Automotive Industry Trends
August 2004
Fastener Quality Act
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The Fastener Quality Act (FQA) was first signed into law in 1990 by the President of the United States following the discovery of faulty and unsafe fasteners in the market. After several product failures in the mid 80's, the American fastener industry, led by the Industrial Fastener Institute (IFI), requested that Congress lead an investigation into the fastener industry. The two-year study concluded that the market had been introduced to millions of substandard, counterfeit, and mis-marked fasteners. Most of them were imported. These substandard fasteners, still in the supply chain, posed a serious hazard to product safety. The results of this comprehensive industry study produced the Fastener Quality Act (Public Law 101-592), with the Department of Commerce, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), charged with setting up an accreditation program to combat defective fasteners.
The intention of the law was to protect public safety and reduce the danger of fastener failure through the regulation, monitoring and enforcement of fastener labeling and standards. Implementation of the law was delayed because of a lack of registered accreditation bodies and labs able to handle the volume of fasteners used. This delay prompted a revision of the FQA in 1996 that clarified the law and allowed for quicker development of accreditation bodies that could test fastener quality. Several more extensions occurred before the final revision was made and enforcement came into affect. After a final revision in June of 1999, enforcement of the FQA began in December of 1999.
The final version of the act incorporated several changes. Because of industry-wide improvements that reduced quality concerns, requirements were eased. Equipment manufacturers, such as automakers, had successfully convinced fastener manufacturers to give quality assurance. The fastener industry developed faster and more accurate ways to detect defects. Additionally, many manufacturers already followed ISO (International Organization for Standardization) guidelines.
The final, simplified FQA substantially reduced the scope of fasteners covered. The act in affect today covers metallic fasteners with a diameter of 6mm or greater that are through hardened and grade-marked to meet standards. These standards are determined by industry consensus, with fasteners monitored for quality by users. Fasteners must still undergo quality tests, but NIST no longer must approve organizations that accredit fastener testing laboratories. Instead, organizations can opt to voluntarily register with NIST and declare their testing ability. NIST will step in and investigate if fraud is suspected.
The law does not cover all fasteners. Exempt from the regulations of FQA are fasteners:
- used as part of an assembly
- ordered as a spare, service or replacement part in a package containing up to 75 fasteners
- produced and marked as ASTM A307M, grade A, or in accordance with ASTM F 432
- specifically produced for use on aircraft where the FAA, or similar body, has approved the quality
- manufactured to a proprietary standard, even where a consensus standard is referenced
- manufactured in accordance with a fastener quality assurance system (to the requirements of ISO 9000, AS 9000, QS 9000, or a system subject to certification to ISO/IEC Guide 62 by a body accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 61), or a system evaluated by the end user
The law does require fastener manufacturers to document and keep all records on fastener quality. This includes the identification, characteristics, properties, mechanical marks, chemistry and strength. These records can be kept in electronic format to reduce paper. Fasteners covered by the law must bear a registered mark or insignia.
Violation of the law, misrepresentation, falsifying records or fraud is subject to a $25,000 fine and imprisonment. NIST operates a hotline for reporting violations of the FQA: 1–800–424–2980.