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  **Responsible Office:** 541/Materials Engineering Branch

  **Title:** Goddard Space Flight Center Fastener Integrity Requirements
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**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

**[PREFACE]{.underline}**

1.  PURPOSE

2.  REFERENCES

3.  SCOPE

4.  DEFINITIONS

5.  AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

6.  CANCELLATION

7.  QUALITY RECORDS

**[8. REQUIREMENTS]{.underline}**

8.1 Material Selection

8.2 Approved Manufacturers Products

8.3 Material Test Reports

8.4 Screening

8.5 Traceability

8.6 Specialized Fasteners

8.7 Audits

**[9. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS]{.underline}**

9.1 Discrepant Fasteners

9.2 Screening Inspections and Tests

**[TABLES]{.underline}**

Table I Fastener Procurement, Documentation, and Screening Requirements

for Flight Hardware

Table II Fastener Documentation and Screening Requirements for Ground

Support Equipment

Table III Screening Summary for Flight Hardware and Critical Ground
Support

Equipment Fasteners

**[APPENDIX A]{.underline}**

GSFC Approved Manufacturers List

**PREFACE**

**1. PURPOSE**

The purpose of this document is to define fastener integrity
requirements for all fasteners used in flight hardware and for critical
nuts and bolts used on ground support equipment, including all flight
hardware/GSE interfaces.

**2. REFERENCES**

MILITARY STANDARDS

FED-STD-H28/20 Screw-Thread Standards for Federal Services, Inspection

Methods for Acceptability of UN, UNR, UNJ, M, and MJ

Screw Threads

NAM1312-108 Fastener Test Methods, Metric, Method 108, Tensile

Strength

NASM1312-8 Fastener Test Methods, Method 8, Tensile Strength

NASA DOCUMENTS

MSFC-STD-3029 Guidelines for the Selection of Metallic Materials for

Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance in Sodium Chloride

Environments

NASA-STD-5003 Fracture Control Requirements for Payloads Using the

Space Shuttle

GSFC 731-0005 General Fracture Control Plan for Payloads Using the

Space Transportation System

NSS/GO-1740.9 NASA Safety Standard for Lifting Devices and Equipment

NSTS 1700.7 Safety Policy and Requirements for Payloads Using the

Space Transportation System

KHB 1700.7 Space Transportation System Payload Ground Safety

Handbook

230-WI-5340.2.1 Control of Non-Conforming Project Parts

541-WI-5330.1.15 Verification of Locking Torque and Breakaway Torque

Values for Self-Locking Nuts, Nutplates and Hi-Lok/Hi-

Tigue Collars at Incoming Inspection

541-WI-5330.1.16 Proof Testing of Flight Hardware Fasteners

547-PG-5330.1.1 Fastener Inspection Test Plan

**3. SCOPE**

This document is for the use of Goddard Space Flight Center Projects as
tailored by the Product Design Lead in conjunction with his Product
Design Team. This document is used by Code 200 to assure the integrity
of the metric and U.S. Standard fastener inventories at GSFC.

**4. DEFINITIONS**

Approved manufacturer -- An approved manufacturer is a manufacturer that
has passed an audit intended to verify that the company's processes and
products meet the requirements of applicable specifications.

Audit -- An inspection performed at a manufacturer's facility to verify
that the company's processes and products meet the requirements of
applicable specifications.

Bolt -- For the purposes of this document, a category of fasteners
including tensile and shear bolts, shoulder bolts, screws, HiLoks,
HiTigues, and lockbolts.

Critical GSE fasteners -- Nuts or bolts where a single failure could
result in injury to personnel or damage to property or flight hardware
by dropping or losing control of the load.

Developer -- Any organization that designs or builds flight hardware.

Distributor -- An enterprise that stocks the products of various
manufacturers for resale and does not engage in manufacturing activity.

Fail safe (STS) or redundant load path (non-STS) -- An approach in which
the structure is designed with sufficient redundancy so that the failure
of one structural element does not cause general failure of the entire
structure. The fasteners in a multi-fastener joint of a non-STS payload
are considered by this specification to be redundant load paths.

Fastener -- items, such as bolts, screws, nuts, anchor nuts, rivets,
shear pins, helical and cylindrical inserts, and setscrews, that join
components and transfer load.

Material Test Report: A document produced by the fastener manufacturer
that certifies information required by the applicable fastener
specification. The information typically includes fastener lot number,
manufacturing date, lot quantity, raw material heat number, chemical
composition and mechanical and metallurgical test results.

