ASTM F606-02 is an ASTM test-method standard that describes procedures used to determine mechanical properties of externally and internally threaded fasteners, washers, and rivets. It is commonly referenced when a bolt, screw, stud, nut, or washer product specification requires verification of properties such as hardness, proof load, or tensile performance.
If you are matching a customer or drawing requirement to a lab setup (for example, selecting grips/fixtures for full-size fasteners versus machined specimens), talk with our team about the specific fastener type, size range, and the exact edition being cited.
ASTM F606-02 — Standard Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Properties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners, Washers, and Rivets
ASTM F606-02 is used in fastener quality control and incoming inspection to run standardized mechanical tests when a separate product standard calls out those properties and acceptance limits.
Because property limits are typically defined in the product’s own specification, ASTM F606-02 is most often used as the “how to test” reference that supports pass/fail decisions.
Quick definition
Document type: Standard test methods.
In plain terms: A set of standardized procedures for mechanically testing fasteners (including bolts and nuts), washers, and rivets when another specification requires proof of mechanical properties.
What this standard covers
ASTM F606-02 establishes procedures for conducting mechanical tests on:
- Externally threaded fasteners (for example, bolts, screws, studs)
- Internally threaded fasteners (for example, nuts)
- Washers
- Rivets
Important boundary: This standard focuses on test procedures. The specific property requirements and acceptance criteria are typically specified in the applicable product standard or procurement document.
Why this standard matters in testing
Fasteners are often accepted or rejected based on mechanical performance, and small differences in test setup can change results (for example, fixture alignment, grip choice, or how extension is measured). ASTM F606-02 helps reduce variability by standardizing how common fastener property tests are performed.
In practice, it is frequently used to support supplier certification, lot acceptance testing, PPAP-style documentation (when required by a customer), and failure investigations where an objective “test method” reference is needed.
Common materials, product types, or applications covered
ASTM F606-02 is most commonly applied to metallic fasteners and hardware used in structural, industrial, and general engineering assemblies where mechanical properties are controlled by specification.
Common product types: Bolts/screws/studs, nuts, washers, and rivets that require mechanical verification as part of quality control or compliance.
Common test or verification workflow
The exact workflow depends on what the purchase order or product specification requires, but a typical ASTM F606-02 driven verification sequence looks like this:
- Identify the governing product standard and the required properties (for example, hardness, proof load, tensile).
- Select the correct specimen form (full-size fastener/nut/washer versus machined specimen, when applicable).
- Run the required mechanical test(s) using fixtures and measurement methods appropriate to the product geometry.
- Report results in the format required by the product standard or customer documentation.
Revision sensitivity: Setup details and reporting expectations can depend on the exact cited edition and the specific product standard that invokes ASTM F606 procedures.
Equipment commonly used for this standard
ASTM F606-02 commonly points to a combination of tensile/proof-load equipment and hardness testing, selected based on the fastener type and the required property.
Common equipment families:
- Universal testing machines (UTMs) for tensile testing, wedge-type tensile testing (when specified), and proof-load style testing that requires controlled axial loading.
- Fastener-specific grips and fixtures (for example, bolt/stud tensile grips, nut proof-load fixtures, and appropriate bearing/support hardware to keep the load axial and aligned).
- Hardness testers used for product hardness checks (commonly Rockwell-type approaches in fastener QA programs, depending on the governing product standard).
- Extensometry or displacement measurement when the required method calls for yield/extension-type determinations and traceable measurement.
- Data acquisition and reporting software to document peak load, proof behavior, and other required outputs for QC records.
If you are selecting a UTM capacity and fixture set for a specific bolt/nut size range, you can request pricing for a configured system based on your max load, specimen geometry, and throughput.
How to read this designation or revision
ASTM F606-02 indicates ASTM standard F606 with a year-based suffix for the edition (2002 edition).
Fastener drawings, customer specs, or quality manuals may cite later revisions (often shown with different year suffixes, and in more recent publications a combined inch/SI approach may appear as F606/F606M). When a requirement calls out “ASTM F606-02” specifically, it is important to match that edition for method details and reporting expectations.
Related standards, methods, or frameworks
ASTM F606-02 is typically invoked by fastener product specifications that define the required mechanical properties and acceptance limits. In many QA/QC programs, it is used alongside hardness and tensile testing practices that are already established in the lab’s calibration and quality system.
Practical tip: Always review the governing product standard and the purchase-order requirements first—those documents usually determine which ASTM F606-02 test procedures apply and what constitutes a passing result.
Get help selecting fixtures and a test system for ASTM F606-02
If you need to cover both full-size fastener testing and nut proof-loading (or you are unsure which fixtures apply to your parts), contact our team with your fastener sizes, grades, and the exact callouts from your customer specification.