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ICC EVALUATION SERVICE, INC.
Evaluate P Inform P Protect
Business/Regional Office P 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 90601 P (562) 699-0543
www.icc-es.org Regional Office P 900 Montclair Road, Suite A, Birmingham, Alabama 35213 P (205) 599-9800
Regional Office P 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478 P (708) 799-2305
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR TAPPING SCREW FASTENERS
AC118
Approved June 2005
Effective July 1, 2005
Previously approved July 1996, June 2004
PREFACE
Evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, Inc. (ICC-ES), are based upon performance features of the International family
of codes and other widely adopted code families, including the Uniform Codes, the BOCA National Codes, and the SBCCI Standard 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.
Similar provisions are contained in the Uniform Codes, the National Codes, and the Standard Codes.
This acceptance criteria has been issued to provide all interested parties with guidelines for demonstrating compliance with performance
features of the applicable code(s) referenced in the acceptance criteria. The criteria was developed and adopted following public hearings
conducted by the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee, and is effective on the date shown above. All reports issued or reissued on or after the effective
date must comply with this criteria, while reports issued prior to this date may be in compliance with this criteria or with the previous edition. If
the criteria is an updated version from the previous edition, a solid vertical line (!) in the margin within the criteria indicates a technical change,
addition, or deletion from the previous edition. A deletion indicator (") is provided in the margin where a paragraph has been deleted if the deletion
involved a technical change. This criteria may be further revised as the need dictates.
ICC-ES may consider alternate criteria, provided the report applicant submits valid 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.
Notwithstanding that a product, material, or type or method of construction meets the requirements of the criteria set forth in this document, or
that it can be demonstrated that valid alternate criteria are equivalent to the criteria 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 an evaluation report, if the product, material, or type
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 unreasonable property damage or personal injury or sickness relative to the benefits to be achieved by the use of
the product, material, or type or method of construction.
Copyright 2005
2
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR TAPPING SCREW FASTENERS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this acceptance criteria is
to establish requirements for tapping screw fasteners, for
connections of cold-formed steel not part of a cold-formed
steel diaphragm, to be recognized in an ICC Evaluation
Service, Inc. (ICC-ES), evaluation report under the 2003
International Building Code

(IBC), the 2003 International

Residential Code

(IRC), the BOCA

National Building
Code/1999, the 1999 Standard Building Code

and the 1997

Uniform Building Code.
1.2 Scope: This criteria provides a basis for evaluating
the material properties of tapping screw fasteners and a
method of determining the appropriate shear and tension
values for the products when utilized in steel-to-steel
connections. The types of tapping screws included in the
scope of this acceptance criteria are defined in Section 1.4.
The two types of steel connection that can be considered %
are as follows: %
1.2.1 Connections involving cold-formed steel members, %
each less than
3
/
16
inch (4.8 mm) thick. %
1.2.2 Connections involving cold-formed steel side %
members less than
3
/
16
inch (4.8 mm) thick and steel support %
members between
3
/
16
inch (4.8 mm) and
1
/
2
inch (12.7 mm) %
thick. %
1.3 Codes and Reference Standards:
1.3.1 2003 International Building Code

(IBC),
International Code Council.
1.3.2 2003 International Residential Code

(IRC),
International Code Council.
1.3.3 BOCA

National Building Code/1999 (BNBC).