Proof test -- A test conducted by a single load application to
demonstrate the structural integrity of a fastener.

Safe life (STS) or single point failure (non-STS) -- An approach where
the failure of one element could endanger the success of a mission or
could result in injury to personnel or damage to property or flight
hardware. NASA-STD-5003 and GSFC 731-0005 require that the largest
undetected flaw that could exist in a safe life part will not grow to
failure when subjected to the cyclic and sustained loads and
environments encountered in four mission lifetimes.

**5. AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

5.1 Project Manager. The Project Manager shall ensure that the
provisions of this policy are implemented for Center projects, their
contractors, and their sub-tier suppliers.

5.2 Reliability and Quality Assurance. The purchaser\'s Reliability and
Quality Assurance organization shall perform receiving and acceptance
testing of all flight hardware and critical GSE fasteners per 9.2.

5.3 System Safety. The purchaser\'s System Safety organization shall
verify that procured flight hardware and critical GSE fasteners meet
applicable requirements and that the final status of review is included
in the final STS safety package.

5.4 Materials and Processes. The purchaser\'s Materials and Processes
group shall provide assistance to the purchaser\'s R and QA organization
or to the procuring engineer for applications that are not clearly
defined by this fastener policy.

5.5 Contracting Officers. Contracting Officers shall ensure requirements
provided by the project manager in response to this specification are
included in all applicable contracts.

5.6 Cognizant Engineers. Cognizant engineers shall ensure that drawings
for STS payloads are properly identified with respect to safe life
fasteners and that drawings for ground support equipment are properly
identified with respect to critical nuts and bolts.

**6. CANCELLATION**

The previous version of this document was S-313-100, "Goddard Space
Flight Center Fastener Integrity Requirements", Revision B dated
2-13-98. The previous revision of Appendix A, "GSFC Approved
Manufacturers List" was Revision C dated 4-13-98.

**7. QUALITY RECORDS**

NA

**[8. Implementation]{.smallcaps}**

Specific requirements are contained in this section. In addition, some
of the requirements are summarized in Table I for flight hardware
fasteners and in Table II for critical GSE fasteners. Specialized
fastener requirements are in section 8.6.

The following products are exempt from the requirements of sections 8.2
through 8.7: washers, spring pins, cotter pins, retaining rings, cable
ties, safety wire, and non-metallic fasteners.

8.1 Material Selection. Metallic fastener materials for flight hardware
and critical ground support equipment applications shall be selected
from Table I, Highly Resistant Materials, of MSFC-STD-3029, Guidelines
for the Selection of Metallic Materials for Stress Corrosion Cracking
Resistance in Sodium Chloride Environments.

8.2 Approved Manufacturers Products. All safe life (STS) or single point
failure (non-STS) flight hardware bolts shall be the products of
manufacturers who have been approved by an on-site product audit
conducted by the procuring organization (see 8.7). Developers that do
not audit manufacturers shall procure the products of GSFC-approved
manufacturers (Appendix A). No other fastener types covered by this
specification (see Tables I and II) are required to be the products of
approved manufacturers.

All safe life or single point failure flight hardware nuts and bolts
must be size #10 (5mm) or larger. The use of size #8 (4mm) or smaller
must approved by the Project's Lead Mechanical Engineer.

Since manufacturers normally do not handle small orders, fasteners often
are purchased through distributors. Developers may purchase fasteners
from manufacturers or distributors.

8.3 Material Test Reports. For flight hardware use, each lot of nuts,
bolts, helical inserts and cylindrical inserts of size #10 (5mm) and
larger and each lot of rivets and shear pins 3/16\" diameter (5mm) and
larger shall be accompanied by the fastener manufacturer\'s material
test report. Material test reports shall also be obtained for each lot
of critical GSE nuts and bolts.

Material test reports are not required for nuts, screws, helical inserts
and cylindrical inserts of size #8 (4mm) and smaller nor for rivets and
shear pins of size 5/32" (4mm) and smaller nor for setscrews. However,
these fastener types shall be procured as unmixed lots to maintain the
statistical significance of the sampling plan of section 9.2.1.

8.4 Screening. All nuts and bolts for flight hardware and critical GSE
applications, as well as all flight hardware rivets, helical and
cylindrical inserts, shear pins, and setscrews shall be subjected to
inspection and testing per Table III and 9.2 to check conformity with
specification requirements regarding strength and dimensions. The
inspections and tests shall be performed by an organization that is
independent of the manufacturer and distributor.

