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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES

AC116

Approved February 2012

(Editorially revised October 2012)
(Previously approved October 2006, February 2005,
October 2004, July 2001, July 1997 and April 1997)
(Previously editorially revised July 2010)

PREFACE
Evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), are based upon performance features of
the International family of codes. (Some reports may also reference older code families such as the BOCA
National Codes, the Standard Codes, and the Uniform Codes.) Section 104.11 of the International Building Code
reads as follows:
The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any materials or to
prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code,
provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or
method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed
design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the
material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that
prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.
This acceptance criteria has been issued to provide interested parties with guidelines for demonstrating
compliance with performance features of the codes referenced in the criteria. The criteria was developed through
a transparent process involving public hearings of the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee, and/or on-line postings
where public comment was solicited.
New acceptance criteria will only have an approved date, which is the date the document was approved by
the Evaluation Committee. When existing acceptance criteria are revised, the Evaluation Committee will decide
whether the revised document should carry only an approved date, or an approved date combined with a
compliance date. The compliance date is the date by which relevant evaluation reports must comply with the
requirements of the criteria. See the ICC-ES web site for more information on compliance dates.
If this criteria is a revised edition, a solid vertical line () in the margin within the criteria indicates a change
from the previous edition. A deletion indicator () is provided in the margin where any significant wording has
been deleted.
ICC-ES may consider alternate criteria for report approval, provided the report applicant submits data
demonstrating that the alternate criteria are at least equivalent to the criteria set forth in this document, and
otherwise demonstrate compliance with the performance features of the codes. ICC-ES retains the right to refuse
to issue or renew any evaluation report, if the applicable product, material, or method of construction is such that
either unusual care with its installation or use must be exercised for satisfactory performance, or if
malfunctioning is apt to cause injury or unreasonable damage.
NOTE: The Preface for ICC-ES acceptance criteria was revised in July 2011 to reflect changes in policy.

Acceptance criteria are developed for use solely by ICC-ES for purpose of issuing ICC-ES evaluation reports.
Copyright 2012

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

1.0

1.3.12 ANSI/AF&PA Special Design Provisions for

Wind and Seismic (SDPWS), American Forest & Paper
Association. (Refer to Table 1 of this acceptance criteria
for edition date.).

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this acceptance criteria

is to establish requirements for nails and spikes to be
recognized in an ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES),
evaluation report under the 2009 and 2006 International

Building Code (IBC), the 2009 and 2006 International

Residential Code (IRC) and the 1997 Uniform Building

Code (UBC). Bases of recognition are IBC Section
104.11, IRC Section R104.11 and UBC Section 104.2.8.

1.4

1.2 Scope: This criteria establishes minimum

requirements for nails and spikes used in connections
where the main member of the connection (typically the
thicker member) is wood and the side member of the
connection (typically the thinner member) is wood or any
engineering material. Requirements include provisions for
dimensions, material properties, installation and design
values. Qualification for connections with side members
that are not engineering materials, as defined in Section
1.4.3, is outside the scope of this criteria. The reference
values for lateral resistance and withdrawal are
recognized by the codes listed in Section 1.3 of this
criteria. Where this criteria references code sections of
each of the various codes, the applicable section is the
section of the code under which the system is being
evaluated, unless noted otherwise. Standard editions of
the NDS, SDPWS and ASTM D 1761 applicable to each
code are summarized in Table 1.
1.3

1.4.2 Proprietary Fasteners: Fasteners that are

characterized by one or more of these features:

1.3.2 2009 and 2006 International

Code (IRC), International Code Council.
1.3.3

Shank geometry not considered in ASTM F 1667;

Bending yield strengths deviate from the values

in IBC Section 2303.6 (Tables S1.1 and S1.2 of
ASTM F 1667);

Commodity fastener used in a manner not

consistent with the NDS, such as fasteners
installed in connection material that is not wood
or a grade of structural steel.

1.4.3 Engineering
Material:
Material
with
published, code-recognized dowel bearing strengths.
Examples include sawn lumber, structural composite
lumber, wood structural panels and metals.
2.0
2.1

Codes and Referenced Standards:

1.3.1 2009 and 2006 International Building Code

(IBC), International Code Council.

