bolt with a forged hex head. This eliminates the possibility of welds cracking or the mechanical properties of high strength nuts and anchor rods being altered due to the introduction of heat during the welding process. Instead of welding nuts to anchor plates and threading them onto the embedded end of an anchor rod, consider sandwiching the anchor plate between two nuts. When these nuts are run tight against the anchor plate, they will not loosen.

Note: The issues raised in this FAQ are intended primarily for engineers to consider when designing anchor bolts and welded fasteners for their construction projects. This information should not be used by contractors, steel fabricators, or fastener distributors to alter a welded fastener that has been engineered for a specific application. Any changes to approved construction drawings should be done in conjunction with the engineer of record’s approval.

In summary, caution should be used when welding to any nuts. If care has been taken to assure that the nuts were ordered and manufactured to be weldable, then you can be reasonably certain of their weldability. If not, then the material composition should be investigated and an engineer or metallurgist should be consulted to assure that any addition of heat will not adversely affect the nut.

If welding to material grades mentioned in this FAQ are specified on your project, consult with the Engineer of Record for special welding procedures or guidelines.

There are several ASTM specs which cover castings, including A47, A48, A536, and A668.

ASTM A47

A47 covers malleable castings intended for general use up to temperatures around 750⁰ Fahrenheit.  A47 castings come in one grade, available in metric and imperial.

Common forgings specified to A47: Shear Plates, Beveled Washers

ASTM A48

A48 covers gray iron castings intended for general use. A48 castings are supplied based on tensile strength. There are 9 classes in this grade with various tensile strengths and 4 class types with different required test bar diameters.

Common forgings specified to A48: Ogee Washers, Hillside Washers

ASTM A536

A536 covers castings made of ductile iron.  A536 castings are available in 5 grades with various tensile, yield, and elongation requirements.

Common forgings specified to A536: Hillside Washers, Rosette Washers

ASTM A668

A668 covers heat treated and untreated carbon and alloy steel forgings for industrial use.  A688 forgings are available in six classes for carbon steel, and seven classes for alloy steel.

Common forgings specified to A668: Clevises, Turnbuckles

The “X” designates the connection type (bearing-type connection with threads excluded from the shear plane) and has nothing to do with the bolt itself. Therefore, an A325 structural bolt used in this type of connection will have no different markings than an A325 bolt used in a different type of connection (N or SC). All A325 type 1 bolts are simply marked with “A325” and the manufacturer’s logo. The exceptions are as follows:

A325 type 3 weathering steel bolts are underlined (A325).
Fully threaded A325 structural bolts are designated with a “T” (A325T).

The term “high strength” is a somewhat ambiguous fastener term. Most people in the industry would interpret the phrase “high strength” to refer to any bolt that has been quenched and tempered (heat treated) to develop its strength. Additionally, the ASTM specification F1554 Grade 55 is commonly referred to as being manufactured from a “high strength, low alloy steel”, even though this material is not heat treated. Any grades on our Strength Requirements by Grade Chart with a “Q & T” in the Material & Treatment Column undergo heat treatment and would be considered high strength by most people in the fastener industry. Both SAE J429 Grades 5 and 8 have been quenched and tempered and would be considered “high strength” by most.

I have noticed in specifications from multiple organizations that ASTM A193 Grade B7 bolts are selected along with ASTM A194 Grade 2H nuts. I know that from ASME B16.5 Flanges and Flanged Fittings, the recommended high strength bolt is ASTM A193 Grade B7. However I cannot find in ASTM A193, A194, ASME B16.5, B18.2.1, B18.2.2, B31.1 or any other code or standard where it recommends using A194 Gr. 2H nuts with this bolt. Why would A194 Grade 7 nuts not be recommended? They have all of the same or better mechanical properties as Grade 2H and they are the same material composition as the A193 Gr. B7 bolts.

