FWPRDC Project No: 02.

1209

TECHNICAL REPORT

Differences
within
a nail type

By D B Hayward and
C E MacKenzie
March 2005
Residential Timber Decking – Fixing trials

INTRODUCTION
Over recent years not only have the variety of fixings used for 19 mm thick
residential decking increased but the allowable moisture content range in AS
2796 – Timber – Hardwood – Sawn and milled products has also changed. The
upper limit of the 10% to 18% range is three percent higher than was permitted
prior to the standard being amended. With these changes it has been necessary
to re-evaluate the holding capacity of the fixings that are available. In some
instances consumer complaints have highlighted that boards in decks can warp
to the extent that fixings have not held and there is anecdotal evidence that some
of the newer stainless nails do not have the ‘holding’ capacity of traditional nails.
The purpose of the study was to provide a quick investigation into these issues
using decking and joist material typically used in deck construction. While the
testing was undertaken in a scientific manner, the testing was not intended to
comply with the procedures as outlined in AS 1649 – Timber – Methods of test
for mechanical fasteners and connectors. A more intensive investigation in
accordance with this standard could however be undertaken if deemed
necessary.

CURRENT FIXING RECOMMENDATIONS Table 1 – Current deck fixing recommendations

Recommendations for deck fixings are
generally as provided in Table 1 which
has been extracted from Timber
Queensland Technical Data Sheet
Number 4. In addition to this it is
recommended that fixings within 1 m
of a swimming pool should be
stainless steel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A combination of 18 joist/fixing
combinations were tested using both
hardwood and softwood joists, and
incorporating 16 different types of
fixings (note: two of the same fixings
were used in both hardwood and
softwood joists). The combination of
joist and fixing was determined from
the recommendations contained in
Table 1 and the necessity to be able to
compare one fixing type with another. While a wide range of fixings were used in
the trial, what was trialed did not represent all combinations that are available in
the market. The trial used both hot dipped galvanized and stainless steel nails,
with and without adhesive on the shank. Nails with plain, screw and ring shanks
and also one stainless steel screw were trialed. The hardwood joists were
unseasoned F22 Spotted Gum and the softwood joists were predominantly
seasoned MGP 10 Radiata Pine.

Board to joist fixing was undertaken in the same manner as would occur when
fixing a deck. That is, there were two fixings and with hand or machine dome
head nails the bottom of the heads were flush with the board surface (refer
Figure 1) and with bullet head nails the top of the head was flush with the board
surface. In some instances due to the hardness of the hardwood joist, nails did
not drive home completely and final driving was undertaken by hand. With some
hand driven nails it was also necessary to pre-drill some of the decking boards to
80% of the nail diameter.

Figure 1
Direction
of loads

The withdrawal testing was undertaken by the Queensland Department of

Primary Industries & Fisheries approximately a week after the samples were
made up. An Amsler test rig was used to determine the maximum load. For each
of the eighteen joist/fixing combinations tested, fifteen withdrawal samples were
used. However as the results for the 50 mm and 65 mm screw shank stainless
nails were not as expected, five additional samples were included for each of
these groups.

RESULTS
Figures 2 and 3 provide close-up photos of the fixings enabling the differences in
the shank design to be assessed. The results of the testing are provided in Table
2. The table provides full details of the fixing type and size, the joist material,
actual dimensions of the fixings and withdrawal loads. Table 3 provides the
summarized results with photos of each fixing. It should be noted that with pre-
drilled boards used with hardwood joists (Test 1) there was pull through of the
nail heads on most occasions. The withdrawal loads were however sufficiently
high that the tests were not repeated.
Figure 2 - Fixings
Plain Screw Ring Plain Plain Plain Plain Screw Screw
Bullet Dome Flat Bullet Bullet Bullet Flat Dome Dome
HD-Gal HD-Gal HD-Gal SS HD-Gal SS HD-Gal HD-Gal Ad HD-Gal Ad
50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 65 x 2.8 65 x 2.8 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5
Figure 3 - Fixings
Screw Screw Screw Ring Ring Ring Screw Screw Counter
Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome sunk
SS SS SS-Ad HD-Gal Ad SS-Ad SS HD-Gal SS SS
50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 52 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 65 x 2.5 65 x 2.5 8g x 50
 TABLE 2 - DECKING - FIXING TRIAL RESULTS