Definitions:

1.4.1 Commodity Fasteners: Smooth shank, ring

shank and screw shank fasteners, and hardened fasteners
of all recognized geometries that comply with the minimum
dimensions and tolerances in ASTM F 1667.

BASIC INFORMATION:
General:

2.1.1 Description: Nail and spike description shall

be reported, including designation, wire specification,
shank style or type according to ASTM F 1667, if
appropriate, and dimensions such as shank diameter(s),
head diameter, length of the tapered tip, and overall
fastener length. For proprietary deformed shank fasteners,
a description of the deformations shall be reported and
include major and minor diameters, thread pitch, thread
length, and number of flutes, where applicable.

Residential

1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC).

1.3.4 ASTM A641-09a, Standard Specification for

Zinc-coated (Galvanized) Carbon Steel Wire, ASTM
International.

2.2 Packaging and Identification: The method of

packaging and identifying the nails and spikes shall be
reported and shall comply with Section 12 of ASTM F
1667. The evaluation report number shall occur on the
packaging. In addition, for proprietary nails and spikes, the
minimum specified bending yield strength shall be noted
on the packaging.

1.3.5 ASTM D1761, Standard Test Method for

Mechanical Fasteners in Wood, ASTM International.
1.3.6 ASTM D2915-10, Standard Practice for
Sampling and Data-Analysis for Structural Wood and
Wood-Based Products, ASTM International.

2.3 Testing Laboratories: Testing laboratories shall

comply with Section 2.0 of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria
for Test Reports (AC85) and Section 4.2 of the ICC-ES
Rules of Procedure for Evaluation Reports.

1.3.7 ASTM D5764-97a (2007), Standard Test

Method for Evaluating Dowel-Bearing Strength of Wood
and Wood-Based Products, ASTM International.
1.3.8 ASTM E18-08b, Standard Test Method for
Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials, ASTM
International.

2.4
Test Reports: Test reports shall comply with
AC85. These reports shall include sample selection
procedure, test specimen preparation, test procedures,
and results of all tests. Where indicated, photographs
must be included in the reports.

1.3.9 ASTM F1575-03 (2008), Standard Test

Method for Determining Bending Yield Moment of Nails,
ASTM International.

2.5

Product Sampling:

2.5.1 Test Specimens without Third-party Quality

Control Inspections: Sampling of the nails and spikes for
tests under this criteria shall comply with Section 3.2 of
AC85, except as noted in Section 2.5.2.

1.3.10 ASTM F1667-05, Standard Specification for

Driven Fasteners: Nails, Spikes, and Staples, ASTM
International.
1.3.11 National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood
Construction, American Forest & Paper Association.
(Refer to Table 1 of this acceptance criteria for edition
date.).

2.5.2 Test Specimens with Third-party Quality

Control Inspections: Sampling of nails and spikes having
bending yield strengths that deviate from the values in IBC
Section 2303.6 (Tables S1.1 and S1.2 of ASTM F 1667)
2

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

for tests under this criteria shall comply with Section 3.1 of
AC85.

the requirements for ductility in Section 7.1 of ASTM F

1667, based on a minimum of seven specimens.

3.0

3.6 Coatings: Coatings other than zinc shall be

described.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Scope: All fasteners and single-fastener

connections shall be tested in accordance with Sections
3.2 through 3.10 of this criteria, as applicable. Lateral
design and withdrawal design values for proprietary
fasteners shall be determined in accordance with Section
4.3 and Section 4.4, respectively, of this criteria. Lateral
design and withdrawal design values for commodity
fasteners shall be determined in accordance with Section
4.5 of this criteria.

3.7 Bending Yield Strength: Bending yield strength,

Fyb, of nails and spikes shall be evaluated according to
ASTM F 1575. Testing for smooth shank nails shall be
done on either the finished nail or specimens of drawn
wire stock. Tests for deformed shank nails shall be done
on the nail products. Test specimens shall be randomly
selected to represent the parent population of fasteners in
accordance with the objectives of the test program. At
least 15 replicates shall be tested.

