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Industrial Fasteners

Industry Standards

Most industrial fasteners are covered by two basic standards: one for materials and properties; the other, for dimensions and tolerances. Specifications for materials and properties are published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), although other groups such as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) also publish specifications covering these requirements.

Standards for dimensions and tolerances are issued by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in cooperation with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI). Where applicable, published specifications covering a particular fastener will be referenced in the section of this booklet dealing with that fastener.

When referring to standards and specifications, we will use only the well-known initials of the above societies-ANSI, ASME, IFI, ASTM and SAE. Standard fasteners are basic industrial fasteners - square and hex bolts, cap screws, carriage bolts, plow bolts, lag screws, studs, nuts, rivets and others - which have been standardized over the years as to type‘, style, usage, properties, dimensions and tolerances.

These include a vast range of sizes and types stocked by distributors and manufacturers for an almost limitless range of applications: the assembly and maintenance of vehicles, appliances, farm equipment, construction equipment, industrial and plant machinery of all kinds, furniture and toys.

Wherever there’s a need for holding parts together, holding them apart, holding them up, or holding them down, a standard fastener can usually be found to do the job efficiently and economically. Modern industrial fasteners are manufactured to a variety of standards covering dimensions, tolerances, materials, mechanical properties, testing procedures, etc.