You are correct that none of those publications specifically pair a grade of nut with a grade of bolt, leaving it open to a bit of interpretation. The reason that A194 grade 2H nuts are used more often with A193 grade B7 bolts is simply cost. Both A194 2H and A194 grade 7 nuts have the same minimum mechanical requirements, they differ only in chemistry. The industry has chosen 2H nuts to be the primary nut for B7 bolts, as well as allows them to be substituted for A563 grade C and DH nuts for use with ASTM A325 and A490 structural bolts. The result is that, in addition to be a less costly nut to manufacture, they are much more widely mass produced, leading to economies of scale. That said, there is no reason that a specific engineer cannot require grade 7 nuts on a particular job if he feels that they will perform better in that application. The cost will be higher and the lead time may be slower due to availability, but the A194 grade 7 nuts would be acceptable for use with A193 B7 bolts or studs.

While there is certainly nothing to preclude ASTM A193 B7 from being specified for anchor bolts – and Portland Bolt manufactures them quite often – the specification is not intended for anchor bolt use. ASTM F1554 Grade 105 is a specification specifically developed for anchor bolts and possesses virtually identical chemical and physical properties.

ASTM A193 is a specification that “covers alloy and stainless steel bolting material for pressure vessels, valves, flanges, and fittings for high temperature or high pressure service, or other special purpose applications.” A193 B7 is widely available and mass-produced in both heavy hex bolt and all-thread rod form, so it is a very familiar specification to engineers, contractors, fastener distributors, and bolt manufacturers. This may be one of the reasons it is so often called out for anchor bolt applications.

Another key reasons that A193 B7 is not the most suitable specification for anchor bolts is the requirement, per the A193 compliance with ASTM A962, that A193 fasteners 1″ diameter and larger shall be 8 thread pitch series (8 threads per inch), unless otherwise specified. While the “otherwise specified” language means that A193 anchor bolts can still be made with national coarse threads, the 8 TPI requirement could result in higher manufacturing costs and limited availability and higher costs on larger diameter nuts, particularly galvanized nuts. In fact, there is no standard, published oversizing allowance for 8 TPI galvanized nuts above 1-1/2″ diameter.

ASTM F1554 Grade 105 would be a more appropriate specification than A193 B7 if the application is anchor bolts. As mentioned above, F1554 is an anchor bolt specification. The chemical and mechanical properties are nearly identical. For diameters up to 2-1/2″, the minimum yield (105 ksi) and tensile (125 ksi) are exactly the same (although F1554 Grade 105 does have a maximum of 150 ksi tensile, while A193 has no maximum). Additionally, with F1554, there are no special thread pitch requirements.

According to ASTM A490-11, the answer is no. The A490 specification only covers diameters from 1/2″ to 1-1/2″, inclusive. An A490 bolt cannot be made above 1-1/2″ diameter; ASTM does not allow it. Since there are no chemical requirements, hardness requirements, or strength requirements for A490 fasteners above 1-1/2″ diameter, no manufacturer would be able to certify a bolt above 1-1/2″ to ASTM A490. An alternative grade to consider in diameters above 1-1/2″ would be an ASTM A354 Grade BD. This grade of fastener can be manufactured in diameters from 1/4″ to 4″, inclusive, and is virtually identical to A490 in strength and chemistry through 1-1/2″ diameter. However, there is no way to compare the two grades above 1-1/2″ diameter, due to the fact that A490 does not have any strength requirements in diameters larger than 1-1/2″. Additionally, A354 Grade BD bolts do not require a Magnetic Particle Inspection, which is a requirement for ASTM A490 structural bolts. A490 bolts are only available in a heavy hex head configuration, while A354 Grade BD bolts are not restricted to a specific configuration. Because of these configuration restrictions, A490 bolts often readily available as stock items in certain diameter/length combinations, but A354 Grade BD bolts typically need to be made per order.

If the situations comes up where an A490 bolt is specified in a size larger than 1½” diameter, it is advisable to have the engineer of record specify a grade of fastener that is available in that diameter.

