Pre-Installation Verification Requirements
‘When high-strength bolts must be pretensioned
(tightened), AISC, RCSC and AASHTO specifications
require that allfastener assemblies (bolt, nut, washer and,
dati when used) be tested using the selected installation
procedure prior to installation in the structure. The
Purpose of this procedure is to verify that the crew
Understands and can properly implement the installation
process, and that the process will indeed develop the
Fequired minimum bolt pretension when used on the
structure.
Pre-installation Verification
Required Tension (kips)
Bolt Diameter | A325 Bolts
(inches) F1852 Bolts
‘A490 Bolts
1 kip = 1000 pounds
‘The above values are 5% higher than the required
pretension values used for design, actual installation and
Inspection,
Ref: RCSC Section 7
Pre-installation Verification
Turn-of-the-Nut Method
1. Take three bolts of each diameter, length, grade and
production lot, with three nuts of each diameter, grade
and production lot, as they will be assembled inthe field.
if washers are to be used, include the washers that wil
be used in the assembly. Each set is called a “fastener
assembly.”
2. Place the bolt in the Skidmore-Wilhelm. If the nut will
be turned on the structure, place the bolt head in the
back of the Skidmore. Ifthe bolt head is to be tuned, use
a flat bushing in the back of the Skidmore or place the nut
in the bushing slot.
3.Add fat plate shims and washers as necessary tohave
approximately two to three threads of stickout beyond the
face of the nut when the nut is fingertight. Stickout can
range between five threads and a flush end condition (no
stickout). Ifthe bolts too short to have the end ofthe bolt
flush with the nut, perform this test in a steel plate and
skip Steps 7 and 8 below. No tension measurements are
possible for short bolts.
44, Snug the bott using the technique (spud wrench or
impact wrench) to be used on the structure. Use
approximately the same effort or impact time anticipated
after the joint has been drawn to the snug condition,
5. Matchmark the nut, bolt and Skidmore face-plate as.
‘would be done on the structure. See Turn-of-Nut Method,
page 22, for marking details.
6. Apply the required rotation as given in Table T-1,
pages 24 & 25,
7. Verity that the achieved tension, as read on the
Skidmore dial gage, is at least 5% more than the required
bolt pretension. See table on page 4.
8. Record the achieved tension in a log book.
9. Remove the fastener assembly and repeat steps 2
through 8 abave for the remaining fastener assemblies in
the pre-installation verification set of three botts.
Ref: RCSC Section 7