Document No.

5910E264
Page 43

5. TORQUE GUIDE FOR BOLTS

5.1 Bolt Torque Charts
5.2 Socket Head Capscrew Tensile Requirements
5.3 Turn-of-Nut Tightening

5.1 Bolt Torque Charts

Tightening Torque Guide

SAE Grade 5 - Fine Thread
Size Clamp Load (lbs.) Plain Plated
1
/4 - 28 (0.250) 2,325 10 ft·lbs 7 ft·lbs
5
/16 - 24 (0.3125) 3,675 19 ft·lbs 14 ft·lbs
3
/8 - 24 (0.375) 6,699 35 ft·lbs 26 ft·lbs
7
/16 - 20 (0.4375) 7,575 55 ft·lbs 41 ft·lbs
1
/2 - 20 (0.500) 10,200 85 ft·lbs 64 ft·lbs
9
/16 - 18 (0.5625) 12,975 122 ft·lbs 91 ft·lbs
5
/8 - 18 (0.625) 16,350 170 ft·lbs 128 ft·lbs
3
/4 - 16 (0.750) 23,775 297 ft·lbs 223 ft·lbs
7
/8 - 14 (0.875) 32,475 474 ft·lbs 355 ft·lbs
1 - 12 (1.000) 42,300 705 ft·lbs 529 ft·lbs
1 - 14 (1.000) 32,275 721 ft·lbs 541 ft·lbs
1 1/8 - 12 (1.125) 47,475 890 ft·lbs 668 ft·lbs
1 1/4 - 12 (1.250) 59,550 1,241 ft·lbs 930 ft·lbs
1 3/8 - 12 (1.375) 72,975 1,672 ft·lbs 1,254 ft·lbs
1 1/2 - 12 (1.500) 87,750 2,194 ft·lbs 1,645 ft·lbs

Tightening Torque Guide

SAE Grade 5 - Coarse Thread
Size Clamp Load (lbs.) Plain Plated
1
/4 - 20 (0.250) 2,025 8 ft·lbs 7 ft·lbs
5
/16 - 18 (0.3125) 3,338 17 ft·lbs 13 ft·lbs
3
/8 - 16 (0.375) 4,950 31 ft·lbs 23 ft·lbs
7
/16 - 14 (0.4375) 6,788 50 ft·lbs 37 ft·lbs
1
/2 - 13 (0.500) 9,075 76 ft·lbs 57 ft·lbs
9
/16 - 12 (0.5625) 11,625 109 ft·lbs 82 ft·lbs
5
/8 - 11 (0.625) 14,400 150 ft·lbs 112 ft·lbs
3
/4 - 10 (0.750) 21,300 266 ft·lbs 200 ft·lbs
7
/8 - 9 0(.875) 29,475 430 ft·lbs 322 ft·lbs
1 - 8 (1.000) 38,625 644 ft·lbs 483 ft·lbs
1 1/8 - 7 (1.125) 42,375 794 ft·lbs 596 ft·lbs
1 1/4 - 7 (1.250) 53,775 1,120 ft·lbs 840 ft·lbs
1 3/8 - 6 (1.375) 64,125 1,470 ft·lbs 1,102 ft·lbs
1 1/2 - 6 (1.500) 78,000 1,950 ft·lbs 1,462 ft·lbs

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 Document No. 5910E264
Page 44

Tightening Torque Guide

SAE Grade 8 - Fine Thread
Size Clamp Load (lbs.) Plain Plated
1
/4 - 28 (0.250) 3,263 14 ft·lbs 10 ft·lbs
5
/16 - 24 (0.3125) 5,113 27 ft·lbs 20 ft·lbs
3
/8 - 24 (0.375) 7,875 49 ft·lbs 37 ft·lbs
7
/16 - 20 (0.4375) 10,650 78 ft·lbs 58 ft·lbs
1
/2 - 20 (0.500) 14,400 120 ft·lbs 90 ft·lbs
9
/16 - 18 (0.5625) 18,300 172 ft·lbs 129 ft·lbs
5
/8 - 18 (0.625) 23,025 240 ft·lbs 180 ft·lbs
3
/4 - 16 (0.750) 33,600 420 ft·lbs 315 ft·lbs
7
/8 - 14 (0.875) 45,825 668 ft·lbs 501 ft·lbs
1 - 12 (1.000) 59,700 995 ft·lbs 746 ft·lbs
1 - 14 (1.000) 61,125 1,019 ft·lbs 764 ft·lbs
1 1/8 - 12 (1.125) 77,025 1,444 ft·lbs 1,083 ft·lbs
1 1/4 - 12 (1.250) 96,600 2,012 ft·lbs 1,509 ft·lbs
1 3/8 - 12 (1.375) 118,350 2,712 ft·lbs 2,034 ft·lbs
1 1/2 - 12 (1.500) 142,275 3,557 ft·lbs 2,668 ft·lbs

