Structural fasteners

A remarkable variety of fasteners are used within construction and structural applications, from gas-fired nails to expanding post-installed anchors, and many are proprietary to their respective manufacturers. Applications can range from high-capacity connections in steelwork to the use of self-drilling, self-tapping screws in light-gauge steel framing and façades. Materials vary and it is considered impractical and unhelpful to describe all forms of fastener here – for most proprietary fasteners, manufacturers will publish the relevant properties and resistances that are required for their specification.

The information provided in this section is not exhaustive but provides an overview of fastener types considered prominent in the built environment. Information is given on the property classes used for bolts and nuts, for both carbon and stainless steels. A discussion on shear connectors follows, highlighting the terminology used, material requirements and associated product standards.