© 2013 Simpson Strong-T
ie Company Inc.
© 2013 Simpson Strong-T
ie Company Inc.
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GENERAL HANDLING OF P.A.T. AND POWDER LOADS
GENERAL HANDLING OF THE PT-22P, AND ALL P.A.T. TOOLS
1.
Always
point the tool away from yourself and all bystanders.
2. Open the tool before handling to make sure it is not loaded.
3.
Never
place your hand over the front (muzzle) of the tool.
4.
Never
operate the tool without checking to see if the barrel is free
of obstructions and that the tool is clean and in good working condition.
5.
Never
attempt to alter, modify or manufacture parts for use in your
Simpson Strong-Tie
®
tool, this can cause malfunctions and result in
unsafe functioning of the tool. Use only genuine Simpson Strong-Tie
parts, fasteners and powder loads at all times.
6. Operators and bystanders must wear eye and ear protection, and head
protection is recommended. Serious injury or death can occur if these
safety items are not used.
7. Posting a warning sign, “Warning, Powder-Actuated Tool In Use” is a
minimum warning where P.A.T. tools are in use.
8.
REMEMBER:
use common sense and good judgement. Use these tools
for their intended purpose only. Know the material you are fastening into
making certain it is compatible with the powder-actuated tool.
HANDLING THE PT-22P, AND POWDER LOADS
1.
Never
carry powder loads in the same pocket or container
with fasteners or any other hard objects.
2.
Never
use powder-actuated loads in irearms. They are more
powerful than normal small arms ammunition.
3.
Never
carry a loaded tool from job to job.
4.
Never
use the tool for anything other than its intended purpose.
5.
Never
use powder actuated tools in lammable atmospheres.
6.
Never
attempt to force a load into the chamber of the tool.
7.
Never
strike or pry a load.
8.
Always
wear eye and ear protection; head protection is recommended.
9.
Always
properly brace yourself when working on scaffolding
or ladders.
MAKING SAFE FASTENINGS
BASE MATERIAL SUITABILITY & THE CENTER PUNCH TEST
Before loading the tool or fastening into any material, check the suitability and
thickness of the base material. To check base material suitability, give it the
center punch test.
CENTER PUNCH TEST:
Using the fastener as a punch, with a hammer, strike a solid blow to the actual
material you wish to fasten into, then look for these results:
1. If the point of the fastener is blunted, the material is too hard and is
unsuitable. If the material is too hard, the fastener can ricochet, and possibly
escape, striking you or bystanders and cause serious injury or death.
2. If the material cracks or shatters, it is too brittle and is unsuitable. This
can result in particles striking the operator or bystanders, or the fastener
could pass completely through the base material causing serious injury
or death.
3. If the fastener sinks into the material with the hammer blow, the material
is too soft and is unsuitable. If the material is too soft, the fastener can
pass completely through and strike someone on the other side causing
serious injury or death.
4. If the fastener makes a small indentation in the base the base material is
suitable for fastening into.
DO NOT USE POWDER-ACTUATED TOOLS FOR FASTENING
INTO THESE MATERIALS:
1. Vertical mortar joints
6. Hardened or tool grade steel
2. Bricks
7. Cast iron
3. Hollow block or tile
8. Welded areas or torch cuts
4. Glazed tile
9. Spring steel
5. Glass
10. Natural rock
BASE MATERIAL THICKNESS
Thickness of the base material is perhaps the most important consideration
for good safe fastenings. In concrete, the thickness must be 3 times the
shank penetration; in other words, for 1" of shank penetration, the concrete
must be at least 3" thick. In steel the thickness must be equal to or greater
than the diameter of the shank. Fastening into any base material, which is too
thin, may allow the fastener to pass through and escape - resulting in serious
injury or death.