Technical specifications guide
Technical specifications for screws, sealing washers and blind rivets
What our technical specifications guide helps you check
Technical specifications for fasteners are often the details that decide whether installation runs smoothly or slows down on site. This guide brings together the practical catalogue information that helps you check sealing washers, installation setup, clamp length logic and blind rivet preparation before moving further into purchasing or specification.
It is especially useful when you need to confirm the technical basics around screw and nail washer combinations, loaded installation speed for self-drilling screws, and the hole preparation and reference values shown for blind rivets. For full calculation work, this guide should sit alongside the more dedicated pages for dimensioning, material and corrosion choice.
What is included in our technical specifications guide
Sealing washers for screws
Choose this part of our guide when you need to check which sealing washer setup matches the screw material and diameter. It helps you confirm the standard EPDM-based combinations used with carbon steel, aluminium and stainless steel screws, and shows where different washer dimensions may also be relevant.
See screw sealing washer details on page 102 in the catalogue
Sealing washers for nails
Use this section when the fixing is based on tin nails or clasp nails rather than screws. It gives a quick way to check nail diameter, washer dimensions and colour so the installation detail is right before work starts.
Installation basics for self-drilling screws
Use this part when the question is how the fastener should be installed, not only which fastener to buy. It brings together loaded installation speed, clamp length logic for timber and steel build-ups, and the practical warning about overtightening sealing washers.
See installation guidance, clamp length and washer handling notes on page 102 in the catalogue
Blind rivet hole preparation
Choose this section when you need to confirm the correct hole preparation for blind rivets before installation. It explains the basic hole-size rule for blind rivets and the larger allowance used for split rivets, which helps avoid poor fit and unnecessary rework.
Reference values for blind rivets
Use this part when you want a fast overview of reference tensile and shear values for common blind rivet types. It helps you compare open, sealed, multigrip and split blind rivets at a practical level before moving into deeper technical evaluation.
See blind rivet reference values on page 103 in the catalogue
Detailed technical specifications in our catalogue
The catalogue below is the best place to confirm washer combinations, EPDM washer dimensions, installation speed, clamp length and blind rivet preparation in one compact technical section. It keeps the practical specification details together so your team can check the setup faster before ordering or installing.
If you also need deeper guidance on dimensioning values, clamp length, material quality or corrosion classes, those guides work well alongside this page.
Need help checking the technical details before you specify?
Technical details are often what decide whether installation stays efficient or turns into unnecessary correction work on site. We help customers review sealing washer setup, installation method, clamp length logic, blind rivet preparation and which guide should be used next when the question moves into material, corrosion or dimensioning.
How do I choose between the sealing washer data for screws and the washer data for nails?
Start with the fastener type itself. Use the screw data when the application is based on construction screws, and use the nail data when the fixing detail is based on tin nails or clasp nails. After that, check the relevant diameter, washer material and washer dimensions for that specific fastening route.
What installation speed should I use for self-drilling screws?
Use a screwdriver with a deep stopper base and keep the loaded speed at 1500 - 2500 rpm for installation in material under 2 mm, and 800 - 1500 rpm in thicker material. This guide is useful when the installation method itself needs to be checked before the job starts.
Why does overtightening matter when using sealing washers?
It matters because even a high-quality sealing washer can deform if it is tightened too hard. The point is not only to fasten the screw, but to keep the washer working as intended in the finished detail. A deformed washer can create a poorer result than a correctly seated one.
How should I read clamp length in timber compared with steel?
Read clamp length differently depending on the substrate. For timber, the guide states screw length minus 30 mm. For steel, the guide states fastened material plus board or similar layers plus substrate. That difference is important because the technical check changes with the build-up.
What hole size should I use for blind rivets, and what do the listed blind rivet values represent?
For standard blind rivets, use a hole diameter of rivet diameter + 0.1 mm. For split rivets, use rivet diameter + 0.2-0.3 mm. The blind rivet values shown in this section are presented as real values, not standardised design values, so they are best used as a practical technical reference rather than as a full dimensioning substitute.
Can Unite help us check the technical basics before final specification?
Yes. We help customers review washer setup, installation method, clamp length logic, blind rivet preparation and the right next-step guide so the technical basics match the real application before specification is locked in. That is especially useful when several fastening situations need to be checked quickly across the same project.