Hand Nail Machine Nail Screw

Shank Plain Screw Ring Plain Plain Plain Plain Screw Screw Screw Screw Screw Ring Ring Ring Screw Screw Counter
Head type Bullet Dome Flat Bullet Bullet Bullet Flat Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome sunk
Nail material HD-Gal HD-Gal HD-Gal SS HD-Gal SS HD-Gal HD-Gal Ad HD-Gal Ad SS SS SS-PC HD-Gal Ad SS-Ad SS HD-Gal SS SS
Size 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 65 x 2.8 65 x 2.8 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 52 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 65 x 2.5 65 x 2.5 8g x 50
Timber Joist Hw Sw Sw Hw Sw Hw Hw Hw Sw Hw Sw Hw Sw Sw Sw Sw Sw Hw
Test 1 2 3 21 4 22 5 7 20 8 11 9 10 13 14 15 16 19
1 3.04 1.35 1.85 2.27 0.98 0.87 2.36 3.00 1.32 2.90 1.97 2.95 1.53 2.19 2.89 2.53 0.59 8.24
2 1.81 2.05 0.82 1.97 0.67 0.87 1.99 2.84 1.32 3.69 1.23 1.56 1.44 2.27 1.64 2.34 1.02 10.95
3 2.90 3.11 2.37 1.46 0.53 1.48 1.90 3.04 1.02 3.09 1.75 1.01 0.98 2.59 2.33 1.96 1.10 10.65
4 2.15 2.11 0.68 0.99 0.46 0.54 2.28 3.96 1.50 2.84 2.46 1.89 1.16 1.18 2.48 1.28 0.83 12.80
5 2.68 1.62 1.08 2.05 1.75 1.08 1.63 3.15 1.45 3.83 1.56 1.08 0.48 2.03 0.69 1.88 0.73 10.45
6 2.99 1.50 1.83 1.82 1.82 1.53 2.18 2.49 1.81 3.96 1.42 3.02 1.75 1.74 1.96 2.15 0.78 10.55
7 2.47 1.41 1.81 2.92 1.16 1.18 1.75 2.81 0.72 3.07 1.09 1.42 1.78 1.22 1.19 1.81 1.28 11.60
8 2.45 1.70 1.43 0.98 1.40 1.03 2.16 4.16 0.75 2.38 1.32 1.86 2.19 2.16 1.75 1.14 0.96 10.95
9 3.04 1.60 1.48 2.91 1.53 1.93 2.01 2.66 1.25 3.04 1.41 2.43 2.45 2.11 1.59 0.72 0.95 10.55
10 3.21 2.03 1.83 1.43 1.22 0.43 2.10 3.76 0.95 3.26 1.81 2.20 1.27 1.95 1.66 1.07 0.62 11.75
11 2.15 2.93 1.41 2.37 1.33 0.57 2.30 1.75 0.67 4.46 1.50 2.07 1.46 2.02 0.95 1.95 0.97 8.90
12 2.26 1.69 1.96 2.18 0.97 0.43 2.25 2.04 1.14 3.22 1.64 3.31 1.89 2.12 1.81 1.08 1.08 10.35
13 3.05 2.48 1.67 1.48 0.72 0.59 1.84 2.76 1.32 2.75 1.45 1.61 1.32 1.08 1.79 2.21 0.78 11.65
14 2.05 1.02 1.29 0.74 0.70 0.94 1.19 3.86 1.19 3.68 1.85 2.43 1.88 1.82 0.86 1.79 1.21 11.85
15 2.56 1.65 2.88 1.83 0.68 1.27 1.60 2.24 0.90 3.15 1.82 1.80 2.42 1.20 1.42 0.76 1.01 10.75
16 1.60 1.22
17 2.29 1.16
18 1.42 2.20
19 1.11 1.46
20 1.51 1.38
Shank dia (mm) 2.8 2.9 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 -
Thread dia (mm) - 3.1 3.1 - - - - 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.6 4.1
Length to head (mm) 48 48 49 48 63 63 43 50 50 49 49 51 50 50 48 63 64 47
Ave. withdrawal (kN) 2.6 1.9 1.6 1.8 1.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.2 3.3 1.6 2.0 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.6 0.9 10.8
Max (kN) 3.2 3.1 2.9 2.9 1.8 1.9 2.4 4.2 1.8 4.5 2.5 3.3 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.5 1.3 12.8
Min (kN) 1.8 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 1.2 1.8 0.7 2.4 1.1 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.7 0.7 0.6 8.2
Ave lowest 2.1 1.5 1.1 1.2 0.6 0.5 1.7 2.4 0.8 2.9 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.1 1 0.7 10.1
Coeff Of Var 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.1
Extra five 1.6 Extra five 1.5
2.3 2.2
1.1 1.2
Combined 1.6 Combined 1.1
2.5 2.2
1.1 0.6
 TABLE 3 - DECKING - FIXING TYPES
Hand Nail Machine Nail Screw
Shank Plain Screw Ring Plain Plain Plain Plain Screw Screw Screw Screw Screw Ring Ring Ring Screw Screw Counter
Head type Bullet Dome Flat Bullet Bullet Bullet Flat Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome Dome sunk
Nail material HD-Gal HD-Gal HD-Gal SS HD-Gal SS HD-Gal HD-Gal Ad HD-Gal Ad SS SS SS-Ad HD-Gal Ad SS-Ad SS HD-Gal SS SS
Size 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 50 x 2.8 65 x 2.8 65 x 2.8 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 52 x 2.5 50 x 2.5 65 x 2.5 65 x 2.5 8g x 50
Timber Joist Hw Sw Sw Hw Sw Sw Hw Hw Sw Hw Sw Hw Sw Sw Sw Sw Sw Hw
Test 1 2 3 21 4 22 5 7 20 8 11 9 10 13 14 15 16 19

