Scope

The ASTM F1554 specification was introduced in 1994 and covers anchor bolts designed to anchor structural supports to concrete foundations. F1554 anchor bolts can take the form of either headed bolts, straight rods, or bent anchor bolts. The three grades 36, 55, and 105 designate the minimum yield strength (ksi) of the anchor bolt. The bolts can be either cut or roll threaded and a weldable grade 55 can be substituted for grade 36 at the supplier’s option. Color coding on the end – 36 blue, 55 yellow, and 105 red – helps facilitate easy identification in the field. Permanent manufacturer and grade marking is allowed under the S2 supplementary requirements.

Applications for F1554 anchor bolts include columns in structural steel framed buildings, traffic signal and street lighting poles, and overhead highway sign structures to name just a few.

F1554 Grades

F1554 Grade 36

Low carbon, 36 ksi yield steel anchor bolts

F1554 Grade 55

High strength, low alloy, 55 ksi yield steel anchor bolts

F1554 Grade 105

Alloy, heat treated, high strength 105 ksi yield steel anchor bolts

Supplementary Testing

Supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified in the purchase order or contract.

S1: Weldable version of the Grade 55 specification.  Through chemical composition restrictions and by a carbon equivalency formula, S1 provides assurance of weldability.  When S1 is not specified, the Grade 55 material may or may not be weldable.

S2: Permanent manufacturer’s identification on the end of the anchor bolt that projects from the concrete, in lieu of color coding.

S3: Permanent grade identification on the end of the anchor bolt that projects from the concrete, in lieu of color coding.

S4: Charpy Impact requirements at +40⁰F (+5⁰C) for grades 55 and 105. The minimum Charpy V-notch energy requirement is an average of 15ft-lbs for three specimens, with no one specimen falling below 12ft-lbs.

S5: Charpy Impact requirements at -20⁰F (-29⁰C) for grade 105. The minimum Charpy V-notch energy requirement is an average of 15ft-lbs for three specimens, with no one specimen falling below 12ft-lbs.

F1554 Mechanical Properties

Grade

Marking

Size inches

Tensile, ksi

Yield, ksi min

Yield, MPa min

Elong. % min

RA % min

36

1⁄4 – 4

58 – 80

36

248

23

40

55

1⁄4 – 2

21⁄4 – 21⁄2

23⁄4 – 3

31⁄4 – 4

75 – 95

75 – 95

75 – 95

75 – 95

55

55

55

55

380

380

380

380

21

21

21

21

30

22

20

18

105

1⁄4 – 3

125 – 150

105

724

15

45

Stamping of F1554 bolts with manufacturer’s identification is a supplemental requirement (S2)
Color coding is required unless the grade is stamped in accordance with supplemental requirement (S3).
When Grade 36 is specified, a weldable Grade 55 may be furnished at the supplier’s option.

F1554 Chemical Properties

Element

Grade 36

Grades 55 and 105

Sizes up to 3/4

Sizes over 3/4 to 1-1/2

Sizes over 1-1/2 to 4

Carbon

0.26%

0.27%

0.28%

Manganese

*

0.60 – 0.90%

0.60 – 0.90%

Phosphorus, max

0.04%

0.04%

0.04%

0.040%

Sulfur, max

0.05%

0.05%

0.05%

0.050%

Copper, min (when specified)

0.20%

0.20%

0.20%

0.20%

* Optional with the manufacturer but shall be compatible with weldable steel

F1554 Recommended Hardware

Grade

Identification

Size Inches

Recommended A563 Nut

Washer

Plain Finish

Hot-Dip or Mechanical Zinc Coated

Grade

Style

Grade

Grade

36

1/4 – 1-1/2

1-5/8 – 4

A

A

Hex

Heavy Hex

A

A

Hex

Heavy Hex

F436

55

1/4 – 1-1/2

1-5/8 – 4

A

A

Hex

Heavy Hex

A

A

Heavy Hex

Heavy Hex

F436

105

1/4 – 1-1/2

1-5/8 – 3

D1

DH2

Heavy Hex

Heavy Hex

DH2

DH2

Heavy Hex

Heavy Hex

F436

1 A563 grade D nuts are rarely available. A563 grade DH or A194 grade 2H should be substituted.
2 The availability of A563 grade DH nuts in nominal sizes 1″ and larger is very limited and generally available only on special orders of 50,000 or more. For smaller quantities, ASTM A194 grade 2H should be considered.