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SomeRustonRebarisAcceptable
Forensics
DoMetalFastenersinContactwithWoodPerservativeRequireCorrosionProtection?

CuringRoomRecordingThermometer
NDTServices
NotesandFootnotesinASTMStandards,MandatoryorNot?

TEMPLUG
StandardizationRecords

HowisaBoltHeadFormed?

Employment MinimumBoltNutEngagement

SomeRustonRebarisAcceptable

Thereissomequestiononourprojectwhetherrustonthereinforcingsteelisacceptable.Ivebeen
toldthatrustwasnotareasonforrejection,doyouknowofsomeauthoritativedocumentthattakes
accountofcleanlinessofthebar?

AccordingtotheConcreteReinforcingSteelInstituteCRSIinasimilarFAQtheystateRustactually
Accreditations/Affiliations improves bond because it increases the roughness of the surface. However and this is the
I.A.S.,ISO17025,17020 exception if there is so much rust that the weight of the bar is reduced or the height of the
AASHTO deformationisreduced,thentherustisconsideredharmful.
AWS
I.C.C. Checkoutthefollowingreferences:
DSA
CRSIEngineeringDataReport#54FieldInspectionofReinforcingBars,Page3,Surface
ConditionsofBarsAlightsurfacecoatingofrustonreinforcingsteelshouldnotbeacausefor
rejectionbytheinspector

ACI318BuildingCodeandCommentarySection7.4.2Exceptforprestressingsteel,steelreinforcement
withrustandmillscale,oracombinationofbothshallbeconsideredsatisfactory,providedtheminimum
dimensionsandweightofahandwirebrushedtestspecimencomplywithapplicableASTMspecifications.

7.4.3Prestressingsteelshallbecleanandfreeofoil,dirt,scalepittingandexcessiverust.Alightcoatingof
rustshallbepermitted.

ASTMA615StandardSpecificationforDeformedandPlainCarbonSteelBarsforConcrete
ReinforcementSection12.2Rust,seams,surfaceirregularities,ormillscaleshallnotbecausefor
rejection,providedtheweight,dimensions,crosssectionalareaandtensilepropertiesofahandwirebrushed
testspecimenarenotlessthantherequirementsofthisspecification.

ASTMA706StandardSpecificationforLowAlloyDeformedandPlainBarsforConcrete
ReinforcementSection11.2Rust,seams,surfaceirregularities,ormillscaleshallnotbecausefor
rejection,providedtheweight,dimensions,crosssectionalareaandtensilepropertiesofahandwirebrushed
testspecimenarenotlessthantherequirementsofthisspecification.

CALTRANSStandardSpecificationsMay2006Section521.05CLEANING

Beforeconcreteisplaced,thereinforcementtobeembeddedshallbefreeofmortar,oil,dirt,excessive
millscaleandscabbyrustandothercoatingsofanycharacterthatwoulddestroyorreducethebond.
CONCLUSION

AsnotedindocumentsissuedbyASTM,ACI,CRSI,andCaltrans,somerustingofthereinforcingsteelis
acceptableandadvantageous.Thedifficultyinaddressingthisissueisthesubjectivityofavisualevaluationas
suggestedbyCRSI(Alightsurfacecoating)andCaltrans(freeofexcessivemillscaleandscabby
rustandothercoatingsofanycharacter).Commonsenseandfabricationtolerancesshouldbeused.
Wherethereisreadilyvisiblepittingorscaleassociatedwithrust(notmillscale)andwheretheengineeror
inspectorhavecauseforconcernthatthedeformationsand/orcrosssectionalareaofthebarhavebeen
reduced,thedegreeofrustingmayneedtobedeterminedbylaboratorytesting.Asalways,theproject
specifications,wheremorestringentthanthepublishedstandards,shallprevailoverallelse.

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DoMetalFastenersinContactwithWoodPerservativeRequireCorrosionProtection?

Dofoundationholddownsbolts,anchorbolts,platewashers,straps,nails,etc.attachingpressure
preservativetreatedwood,havetobehotdippedzinccoatedgalvanized,stainlesssteel,silicon
bronzeorcopper?

TheInternationalResidentialCode(R319.3)andtheInternationalBuildingCode(2304.9.5)have
similarrequirementsforfastenersusedwithtreatedwood.TheIRCstates,"Fastenersforpressure
preservativeandfireretardanttreatedwoodshallbeofhotdippedzinccoatedgalvanizedsteel,
stainlesssteel,siliconbronzeorcopper.Thecoatingweightsforzinccoatedfastenersshallbeinaccordance
withASTMA153.

Exceptions:

1. Onehalfinch(12.7mm)diameterorgreatersteelbolts.

2. Fasteners other than nails and timber rivets shall be permitted to be of mechanically deposited zinc
coatedsteelwithcoatingweightsinaccordancewithASTMB695,Class55,minimum."

