REV.

PROCESS SPECIFICATION

BOLTING PROCEDURE FOR STEEL STRUCTURE

CONTENTS

SCOPE
REFERENCES
GENERAL
ORDINARY BOLTS
CHECKS REQUIRED DURING BOLTING OF STRUCTURE
TIGHTENING OF BOLTS
CHECKING OF BOLT ASSEMBLY
CALCULATION OF TORQUE VALUE

REV.NO. PREPRAED BY LITL (EPC) REVIEWED BY LITL(FQA) APPROVED BY LAPL

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1. Scope

This procedure defines the technical requirements, tolerances and modes of operation to
meet as well as the result to obtain by the erector for the structural elements assembled with
ordinary bolts and high strength friction grip bolts subject to friction forces.

2. References

1. Steel structure erection procedure

2. ASTM code for A325 & A490M.

3. General

3.1 The bolts for which the center line is vertical shall always be assembled with the nut
located in the lower part of assembly.
3.2 The deviation in hole alignment shall be corrected with a reamer. Use of any thermal
cutting application strictly prohibited.
3.3 Torque value, which it can be changed per bolt type, shall be referred to the erection
drawings, bolt manufactures instruction.

4. Ordinary Bolts
Minor defects in alignment can be corrected in the conditions below.

4.1 Bolts of diameter below 24 mm

a. Measured off –centering below or equal to 3 mm.

Pass a reamer of a diameter =*d + 1.5mm when the bolt cannot be installed by hand
*d = bolt diameter.

b. Measured off- centering ranging between 3 and 4.5mm. (between 3 and 5.5mm for a
bolt of diameter 22mm. )

Use bolts of diameter = d1 (d1 equal to the diameter d of the bolt initially provided plus
2mm ) after having connected the holes with a reamer of diameter equal to d1 +1.5 mm.

4.2 Bolts of diameter above or equal to 24 mm

a. Measured off –centering below or equal to 4 mm.

 Pass a reamer of a diameter =*d + 1.5mm when the bolt cannot be installed by hand
*d = bolt diameter.

b. Measured off- centering ranging between 4 and 6.5mm.

Use bolts of diameter = d1 (d1 equal to the diameter d of the bolt initially provided plus
3mm ) after having connected the holes with a reamer of diameter equal to d1 +1.5 mm.

5. Check required during Bolting.

 Contact surfaces shall be free from oil, grease, dust, loose rust & other defects
which hamper the development of friction between the mating members.
 Alignment of the mating members shall be such that the bolts fit in to the holes
easily and there shall not be any kind of forcing for placement of bolts.
 During bolting the head may be held by a hand spanner to prevent it from
rotating.
 The calibration of the torque wrench shall be checked according to the torque
value to be used the tolerance of torque value is up to -5%.
 During high humidity condition the bolt tightening process shall not be done.

6. Tightening of Bolt

6.1 Positioning of the parts to be assembled

Before tightening the bolts, the parts to be assembled are adjusted and held in
place by means of pins in sufficient number and filling the holes so as to prevent
any deformation of the assembly. The bolts that must enter the remaining holes
are then tightened. After such , the pins are withdrawn and replaced one by one
by bolts which are in turn tightened in the same conditions as the first ones.

6.2 Tightening
The tightening torque value to be applied are determined on the basis of bolt
manufacturer`s instruction or to the value provided in the procedure.

As a rule , tightening must be carried out starting from the more rigid part of the
assembly and progressing towards its free part. Also the tightening may be carried
out from the center `of the assembly gradually proceeding towards the outer part.
 Tightening shall be made by means of adapted tools to be calibrated every day
before starting the operation by means of a torque wrench calibrator.

Initial tightening will be done up to around 60% of required torque value. Then the
position of the nut will be marked with respect bolt and washer.

After initial tightening all bolts, final tightening will be done up to the required
torque value by means of a calibrated pneumatic or electrically operated torque
wrench.

Washer

Nut

Bolt

After initial tightening after final tightening

6.3 Sequence of bolt tightening

18 12 8 2 7 15 21

16 10 4 1 5 11 17

20 14 6 3 9 13 19
7. Checking of bolt assembly
7.1 checking of the erection bolts
Every bolted assembly must be subjected to a visual inspection so as to make sure that:

-the types of bolts are in compliance with the drawing (checking that the supplier`s
marking appears on the nut and on the screw head.)
-the washers are positioned as required on the erection drawings.
-the screws of bolt have a sufficient length (the screw must project from the nut by
several threads)
-the bolt have been tightened checking ,the condition of the screw heads , nuts and
bearing surface of the assembly.

7.2 checking of bolt tightening

The bolts subjected to checking shall be marked with a painted line or by any relevant
mark .

At the time of bolt tightening, if it is found that both the bolt and nut is rotating freely
at a time ,the bolt with nut shall be replaced by new one.

If the inspection of the assembly evidence that at least one bolt is tightened incorrectly,
all bolts of the assembly shall be checked.

Depending up on the diameter of the bolts, the required torque vale s are shown in
following table

d = Bolt Minimum tensile Min. installation T= Torque(N-M)

diameter(mm) strength(kN) tension(kN)
16 130 91 196.5
20 203 142 383
22 251 176 522
24 293 205 664
Calculation of torque value for bolts of different sizes:

T = k1 x d x t

K1 = torque coefficient = 0.135

d = bolt diameter

t = minimum installation tensile strength (70% of min. tensile strength of bolt)

Sample calculation: for M22 bolt

k1 = 0.135

d = 0.022m

t = 176 Kn.

Torque value (t) = 0.135 x 0.022 x 176 = 0.522kN-m = 522 N-m.