Choosing Fasteners That Withstand Extreme Construction Challenges
An EF-3 tornado struck St. Louis, Missouri this past May 16th. It destroyed or severely damaged around 5,000 structures, including churches, commercial buildings and homes. Fatalities occurred when part of a church structure collapsed.
Outdated construction and fastener quality were partly responsible for the inability of the church to withstand wind pressures in such a tornado-prone region.
Earthquakes, severe offshore storms and other forms of nature’s wrath have been rampant across the U.S. lately. These create high-stake scenarios for structures and the fasteners that hold them together.
Your fastener choice can make the difference between construction that remains standing after the dust settles… and ones that don’t.
The Role of Fastener Quality
The ability of a building to hold its own under a severe storm, earthquake or other stress depends on several roles fasteners play in holding together structures, including:
Distributing Loads: Correct fastener application consistently transmits forces across a structure - not just at the obvious joints.
Anchoring Systems: Buildings built to withstand earthquakes rely on fasteners to tie structural elements to the ground. This reduces the risk of collapse.
Environmental Stability: Specialized fasteners resist deterioration and maintain strength in storm-prone or corrosive environments. Most are coated or made from corrosion-resistant alloys.*
Anchorage: Properly specified and installed fasteners help maintain continuous load paths. This enables forces from storms or earthquakes to be redirected safely to the ground.
Redundant Connectors: Redundant connectors refer to a connection system that provides a path for loads or forces if one part of the connection fails. It’s a built-in backup with a structure.
Code Compliance: Numerous disaster investigations have triggered updates to building codes, particularly regarding fastener spacing, strength, and corrosion resistance.
New advances in materials science may go a long way towards preventing structural failures before they occur.
One such development is the advent of smart fasteners. These fasteners can monitor structural loads and notify building managers of potential weaknesses ahead of time.
In addition, manufacturers are also developing high-strength, corrosion-resistant alloys for critical connectors. They may prove particularly beneficial for coastal and industrial environments where stainless steel quickly degrades.
Keep in mind even the best fasteners require regular inspection. Periodic checks, proper torquing and replacement of worn or corroded elements go a long way towards increasing building safety.
News-worthy construction failures repeatedly show that the quality and engineering of fasteners and connectors are not minor details. They are foundational to saving both lives and investments in every construction project.
Covering every aspect of selecting the best construction fastener for your project’s specific needs is beyond the scope of this post. If you’d like more information please give us a call.
Plus, many of the factors to consider are covered in other Melfast blogs, including the following:
Corrosion-resistant alloys like Inconel, Hastelloy, and Monel are often chosen for construction in chemical plants and marine settings. See “Common Alloys in Fastener Design.”
The blog post, “4 Common Plating Methods To Make Fasteners More Corrosion Resistant” discusses zinc plating, phosphate coating, cadmium plating and galvanizing. The article also discusses their typical applications and relative effectiveness.
For an in-depth look at fastener coating and alloys best suited for different exposure levels and environments, you’ll want to read, “The Most Common Fastener Coatings.”
