Glossary

ASTM stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials, officially known today as ASTM International. It is one of the world’s largest and most influential standards organizations, responsible for developing and publishing technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services used across virtually every industry — from construction and manufacturing to aerospace, energy, and consumer goods.

Founded in 1898 by a group of engineers and scientists, ASTM originally focused on standardizing the steel materials used in railroad construction, to ensure consistent quality and safety. Over time, its scope expanded dramatically, and today it maintains over 12,000 active standards that are recognized and used worldwide.

ASTM standards are voluntary consensus documents, meaning they are created through open collaboration among experts from industry, academia, government, and consumers. Each standard is carefully reviewed and approved by committees specializing in specific areas, such as ASTM A (ferrous metals), ASTM B (nonferrous metals), ASTM D (plastics), or ASTM F (fasteners and hardware).

For example:

- ASTM A193 defines requirements for high-temperature bolts and studs.

- ASTM A36 specifies carbon structural steel for construction.

- ASTM F593 covers stainless steel bolts, hex cap screws, and studs.

These standards describe chemical compositions, mechanical properties, test methods, tolerances, and quality assurance procedures, ensuring that materials and components meet consistent, verifiable specifications no matter where they are produced.

While ASTM standards are technically voluntary, they are widely adopted by governments, regulatory agencies, and industry bodies around the world. Many national and international codes, including those from ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute), reference or harmonize with ASTM standards.

ASTM A193 is a standard specification developed by ASTM International that covers alloy and stainless steel bolting materials used for high-temperature or high-pressure service, and for special purpose applications.

ASTM A194 is a standard specification by ASTM International that covers carbon, alloy, and stainless steel nuts used primarily in high-pressure and high-temperature service conditions, often paired with bolts or studs made to ASTM A193.

ASTM A307 is a standard specification from ASTM International that covers carbon steel bolts and studs with specified minimum tensile strength, generally used for general-purpose fastening applications in low- or moderate-strength environments. Covers carbon steel bolts and studs up to 3 inches in diameter with tensile strength typically around 60,000 psi (415 MPa).

ASTM A325 is a widely used standard specification for structural steel bolts intended for high-strength connections in structural steel applications, such as building construction and bridges. Typically from 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inch diameter, but sizes can vary.

ASTM A354 is a standard specification from ASTM International that covers quenched and tempered alloy steel bolts and studs with specified minimum tensile strengths, typically used in high-strength and high-temperature applications where toughness and wear resistance are required.

ASTM A449 is a standard specification from ASTM International that covers quenched and tempered alloy steel bolts, studs, and threaded rods with specified minimum tensile strength for high-strength mechanical applications. Commonly available in diameters up to 4 inches or larger for studs and rods.

ASTM A490 is a standard specification from ASTM International for high-strength structural bolts made from alloy steel, designed for heavy structural steel connections requiring greater strength than ASTM A325 bolts. Typically from 1/2 inch up to 1-1/2 inch diameter, similar to A325 sizes.

ASTM A563 is a standard specification from ASTM International that covers carbon and alloy steel nuts used in conjunction with structural bolts, such as those specified by ASTM A325 and ASTM A490.

ASTM F593 is a standard specification from ASTM International that covers stainless steel bolts, hex cap screws, and studs used for general-purpose fastening applications.

ASTM F594 is a standard specification from ASTM International that covers stainless steel nuts designed to be used with stainless steel bolts, screws, and studs—commonly those specified under ASTM F593.