8.5 Traceability. The traceability of flight hardware nuts and bolts
(size #10 or 5mm and larger), rivets (size 3/16" or 5mm and larger), and
critical GSE nuts and bolts shall be maintained into and including
stores. Traceability shall include vendor, manufacturer, lot number, and
screening level (safe life/single point failure or fail safe/redundant
load path).

Traceability shall be maintained into flight hardware and GSE at each
project\'s discretion. Storage of fasteners shall be controlled to
assure traceability.

8.6 Specialized Fasteners. The following fastener products shall be
evaluated by the procuring engineer and the purchaser\'s Materials and
Processing activity to establish appropriate material, design,
processing, and screening requirements: custom manufactured fasteners,
pyrotechnic fasteners, eyebolts, clevises, hooks, wire rope,
turnbuckles, continuous threaded rod and those not otherwise specified.
Test and inspection of certain ground support equipment items is
required by NSS/GO-l740.9 and KHB 1700.7.

8.7 Audits. Audits are intended to verify that a company\'s processes
and products meet the requirements of applicable specifications. An
audit performed by any branch of the procuring organization is
considered valid for the entire organization. Audit approval is limited
to the audited location and product and not to affiliated companies nor
dissimilar products. An audit is considered valid for a maximum of 3
years, unless quality problems are noted in received hardware or via
Alerts.

**9. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS**

9.1 Discrepant Fasteners. Discrepant fasteners shall be dispositioned
per the developer\'s nonconforming material control procedures
(230-WI-5340.2.1 at GSFC).

9.2 Screening Inspections and Tests. The screening inspections and tests
summarized in Table III shall be conducted on the specified fastener
types by an organization that is independent of the manufacturer and
distributor. The following information supplements Table III.

9.2.1 Sampling.

9.2.1.1 Approved Manufacturers\' Products. Sample size and acceptance
criteria shall be as follows for approved manufacturers\' products:

Lot Size Samples Accept Criteria

1 to 50 2 0 defective

51 to 100 3 0 defective

101 to 500 5 0 defective

501 to 1200 6 0 defective

1201 and over 7 0 defective

9.2.1.2 Non-Approved Manufacturers\' Products. Sample size and
acceptance criteria shall be as follows for non-approved manufacturers\'
products:

Lot Size Samples Accept Criteria

1 to 50 3 0 defective

51 to 100 5 0 defective

101 to 500 7 0 defective

501 to 1200 8 0 defective

1201 and over 9 0 defective

9.2.2 Visual Inspection.

9.2.2.1 A preliminary visual inspection to assure lot uniformity shall
be performed at 1X on the entire fastener lot.

9.2.2.2 Visual inspection for finish and other characteristics requiring
visual inspection by the appropriate procurement specification shall be
performed at 10X minimum magnification, on a sampling basis per 9.2.1.

9.2.3 Tensile Test.

9.2.3.1 Tensile test per the latest revision of NASM1312-8 Tensile
Strength or NAM1312-108 Metric Tensile Strength.

Record ultimate load, or determine and record ultimate strength,
whichever is required by the specification. Record the specification
minimum for comparison.

9.2.3.2 When bolts or screws are too short to tensile test (when the
length is less than 4 times the diameter), perform hardness testing.

9.2.3.3 Saving load plots is not required.

9.2.4 Locking/Breakaway Torques. Locking torque and breakaway torque
shall be verified on lot samples of size #10 (5mm) and larger
self-locking nuts, nutplates and Hi-Lok/Hi-Tigue collars. Values shall
comply with the applicable product specification. Sampling shall be per
section 9.2.1. Nuts, nutplates and Hi-Lok/Hi-Tigue collars shall be
subjected to one installation /removal cycle only and shall not be
subjected to bakeout nor be seated prior to or during the test.
Locking/breakaway torque verification at GSFC shall be performed in
accordance with 541-WI-5330.1.15.

9.2.5 Non Destructive Evaluation. One hundred percent (100%) means every
safe life or single point failure fastener must be inspected. Acceptable
NDE methods include penetrant, eddy current, and magnetic particle
inspections and proof testing (9.2.8).

9.2.6 Dimensional Inspection. One hundred percent (100%) means every
safe life or single point failure fastener must be inspected. Thread
dimensional inspection shall be performed on the threaded products
specified in Table III, except helical inserts, to System 21 of
FED-STD-H28/20 (go and no go ring or plug thread gauges). Dimensional
inspection shall include verifying that the socket depth and head height
of socket head cap screws are within specification requirements.

Dimensional inspection of non-threaded products and helical inserts
specified in Table III shall consist of measurement to determine that
diameter and length conform to specification requirements.

