Fastener Testing

Bolt Testing

At BES Group, we can help you assess the strength and durability of your fasteners. We test a range of bolts for mechanical, metallurgical and chemical properties from sizes M2 up to M27.

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What is Bolt Testing?

Bolts and nuts are widely used fasteners due to their ease of assembly and disassembly. Bolt Testing plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and reliability of machines and equipment.

This process guarantees that bolts can endure their designated load and function effectively under various stresses and conditions. By identifying potential failures, it also helps in minimising costs by reducing instances of failures, downtime, and maintenance. Fasteners and raw materials for producing fasteners must be routinely tested to ensure that they are suitable to be used in their intended environment. Choosing a UKAS accredited testing laboratory for your bolt testing means that our processes and testing procedures are of the highest quality, giving you confidence in your products, and reassurance that they are fit to be used in real-service conditions. 

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We can analyse a range of bolts made from different metals.

Most commonly, bolts are made from steel alloys, such as stainless steel, low carbon steel, and chromium as this offers the best protection against corrosion and corrosive environments. Titanium, Cupro Nickel and Aluminium, Inconel are also used to manufacture bolts depending on their end use. 

Bolts must be produced from the right material.

If an inappropriate metal or material is used, the bolt may experience fatigue, corrosion, or failure during service. We offer independent Bolt Testing Services using: 

What our Bolt Testing Services include

Test Description
Mechanical Testing
  • Proof load testing on bolt sizes M2 up to M27
  • Wedge testing to determine head soundness
  • Tensile testing on full-sized, machined samples
  • Proof and yield stress
  • Torque testing*
Metallurgical Testing
  • Decarburisation/Carburisation
  • Microhardness testing (surface and core)
  • Microhardness testing to determine phase hardness (e.g. martensite, ferrite, bainite, etc.)
  • Phase distribution
  • Microstructural assessments including banding and segregation
  • Longitudinal sectioning and macro etching
  • Metallurgical Failure Investigations
  • SEM/EDX analysis of failed samples or materials
  • Hydrogen embrittlement to determine hydrogen induced cracking
Chemical Analysis
  • ICP/OES Analysis
  • Spark OES Analysis

UKAS TESTING - BES

UKAS - ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is an accreditation standard for testing and calibration laboratories, and demonstrates our competency to carry out mechanical testing and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of metals and weldments.

  • British Engineering Services Limited
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Why choose BES Group?

800+ expert
engineers

Our team of skilled engineers possesses a wealth of expertise.

A legacy of 160+ years
of experience

We’re always evolving our approach to future proof our services.

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35,000 satisfied customers

A strong reputation for providing exceptional service.

An end-to-end solution

Servicing the full life cycle, from concept through to decommission.

Accredited assurance

Confidence assured with all relevant certifications and accreditations.

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Frequently asked questions

Can bolts undergo any further treatments?

To further enhance the performance of steel, bolts may undergo additional treatments such as plating, coating, or galvanization. 

What materials are Bolts made from?

Bolts are commonly made from stainless 18-8 steel, containing 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Another type of steel that is more resistant to corrosion is stainless 316, and is often used in salt water and chlorine environments. Bolts may also be made from stainless 410 material, which is a more durable steel but less resistant to corrosion. 

Alloy steel is a high-strength material that can be heat treated to produce durable bolts. 

What type of bolts do BES Group test?

We test a range of bolts, including: 

  • Anchor bolts 
  • Blind bolts 
  • Carriage bolts 
  • Double end bolts (also called Tap End Studs) 
  • Eye Bolts 
  • Flange bolts 
  • Hex bolts 
  • Machine bolts and machine screws 
  • Socket head bolts, Square head bolts 
  • T-head bolts 
  • U-bolts 

And many more! 

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