ICC EVALUATION SERVICE, INC.

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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR STEEL CABLE ASSEMBLIES

AC369

Approved February 2007

Effective March 1, 2007

PREFACE
Evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, Inc. (ICC-ES), are based upon performance features of the International family
of codes and other widely adopted code families, including the Uniform Codes, the BOCA National Codes, and the SBCCI Standard Codes.
Section 104.11 of the International Building Code reads as follows:

The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any materials or to prohibit any design or method
of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative
material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed design is
satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the material, method or work offered is, for
the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance,
durability and safety.

Similar provisions are contained in the Uniform Codes, the National Codes, and the Standard Codes.

This acceptance criteria has been issued to provide all interested parties with guidelines for demonstrating compliance with performance
features of the applicable code(s) referenced in the acceptance criteria. The criteria was developed and adopted following public hearings
conducted by the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee, and is effective on the date shown above. All reports issued or reissued on or after the effective
date must comply with this criteria, while reports issued prior to this date may be in compliance with this criteria or with the previous edition. If the
criteria is an updated version from the previous edition, a solid vertical line () in the margin within the criteria indicates a technical change, addition,
or deletion from the previous edition. A deletion indicator () is provided in the margin where a paragraph has been deleted if the deletion involved
a technical change. This criteria may be further revised as the need dictates.

ICC-ES may consider alternate criteria, provided the report applicant submits valid data demonstrating that the alternate criteria are
at least equivalent to the criteria set forth in this document, and otherwise demonstrate compliance with the performance features of the codes.
Notwithstanding that a product, material, or type or method of construction meets the requirements of the criteria set forth in this document, or
that it can be demonstrated that valid alternate criteria are equivalent to the criteria in this document and otherwise demonstrate compliance with
the performance features of the codes, ICC-ES retains the right to refuse to issue or renew an evaluation report, if the product, material, or type
or method of construction is such that either unusual care with its installation or use must be exercised for satisfactory performance, or if
malfunctioning is apt to cause unreasonable property damage or personal injury or sickness relative to the benefits to be achieved by the use of
the product, material, or type or method of construction.