3.1.1 Dowel Bearing Test: Dowel bearing strength

testing described in Section 3.8 shall be determined for
the wood or connection member when:

Lateral resistance testing is required by Section

3.1.2.

Wire diameter is less than 0.099 inch (2.5 mm).

The connection material is not a wood-based

material recognized in the NDS or a grade of
structural steel.

3.1.2

Test reports shall include:

Lateral Resistance Test:

Penetration into the main member is less than

6D.

Diameter is less than 0.099 inch (2.5 mm).

The nail or spike is a proprietary fastener.

Calculation of Fyb for each nail according to the

Annex of ASTM F 1575.

Average calculated bending yield strength.

Other requirements as described in Section 11 of

ASTM F 1575.

3.8 Dowel Bearing Strength: Dowel bearing strength

of wood-based materials shall be determined in
accordance with ASTM D 5764, on a minimum of 15
specimens per wire diameter. Dowel bearing strength shall
be determined for each species of lumber for which
recognition is desired; as an alternative, species may be
grouped, with tests conducted on the species with the
least specific gravity in each group. For nonwood
engineering materials, dowel bearing capacity shall be
determined by an approved method.

3.1.2.1
Section 3.9, Lateral Resistance Test, shall
be required for nails and spikes when:

3.9 Lateral Resistance Test: For connections

between wood members and connections between woodbased materials and other engineering materials, lateral
resistance tests shall be conducted in accordance with
ASTM D 1761 procedures. The lateral resistance tests
shall be conducted on a minimum of 15 specimens of
each species and material for which recognition is desired,
or, as an alternative, species may be grouped, with tests
conducted on the species with the least specific gravity in
each group. Fasteners shall be driven into wood
conditioned in accordance with Section 9.1 of ASTM D
1761 or with the planned end use. The average Fyb of the
fasteners as determined in accordance with Section 3.7
shall be within 10 percent of the specified Fyb. The ultimate
load and 75 percent of the proportional limit load shall be
determined for each test connection. For proprietary
fasteners that have reference lateral design capacities
calculated by using Section 4.3.2 of this criteria, testing for
representative material combinations shall use a minimum
of 15 specimens and target 5 percent precision with a 75
percent confidence for the mean capacity, but testing
more than 40 specimens shall not be required. The target
number of test specimens is determined by using ASTM D
2915, equation 1.

3.1.2.2
When lateral resistance testing is
conducted as required by Section 3.1.2.1, the reference
lateral design values shall be determined by the
calculation method according to Section 4.3.1 or by the
empirical method according to Section 4.3.2. If the lateral
resistance test data corroborate yield modes other than
those recognized by the yield mode equations of the NDS,
the reference lateral design values shall be determined by
the empirical method according to Section 4.3.2.
3.1.3 Withdrawal Test: Section 3.10, Withdrawal
Test, shall be required for proprietary fasteners other than
smooth shank fasteners, and ring- and screw-shank
fasteners, and hardened fasteners with ring- and screwshank geometries.
3.2 Zinc-coated Steel Wire: Zinc-coated steel wire
shall be tested and found to comply with ASTM A 641,
Class 1, coating weight. The test sample shall consist of at
least 12 inches (305 mm) of shank length, but 24 inches
(610 mm) of shank length is preferred.
3.3 Hardened Steel Wire or Nails: Hardened steel
wire or nails shall be heat-treated and, when required,
found to comply with Section 3.5 of these criteria. In
addition, the Rockwell Hardness of C 37 must be achieved
in accordance with ASTM E 18, based on a sample of at
least seven specimens, unless otherwise specified in the
standard.