The codes do not discriminate between types of preservatives and do not take into account exposure
conditions,nordotheycontainprovisionsforotherhardwaresuchasconnectorsorflashing.

Thepotentialforcorrosionofhardwareincontactwithtreatedwoodoccurswhenmetalsinthepreservative
(such as copper) are different from the metals in the hardware (the iron in steel, or aluminum). In a wet
environmentthesedissimilarmetalscreateasmallelectricalcurrentthattriggersachemicalreactionresulting
ingalvaniccorrosion.

In damp or wet exposure, hardware in contact with pressuretreated wood must be corrosion resistant.
Hardware includes fasteners (e.g. nails, screws, and bolts) and all connectors (e.g. joist hangers, straps,
hinges,postanchors,andtrussplates).

Regardless of exposure condition, fasteners and connectors should be specified in compliance with the
hardwaremanufacturersrecommendationsandthebuildingcodesfortheirintendeduse.

A conclusion from the above would indicate that shear wall nailing to a pressuretreated sill plate requires
galvanizednails.

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CuringRoomRecordingThermometer

InASTMC51104ittalksaboutcalibrationoftherecordingthermometerthencontinuestodiscuss
howtoperformverificationoftherecordingthermometer.Iftherecordingthermometeriscalibrated
everysixmonthswhatlogicsayswehavetoperformverification.Thisseemsredundantcanyougiveusa
littleinsightoflogic?

ExcerptfromSection5.1ASTMC511StandardSpecificationforMixingRooms,MoistCabinets,MoistRooms,
andWaterStorageTanksUsedintheTestingofHydraulicCementsandConcrete
 The recording thermometer shall be calibrated at least every six months or
wheneverthereisaquestionofaccuracy.

Perform the verification of the recording thermometer by comparing the

temperature reading of the recording thermometer with the temperature
readingofareferencethermometerduringthenormaloperationofthemoist
cabinetormoistroom.

Thethermometerusedasthereferencethermometermustbeaccurateand
readableto0.5C.

WeposedthisquestiontotheASTMstaffmemberinchargeofC511whoaskedMr.RayKolosof
CCRLtorespond.Mr.Kolosstatedthattheintentofthestandardisthatverificationoftherecording
thermometer will be conducted every six months using a reference thermometer. Section 5.1 uses
the term calibrated even though verification is intended. Mr. Kolos will ask the chairman of the
ASTMcommitteeC1.95,Mr.DaveNorris,toconsideramodificationtocorrecttheerror.

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NotesandFootnotesinASTMStandards,MandatoryorNot?

WevejusthadalaboratoryevaluationandoneofthetestmethodsexaminedwasASTMC39.Asa
footnotetoourevaluationtheynotedthatthecompressiontestingmachinehadbearingblocksthat
were slightly softer than the 55 HRC mentioned in NOTE 4 of C 39. How do we handle this in the
futurewithoutthecostofhardnesstesting?

Rather than addressing the subject of hardness and what might be a reasonable tolerance lets
discuss the point of authority that the evaluator is quoting. According to an ASTM document Form
andStyleforASTMStandardsSectionA27.1NotesinthetextshallNOTincludemandatoryrequirements.
Notes are intended to set explanatory material apart from the text itself, either for emphasis or for offering
informativesuggestionsnotproperlypartofthestandard.ThereforeIwouldsuggestthattheSubcommittee
C09.61onTestingConcreteforStrengthfeelsthatacommentonhardnessisappropriatebutcutsshortof
mandatorylanguage.Thesubcommitteehasrecommendedahardnessnumberof55HRC.Aslightdifference
fromtherecommendedwouldnotbeaviolationoftheintentofC39butareasonabletoleranceisnotgiven.

ThesamedocumentmentionedabovealsodiscussesFootnotesinSectionA26.1.Footnotesreferencedin
thetextareintendedONLYforreferenceandshallneverincludeanyinformationorinstructionsnecessaryfor
theproperapplicationofthemethod.Tablefootnotesareapartofthetable.Thereforeagainweseethatno
mandatorylanguageshouldbeoutsideofthemaintextofthedocument.

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StandardizationRecords

Recently, we were in the process of installing a new temperature recorder for our curing room.
DuringthisperiodweexperiencedaCCRLinspection.Theycorrectlynotedafootnoteofdeficiency.
The accuracy of the temperature recorder for the moist storage facilities was not verified at six month
intervalsasrequiredbySection5.2.1ofC511.SubsequentlyAMRLisrequestingourcurrentstandardization
records.Couldyouenlightenustowhatismeantbythisterminology(verifystandardization)?

