Self tapping screws for Struc Steel

[CTSeng]

Probably a stupid question that's been asked before but is there any such thing as self tapping screws for strucural steel say A36 or A992? I realize asking a SMS to penetrate heavy material 1/2" or more is stupid but how about thin material 1/4" or 3/16" thick?

 

[unclesyd]

I don't have any of the codes, but 1/2" is the smallest size available off the shelf in A325, F1852, and A490.

There a lot of self tapping screws used in places where they were not supposed to be used. They make the self-tapping type of screws to 3/8" so you know someone has tried. I seen the larger sizes used on Purlins on some pretty large package buildings. I can’t remember seeing them on an engineered building with someone watching over the job. On thing that hurts using large sizes is the torque require to turn the larger fastener in steel unless you oversize the hole which lowers the strip out resistance.

This is from the supply end. You need someone from the structural side to bring you up to speed.

 

[VirgilP]

1/4"-20 Elco Dril-Flex fasteners are able to self-drill self-tap in 0.312" thick steel. ICBO report #4780 gives the allowable values and is available at iccsafe.org. The above fastener has a Grade-5 shank.