The ASTM A449 specification is somewhat ambiguous when it comes to the marking requirements. While the requirements are perfectly clear for hex bolts and studs, the verbiage doesn’t address head styles other than hex head, other bolt configurations such as U-bolts, or rods with threads on each end.

ASTM A449, Section 16.1, Manufacturers Identification reads as follows: “All hex cap screws and bolts and one end of studs 3/8″ in. and larger… shall be marked by the manufacturer with a unique identifier to identify the manufacturer…”

ASTM A449, Section 16.2.1, Type Identification reads similarly: “Type 1 hex cap screws and bolts and one end of Type 1 studs… shall be marked ‘A449’.”

The reasons bolts require marking is so that they are easily visually identifiable by the end user. While the wording in the specification may technically only address hex bolts and studs, logic would dictate the marking requirement would also extend to other configurations such as U-Bolts, headed bolts with different head styles, and rods with threads on each end.

F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolts are not always weldable. The weldability of Grade 55 is a supplemental requirement referred to as “S1”, which must be specified. According to the ASTM F1554 specification under section S1.1, “This supplemental section, by chemical composition restrictions and by a carbon equivalent formula, provides assurance of weldability.” For F1554 Grade 55 to be considered weldable, it must conform to the following chemical requirements:

In addition to the above requirements, the material must also have a carbon equivalent (CE) which meets certain requirements.  One of these carbon equivalent requirements is that for alloy or low-alloy steel, the carbon equivalent shall not exceed 0.45%.  The way to calculate this is to plug the chemical composition figures for a given heat lot of steel into the following formula:

For carbon steel, the carbon equivalent cannot exceed 0.40% using the following formula:

When an F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolt has been specified to meet the supplemental requirement “S1”, the fastener must then be designated by a white paint mark on the side of the bar near the end to be encased in concrete. This is to designate that the anchor bolt can be welded.  Since F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolts need to be specified as being weldable, it is important to confirm that they do in fact meet the “S1” supplemental requirement prior to any type of welding. Because of this, Portland bolt has all of our raw material used to manufacture F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolts melted and rolled to meet this requirement whether the “S1” supplemental requirement is needed or not. As a result, you will never need to question the safety of performing a weld on any of our F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolts.

Yes. According to ASTM F1554-15 when Grade 36 is specified, a weldable Grade 55 may be furnished at the supplier’s option.

F1554 Grade 36 vs. F1554 Grade 55

F1554 is the ASTM specification for fasteners that have an intended use for anchoring structural supports to concrete foundations. The specification is available in three strength grades: Grade 36, Grade 55, and Grade 105. The number designation for each grade is an indication of the grade’s minimum yield strength measured in ksi. F1554 Grade 36 is a low carbon, mild steel anchor bolt, whereas F1554 Grade 55 is a high strength, low alloy anchor bolt. Grade 36 has a carbon equivalence which allows it to be weldable. Grade 55 must meet the requirements of supplement S1 of the ASTM F1554 specification in order to be certified as weldable. Therefore, F1554 Grade 55 must meet supplementary requirement S1 and be weldable in order to be substituted for F1554 Grade 36. F1554 grade 55 anchor bolts that do not meet these weldability requirements cannot be substituted for F1554 grade 36.

Substitution Allowance

ASTM states in section 6.4 of F1554-15, “…At the manufacturer’s option, a weldable Grade 55 may be supplied when Grade 36 is specified.”  This means the supplier, at their discretion, can choose to substitute a weldable Grade 55 for Grade 36.  We would encourage our customers to confirm the substitution with the Engineer of Record.

Portland Bolt will often choose to implement this type of substitution in instances when it will save the customer time and/or money, however, we will only do this with the customer’s approval.  This allowance is useful for Portland Bolt when asked to supply heavy hex Grade 36 bolts because we stock “blanks” that are already headed with a Heavy Hex head in F1554 Grade 55. Since the “blanks” meets S1 (weldable) we are allowed to provide Grade 55 instead of Grade 36 to meet the configuration requirement. We may also choose to substitute a weldable Grade 55 bent anchor bolt for a Grade 36 bent anchor bolt since we stock a variety of sizes.