1.3.4 1999 Standard Building Code

(SBC).
1.3.5 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC).
1.3.6 ANSI/ASME B18.6.4,1981, Standard Specification
for Thread Forming and Thread-Cutting Screws, ASME
International.
1.3.7 SAE J78, May 1998 Standard Specification for %
Steel Self-Drilling Tapping Screws, SAE International.
1.3.8 SAE J81, September 1997 Standard Specification %
for Thread Rolling Screws, SAE International.
1.3.9 SAE J933, May 1998 Standard for Mechanical and %
Quality Requirements for Tapping Screws, SAE
International.
1.3.10 ASTM A 370-03a Standard Test Method for Steel %
Sheets, ASTM International.
1.3.11 ASME/ANSI B18.18.1 M-1987, Standard
Specification for Inspection and Quality Assurance for
General Purpose Fasteners, ASME International.
1.3.12 ASTM C 1002-01, Steel Drill Screws for the
Application of Gypsum Board, ASTM International.
1.3.13 Specification for Design of Cold-formed Steel
Structural Members, 1996 edition, American Iron and Steel
Institute.
1.3.14 AISI/COS/NASPEC, 2001 North American
Specification for Design of Cold-formed Steel Structural
Members, American Iron and Steel Institute.
1.3.15 AISI TS-4-02, Standard Test Method for
Determining the Tensile and Shear Strength of Screws, Part
VI, AISI Manual, Cold-Formed Steel Design, American Iron %
and Steel Institute.
1.3.16 AISI TS-5-02, Test Methods for Mechanically %
Fastened Cold-Formed Steel Connections, Part VI, AISI %
Manual, Cold-Formed Steel Design, American Iron and %
Steel Institute. %
1.4 Definitions:
1.4.1 Tapping Screws: Threaded fasteners with the
ability to tap their own internal mating threads when driven
into preformed holes in metallic and nonmetallic materials.
Tapping screws are high-strength, one-piece, one-side-
installation fasteners.
1.4.2 Self-drilling Tapping Screws: Self-drilling
tapping screws are externally threaded fasteners with the
ability to drill their own hole and form or cut their own
internal mating threads, into which they are driven without
deforming their own threads and without breaking during
assembly.
1.4.3 Self-piercing Tapping Screws: Self-piercing
tapping screws are externally threaded fasteners with the
ability to self-pierce metallic material, form a sleeve by
extruding metallic material and tap their own mating
threads when driven. Self-piercing screws are high-strength,
one-piece, one-side-installation fasteners, with sharp-point
angles of 28 to 30 degrees.
1.4.4 Screw Types: Screw types applicable to this
criteria are:
1.4.4.1 Thread-forming.
1.4.4.2 Thread-cutting.
1.4.4.3 Thread-rolling.
1.4.4.4 Self-drilling.
1.4.4.5 Self-piercing.
2.0 BASIC INFORMATION
2.1 General: The following information shall be submitted
and shall be included in the submitted test reports:
2.1.1 Screws:
2.1.1.1 Type and description of screw fasteners.
2.1.1.2 Material specifications, including physical
properties such as tensile strength, shear strength,
hardness and protective coatings.
2.1.1.3 Dimensional drawings and details noting sizes
for each screw configuration and point type, including
tolerances.
2.1.1.4 Head markings used on each screw fastener,
when practical.
2.1.1.5 Installation instructions, including description %
of the recommended tool, and of the recommended tool %
operation, such as speed and torque, during installation. %
2.1.2 Steel: Steel description, including material
specification, yield strength, tensile strength and minimum
uncoated steel thickness.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR TAPPING SCREW FASTENERS
3
2.2 Packaging and Identification: The method of
packaging and identifying the screw fasteners shall be
reported. The identifying information shall include
manufacturers name, fastener type and size, and the ICC-
ES evaluation report number. Each screw fastener head
marking or manufacturers logo shall be reported.
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.
2.4 Test Reports: Test reports shall comply with AC85
and the report requirements in each test standard.
2.5 Product Sampling: Sampling of the screw fasteners
for tests under this criteria shall comply with Section 3.2 of
AC85. Where the tested fasteners are prototypes, the
fasteners shall be representative of later production. The
tested fasteners shall be proven to be identical to production
fasteners by confirming equivalent dimensions and material
properties such as strength, hardness and chemical
composition.
3.0 TEST AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
3.1 General: Reports of testing shall be submitted to
establish that the fastener meets the quality requirements