3.10 Withdrawal Test: Withdrawal tests shall be

conducted in accordance with ASTM D 1761 procedures,
on a minimum of 15 specimens of each species and
material for which recognition is desired. Fasteners shall
be driven into wood conditioned in accordance with
Section 9.1 of ASTM D 1761. The ultimate load shall be
determined for the test fastener. For proprietary fasteners
that have reference withdrawal capacities calculated by
using Section 4.4 of this criteria, testing shall use a

3.4 Stainless Steel Wire and Nails: Stainless steel

wire or nails shall comply with Section 6.2 of ASTM F
1667.
3.5 Ductility: Stainless steel nails, proprietary, and
hardened steel nails shall be tested and shall comply with
3

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

minimum of 15 specimens for representative species (or

species group) and materials and target 5 percent
precision with a 75 percent confidence for the mean
capacity, but testing more than 40 specimens shall not be
required. The target number of test specimens is
determined by using ASTM D 2915, equation 1.
4.0

Section 3.10 of these criteria, divided by a factor of 5.

Reference withdrawal design values for fasteners with
smooth round shanks and having diameters equal to
commodity fasteners shall be limited to values listed in the
NDS and UBC Table 23-III-D. Where tests are done on
species groups, reference design values for each group
are determined based on applicable data for the tested
species.

ANALYSIS

4.1 Bending Yield Strength: Compliance with IBC

Section 2303.6 (Tables S1.1 and S1.2 of ASTM F 1667)
shall permit the use of the nail and spike connection tables
in the NDS or UBC Section 2318.3; and the yield mode
equations of the NDS shall be used regardless of the Fyb
compliance.

4.5 Reference Lateral Design and Withdrawal

Values for Commodity Fastener Connections: These
fasteners may reference the tabulated values and
appropriate tables noted in the code. Reference lateral
design values (normal duration of load) of connections
with smooth, ring, and screw shank fasteners, and
hardened fasteners of all recognized shank geometries
may be calculated using the the NDS. Reference
withdrawal design value of fasteners may be calculated
using:

4.2 Dowel Bearing: For wood-based materials, the

mean dowel bearing test data shall be compared to the
published dowel bearing capacities in the NDS, and if
found to be not significantly different (significance level =
0.10), the NDS published values shall be used in Section
4.3. For other engineering materials, the mean dowel
bearing strength and standard deviation shall be reported
and used as appropriate in Section 4.3.

5/2

W = 1380 G

5/2

For SI: W = 243.4 G

4.3.1 Lateral Resistance ValueCalculation: The

lateral design reference values shall be calculated in
accordance with the NDS and shall not exceed 75 percent
of the proportional limit load, or the average ultimate load
divided by a factor of 3.2. The factor of 3.2 assumes a
duration of load of 1.6 and a maximum coefficient of
variation (COV) of 15 percent. Where the COV is greater
than 15 percent, the calculated reference lateral load shall
not exceed:

COV = s/F = Coefficient of variation in a test series.

= Average ultimate load in test series, pounds

(N).

= Assigned specific gravity of the wood based

on oven dry weight and volume, according to
NDS Table 11.3.2A.

= Shank diameter of the nail or spike, where

0.099 D 0.375 inch (2.51 D 9.53 mm)
for smooth shank wire nails and wire spikes;
and where 0.120 D 0.207 inch (3.05 D
5.26 mm) for threaded nails; inches (mm).

5.1 Scope: This section addresses additional

requirements for the acceptance of alternates to codeprescribed fasteners for use in the horizontal diaphragm
and vertical shear wall conditions described in Sections
4.2 and 4.3 of the SDPWS, or Chapter 23 of the IBC or
UBC, as direct, one-to-one substitutes for said fasteners.
The horizontal diaphragms and vertical shear walls with
the alternate fastener will be assigned the allowable shear
value set forth in the SDPWS, IBC or UBC tables for the
referenced code-prescribed fastener. The test results shall
show that ultimate load for the alternate fastener
connection equals or exceeds the load of the referenced
code-prescribed fastener connection, that the slip for the
alternate fastener connection is less than or equal to the
slip for the code-prescribed fastener connection, and that
the alternate fastener can be installed in accordance with
the IBC or UBC without damaging the connected
materials. For vertical shear walls, the alternate fastener
shall comply with the requirements for ductility in Section
7.1 of ASTM F 1667 for the code specified fastener.

= Bound of calculated reference lateral load,

pounds (N).
= Standard deviation in a test series, pounds
(N).

