scope:

This standard sets forth in detail the recommended material and manufacturing limitations, design requirements and design loads for commonly used timber fasteners employed in the construction of industrial cooling towers.

Application of design loads is limited to member sizes, bolt diameter, shear plate and split ring sizes tabulated herein. 

Standard dressed sizes of wood members for species included from 25.4 mm (1") thru and including 203.2 mm (8"), nominal. 

Machine bolts in diameters from 9.5 mm (3/8") to 25.4 mm (1.0") 

63.5 mm (2-1/2") diameter split-ring connectors with 12.7 mm (1/2") diameter bolt. 

Data included herein have been established and calculated in accordance with values and methods per the National Design Specification, latest edition, as published by the American Wood Council. 

This specification is based on the best engineering and information available. It is not intended to prevent the use of assemblies, designs or materials not meeting the criteria herein, where it can be demonstrated that by proven analysis and testing an alternate assembly, design or material can perform satisfactorily in its intended end use.

Purpose 

Connection capacities evaluated per the requirements of Part III, used in conjunction with lumber design stresses published in STD-103 and STD-114, provide the basis for complete structural analysis of the framework used in a tower. 

All bolted, shear-plate and/or split-ring connector joints, when analyzed in accordance with acceptable engineering practices, shall have applied loads of magnitude that will produce stresses below evaluated values.