New version of ISO 898-1 issues

John Newnham, Fastener Specialist, CB

Numerous quality engineers will need to make an immediate purchase of the
new version of ISO 898-1 which is a fundamental standard not only for standard
fasteners !ut also for proprietary drawings many of which refer to ISO 898-1 to
define the required properties of special !olts and studs" #he document defines
the materials and properties for metric !olts screws and studs in car!on and alloy
steels e$cept for set screws and similar fasteners not under tensile stress" In the
%& it is designated 'S (N ISO 898-1)*++9 and it is now availa!le from 'SI
replacing ISO 898-1)1999"
,ompared with the 1999 version which has -+ pages the new standard is almost
dou!le the length and attempts to apply to the widest possi!le range of
configurations and designs of such fasteners" It also includes detailed
descriptions of the common tests for the properties that are e$pected !ut as in
the previous standard does not include properties such as welda!ility corrosion
resistance elevated temperature properties shear properties and fatigue
resistance"
#his standard has had a relatively lengthy passage through the various stages of
approval" In the ISO meeting of *++. in Stockholm the working group chairman
had more than -++ written comments on the draft for discussion" It needed a
further meeting in Swit/erland in Septem!er *++8 !efore agreement was
reached and the final version was voted upon in the first two months of *++9"
Some of the fundamental changes in the standard concern materials" #he old -"0
grade is no longer defined and while the remaining lower strength grades up to
9"8 have included more fle$i!ility in the choice of materials there are significant
changes at 1+"9 and 1*"9 grades"
#he old 11+"92 grade referring to car!on steel with additives 3' 4n or ,r5 is
gone and is now designated as 11+"92 grade along with car!on and alloy steels
all quenched and tempered to give the appropriate properties" 6owever the
previously allowed low tempering temperature of -7+8c for 1+"9 has also !een
eliminated and the minimum temperature is now 7*98c"
#here is a new 11*"92 grade for car!on steels with additives 3' 4n ,r or 4o5
which is now separated from the old 11*"92 grade for alloy steel" #he minimum
tempering temperature of the 11*"92 grade is -8+8c which previously applied to
alloy steels of 1*"9 grade" Now alloy steels designated 11*"92 must !e tempered
at 7*98c or a!ove" Some of these changes may have an impact on stockists who
have parts with the old designations on the shelf"
It is in the area of mechanical test methods that this standard has !een most
enlarged and though the range of properties !eing tested is the same there is
much more information on the details of how to test various different designs of
fasteners" #he details and requirements of some of the properties have also
!een changed and it would !e e$pected that some of this e$tra definition may
result in changes to esta!lished practice" 'ut the o!:ective of this detail is to !ring
more uniformity to the way various fastener types are tested and the way the test
results are handled so that there is direct compati!ility !etween results from
different sources"
#he %& fastener manufacturing community will need to assess what changes
need to !e made to the type of !olts and studs that they make and to the testing
methods" In recent years there has !een a lack of participation in 'SI fastener
committees and the working groups of ISO so changes such as these come as a
shock in most cases" ,'4 is now trying to ensure that there is a greater degree
of awareness for manufacturers in the future !y participation in the 'SI
committees"