= Nail or spike withdrawal design value, pounds

per inch (N/mm) of penetration in the member
holding point.

5.0 FASTENER SUBSTITUTION IN HORIZONTAL

DIAPHRAGM AND VERTICAL SHEAR WALLS:

4.6 Placement of Nails and Spikes: Placement of

nails and spikes shall conform to the NDS and UBC
Section 2318.3, as applicable.

where:
Fall

where:

4.3 Reference
Lateral
Design
Values
for
Proprietary Fastener Connections: Lateral design
values of proprietary fasteners (normal load duration) used
in
wood-to-wood or wood-to-other-engineered-material connections
shall be determined by calculation in accordance with
Section 4.3.1 or by the empirical method in accordance
with Section 4.3.2.

Where tests are done on species groups, reference

design values for each group shall be determined based
on applicable data for the tested species.
4.3.2 Lateral Resistance ValueEmpirical: The
reference lateral design value may exceed the value
calculated in accordance with Section 4.3.1, provided the
empirically derived value is taken as the average ultimate
load divided by a factor of 5.
4.4 Reference Withdrawal Design Values for
Proprietary Fasteners: The reference withdrawal design
value (normal duration of load) shall be determined based
on the average ultimate load test results described in

5.1.1 Recognition for Reduced Penetration

Depths: If recognition is sought for the use of alternate
nails with reduced nail penetration (i.e., penetration depths
4

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

5.2.2

less than the minimums specified in the diaphragm and

shear wall tables of the applicable code) in diaphragms or
shear walls, full-scale horizontal diaphragm and/or vertical
shear wall testing is required at the minimum nail
penetration depth for which recognition is sought. A
qualification test plan shall be submitted to ICC-ES prior to
commencement of testing.
5.2

Analysis and Conditions of Acceptance:

5.2.2.1
Load Capacity: The average ultimate
load for the alternate fastener shall be equal to or greater
than the ultimate load for the code-prescribed fastener.
5.2.2.2
Nail Slip: Load-slip curves shall be
generated from the load and lateral movement
measurements in the lateral load test report. The average
load-slip curve for the alternate fastener shall be
compared to that of the code-prescribed nail at all possible
values of the fastener load level Vn, which is calculated as
follows:

Comparative Connection Testing:

5.2.1 Testing Requirements: Lateral load tests

shall be performed both on connections constructed using
the code-prescribed fasteners, and on connections
constructed using the nails to be recognized as alternates
to the code-prescribed fasteners. Lateral load tests shall
be conducted in accordance with ASTM D 1761 and
Sections 5.2.1.1 through 5.2.1.4.

( )(

5.2.1.1
Wood Material: The comparative tests
shall be conducted using nominal 2x sawn lumber
compliant with IBC Section 2303.1.1, and wood structural
panels compliant with IBC Section 2303.1.4. Comparative
tests shall be performed on each combination of lumber
species and wood structural panel type for which
recognition is sought, with the exception that recognition
can be applied to both rated sheathing and Structural I
panels if rated sheathing panels are used in the tests in
lieu of Structural I grade panels. Analogously, if
recognition is sought for use with framing of various
species groups having a range of assigned specific
gravities, tests need only be performed using lumber
having the minimum and maximum specific gravities for
which recognition is sought. The lumber framing and wood
structural panels shall be conditioned in accordance with
Section 9 of ASTM D 1761 prior to assembling the test
specimens. The moisture content of the framing and wood
structural panel members shall be determined in
accordance with ASTM D 4442 or ASTM D4444. The
specific gravity of the framing and wood structural panel
members shall be determined in accordance with ASTM D
2395.

where:
vs = Seismic nominal unit shear capacity of the
diaphragm or shear wall, as specified in the
applicable tables of SDPWS, pounds per foot.
s

= Boundary spacing of sheathing fasteners within

the diaphragm or shear wall, inches.

