F1554 Grade 55, as supplied by Portland Bolt, is a low carbon, high alloy steel that we have manufactured to our exacting specifications. Additionally, Portland Bolt’s F1554 Grade 55 also conforms to supplement S1, which specifies weldable steel.

F1554 Grade 105 can be manufactured from several grades of heat treated steel, of which 4140 is the most common. The F1554 specification requires that Grade 105 be made from heat treated steel, so your off-the-shelf warehouse grade 4140 is unlikely to meet it. Additionally the F1554 Grade 105 supplied by Portland Bolt will come with the Charpy test per supplemental requirement S5, ensuring low temperature ductility.

To answer your question as to whether or not this is typical of suppliers, the answer is unfortunately too often, yes. Many suppliers who do not understand the F1554 specification will try to substitute other grades in order to get the order. This is a dangerous practice because they do not fully comprehend the reasons for specifying the F1554 grades in the first place. Welding, cold temperatures, ductility, and a maximum tensile strength are all crucial reasons for supplying the correct grade as specified by the design engineer. Portland Bolt supplies both F1554 Grade 55 and 105 in full compliance with ASTM, and mill test reports are always available, both in paper and electronic form. Be very caution of suppliers who say an anchor bolt grade isn’t available or they are going “substitute” stronger material.

I’m aware of Departments of Transportation agencies that are changing standard specifications from A449 to F1554. We see a trend towards F1554 becoming the primary anchor bolt specification of choice.