Structural fasteners
Structural fasteners are strong, heavy-duty fasteners that are necessary for the construction of structures which include steel to steel connections. In other words, they are used when one metal structure needs to be connected to another.
The typical application of structural fasteners is in bridge and building construction, where they are used to connect metal beams and girders. To be considered for structural purposes, fasteners need to be made of quenched and tempered steel with a minimal tensile strength of 120 ksi.
Some of the most commonly used structural fasteners are:
- Heavy hex bolts. This type of bolt or cap screw comes with a hexagonal head, and is larger and thicker than standard hex bolts. A325 and A490 specifications are suitable in this application.
- Heavy hex nuts, also known as finish nuts. Heavy hex nuts are used along with bolts - both for strength and for a thick finished look.
- Flat washers. These high hardness and low-deformation plain washers, punched washers, or flat washers are used as spacers and load distributors.
- Tension control bolts. TC bolts are extremely adept at handling vibrations and preventing load reversals and they eliminate slips in connections.
The quality of structural fasteners specified is of prime importance because they will be holding together heavy and crucial structures. Therefore, they must be durable, sturdy, rust-proof and corrosion-free for several years. Using poor quality structural fasteners not only reduces the durability of the overall structure but also puts lives at risk.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bolts.
- Civil engineer.
- Civil Engineering during the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
- Concept structural design of buildings.
- Elements of structure in buildings
- Fastener.
- Fixing.
- Nails.
- Nuts.
- Rivets.
- Substructure.
- Superstructure.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.