Vn shall be evaluated using each combination of vs and

s for which equivalency recognition is sought. The average
slip of the alternate fastener shall be less than or equal to
that of the code-prescribed nail at the load levels
corresponding to each possible value of Vn.
5.2.2.3
Slip Function: For use in determining
diaphragm and shear wall deflections, a function for nail
slip, en, with respect to load shall be derived for alternate
fasteners to be used for attaching sheathing in horizontal
diaphragms and vertical shear walls. The equation shall
be compatible with those given in Table C4.2.2D of the
SDPWS Commentary, having the following form:

5.2.1.2
Nails: The code-prescribed nails shall be
smooth-shank, bright common nails of the penny-weight to
which the desired equivalency is to be established. The
proprietary fasteners shall be tested in the condition
intended for end-use in accordance with the
manufacturers instructions. Manufacturer-applied coatings
need not be removed, with the exception that coatings
which enhance withdrawal resistance through adhesive
bonding between the fastener and the wood shall be
removed prior to specimen construction.

where:
Vn

= Lateral force on the nail, pounds (N).

= The first constant.

= The second constant

The constants, a and b, shall be determined by

performing a regression analysis on the average load-slip
curve for each nail type and connection configuration
tested.

5.2.1.3
Test Specimen Construction: The test
specimens with the code-prescribed common nails shall
be constructed from the same wood structural panels and
wood framing members as the alternate nail specimens.
The test specimen shall be constructed for single shear
loading, such that the load is applied parallel to the face
grain of the plywood (or parallel to the face strands of the
OSB) and parallel to the grain of the supporting lumber.
The fasteners shall be driven flush to the face of the
sheathing material and into the narrow face of the wood
framing member.

5.3 Minimum Spacing and Edge Distance Test:

This test shall demonstrate that the alternate fastener can
be installed using the minimum fastener spacing and edge
distances specified for the applicable horizontal diaphragm
and vertical shear wall configurations described in Chapter
23 of the IBC or UBC, without any unusual splitting within
the sheathing or framing. The test shall be conducted on a
minimum of two specimens that consist of 2-by-4 Douglas
fir-larch framing, and sheathing material of the type and
thickness for which recognition is desired. Nails shall be
driven flush to the face of the sheathing material, and into
the wood framing member at the minimum spacing and
edge distances specified in the code tables. The nails
shall be installed perpendicular to the grain of the
sheathing material and wood framing member. A visual

5.2.1.4
Number of Test Specimens: The
required number of replicate specimens for each
configuration shall be the number needed to provide 5
percent precision with 75 percent confidence for the mean
capacity, but no less than 15.
5

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

6.3 Nails and Spikes Having Standard Bending

Yield Strengths:

inspection of the connection shall be made after the nails

are driven into the material. The test shall not reveal any
sign of unusual splitting of the sheathing material or
framing.
6.0

6.3.1 Quality documentation complying with the ICCES Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation (AC10)
shall be submitted for each facility manufacturing or
labeling products that are recognized in the ICC-ES
evaluation report.

QUALITY CONTROL

6.1 General: For nails and spikes recognized as

having higher bending yield strengths than those assigned
in IBC Section 2303.6 (Tables S1.1 and S1.2 of ASTM F
1667), quality documentation and inspections shall be in
accordance with Section 6.2. For all other nails and
spikes, quality documentation and inspections shall be in
accordance with Section 6.3. See Annex A for alternate
procedures for qualification and quality control of nails that
are produced by manufacturers other than the report
holder or a listee on the evaluation report.
6.2 Nails and Spikes
Bending Yield Strengths:

Recognized

for

6.3.2 A qualifying inspection shall be conducted at

each manufacturing facility in accordance with the
requirements of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for
Inspections and Inspection Agencies (AC304).
6.3.3 An annual inspection shall be conducted at
each manufacturing facility in accordance with AC304.
7.0

EVALUATION REPORT RECOGNITION

The evaluation report shall include the following:

Higher

1. Basic information required by Section 2.1,

including product description, packaging and identification.

6.2.1 Quality documentation complying with the ICCES Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation (AC10)
shall be submitted for each facility manufacturing or
labeling products that are recognized in the ICC-ES
evaluation report.