Copyright 2007

Business/Regional Office P 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 90601 P (562) 699-0543
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 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR STEEL CABLE ASSEMBLIES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this acceptance criteria is
to establish requirements for steel cable assemblies to be
recognized in an ICC Evaluation Service, Inc. (ICC-ES),
evaluation report under the 2006 International Building
Code (IBC). The basis of recognition is IBC Section 104.11.
The reason for the development of this criteria is to
establish guidelines for the evaluation of steel cable
assemblies, since the IBC and associated referenced
standards do not specify qualification, design, and quality
requirements for these steel cable assemblies.
1.2 Scope: This criteria applies to steel cable assemblies
intended to resist tension loads. The steel cable assemblies
consist of a helically twisted steel cable with threaded bolt
end fittings that are swaged to each end of the cable. This
acceptance criteria only addresses the steel cable
assemblys tension load strength and elongation properties.
Recognition under this criteria is limited to Seismic Design
Categories A and B.
1.3 Codes and Referenced Standards:
1.3.1 2006 International Building Code (IBC),
International Code Council, Inc.
1.3.2 ASCE/SEI 19-96, Structural Applications for Steel
Cables for Buildings, American Society of Civil
Engineers/Structural Engineering Institute.
1.4 Definitions:
1.4.1 Cable: A flexible tension member consisting of a
wire strand or a multiplicity of wire strands forming a wire
rope.
1.4.2 Cable Assembly: An assembly fabricated from
wire rope with a swaged fitting on each end.
1.4.3 External Tensile Force: Tensile service force in
cable assembly imposed by external force.
1.4.4 Prestress Load: Tensile force applied to the
cable assembly during the installation process.
1.4.5 Relaxation: The loss of tensile force in a
prestressed cable, over a period of time, while the cable
maintains a constant length.
1.4.6 Residual Tension: Tensile force in the cable
assembly after relaxation and shrinkage has occurred but
before external tensile forces are imposed on the assembly.
1.4.7 Rope: A plurality of strands twisted about an axis
or about a core which may be a strand or another wire rope.
1.4.8 Segment Run: The length of the cable assembly
between load transfer locations.
1.4.9 Shrinkage: Shortening of the building due to
construction fit-up gaps, wood compression and moisture
reduction.
1.4.10 Strand: A plurality of wires either parallel or
helically twisted about an axis, usually about a central wire.
1.4.11 Swage: The method of attaching fittings on the
cable ends, where the cable is inserted into the
counterbored hole in the end of the fitting and pressure is
applied along the length of the counterbore, compressing
the fitting around the cable, creating a connection.
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2.0 BASIC INFORMATION
2.1 General: The following information shall be submitted:
2.1.1 Product Description: Complete information
pertaining to the cable and swaged end fitting components
and assembly, including component descriptions, material
specifications and drawn-to-scale production drawings
showing all dimensions and tolerances, and the
manufacturing process for the cable assembly.
2.1.1.1 The description of the cable shall include:
2.1.1.1.1 Nominal diameter.
2.1.1.1.2 Nominal or the specific configuration
(construction) of the cable, including the number of wires
and strands; the type of lay, whether preformed or not; and
the type of core.
2.1.1.1.3 The wire coating, including any protective
coatings on the cable.
2.1.1.1.4 Applicable standard specification for the
cable, such as ASTM standard specification. See Section
4.1 of ASCE 19.
2.1.1.1.5 Details of prestretching of the cable.
Prestretching specifications, as applicable, shall comply with
Section 4.2 of ASCE 19.
2.1.1.2 The description of end fittings shall include:
2.1.1.2.1 Swage type.
2.1.1.2.2 Nominal diameter and length.
2.1.1.2.3 Nominal bolt thread length, size and pitch.
2.1.1.2.4 Counterbore size and length.
2.1.1.2.5 Physical properties, including strength
properties and description of compatibility with steel cable
material.
2.1.1.2.6 Protective coatings, if any.
2.1.2 Packaging and Identification: A description of
the method of packaging and field identification of the steel
cable assembly. Labeling shall include manufacturers name
and address, product name, cable diameter, cable assembly
length (segment run), date of manufacture or lot number
traceable to production date, name of the inspection agency
and evaluation report number.
2.2 Testing Laboratories: Testing laboratories shall
comply with Section 2.0 of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria
for Test Reports (AC85) and Section 4.2 of the ICC-ES
Rules of Procedure for Evaluation Reports.
2.3 Test Reports: Test reports shall comply with AC85.
2.4 Product Sampling: Sampling of the system
components for tests under this criteria shall comply with
Section 3.1 of AC85. The testing laboratory shall prepare
cable and end fitting assemblies, or verify that preparation
of cable and end fitting assemblies is in accordance with the
cable assembly manufacturers quality control
documentation.
3.0 TEST AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
3.1 Material Specifications:
3.1.1 Steel Cable: The steel cable specifications shall
comply with Section 4.1 of ASCE 19. For prestretched cable,
prestretching shall also comply with Section 4.2 of ASCE 19
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR STEEL CABLE ASSEMBLIES
3.1.2 End Fittings: The end fittings specifications shall
comply with Section 3.2.2 of ASCE 19.
3.1.3 Protective Coatings: For recognition of use in
exterior or damp environments, the cable and fitting
materials shall be shown to have corrosion protection in
accordance with Section 6.0 of ASCE 19.
3.2 Steel Cable Strength: The breaking strength of the
steel cable shall be determined in accordance with Section
4.1 of this criteria.
3.3 End Fittings Strength: Fittings shall be shown to
develop a peak strength of at least 110 percent of the
breaking strength specified in the standard specification.
Moreover, the computed average stresses across the fitting
body shall be less than the yield stress of the fitting material
under a static tension force equal to the specified breaking
strength of the cable to which the fitting is designed to be
attached. Localized yielding at stress concentrations, such