Please note that this substitution of weldable Grade 55 for Grade 36 is the only substitution of a higher strength bolt for a lower strength bolt that ASTM allows within the context of their fastener specifications. Except for this instance, Portland Bolt estimators will never suggest you substitute one grade of fastener for another grade or suggest you substitute one type of bolt for another type of bolt without first consulting with the Engineer of Record. If you are using fastener suppliers who offer these types of substations, we suggest reconsidering the vendors from whom you choose to buy fasteners. Allowing these types of substitutions based on a recommendation from your fastener supplier may expose both you and your company to a tremendous amount of liability. For more on this topic, read Liability Issues Regarding the Substitution of Fasteners.

Portland Bolt is often faced with this question, and because there are many conflicting sources online, we decided to do a little research on our own. The resource we found most helpful was ASME B31.1-2012. In this specification, there is a table which shows the maximum allowable stress values in Tension (KSI) for metal temperature. As seen in Table A-10, when the Tension (KSI) value begins to decrease, the integrity of the bolt becomes compromised. This is where the maximum service temperature comes into play. For example, if you take the red group, which covers the allowable stress values applied to bolting materials 2-1/2” in diameter and smaller, the starting Tension value is 25 KSI and keeps this value through 700°F; however, above this temperature, the Tension value begins to decrease. This marks the point at which the bolt is no longer functioning at its highest capacity.

• Red Group: These allowable stress values apply to bolting materials 2-1/2” in diameter and smaller
  Maximum Service Temperature: 700°F
• Green Group: These allowable stress values apply to bolting materials larger than 2-1/2” in diameter but not larger than 4” in diameter
  Maximum Service Temperature: 700°F
• Blue Group: These allowable stress values apply to bolting materials larger than 4” in diameter but not larger than 7” in diameter
  Maximum Service Temperature: 750°F

Table A-10 Bolts, Nuts, and Studs

With that being said, Portland Bolt does not have any engineers on staff, so we are not be able to give any information on the bolt’s ability to function at a higher level of heat.  The bolt would be compromised, but to what extent, we do not know. That would be a question more suitable for an engineer or metallurgist.

Coatings and Application Limits

When an A193B7 bolt has some form of protective coating, there are limitations to the maximum service temperature the bolts should be exposed to in their respective applications. In the appendixes of the A193 grade, ASTM lays out the limited service temperatures for galvanized and cadmium plated coatings below:

“Use of coated fasteners at temperatures above approximately one-half the melting point (Fahrenheit or Celsius) of the coating is not recommended unless consideration is given to the potential for liquid and solid metal embrittlement, or both. The melting point of elemental zinc is approximately 780°F [415°C]. Therefore, application of zinc-coated fasteners should be limited to temperatures less than 390°F [210°C].  The melting point of cadmium is approximately 600°F [320°C].  Therefore, application of cadmium-coated fasteners should be limited to temperatures less than 300°F [160°C].”

Other Specifications

In regard to other popular specifications and their maximum service temperatures, the table below shows the ratings for bolts made to the A307 and A449 specifications.  While the A193 specification covers bolts made from a high strength alloy steel, the A307 specification covers common mild steel bolts, and the A449 specification covers medium carbon or alloy steel  bolts that have been quenched and tempered.  In regard to these two specifications, ASME B31.1-2012 clearly states, “These materials are not acceptable for construction of pressure-retaining parts of boiler external piping.  In regard to ASTM A307, this material shall not be used above 400°F.  The allowable stress value is 7,000 psi. In regard to ASTM A449, these allowable stress values are established from a consideration of strength only and will be satisfactory for average service.” As shown in the table below, the ASTM A307 materials are not rated for temperatures above 400°F and the ASTM A449 materials are not rated for temperatures above 600°F.