2. Allowable design values based on Section 4.0 of

this criteria.
3. Placement methods, based on Section 4.6 of this
criteria.
4. Information concerning fastener substitution in
horizontal diaphragms and vertical shear walls, based on
Section 5.0 of this criteria, as applicable. This information
should include the nail slip function, en, along with a
statement indicating that this function is to be used in lieu
of the fastener slip functions given in SDPWS Table
C4.2.2D when calculating diaphragm or shear wall
deflection per SDPWS Sections C4.2.2 or C4.3.2,
respectively. Exception: The nail slip function, en, is not
required to be included within the evaluation report if it can
be established that the function is sufficiently similar to
that of the code-prescribed nail.

6.2.2 A qualifying inspection shall be conducted at

each manufacturing facility when required by the ICC-ES
Acceptance Criteria for Inspections and Inspection
Agencies (AC304).
6.2.3 Third party follow-up inspections are required
under this acceptance criteria for nails and spikes
recognized as having higher bending yield strengths than
those assigned in IBC Section 2303.6 (Tables S1.1 and
S1.2 of ASTM F 1667).

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

TABLE 1 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

STANDARD

1997 UBC

2006 IBC

2006 IRC

2009 IBC

2009 IRC

NDS

ANSI/NFoPA
NDS-1991
(Part 12)

ANSI/AF&PA
NDS2005
(Part 11)

ANSI/AF&PA
NDS2005
(Part 11)

ANSI/AF&PA NDS
2005
(Part 11)

ANSI/AF&PA
NDS2005
(Part 11)

SDPWS

SDPWS-05

SDPWS-05

SDPWS-08

SDPWS-08

2006

ASTM D 1761

1988

1988 (2000)

1988 (2000)

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

ANNEX A
Qualification and Quality Control Procedures for Purchased Fasteners
A1.0 General:
A1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this annex is to set forth alternate procedures for qualification of nails as complying with the
provisions of AC116, and establishment of quality control for such nails, for nails that are produced by manufacturers other
than the report holder.
A1.2 Scope: This annex applies to report holders who purchase nails from sources who have not submitted quality control
documentation to ICC-ES, and whose manufacturing facilities have not been audited by ICC-ES.
A1.3

Referenced Standards:

A1.3.1 ASTM F 1470-02, Standard Guide for Fastener Sampling for Specified Mechanical Properties and Performance
Inspection, ASTM International.
A1.3.2
A1.4

MIL-STD-1916, April 1, 1996, DOD Preferred Methods for Acceptance of Product, Department of Defense.

Definitions:

