As the name suggests, anchor bolts are used for anchoring structural supports to concrete foundations. The most common uses include building columns, column supports for highway signs, street lighting, traffic signals, steel bearing plates, bridges, and many other applications.
The F1554 anchor bolt is currently the most common anchor bolt specification. This specification includes Double End Studs, Bent Anchor Bolts, and headed configurations. The F1554 comes in the following materials: carbon, carbon boron, and alloy. The ASTM F1554 anchor bolts also come in three strength grades, two thread classes, and in a range of different sizes.
F1554 Grade 36
Grade 36 anchor bolts are your standard, low strength, low carbon and weldable steel Anchor Bolt with a minimum yield strength of 36 ksi. These bolts replaced ASTM A307 Grade C. They can be ordered as hot-dip galvanized, mechanically galvanized, or a plain black finish. When grade 36 is specified, a weldable grade 55 may be supplied at the manufacturer’s option.
- Tensile: 58-80
- Yield (min): 36 ksi
- Diameters Covered: 1”-4”
- Identification Color: BLUE
F1554 Grade 55
Grade 55 anchor bolts are mild steel bolts providing a minimum yield strength of 55 ksi. Like Grade 36, they can be ordered as hot-dip galvanized, mechanically galvanized, or a plain black finish. While F1554 does not require Grade 55 to be weldable, all steel used to make F1554 Grade 55 anchor bolts at A&M Nut & Bolt meets supplementary requirement S1 for weldability.
- Tensile: 75-95
- Yield (min): 55 ksi
- Diameters Covered: 1”-4”
- Identification Color: YELLOW
F1554 Grade 105
Grade 105 anchor bolts are the highest strength bolts within ASTM F1554. They are manufactured from a heat treated alloy steel, developing a minimum yield strength of 105 ksi. Like grades 36 and 55, Grade 105 anchor bolts can also be ordered as hot-dip galvanized, mechanically galvanized, or a plain black finish. Because strength is derived through the process of heat treating, welding is not recommended, as it could alter the mechanical properties of the steel. Typically, steel used to manufacture F1554 Grade 105 anchor bolts at A&M Nut & Bolt meets S4 supplementary requirements for impact testing at -20°F.
- Tensile: 125-150
- Yield (min): 105 ksi
- Diameters Covered: 1”-3”
- Identification Color: RED
Points Worth Noting About ASTM F1554:
- ASTM F1554 was specifically created to cover bolts with the sole purpose of anchoring.
- Any time F1554 Grade 36 is specified the manufacturer (at their discretion) can provide weldable F1554 Grade 55 as an acceptable substitute.
- A nut can be tack-welded to the end of a Double End Stud in order to provide an anchoring feature similar to a hex head in most cases.
- F1554 Grade 105 often dual certifies to ASTM A193 Grade B7 due to their properties being virtually identical.