9.2.7 Hardness Test.

9.2.7.1. When a hardness test is required, it shall be performed on the
thread end of the bolt or screw, and is considered to be nondestructive.
Rockwell Superficial hardness testing may be employed in lieu of
Rockwell hardness testing.

9.2.7.2. The purpose of hardness testing safe life or single point
failure bolts is to verify that the hardware is of the proper strength.
All safe life or single point failure bolts from a given lot, including
the tensile test samples, shall be hardness tested. Hardness testing of
aircraft style nuts typically is destructive. As a substitute for
hardness testing, tensile testing and NDE, safe life or single point
failure nuts shall be proof tested on a 100% basis.

9.2.7.3 Hardness test acceptance shall be in accordance with the
applicable product specification.

9.2.8 Proof Test. Proof testing of safe life or single point failure
fasteners is an established method of verifying structural integrity and
may be performed as a substitute for tensile, NDE, and hardness testing.
Examples of situations where proof testing may be performed are:

a\. when the cost or availability of custom hardware prohibits

destructive tensile testing.

b\. when NDE techniques of the required type or sensitivity are not

available or cannot be performed due to processing oversight.

c\. when hardness testing of critical nuts cannot be performed

accurately or would be destructive.

Proof testing of fasteners may be performed provided:

Flight Hardware

a\. the proof test is performed in accordance with 541-WI-5330.1.16,

Proof Testing of Flight Hardware Fasteners or an equivalent

document.

b\. the proof test load is determined in accordance with:

-   541-WI-5330.1.16 or

-   a fracture control plan (STS payloads) or

-   the applicable procurement specification or

-   the requester's analysis.

c\. safe life or single point failure fasteners for a given

application are proof tested 100%, not on a sampling basis.

d\. the fasteners show no yielding as determined by a length

measurement.

e\. a subsequent visual inspection reveals no defects.

f\. the fastener passes a subsequent thread dimensional inspection.

Ground Support Equipment

a\. the proof test and subsequent inspections are performed

in accordance with NSS/GO-1740.9 or other applicable

specifications.

TABLE I FASTENER PROCUREMENT, DOCUMENTATION, AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
FOR

FLIGHT HARDWARE

+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| FASTENER TYPE (1)        | APPROVED     | OBTAIN TEST  | SCREEN      |
|                          | MA           | REPORT       |             |
|                          | NUFACTURER'S |              |             |
|                          | PRODUCT      |              |             |
|                          | REQUIRED     |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Bolt (2)                 | X            | X            | X           |
|                          |              |              |             |
| Single point failure or  |              |              |             |
| safe life (3)            |              |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Nut                      |              | X            | X           |
|                          |              |              |             |
| Single point failure or  |              |              |             |
| safe life (3)            |              |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Bolt (2), Nut or Helical |              | X            | X           |
| or Cylindrical Insert,   |              |              |             |
|                          |              |              |             |
| Redundant load path or   |              |              |             |
| fail safe, #10 (5mm) and |              |              |             |
| larger                   |              |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Bolt (2), Nut or Helical |              |              | X           |
| or Cylindrical Insert,   |              |              |             |
|                          |              |              |             |
| Redundant load path or   |              |              |             |
| fail safe, #8 (4mm) and  |              |              |             |
| smaller                  |              |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Rivet or Shear Pin,      |              | X            | X           |
| 3/16" (5mm) dia. and     |              |              |             |
| larger                   |              |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Rivet or Shear Pin,      |              |              | X           |
| \<3/16" (5mm) dia.       |              |              |             |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+
| Setscrews                |              |              | X           |
+--------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+

\(1\) Exempt: washers, spring pins, cotter pins, retaining rings, ties,
safety wire, and non-metallic fasteners.

\(2\) Category includes bolts, shoulder bolts, screws, HiLoks, HiTigues,
and lockbolts.

\(3\) Usage shall be #10 (5mm) or larger. Use of size #8 (4mm) or
smaller shall be approved by the Project's Lead Mechanical Engineer.

TABLE II FASTENER DOCUMENTATION AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND

SUPPORT EQUIPMENT FASTENERS

  ------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------
  FASTENER TYPE                   OBTAIN TEST REPORT  SCREEN (1)

  Critical bolt (2) or nut (3)    X                   X

  Noncritical fastener                                
  ------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------

\(1\) Applicable screening tests are given in Table III.

\(2\) Category includes bolts, shoulder bolts, screws, HiLoks, HiTigues,
and lockbolts.

\(3\) Specialized critical fasteners shall be treated per section 8.6.

