Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
(OP)
I came across this company supplying my contractor with fasteners on a big project.
http://www.wbsmontana.com/interactive/
These guys basically buy these sweat shop fasteners, don't get any code approvals or testing, and then sell these things for cheap.
They are basically chinese fakes, no racial disrespect intended (sorry SJW's).
Unfortunately, you discover them on your job after a question comes up about their use....so heads up to anyone doing work in the western US.
It would be good to put a note on your plans saying that all fastener must be ICC-ES approved.
http://www.wbsmontana.com/interactive/
These guys basically buy these sweat shop fasteners, don't get any code approvals or testing, and then sell these things for cheap.
They are basically chinese fakes, no racial disrespect intended (sorry SJW's).
Unfortunately, you discover them on your job after a question comes up about their use....so heads up to anyone doing work in the western US.
It would be good to put a note on your plans saying that all fastener must be ICC-ES approved.





RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
If you are the structural engineer of record, YOU specify the fasteners and expect the contractor to submit documents for your review and approval. If you haven't done this, then the contractor is free to use whatever he wants.
Why are you "finding" their use after the fact? Wasn't an appropriate review protocol followed?
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
I agree with Ron about specifying fasteners. During design, I also review the MEP specs to make sure they are up to speed on anchors (and seismic bracing criteria).
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
I'm not seeing any ICC ES report for these screws chris3eb.....where are you looking? I'm looking at these guys:
http://www.wbsmontana.com/portfolio_cats/screws/
I called the company to find it, or any documentation providing a shear/tension value, thinking I was just looking in the wrong spot, and they acknowledged that there are no capacity values as of yet.
In regards to being the responsible specifier, I agree I need to change some notes and move review of selected fasteners to the start of the job. I purposefully try to avoid specifying specific manufacture products, instead opting for a general specification so the project can have some flexibility in terms of finding the most cost effective alternative. In this case, that product was an unverified, Chinese knock off.....
Regardless, my point of this post is to point out that who this product is so others can beware, and to acknowledge that I need to improve my own product review process.
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
It's the first link on this page: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ICC-ES+3534
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
That link doesn't work.......it pulls up a random google search site.
If you do find the ICC-ES report on those screws (http://www.wbsmontana.com/portfolio_cats/screws/)
you should call Big Timber fasteners and let them know that thousands of their hard earned dollars went towards a report stating values for their screws
because apparently they are unaware they have it based on my phone call with them.
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
That was my snarky way of saying you should have Googled the ICC ES Report number that I listed (that link brings up the Google search results). If you did google it, you would have ended up here: http://www.icc-es.org/Reports/pdf_files/load_file....
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
RE: Contractors Using Fasteners with No ICC-ES Report
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)