Building Fasteners - Dealing With Fastener Failures

It may seem like a given, but the incidence of fastener failure is something that every manufacturer and contractor should be aware of and working hard to avoid. When considering building fasteners you can imagine the damage and harm that would result should a fastener failure occur. What is being done to record, report and combat these problems? And how can engineers and contractors specify and use building fasteners that are dependable?

The Battle Against Fastener Failure

It happens in every industry - from automotive to mining, steel fabrication and the railroad. Fastener failures are most often a result of one of three things. There may have been a design error, where either the wrong fastener was specified or the load was not taken into account properly. Or there may have been an installation or maintenance error which resulted in damage to the fastener, essentially weakening it to the point of failure (this is the most common occurrence). Alternatively, newer products or those manufactured outside of your geographic area may not be rated for use in the climate or conditions of your application.

In order to combat these things building fasteners need to undergo vigorous testing before being used on a jobsite. The designers and engineers specifying them must also be fully trained and able to take legal responsibility for the design. Most importantly, anyone who handles the fasteners must be well trained in the installation of the fastener, have the proper tools available and know what type of maintenance needs to be done.

Dependable Building Fasteners

Most of the fastener failures that occur on building sites are a result of corrosion or excess load. The climate and conditions of the structure need to be taken into account when designing. Mixing certain materials together is another situation that can result in corrosion and ultimately fastener failure. When a chemical reaction occurs that will deteriorate the plating or coating on a fastener, the strength is subject to doubt and action is required.

Contractors and those designing the project need to be aware of all the relevant building codes and all precaution must be taken to follow them. Inspections should be regularly scheduled and all permits, applications and licenses applied for. The result of fastener failure where building fasteners are concerned can be dramatic and even tragic. Be sure it doesn't happen by practicing due diligence.