TABLE III SCREENING SUMMARY FOR FLIGHT HARDWARE AND CRITICAL GROUND
SUPPORT

EQUIPMENT FASTENERS (1)

\(1\) Inspections/tests are on a lot sampling basis unless otherwise
indicated. See sect. 9.2 for supplemental information.

\(2\) Proof testing is an acceptable substitute for tensile, NDE, and
hardness. See section 9.2.8 .

\(3\) Usage shall be #10 (5mm) or larger. Use of size #8 (4mm) or
smaller shall be approved by the Project's Lead Mechanical Engineer.

\(4\) Self-locking nuts, nutplates and Hi-Lok/Hi-Tigue collars only.

\(5\) Acceptable to substitute hardness testing on bolts or screws if
they are too short to tensile test (when the length is less than 4 times
the diameter) or on fail safe or redundant load path nuts.

\(6\) Hardness test waived on \<3/16\" (5mm) diameter and on all blind
rivets.

Appendix A: GSFC APPROVED MANUFACTURERS

Safe life or single point failure screws and bolts as defined in section
4. shall be made by these manufacturers or by manufacturers that are
audited by the developer. Screws or bolts may be purchased directly from
the manufacturer or from any distributor. The following manufacturers
typically will produce aerospace bolts and screws to NAS, MS, or NA
specifications, as well as custom fasteners.

Air Industries, Garden Grove, CA. (714) 892 5571

Ameritech Fastener Mfg. Inc., Houston, TX (713) 939 7638

# B&B Specialties Inc., Anaheim, CA. (714) 985 3000

BEK Level 1 Inc., Huntington, WV (304) 697 2323

# NDT certs from BEK Level 1 Fasteners not acceptable. 

Bristol Industries, Brea, CA (714) 990 4121

Butler Inc., Gardena, CA (310) 323 3114

California Screw Products, Paramount, CA. (213) 633 6626

CBS Fasteners, Anaheim, CA (714) 779 6368

Champion Fasteners, Inc., Mount Holly, NJ (800) 755 2693

Fairchild Fasteners, City of Industry, CA (626) 369 3333

Fastener Innovation Technology (FIT) Inc., Gardena, CA (310) 538 1111

Fastener Technology Corp., N. Hollywood, CA. (818) 764 6467

Federal Manufacturing Corp., Chatsworth, CA (818) 341 9825

# Hi-Shear Corp., Torrance, CA (310) 326 8110

Holo-Krome Co., West Hartford, CT (203) 523 5235

Huck Aerospace Fasteners, Lakewood, CA (310) 830 8200

Ideal Fasteners Inc., Anaheim, CA (714) 630 7840

LFC Industries, Inc., Arlington, TX (817) 640 1322

Maney Aircraft, GS Aerospace Division, Ontario, CA (909) 390 2500

GSFC APPROVED MANUFACTURERS, continued

J.I. Morris Co., Southbridge, MA (508) 764 4394

MS Aerospace, Burbank, CA (818) 953 9080

Nylok Fastener Corp., Anaheim, CA (714) 635 3993

P.B. Fasteners, Gardena, CA (310) 323 6222

Pilgrim Screw Corp., Providence, RI (401) 274 4090

Quality Aircraft Screw, Corona, CA (909) 270 3210

Rocket Air Supply, Inc., Arlington, TX (817) 640 5340

Saturn Fasteners, Burbank, CA (818) 846 7145

SPS Technologies, Jenkintown, PA (215) 572 3133

SPS Technologies, Salt Lake City, UT (801) 964 4100

SPS Technologies-Western, Santa Ana, CA (714) 545 9311

Twist Tite Mfg. Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA (562) 407 1733

Valley Todeco, Sylmar, CA (818) 367 2261

Van Petty, Inc., Newberry Park, CA (805) 498 4594

3V Fasteners, Corona, CA (909) 734 4391

West Coast Aerospace, Wilmington, CA (310) 518 3167

This list was derived from DQA Memo 99-262, "Office 5060, Quality
Assurance, List of Approved Flight Systems Fastener Suppliers", Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, Sept. 29, 1999 and the "Ames Research Center Code
Q Index of Surveyed Suppliers", 2000.

**CHANGE HISTORY LOG**

  -------------- ------------- ----------------------------------------------
  **Revision**   **Effective   **Description of Changes**
                 Date**        

  Baseline       03/05/2001    Initial Release. Document previously was
                               S-313-100, GSFC Fastener Integrity
                               Requirements, November 20, 1989.

                               

                               

                               

                               

                               

                               

                               
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