Tightening Torque Guide

SAE Grade 8 - Coarse Thread
Size Clamp Load (lbs.) Plain Plated
1
/4 - 20 (0.250) 2,850 12 ft·lbs 9 ft·lbs
5
/16 - 18 (0.3125) 4,725 25 ft·lbs 18 ft·lbs
3
/8 - 16 (0.375) 6,975 44 ft·lbs 33 ft·lbs
7
/16 - 14 (0.4375) 9,600 70 ft·lbs 52 ft·lbs
1
/2 - 13 (0.500) 12,750 106 ft·lbs 80 ft·lbs
9
/16 - 12 (0.5625) 16,350 153 ft·lbs 115 ft·lbs
5
/8 - 11 (0.625) 20,325 212 ft·lbs 159 ft·lbs
3
/4 - 10 (0.750) 30,075 376 ft·lbs 282 ft·lbs
7
/8 - 9 (0.875) 41,550 606 ft·lbs 454 ft·lbs
1 - 8 (1.000) 54,525 909 ft·lbs 682 ft·lbs
1 1/8 - 7 (1.125) 68,700 1,288 ft·lbs 966 ft·lbs
1 1/4 - 7 (1.250) 87,225 1,817 ft·lbs 1,363 ft·lbs
1 3/8 - 6 (1.375) 103,950 2,382 ft·lbs 1,787 ft·lbs
1 1/2 - 6 (1.500) 126,450 3,161 ft·lbs 2,371 ft·lbs

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 Document No. 5910E264
Page 45

5.2 Socket Head Capscrew Tensile Requirements

per ASTM A574-83

Screw Dia. (in) Threads Tensile Load Min. Rec. UNC Torque in lbs.
Inches
UNC UNF UNC UNF UNRC UNRF
0.060 - 80 - 324 - 2
0.073 64 72 473 500 4 4
0.086 56 64 666 709 6 7
0.099 48 56 877 941 10 11
0.112 40 48 1,090 1,190 15 16
0.125 40 44 1,430 1,490 20 21
0.138 32 40 1,640 1,830 28 30
0.184 32 36 2,520 2,650 49 50
0.190 24 32 3,150 3,600 64 76
¼ 20 28 5,730 6,500 150 170
5/ 18 24 9,440 10,400 305 325
16
3/ 16 24 13,900 15,800 545 570
8
7/ 14 20 19,100 21,400 840 900
16

½ 13 20 25,500 28,800 1,300 1,370

5/ 11 18 38,400 43,500 1,850 1,970
8

¾ 10 16 56,800 63,400 2,630 2,660

7/ 9 14 78,500 86,500 4,400 4,800
8

1 8 12 103,000 113,000 7,000 7,600

1½ 7 12 129,000 146,000 10,400 11,000
1¼ 7 12 165,000 182,000 14,900 15,600
1 3/8 6 12 196,000 224,000 21,000 22,600
1½ 6 12 239,000 269,000 27,800 29,300

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 Document No. 5910E264
Page 46

5.3 Turn-of-Nut Tightening

(Ref. RCSC specification, AISC (8)C for more details)

With any tensioning method of making connections, it is important to install bolts in all
holes of the connection and bring them to a snug-tight condition to compact the joint.
Tightening should begin at the most rigidly fixed or stiffest point and progress toward the
free edges both in the initial snugging-up and in the final tightening.

Equipment consistency and reliability depends on assuring that the joint is well
compacted and that all bolts at a joint are at a snug-tight condition prior to application of
the final required partial turn. It is critical that the element not turned in tightening must
be prevented from rotating while the required degree of turn is applied to the turned
element.

Nut-Rotation from Snug-Tight Condition a,b,c

Disposition of Outer Face of Bolted Parts

One face normal to bolt Both faces sloped no more

Bolt Length Both faces axis and other sloped no than 1:20 from normal to
(under side of head normal to more than 1:20 the bolt axis
to end of bolt) bolt axis (beveled washer not used) (beveled washer not used)
1 1 2
Up to and including /3 turn /2 turn /3 turn
four diameters
1 2 5
Over four diameters /2 turn /3 turn /6 turn
but not exceeding
eight diameters
2 5
Over eight /3 turn /6 turn 1 turn
diameters but not
exceeding
12c diameters

a Nut rotation is relative to bolt regardless of the element (nut or bolt) being turned. For bolts installed
by 1/2 turn and less, tolerance is ± 30°; for bolts installed by 2/3 turn and more, tolerance is ± 45°.

b Applicable only on connection in which all materials within the grip of the bolt are steel.

c No research has been performed by AISC to establish the turn-of-nut values for bolt lengths
exceeding 12 diameters. Therefore, the required rotation must be established by actual test in a
suitable tension measuring device that simulates conditions of solidly fitted steel.

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