Global Fastener News

ISANTA Warns of Misleading Code Approval for Nails & Staples

John Wolz

The International Staple, Nail & Tool Association sent a letter to trade and professional groups in the building industry warning of �misleading claims of �Code Approved.��
ISANTA chair Tom Willcutt explained that the �practice hurts the entire industry. A building official sees the claim, or hears it from a contractor and the fastener industry gets the blame. By ordinance, only the building department, represented by the building official, can approve materials.�
�If a fastener size is not in code schedules, the official can approve its use based on evidence � typically an evaluation report issued by the groups that write the codes,� Willcut added. �Even if a fastener size is in code schedules, the official still needs to know that the fastener meets code requirements on properties such as dimensional tolerance and stiffness. That goes for both hand-driven and power-driven.�
ISANTA vice chair Alan Phillips noted that �unfortunately, many people treat nails and staples as commodities, rather than the engineered fasteners that they are. Misunderstanding building codes and the approval mechanism hurts the building community and make the building official�s job tougher. �
False �Code Approved� claims can cause unexpected job stoppage for a builder, architect�s plans being compromised and a house not meeting code, Phillips pointed out. Web: isanta.org �2004 FastenerNews.com