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ALIGNED AND COMBINED - THE NEW LOOK OF
ASTM STRUCTURAL BOLT SPECIFICATIONS by Chad Larson
Structural fasteners originated as a practical, high
strength replacement for the practice of riveting. Now,
these fasteners are used extensively to hold together all
types of steel structures.
Hundreds of millions of structural fasteners are
produced to ASTM International standards each year.
These critical building and
infrastructure components are
installed by contractors, steel
fabricators and steel erectors to
various industry requirements.
Until recently, structural
fasteners were covered by six
different ASTM International
standards: A325 and A325M,
A490 and A490M, F1852 and
F2280. These standards covered
steel and alloy steel heavy hex
bolts as well as twist-off type structural bolt/nut/washer
assemblies.
The six standards were maintained by Subcommittee
F16.02 on Steel Bolts, Nuts, Rivets and Washers, part of
ASTM Committee F16 on Fasteners. However, it became
difficult for F16.02 to effectively maintain continuity across
the standards. The subcommittee was spending more time
on maintenance than it was on thoughtful and progressive
improvement of the standards.
In order to simplify matters, F16.02 initiated a task
group to consolidate the standards. The task group would
take a top down approach to the consolidation, recrafting a
single new standard from the six. The new standard would
need to address the requirements covered in the six older
specifications, while also adding new information.
After the original combined draft was created, it was
proposed as a solution to the F16 executive committee,
who gave it a great deal of support. The proposal was also
discussed with the leadership of American Institute of
Steel Construction and the Research Council on Structural
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Connections, which were very helpful in clarifying industry
needs and providing relevant feedback. There would need
to be compromise by the F16 committee to adopt such a
significant change, but also compromise within the
standard itself to have a chance of passing a committee
vote.
Our task group of wellrespected
producer, general
interest and user members was
instrumental in shaping not only
a better standard, but also one
that had enough committee
support to pass a ballot.
The result of the effort of the
task group, the committee, and
ASTM staff was the approval of
F3125, Specification for High
Strength Structural Bolts, Steel
and Alloy Steel, Heat Treated, 120 ksi (830 MPa) and 150
ksi (1040 MPa) Minimum Tensile Strength, Inch and Metric
Dimensions, a new structural bolt standard that will replace
the six current structural fastener standards.
The resulting document is an example of what can
happen when fresh perspective, cooperation and effort
combine in the consensus standard process. F3125
maintains virtually all of the previous technical
requirements, while adding needed changes and
improvements. All of this was accomplished very efficiently.
Users of the new standard will include fastener
manufacturers, structural engineers and numerous related
steel construction agencies. While there may be some
short-term issues with a change of this magnitude to such
far-reaching standards, the benefits of a simplified
document will be recognized for years to come. From a
committee perspective, the ongoing maintenance will be
much easier, allowing valuable committee time to be spent
identifying and addressing other areas of improvement
within Subcommittee F16.02.
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