This International Standard specifies the acceptance inspection procedure that the purchaser of fasteners must follow in order to determine whether a lot of fasteners will be accepted or rejected in cases where no other such procedure was agreed with the supplier at the time the fasteners were ordered. Additional requirements for acceptance may be included in a specific product standard (for example, one on prevailing torque-type nuts). The same procedure is also to be applied in cases where conformance to specification is disputed.

This International Standard is applicable to bolts, screws, studs, nuts, pins, washers, blind rivets and other related fasteners not intended for high volume machine assembly, special-purpose applications or specially engineered applications requiring greater in-process control and lot traceability (see the note in the introduction). The procedure for these products shall be agreed upon by the supplier and the purchaser prior to the confirmation of the order.

This International Standard is applicable only to fully manufactured products; it neither implies nor includes any particular in-process control procedure or inspection during production.

The production of accessories, services and partially fabricated parts (for example, washers, nuts, plating, heat treatment and blanks) for use in the manufacture of fasteners may be subcontracted to other suppliers by the fastener supplier. Nevertheless, the supplier of the final, finished product shall be solely responsible for the fastener's quality.

The requirements of this International Standard apply only to the condition of fasteners at the time of delivery. Any process carried out after receipt (for example, plating) will invalidate the requirements of this International Standard.

Annex B (informative) offers guidance to, and an explanation of, the principles upon which this International Standard is based.