• Yellow Group: These allowable stress values apply to all parameters of the A307 specification
  Maximum Service Temperature: 400°F
• Pink Group: These allowable stress values apply to A449 bolting materials less than or equal to 1” in diameter.
  Maximum Service Temperature: 600°F
• Orange Group: These allowable stress values apply to A449 bolting materials greater than 1” in diameter and less than or equal to 1-1/2” in diameter
  Maximum Service Temperature: 600°F
• Blue Group: These allowable stress values apply to A449 bolting materials greater than 1-1/2” in diameter and less than or equal to 3” in diameter.
  Maximum Service Temperature: 600°F

Table A-10 Bolts, Nuts, and Studs

If you have any questions regarding the service temperature of A193 Grade B7 bolts, or any other fastener related questions, give Portland Bolt a call! Our highly experienced estimators are fastener experts and will be happy to field any technical questions you may have.

The simple answer here is no. ASTM A709 is a specification that covers carbon and high-strength structural steel plates and bars intended for use in bridge applications. There are multiple grades of A709 and Grade 36 covers the structural steel made from mild carbon steel, such as A36. Although Portland Bolt would manufacture an A709 Grade 36 bolt out of the same material we would use for A307 Grade A bolts or F1554 Grade 36 anchor bolts (which are standard mild steel fastener specifications), ASTM A709 is not a fastener specification. This specification only covers structural steel used in bridge applications. It does not provide the manufacturer with the bolt guidelines which are necessary for the manufacturing process, such as bolt configuration, thread type/amount, compatible nuts/washers and so on. Without having these necessary details, the bolt would not be manufactured without a long discussion regarding every little detail between the manufacturer and the purchaser.

For more information on why bolts cannot be ordered to steel specifications, see the FAQ Ordering Bolts to ASTM A36. It saves time and money for both parties if a proper bolt specification is called out. To see a list of different bolt specification grades and their strength requirements, visit our Strength Requirements by Grade Chart. If you have further questions regarding this topic or similar topics, please give us a call. We have bolt experts who are happy to assist you with whatever fastener questions you may have.

In our Live Chat, numerous customers have asked us about tolerances under the F1554 specification relating to things like diameter, length, straightness, and many other parameters. While a customer always has the option of specifying a particular set of tolerances they may require for any bolt, what are the default tolerances for anchor bolts under the ASTM F1554 specification? Let’s take a look.

Section 10 of the specification covers dimensional tolerances.  Here is the breakdown for each dimensional tolerance that is given in the specification.

• Body Diameter (if rolled threads) – not less than the minimum pitch diameter.
• Body Diameter (if cut threads) – not less than the minimum major diameter.
• Bend Section (thickness of the steel in the area that is bent)- shall have a cross section not less than 90% of the area of straight portions.
• Length is measured from the underside of the head to the end of the threads for headed bolts or from the inside of the bend to the end of the threads for bent bolts.  It is broken down into two categories of length.
  1. For bolts 24” or shorter the length tolerance is  ± 1/2”.
  2. For bolts longer than 24” the length tolerance is  ± 1”.
• Hook length (short leg) –  ± 10% of the specified hook length, or  ± 1⁄2 in., whichever is greater.
• Bend Angle—The bend angle of hooks shall not vary from that specified by more than  ± 5°
• Thread Dimensions – Unless otherwise specified should be Unified Coarse Thread Series per ANSI/ASME B1.1 and have either Class 1A or 2A tolerances.
• Thread Length—+1.0 in./−0.00 in. from the length specified

This is the complete list of tolerances that are defined within the ASTM F1554 specification.  If a customer desires a tolerance beyond the stated values listed above, or, if they wish to have anchor bolts meet a tolerance that is undefined in the specification, the customer would need to explicitly define the values they are requiring to the manufacturer at the time of inquiry.

