Carpentry is the activity of constructing or assembling multiple custom-made elements through which various types of structures, either fixed or movable, are made and mounted. This process can be applied to different sectors and may involve the use of various materials, from wood to metals. It is specifically in relation to metal constructions that the distinction between heavy and light carpentry arises.
The two terms often suggest that the difference between the two types of work is related to the weight of the materials or the structures produced, but this is not exactly the case. In this article, we will outline all the characteristics of heavy and light metal carpentry, providing useful information regarding the screws and bolts used.
What is meant by carpentry work?
As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, the terminology light and heavy metal carpentry does not distinguish a different weight of the materials used but rather the type of processing and the thickness of the steel sheets used for the construction of the structures. For example, metal carpentry for civil and industrial construction takes advantage of the different processes possible based on the needs of the project to be realized. Specifically:
Light carpentry includes all constructions of non-load-bearing metal structures. These are works mainly carried out in civil construction such as canopies, sheds, gates, etc.
Heavy carpentry, on the other hand, includes all work on structures that will then have a load-bearing function, such as buildings, roofs, internal and external steel stairs. These are therefore works that are carried out in both civil and industrial construction.
The main difference between the two types of carpentry is therefore found in the different load-bearing capacities of the steel structures, as depending on the work to be done, they are subjected to different processes and must meet different safety and stability requirements.
By leveraging the potential of steel, professionals in the field can design works of carpentry of large, medium, or small dimensions. In general, among the metal carpentry works, we can include:
Industrial heavy metal carpentry, which includes the construction of trusses, containment tanks, dams, water barriers, bridges, platforms, bases, etc.
Construction metal carpentry, therefore the construction of industrial sheds or architectural structures in steel (heavy carpentry) or parapets, mezzanines, canopies, stairs, etc. (light carpentry).
Heavy carpentry for infrastructure – both public and private - that is, works like trusses and metal structures for telecommunications, water barriers, containment tanks, viaducts, components for railway lines, etc.
What screws and bolts are used in constructions?
The realization of metal carpentry works, therefore, requires specific materials suitable for each process. Among these, it is possible to mention:
High-strength steel fastener articles
Hot-dip galvanized steel fastener articles
Structural fastening, elements in accordance with UNI EN 15048
and elements referring to UNI EN 14399 (such as the hexagon head screw for HV,
hexagon nut for HV system,
and bevelled plain washer)
Hexagon head screw for metal constructions DIN 7990
The choice of fastening elements, made in relation to the intended use, is fundamental as it will affect the stability of the works and therefore their quality.
What are threaded rods used for?
When it comes to metal carpentry, a fundamental role is played by threaded rods: cylindrical joining elements that have threading along their entire length. These fastening devices are used as anchors in various fields:
Civil construction, for columns and beams;
Industrial construction, in works concerning, for example, sheds, greenhouses, and purification plants;
Infrastructure, therefore in bridges, tunnels, etc.;
Plant engineering, for renewable energy works such as, for example, a photovoltaic plant;
The market offers a wide variety of threaded rods, of different lengths, diameters, and materials. The choice will therefore fall on the product most suitable for each need. Regarding the material, for example, in the case of objects exposed to the elements, it is advisable to prefer zinc-plated steel bars because it is a material that withstands corrosion well. As for the lengths of the rods, these are variable and therefore adaptable to different processes and assemblies.
What are tie rods used for?
In the construction and carpentry sector, the term tie rods refers to a type of steel bar with partial threading. Officially, they are called “partially threaded bars” because they are steel bars to which the ends are threaded, based on the intended use. Joined thanks to the support of an external certified manufacturer that guarantees the requirements set by the European Directive UNI EN 1090, it provides custom-specification tie rod articles.
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