CAMO Structural Fastener Coatings and Standards

When it comes to fasteners, what’s on the outside matters. Learn about coatings and fastener standards so you can use the best for your project.

Safety should be top of mind when you’re building a deck. After all, these are places where families will gather for years to come, so it is crucial to build with the best fastener for the job that will stand against the test of time.

Traditionally for projects like deck substructures, that meant using a big hot-dip galvanized lag screw—end of story. However, innovation has come a long way, and now there are an array of structural screws on the market to replace traditional lags with excellent performance and premium coatings to resist corrosion.

There are a few standards in place to safeguard and ensure the quality of these structural screws: AC257 approval and the ASTM G198 standard.

AC257 Approval: The Industry Standard

It’s no secret that pressure treated lumber is corrosive—the treatment that protects the lumber from moisture, rot, and insects can also cause wear and corrosion on your fasteners if you’re not using the right one. As a result, structural fasteners need to meet AC257 for use in pressure treated lumber, which requires fasteners to either be hot-dip galvanized or have a coating that is as good as or better than hot-dip galvanized.

Why is hot-dip galvanizing the standard? This code-approved coating is tested to meet ASTM A153, Class D, which regulates that the coating is applied thickly and uniformly. While the coating will wear over time, it will still offer excellent and comprehensive protection against corrosion for the lifetime of the exterior application. Hot-dip galvanized fasteners are commonly used for structural projects that utilize larger screws with a greater surface area coming into contact with more wood and for coastal or applications near water, as the coating can withstand direct exposure to water for decades.

ASTM G198 Standard: Above and Beyond

While hot-dip galvanized coatings are proven and reliable, the one potential drawback to using them is that they feature a hex head instead of a recessed Torx™ or star drive that many builders prefer. Some fastener brands, like CAMO®, saw this as an opportunity to innovate and bring a new solution to market, like our Structural Screws that feature our proprietary PROTECH™ Ultra 4 coating.

PROTECH Ultra 4 gained AC257 Approval, the industry standard, but we pushed our fasteners above and beyond, testing to ASTM G198. This standard tests 2X longer and replicates real-world weather tendencies the fasteners will face to see how they hold up while in contact with treated lumber. CAMO has the only coating on the market tested to ASTM G198—it was worth going the extra mile so you can sleep better knowing your structural connections will last thanks to the four layers of corrosion-fighting, UV-resisting, performance-enhancing coating.

Before you tackle your next deck project, remember that people will be gathering and doing life on their decks, and rusted, corroded fasteners have no role in that—especially in the structural connections. Do your research and use fasteners with the proper coating to resist corrosion so that you have peace of mind your job will stand against the test of time and keep families safe.