The standardization record for the recorder is a record that details the comparison made between
the recorder and a reference thermometer as described in C511, and adjusting the recorder if it is
outside the allowable tolerance. There are six items of information youll want to include on the
record.

1. Uniqueidentificationoftherecorder.

2. Uniqueidentificationofthereferencethermometer.

3. Nameofthepersonwhoperformedthestandardization.
4. Referencetotheprocedureused,forexample,Procedureused:C511

5. Datethestandardizationwasperformed.

6. Detailedresultsincludingtemperatureindicatedbyboththermometer,andindicationofadjustmentmade
andnewtemperaturereadingifnecessary.

According to Section 5.2.1.3 of ASTM C51106 the laboratory is to verify the accuracy of the temperature
recorderwiththatofthereferencetemperaturemeasuringdeviceandadjustthetemperaturerecorderifthe
difference is greater than 1 C. This process is considered Standardization, which is a simplified form of
calibration. The process determines the correction to be applied to the result of a measuring device when
compared to a reference standard. Standardization does not address all of the elements of uncertainty and
doesnotleadtotraceablemeasurements.

AccordingtoASSHTOPP5706thisprocessistermedverificationofstandardizationaprocessthat
establisheswhethertheresultsofapreviouslystandardizedmeasurementdeviceareincontrol

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HowisaBoltHeadFormed?

A colleague of mine suggested that the head of a highstrength bolt was attached to the shaft by
weldingthetwoparts.Couldyouexplaintheprocessfortheassemblage?

Theheadofaboltisformedbyheatingtheendofapieceof
steelroundbarandthenforging(reshaping)theheatedend
intoahead.Theheadisnotweldedonorotherwiseattachedtothe
endoftheroundbar.

Forexample,theproductionofa1diameterx12longA325bolt
beginsbycuttinga20ft.lengthof1045steelroundbarinto13
11/16pieces.Sincethefinishedboltlengthof12ismeasuredfromtheendofthebolttotheundersideofthe
head,wemustadd111/16tothecutlengthofthebolt.Aftercuttingthebolttolength,thisaddedmaterial(1
11/16)isheatedtoapproximately2000degreesFahrenheitandforgedintowhateverheadstylethespecific
boltrequires.InthecaseofanA325bolt,theheadstyleisaheavyhexstructuralbolt.Aftertheheadis
forged,anA325boltundergoesaheattreatingprocessinwhichtheboltsarequenchedandtemperedto
developthehighstrengthmechanicalpropertiesrequiredbythespecification.Thenextstepintheprocessis
totesttheboltstoensurethattheymeetthestrengthrequirements.Afterverification,theyarethreadedwith
13/4of8pitchUnifiedNationalCoarsethread.

InformationprovidedbyPortlandBolt&ManufacturingCompany,www.portlandbolt.com

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MinimumboltNutEngagement
Imworkingonaprojectwheretheboltsweremissorderedshort.Wheninstalledaccordingtothe
plansandspecs,theendoftheboltisflushwiththefaceofthenut.Howmuchofaboltmustproject
beyondthenutwhenproperlyinstalled?

Thoughacommonruleofthumbis"threethreadspastthenut",itisjustthataruleofthumb,withnobasisin
fact.Inordertoarriveattherightanswer,weneedtofollowthereferencedocumentchain.

Ifwestartwiththe2006IBC,section1704.3.3statesinspectinaccordancetoAISCspecifications,whichis
averybroadstatement.Chapter35isalittlemorespecificbydesignatingAISC36005Specificationfor
StructuralSteelBuildings.However,table1704.3givesusAISC360,sectionM2.5,whichgetsclosertothe
heartofthematter.
 SectionM2.5statesTheuseofhighstrengthboltsshallconformto
therequirementsoftheRCSCSpecificationforStructuralJointsUsing
ASTMA325orA490Bolts,exceptasmodifiedinSectionJ3.Notethat
sectionJ3makesnostatementaboutboltnutengagement.Thus,
wehavearrivedatthecorrectspecifyingdocument,Specificationfor
StructuralJointsUsingASTMA325orA490Bolts,hereafterreferredtoasthe
RCSC2004.

Section2.3.2oftheRCSC2004states,"Theboltlengthusedshallbesuchthat
theendoftheboltextendbeyondorisatleastflushwiththeouterfaceofthe
nutwhenproperlyinstalled."Sowhiletheoldruleofthumbwon'thurt,the
shortboltswillworkjustfine.

ReferenceDocuments

2004RCSC"SpecificationforStructuralJointsUsingASTMA325orA490Bolts"

http://www.boltcouncil.org/files/2004RCSCSpecification.pdf

AISC36005SpecificationforStructuralSteelBuildings

http://www.aisc.org/Content/ContentGroups/Documents/2005_Specification/2005Specification_third_printing.pdf

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