Load Testing for Brackets

S-5!® Tensile Pull Test (Load normal to mounting surface of S-5 bracket)

Machine
Universal or tensile testing machine, having a test bed of at least 24 in. sq., and travel of not less than 36″; capacity of 6,000 pounds or greater; speed between .2 and .25 inch per minute.

Apparatus
The apparatus consists of 1/8″ steel plate measuring approximately 12″ x 12″. The plate is reinforced as necessary with angle, tube or channel to prevent its buckling, warping or twisting when under tension loads perpendicular to its surface. The apparatus is securely anchored to the test table to prevent excessive deflection during the test.

Specimen
Test specimens may consist of panel sheeting only, or of panel sheeting together with substrate.

Panel Sheeting Only
The test specimen shall be a simple assembly consisting of a section of the desired metal panel material, 12″ (+-) in length. The total width of the specimen is at least 6″ and not more than 16″.

Panel Sheeting and Substrate
The test specimen shall be a simple assembly consisting of a section of the desired metal panel material, 12″ (+-) in length, together with desired substrate material of the same length. The total width of the specimen is at least 6″ and not more than 16″.

Brackets to be tested are mounted center to the specimen.

Set-Up
Attach the specimen to the apparatus using bolts and nuts, or screws along top and bottom of the specimen sufficient in quantity and spacing so as to prevent failure of the specimen’s attachment to the apparatus during the test.
The S-5 bracket is placed center to the substrate. Fasten bracket to the substrate using fastener as specified for use in given substrate material. Note the fastener type and description on the test report form. Repeat process on three separate specimens.

Procedure
Photograph the specimen and apparatus prior to testing. Securely fasten the load cell arms to the S-5 bracket using bolts as appropriate. Beginning at the lowest bracket (closest to test bed), load each bracket with upward force (parallel to substrate) at a rate of travel between .20 and .25 inch per minute until failure*. Photograph the specimen after testing.

Reporting
Record the tensile load in pounds at the failure* point along with the failure mode for each S-5 bracket tested. Calculate and record “average” values. Note any unusual observations of the specimen during testing, as well as a verbal description of the specific failure if other than a listed failure mode (below). Record the date of test, date of report, name o flab, name of technician, and execute the completed data sheet.

*Failure
For the purpose of this test, any of the following occurrences shall be considered “failure”:
A. Mounting bolt strips from bracket
B. Yielding of bracket-to-substrate connection
C. Visible, permanent deformation of the bracket, including bending or tearing
D. Fastener holding bracket in place pulls out 1 or more threads
E. Bracket migrates a distance of 8 or more millimeters 

S-5!® Tensile Pull Test (Load parallel to mounting surface of S-5! bracket)

Machine
Universal or tensile testing machine, having a test bed of at least 24 in. sq., and travel of not less than 36″; capacity of 6,000 pounds or greater; speed between .2 and .25 inch per minute.

Apparatus
The apparatus consists of 1/8″ steel plate measuring approximately 16″ x 30″. The plate is reinforced as necessary with angle, tube or channel to prevent its buckling, warping or twisting when under tension loads parallel but offset from its surface. The apparatus is securely anchored to the test table along the 16″ dimension, and sufficiently braced to the table to prevent excessive deflection during the test.

Specimen
Test specimens may consist of panel sheeting only, or of panel sheeting together with substrate.

Panel Sheeting Only
The test specimen shall be a simple, composite assembly consisting of a section of the desired metal panel material, 30″ (+-) in length. The total width of the specimen is at least 6″ and not more than 16″.

Panel Sheeting and Substrate
The test specimen shall be a simple, composite assembly consisting of a section of the desired metal panel material, 30″ (+-) in length, together with desired substrate material of the same length. The total width of the specimen is at least 6″ and not more than 16″.

Brackets to be tested are spaced at approximately equal intervals on the 30” specimen length to enable a total of three tensile pulls.

Set-Up
Attach the specimen to the apparatus using bolts and nuts along top and bottom of the specimen sufficient in quantity and spacing so as to prevent failure of the specimen’s attachment to the apparatus during the test.
A total of three S-5 brackets are placed on the substrate and evenly spaced from each other and the ends of the specimen. Fasten bracket to substrate using fastener as specified for use in given substrate material. Note the fastener type and description on the test report form.

Procedure
Photograph the specimen and apparatus prior to testing. Securely fasten the load cell arms to the S-5 bracket using bolts as appropriate. Beginning at the lowest bracket (closest to test bed), load each bracket with upward force (parallel to substrate) at a rate of travel between .20 and .25 inch per minute until failure*. Photograph the specimen after testing.

Reporting
Record the tensile load in pounds at the failure* point along with the failure mode for each S-5 bracket tested. Calculate and record “average” values. Note any unusual observations of the specimen during testing, as well as a verbal description of the specific failure if other than a listed failure mode (below). Record the date of test, date of report, name of lab, name of technician, and execute the completed data sheet.

*Failure
For the purpose of this test, any of the following occurrences shall be considered “failure”:
A. Bracket rotated more than 20 degrees
B. Yielding of bracket-to-substrate connection
C. Visible, permanent deformation of the bracket, including bending or tearing
D. Buckling or any other structural or severe cosmetic damage to panel seam