A1.4.1 Report Holder: For the purposes of this annex, the term report holder shall refer to evaluation report holders or
listees on evaluation reports who are recognized in the evaluation report to purchase fasteners.
A2.0 Qualification Process:
A2.1 General: The qualification process consists of four stages. At each stage, the quantity of fasteners ordered
increases, until consistent conformance to the requirements of ASTM F1667, and comparable engineering drawings issued by
the report holder, is assured. Characteristics subject to inspection and testing include bending yield strength for nails, ductility
for stainless steel staples and nails, hardness and ductility for hardened nails, galvanized coating weight (where applicable),
and physical dimensions for all fasteners as required by AC116. Sampling and evaluation shall be consistent with Table III,
Variables sampling plans, verification level V of MIL-STD-1916. In this case, the sample size is 64 pieces.
At every step of the qualification process, or at any point in the auditing process, any product that is found to be
nonconforming shall be scrapped, returned, or otherwise controlled so that it is not identified as covered by the evaluation
report.
A2.2 Stage 1: The first step of the process is to obtain carton size quantities of each nail diameter, material type and
configuration (smooth, ring, screw, hardened, stainless, etc.), to be qualified. Sixty-four fasteners shall be selected from the
carton and all test samples are to come from this selection. Testing shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of
AC116. Tests may be performed by the report holder and do not have to be performed by an accredited laboratory. Depending
on the number of tests to be performed (stiffness, ductility, etc.) and the number of fasteners to be tested in each test (sample
size of 7, 15, etc.) not all 64 fasteners may be used in a test. Each individual sample is to be tested as outlined in Section A2.1
for characteristics subject to inspection and testing. If compliance to all aspects is achieved, proceed to Section A2.3. If any
nonconformances are found, the supplier shall be notified, and the process restarted, with new products submitted for testing.
Upon the conclusion of testing, the fasteners in the sample shall be scrapped.
A2.3 Stage 2: The second stage of the process is to apply the quantity of fasteners to skid quantities of each type to be
qualified. Testing shall be performed by an accredited laboratory. If fasteners pass all tests, the report holder shall provide a
copy of the test report(s) to ICC-ES. The new samples shall be manufactured from a different heat of rod than was used in the
sample under Stage 1. The samples shall be tested as described in Stage 1, with the exception that the 64 fasteners will be
sampled from a number of cartons as specified by ASTM F 1470. The number of cartons from which the 64 fasteners are
selected for each fastener type is the sample size indicated in ASTM F 1470, Table 3, for Sample Level A, for a lot size
equal to the number of cartons in the skid that contain the type of fastener being tested. Even though ASTM F 1470 specifies
Sampling Level B or C for some fastener characteristics in its Table 1, all fastener tests are performed on fasteners from the
group of 64 selected from the number of boxes specified in ASTM F 1470, Table 3, for Sample Level A. If the samples all
exhibit conformance to the requirements of ASTM F 1667 and AC116, proceed to Section A2.4. If nonconformances related to
ICC-ES requirements such as nail bending yield strength, staple moment, hardness, ductility, etc., are found, the process must
restart at Section A2.2, or be abandoned. Upon the conclusion of testing, the fasteners in the sample shall be scrapped.
A2.4 Stage 3: The third stage of the process is to move to container quantities. At the container level, the fasteners will
generally be mixed by type within the container. The number of cartons from which the 64 fasteners are selected for each
fastener type is the sample size indicated in ASTM F 1470, Table 3, for Sample Level A, for a lot size equal to the number
of cartons in the skid that contain the type of fastener being tested. Tests may be performed by the report holder and do not
have to be performed by an accredited laboratory. Inspection and testing shall be as outlined in Section A2.2, above. If the
fasteners demonstrate conformance, move to normal purchase practice, Section A2.5. In the case of major nonconformances
related to ICC-ES requirements such as nail bending yield strength, staple moment, hardness, ductility, etc., the process shall
restart at Section A2.2, or be abandoned.
A2.5 Stage 4: The next six shipments of fasteners require testing, but at a reduced level. A shipment consists of product
received from one order. For sampling purposes, each intermodal container or truckload is considered a separate shipment. If
a shipment contains different fastener types, each fastener type shall be tested. For fastener bending yield strength testing, a
8

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR NAILS AND SPIKES (AC116)

type consists of one combination of shank diameter and shake style (i.e., smooth, screw or ring) regardless of nail length.
Test and inspect as described in Section A2.2, above, determining the number of cartons from which the 64 fasteners are to
be selected using ASTM F1470 as described in Section A2.3, above. If nonconformances related to ICC-ES requirements
such as nail bending yield strength, hardness, ductility, etc., are found, the process shall restart at Section A2.2, or be
abandoned. If the fasteners are conforming, the supplier shall be considered to be qualified.
Supplier qualification shall continue with testing of each fastener type in each future shipment. However, after ten
consecutive shipments have been tested with all fasteners conforming to all requirements, the Sample Level used in
application of ASTM F1470 will change from Sample Level A to Sample Level B. This will always result in the 64 fasteners
being selected from a smaller number of fastener cartons.
After five additional consecutive shipments have been tested with all fasteners conforming to all requirements, the Sample
Level used in application of ASTM F1470 will change from Sample Level B to Sample Level C. This will usually result in the 64
fasteners being selected from a smaller number of fastener cartons.
After Sample Level has been switched from A to B or C, if any tested fastener types fail any test, the Sample Level will
revert to A as at the beginning of Section A2.4.
A3.0 Quality System:
The report holder shall provide a quality control manual complying with the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Quality
Documentation. The documentation shall document procedures complying with this annex. The report holders testing facility
shall demonstrate that equipment, procedures and personnel are adequate to conduct the necessary testing.