scope:

This standard provides safety requirements for low-velocity powderactuated fastening tools that propel studs, pins, fasteners or other objects for the purpose of affixing them, by penetration, to hard structural material (such as concrete, masonry or steel).

This standard does not apply to devices designed for attaching objects to soft construction materials (such as wood, plaster, tar and dry wallboard) or very hard or brittle construction materials (such as cast iron, glazed tile, hardened steel, glass block, natural rock, hollow tile and most brick).

Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to provide reasonable safety for person and property by establishing requirements for design, construction, operation, service and storage of powder-actuated fastening tools, fasteners and powder loads. Existing powder-actuated fastening tools and accessory equipment meeting the mechanical criteria of previous versions of this ANSI/ASSE A10.3 standard need not be modified to conform to this version unless such modification is required by the regulatory agency having jurisdiction.