The answer to this question is no. As stated in Section 1.1, the F1554 specification covers various configurations of, “…carbon, carbon boron, alloy, or high-strength alloy steel anchor bolts.” In general terms, for a steel to be considered “stainless” it must contain at least 10.5% chromium as part of its chemical composition and will often have nickel or molybdenum as additional alloying elements. The F1554 specification covers three different grades of material, Grade 36, Grade 55, and Grade 105. As you can see in the chart below of the required chemical properties for each grade within the F1554 specification, there is no requirement for chromium (or nickel or molybdenum) in any of the grades covered by the specification.

Chemical Properties of ASTM F1554

If anchors bolts need to be stainless steel then they should be specified under one of the ASTM specifications that cover stainless steel fasteners such as A193, A320, or F593.  More information on the differences between stainless steel bolts made under the aforementioned three specifications can be found here.

Portland Bolt can manufacture anchor bolts as straight rods, bent bolts, and headed bolts from both Type 304 and Type 316 stainless steel. If you would like a quote on stainless steel anchor bolts, you can submit a quote request through our website right now!

Mechanical galvanizing (ASTM B695) is a process in which fasteners are tumbled in a barrel with a mixture of water, zinc powder, other chemicals, and glass impact beads. As the parts are tumbled in the slurry, the zinc is “cold welded” to the fasteners. While some mechanical galvanizers can process parts that over a foot long, and potentially up to a couple feet long, there are some difficulties processing long parts and especially any substantial quantity of long parts.

The process of mechanical galvanizing requires the parts to not only roll, but also tumble end over end thus acquiring the thickness and adhesion required by mechanical galvanizing specification. Larger parts do not tumble very well and thus are very difficult to coat. And when they do tumble, due to their long length and large weight, they can break the glass impact media used in the mechanical galvanizing process. The only effective way to mechanically galvanize parts over roughly 12” in length is to mix them with smaller product that will allow the process to be correctly performed and without damaging/hampering the process.

Some mechanical galvanizers will entertain longer parts, but only on a case-by-case basis and in limited quantities. For parts that number over 5 or 10 total quantity in a batch there would need to be special consideration by the mechanical galvanizer for the amount of product, length, and weight of each bolt. Large anchor bolts and construction fasteners that need corrosion protection over 12” long can be efficiently and successfully produced with a hot-dip galvanized finish that is more resilient and is actually bonded to the steel at a molecular level.

Portland Bolt performs hot-dip galvanizing within our 137,0000 square foot manufacturing facility. Our in-house hot-dip galvanizing line is designed specifically for threaded fasteners. Hot-dip galvanizing is not restricted to the short length limitations that mechanical galvanized products are limited to. Contact us for your galvanized anchor bolt and nonstandard fastener requirements.

Several ASTM specifications are followed by an “M” that denotes it being an equivalent metric standard. While there is actually an A193M Grade B7 specification which is applicable to metric fasteners, this is not the case with ASTM A193 Grade B7M. This is a different grade of material than A193 Grade B7. So how exactly does A193 Grade B7M differ from A193 Grade B7?

There are some significant differences in both the mechanical properties and the testing requirements of A193B7M and A193B7. For instance, A193B7M has a minimum tensile strength of 100 ksi for diameters under 4”. The minimum tensile strength for A193B7 is 125 ksi for diameters under 2-1/2”, and 115 ksi for 2-1/2” – 4” diameter. Hardness is probably the most significant difference between A193B7M & A193B7. The maximum hardness of ASTM A193B7M is 235 HB or 99 HRB, while the maximum hardness of A193B7 is 321 HB or 35 HRC. The most notable difference from a manufacturing perspective is that when providing A193B7M bolts, every individual bolt or stud in the lot must be hardness tested. A193B7M fasteners will also require a different grade of heavy hex nut than A193B7, which would be ASTM A194 Grade 2HM.

While A193B7 is specified relatively often in the construction industry, A193B7M is a specification that is not seen as regularly. This makes it important to understand the differences between the two specifications so that the correct material is ultimately provided.