Structural Fasteners
Structural fasteners, high-strength bolts, nuts, washers, and anchor bolts, hold steel connections together under design load, sized and graded to the connection's calculated capacity rather than picked off a generic hardware shelf. NLS sources structural bolt assemblies to ASTM A325/A490 and ISO 4014/4017, hot-dip galvanized and plain finish, from M12 to M36, for structural steel and foundation connections on Saudi projects.
A structural fastener isn't interchangeable with a general hardware-store bolt, even at the same diameter. Structural bolt assemblies, bolt, nut, and washer as a matched set, are graded for a specific proof load and tensile strength, and a structural connection's design calculation assumes that exact grade, not just a bolt that happens to fit the hole. Using an under-graded bolt in a structural connection is a design failure waiting to happen, invisible until the connection is loaded.
NLS sources structural bolt assemblies to ASTM A325 (standard structural bolts) and A490 (higher-strength structural bolts for heavier connections), and ISO 4014/4017 metric bolts and nuts where a project follows metric structural design instead of imperial. Sizes run M12 to M36 (roughly 1/2 inch to 1.5 inch equivalent), in hot-dip galvanized finish for exterior and corrosion-exposed connections and plain finish for interior, painted-system connections. NLS also sources anchor bolts and foundation bolt assemblies, cast-in and post-installed (chemical or mechanical anchor), for column base plates and equipment foundation fixing.
On Saudi projects, structural fasteners cover primary steel connections (column-to-beam, beam-to-beam), base plate anchor bolts on column foundations, and secondary steel connections on platforms, walkways, and equipment supports. The bolt grade, diameter, and length are specified by the structural engineer against the connection design, usually on a bolt schedule or called out directly on the fabrication drawing, so an accurate quote needs that reference rather than a generic size and quantity.
NLS quotes structural fasteners against the bolt schedule or drawing callout, covering grade, diameter, length, and finish, and returns a priced quote in USD. Common grades and sizes (A325, M16-M24 range) typically source faster than A490 high-strength bolts or oversized anchor bolts, which may run on a longer manufacturer lead time.
Specifications
- ✓Grades: ASTM A325 (standard structural), ASTM A490 (high-strength structural)
- ✓Metric equivalent: ISO 4014/4017 bolts and nuts
- ✓Size range: M12 to M36
- ✓Finish: hot-dip galvanized and plain
- ✓Anchor bolts: cast-in and post-installed (chemical/mechanical) for foundations and base plates
- ✓Standards referenced: ASTM A325/A490, ISO 4014/4017
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't a regular hardware bolt substitute for a structural bolt?+
A structural bolt assembly, bolt, nut, and washer together, is graded for a specific proof load and tensile strength that the connection's design calculation is built around. A generic hardware bolt of the same diameter doesn't carry that guaranteed grade, so substituting one is a design risk, not a cost saving.
What's the difference between ASTM A325 and A490 bolts?+
A490 bolts have higher tensile strength than A325 for the same diameter, used where a heavier structural connection needs more clamping force from fewer or smaller bolts. The structural engineer's connection design specifies which grade a given connection needs.
Does NLS supply anchor bolts for column base plates?+
Yes. NLS sources both cast-in anchor bolts, set into the concrete before pour, and post-installed chemical or mechanical anchors for base plates and equipment foundations fixed after the concrete has cured.
What information does NLS need to quote structural fasteners?+
The bolt grade, diameter, length, and finish, ideally straight from the connection's bolt schedule or the fabrication drawing, since structural bolts are specified to a specific connection design rather than picked by size alone.