for tapping screws as outlined in Section 5.3 (excluding
Section 5.3.7) of this criteria, and in accordance with
ANSI/ASME B18.6.4, ASME/ANSI B18.18.1 M, or the
applicable standard, whichever is more restrictive. The
sample size shall be consistent with the requirements of the
applicable standard.
3.2 The following information shall be provided for screws %
used in connections described in Section 1.2.1 of this %
criteria: %
3.2.1 Fastener Testing: %
3.2.1.1 Reports of fastener testing, in accordance with %
Section 4.1 of this criteria, shall be submitted. %
3.2.2 Analysis: %
3.2.2.1 IBC and IRC: The tension and shear test %
values, determined per Section 4.1 of this criteria, shall be %
reported as the nominal tension strength, P
ts
, and nominal
shear strength, P
ss
, respectively, of the screw, as described
in Section E4 of AISI/COS/NASPEC 2001. The nominal
tension strength, P
nt
, and nominal shear strength, P
ns
,
respectively, per screw shall be determined and the nominal
load capacity of the steel-to-steel connections using the
screws shall be designed in accordance with Section E4 of
the AISI/COS/NASPEC 2001 using the above reported P
ts
%
and P
ss
values. %
3.2.2.2 BNBC, SBC and UBC: The tension and shear %
test values, determined per Section 4.1 of this criteria, shall %
be reported as the nominal tension strength and nominal %
shear strength of the screw, as described in Section E4 of %
the Specifications for the Design of Cold-formed Steel %
Structural Members. The nominal tension strength, P
nt
, and %
nominal shear strength, P
ns
, respectively, per screw, shall be %
determined, and the nominal load capacity of the steel-to- %
steel connections using the screws shall be designed in %
accordance with Section E4 of the Specifications for the %
Design of Cold-formed Steel Structural Members, using the %
above-reported nominal tension strength and nominal shear %
strength values of the screw. %
3.3 The following information shall be provided for screws %
used in connections described in Section 1.2.2 of this %
criteria: %
3.3.1 Fastener Testing: Reports of fastener testing, in %
accordance with Section 4.1 of this criteria, shall be %
submitted. %
3.3.2 Connection Testing: Reports of testing on the %
connection, in accordance with Section 4.2 of this criteria, %
shall be submitted. %
3.3.3 Analysis: %
3.3.3.1 General: The pull-over and pull-out tensile test %
results and the shear test results, determined in accordance %
with Section 4.2.1, and complying with Section 4.2.3, shall %
be reported. The allowable connection load for the tested %
connection condition shall be shear test results, or for %
tension, the lowest of the pull-over tensile and pull-out %
tensile test results after application of the factor of safety to %
each result. The factor of safety or resistance factor shall be %
as follows: %
3.3.3.2 IBC and IRC: The factor of safety or %
resistance factor shall be the most critical of either the value %
determined as set forth in Section F1.2 of the %
AISI/COS/NASPEC 2001, or 3.0, for ASD or 0.5 for LRFD, %
as set forth in Section E4 of the AISI/COS/NASPEC 2001. %
3.3.3.3 BNBC, SBC and UBC: The factor of safety or %
resistance factor shall be the most critical of either the value %
determined as set forth in Section F1.2 of the Specifications %
for the Design of Cold-formed Steel Structural Members, or %
3.0, for ASD or 0.5 for LRFD as set forth in Section E4 of the %
Specifications for the Design of Cold-formed Steel Structural %
Members. %
4.0 TEST METHODS %
4.1 Fastener Testing: %
4.1.1 General: Screw fasteners shall be installed as %
recommended by the screw manufacturer (See Section %
2.1.1.5 of this criteria). The screws to be tested shall be %
installed such that the drill point and lead threads penetrate %
through, and extend beyond, the attached steel member. %
For each type and size (diameter) of fastener, a minimum of %
three test specimens shall be tested for tensile strength, and %
a minimum of three test specimens shall be tested for shear %
strength. The individual specimen results shall not vary by %
more than 15 percent from the average of the three, unless
the lowest test value is used; otherwise the average test %
value may be used. An additional three specimens may be %
tested, and the average result, based on a minimum of six
test specimens, may be used regardless of the variation.
4.1.2 Procedure: Tension and shear test specimen %
setup and dimensions and load application shall comply with
TS-4. Steel plates or shapes used in the tests shall comply
with TS-4.
4.2 Connection Testing (For screws used in %