Shank dia (mm) 2.8 2.9 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 -
Thread dia (mm) - 3.1 3.1 - - - - 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.6 4.1
Length to head (mm) 48 48 49 48 63 63 43 50 50 49 49 51 50 50 48 63 64 47
Ave. withdrawal (kN) 2.6 1.9 1.6 1.8 1.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.2 3.3 1.6 2.0 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.6 0.9 10.8
Max (kN) 3.2 3.1 2.9 2.9 1.8 1.9 2.4 4.2 1.8 4.5 2.5 3.3 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.5 1.3 12.8
Min (kN) 1.8 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.4 1.2 1.8 0.7 2.4 1.1 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.7 0.7 0.6 8.2
Extra five 1.6 Extra five 1.5
2.3 2.2
1.1 1.2
Combined 1.6 Combined 1.1
2.5 2.2
1.1 0.6
With regard to the softwood joist material there was considerable variability in the
material as would be expected. In some instances the fixings would penetrate
mainly the softer earlywood while in other instances fixings went through a
number of latewood bands.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

Table 2 provides an indication of the performance of individual nail/timber

combinations.

It is considered that by looking at the average withdrawal capacity of the five

lowest values of each combination, (excluding the very lowest value), that a
comparative, quantitative feel for the relative performance of the nails can be
assessed, and also assessed against the performance of traditional nails that
have been successfully used to fix decking.

• Hardwood Joists: For hardwood decking to hardwood joists, a hand

driven 50 x 2.8 mm HDG bullet head nail is the ‘benchmark’ and from the
results, this nail has an average lower bound withdrawal capacity of 2.1kN
(Test 1).

Other tested nails that equal or exceed this were the machine driven 50 x
2.5 mm HDG screw dome head nail with ‘adhesive’ (Test 7) and the
machine driven 50 x 2.5 mm stainless screw dome head nail.

• Softwood Joists: For hardwood decking to softwood joists, there is

reasonable history that both hand driven, screw and ring shank 50x2.8
HDG nails are satisfactory with withdrawal capacity of around 1.1kN (Test
3) to 1.5 kN (Test 2).

Other tested nails that equal or exceed this were the machine driven 50 x
2.5 mm stainless screw dome head nail (Test 11), the 50 x 2.5 mm HDG
ring dome with adhesive (Test 10), the 52 x 2.5 mm stainless ring dome
with adhesive (Test 13) and the 50 x 2.5 mm Stainless ring dome (Test
14).

• Screw: The superior performance of the 50 x 8g screw is evident from the

test results.

Some manufacturers recommend that screw shank nails be used in hardwood

and ring shank be used in pine. The adhesive present on some nails was also
considered by some manufacturers to be beneficial in holding plastic collated
nails in place until use and that the adhesive used had little effect on the holding
ability in the timber. When viewing the close up photos in figures 2 and 3 it is
evident that nail design differs markedly from manufacturer to manufacturer. With
screw shank nails the screw angle, depth and surface roughness differ. With ring
shank nails it was also evident that the positioning of the rings differed
significantly between manufacturers. Surface roughness appeared to have a
significant effect on how well nails would hold in the timber.

CONCLUSION
The results clearly indicate that ‘NAILS AIN’T NAILS’.

The withdrawal capacity and hence deck ‘holding power’ of nails is very much
related to the nail geometry design (roughness and profile of shank, nail diameter
etc) and the variability of the nails performance in the timber.

Published recommended nailing specifications may need to be amended to refer

to specific nails and requirements placed on nail suppliers to provide 3rd party
verified withdrawal capacities.