connections described in Section 1.2.2 of this criteria): %
4.2.1 General: A minimum of three test specimens shall %
be tested for each tension and shear test connection %
condition to be recognized. The individual specimen results %
shall not vary by more than 10 percent from the average of %
the three, unless the lowest test value is used. An additional %
three specimens may be tested, and the average result, %
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR TAPPING SCREW FASTENERS
4
based on a minimum of six test specimens, may be used %
regardless of the variation. Where the actual strength of the %
tested steel material exceeds the specified strength, test %
results shall be adjusted (multiplied) by the ratio F
u
%
(specified)/F
u
(actual) when failure is attributed to the steel %
sheet. %
4.2.2 Procedure: Tension (pull-over and pull-out) and %
shear test specimen setup and dimensions and load %
application shall comply with TS-5. Steel plates or shapes %
used in the tests shall comply with TS-5, and be %
representative of connected steel material that is to be %
recognized. %
4.2.3 Conditions of Acceptance: %
4.2.3.1 The fastener tension values, determined per %
Section 4.1 of this criteria, shall be at least 125 percent of %
the higher of the pull-over or pull-out tensile test results from %
connection testing conducted per Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 %
of this criteria. %
4.2.3.2 The fastener shear values, determined per %
Section 4.1 of this criteria, shall be at least 125 percent of %
the shear test results from connection testing conducted per %
Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 of this criteria. %
5.0 QUALITY CONTROL
5.1 A quality control manual complying with the ICC-ES
Acceptance Criteria for Quality Control Manuals (AC10)
shall be submitted.
5.2 Third-party follow-up inspections are not required
under this acceptance criteria.
5.3 Ongoing quality control testing shall be performed, %
and the sample size shall be consistent with the %
requirements of the applicable standard. Ongoing quality %
control tests shall be conducted in accordance with the
following standards and meet the conditions of acceptance
noted in the appropriate section of the standard as it relates
to the type of fastener:
5.3.1 Dimensional Test:
5.3.1.1 ANSI/ASME B18.6.4.
5.3.1.2 SAE J78, Section 2, for Self-drilling Tapping %
Screws. %
5.3.2 Ductility Test:
5.3.2.1 SAE J81, Section 3.8.9, for Thread Rolling
Tapping Screws.
5.3.2.2 SAE J78, Section 3.3, for Self-drilling Tapping
Screws.
5.3.3 Case Hardness:
5.3.3.1 SAE J933, Section 3.4, for Tapping Screws.
5.3.3.2 SAE J81, Section 2.3.1.2, for Thread Rolling
Tapping Screws.
5.3.3.3 SAE J78, Section 3.2.3, for Self-drilling
Tapping Screws.
5.3.4 Torsional Strength Test:
5.3.4.1 ANSI/ASME B18.6.4, Section 2.9.1.2, for
Tapping Screws and Self-piercing Screws.
5.3.4.2 SAE J78, Section 4.1, for Self-drilling Tapping
Screws.
5.3.5 Drive Test: ANSI/ASME B18.6.4, Section 2.9.1.1,
for Tapping Screws.
5.3.6 Drill Drive Time Test:
5.3.6.1 SAE J78, Section 4.2, for Self-drilling Tapping
Screws.
5.3.6.2 ASTM C 1002 for Self-piercing (Bugle Head)
Tapping Screws.
5.3.7 Tension and Shear Tests on Fastener: %
5.3.7.1 AISI TS-4-02: Testing shall be performed in %
accordance with Section 4.1 of this criteria to verify that the %
production fastener maintains at least the minimum strength %
values of the qualified fastener. %
6.0 EVALUATION REPORT RECOGNITION
6.1 The following statements shall appear in the
Conditions of Use section in the product evaluation report:
The utilization of the nominal strength values, contained
in this evaluation report, for the design of cold-formed steel
diaphragms is outside the scope of this report.
Fasteners shall be installed in accordance with the
manufacturers published installation instructions and this
report.
6.2 For screws used in connections described in Section %
1.2.1 of this criteria, the evaluation report shall note the P
ts
%
and P
ss
values determined in accordance with Section 4.1,
and use of these values in accordance with Section E4 of
the AISI/COS/NASPEC 2001 (IBC or IRC) or the
Specifications for the Design of Cold-formed Steel Structural
Members (BNBC, SBC, or UBC).
6.3 For screws used in connections described in Section %
1.2.2 of this criteria, the evaluation report shall note that the %
stress increases or load reductions shall not be allowed for %
wind or earthquake loads acting alone, or when combined %
with vertical loads. No adjustment shall be allowed for %
vertical loads acting alone.# %