as at the line contact of pins and the roots of screw threads,
is permitted at the cable assemblys allowable load, as
determined in Section 4.2.4 of this criteria. See Section
3.2.2 of ASCE 19.
3.4 Steel Cable Assembly: Reports of testing in
accordance with Section 4.2 of this criteria shall be
submitted. The testing applies a prestress load to the cable
assembly, and determines a relaxation coefficient, which is
the percentage of the prestress load remaining after the load
on the cable assembly has normalized. After a simulated
shrinkage induced into the cable assembly, which reduces
the tensile load on the cable, a tensile load is then applied
to the cable assembly to simulate an applied service load.
4.0 TEST METHODS
4.1 Steel Cable Strength:
4.1.1 Procedure: Three cable assembly test specimens
shall be prepared such that there is a minimum 30-inch-long
(762 mm) section of cable between the swaged end fittings.
Each cable diameter for which recognition is sought shall be
tested. The end fittings shall be secured to a tensile
machine, and the cable assembly shall then be loaded in
tension until failure. Testing, including recording of load and
elongation, shall be in accordance with the test method
referenced in the applicable cable specification. The cable
assemblies shall fail within the minimum 30-inch cable
section. If failure occurs outside the minimum 30-inch cable
section, the test shall be discarded and additional
specimens shall be tested. The results shall be plotted as a
force-strain curve as shown in Figure 1 of this criteria. If the
results of any test varies by more than 15 percent from the
average, either the lowest value shall be used or two
additional tests shall be performed and the reported values
shall be the average of the five tests. The following values
shall be reported:
4.1.1.1 Cs = Constructive Stretch [inches/inch of cable
length (mm/mm)]: Initial, nonelastic elongation, determined
by extending the straight-line (elastic) portion of the stress-
strain curve to the x-axis.
4.1.1.2 ES = Stretch Modulus [pounds per inch/inch of
cable length (N/mm/mm)]: The slope of the straight-line
(elastic) portion of the stress-strain curve.
4.1.1.3 Pult = Cable Breaking Strength [pounds (N)].
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4.1.2 Conditions of Acceptance: The minimum
breaking strength, as well as the reported breaking strength
(Section 4.1.1.3 of this criteria) of the steel cable, shall
comply with the applicable standard specification. (See
Section 3.1.1 of this criteria.)
4.2 Cable Assembly Load Testing:
4.2.1 General: Testing shall be conducted for each
configuration and installation condition [i.e., cable diameter,
segment run (length), prestress load, induced
settlement/shrinkage] to be recognized. Three tests for each
configuration and installation condition are required with
none of the results varying more than 15 percent from the
average of the three, unless the lowest test value is used for
analysis.
4.2.2 Relaxation Test: The cable assembly shall be
secured in a test fixture such that the entire length of the
cable assembly is maintained at a constant temperature
throughout the test. The cable assembly shall be
conditioned for 48 hours at the test temperature prior to
testing. The prestress load for which recognition is sought
shall be applied to the cable assembly at a rate not to
exceed 1000 pounds (4448 N) per minute, and the cable
assembly length shall be fixed when the designated
prestress load is reached. The maximum prestress load
shall be no greater than 66 percent of the standard
specifications cable breaking strength. Load measurements
shall be taken as follows:
Every minute for the first five minutes.
Every 15 minutes for the first hour.
Every hour for the first five hours.
Every 24 hours (measurements need not be taken
during weekends or holidays).
The load measurements shall be plotted versus total
test time on a log graph, until the load difference between
two successive intervals, as plotted on the log graph, is
zero. See Figure 2 of this criteria.
The relaxation factor Cr shall be determined by the
following equation:
Cr = (Pps-Px)/Pps
where:
Cr = Relaxation coefficient, percent.
Pps = Initial prestress load applied to cable, lbs (N).
Px = Tensile load after relaxation, lbs (N): load at which
load difference between two successive intervals,
as plotted on the log graph, is zero.
4.2.3 Service Load Test: With the tensile load after
relaxation still applied, a simulated building
shrinkage/settlement value shall be introduced by reducing
the distance between the fixed points holding the cable
assembly in maximum 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) increments, at a
maximum rate of 1/4 inch (1.6 mm) per minute, until the
designated shrinkage/settlement value is reached. The load
on the cable assembly shall be recorded after being held at
each increment for one minute. The load at the designated
shrinkage/settlement value shall be reported as the Residual
Tension, Pr, and represents the simulated load applied to
the cable assembly after the cable assemblys relaxation
and subsequent building shrinkage/settlement.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR STEEL CABLE ASSEMBLIES
After recording of the Residual Tension, the cable
assembly length shall be fixed, and a tensile load shall be
applied to the fixed-length cable assembly at a maximum
rate of 125 pounds (556 N) per minute. Load and elongation
measurements of the cable assembly shall be taken at each
250-pound (1112 N) load increment, and loading shall
continue until the load-elongation curve exceeds the cable
assemblys elastic limit. See Figure 3 of this criteria.
4.2.4 Allowable Load Determination: The allowable
load shall be the lesser of the following (see Figure 3 of this
criteria):
The steel cables breaking strength, as determined in
Section 4.1 of this criteria, divided by 2.2.
The corresponding load at the elongation for which
recognition is sought. The corresponding load for a given
elongation shall be the average of the three tests, if none of
the individual tests vary more than 15 percent from the
average of the three. Otherwise, the lowest load value of the
three tests shall be considered as the corresponding load for
the given elongation.
If cable strength testing, as described in Section 4.1 of
this criteria, results in a reported breaking strength value
that exceeds the standard specifications cable breaking
strength value, the recognized allowable loads shall be the
lesser of the two loads, reduced by the ratio of reported
breaking strength to standard specifications breaking
strength.
5.0 QUALITY CONTROL
5.1 The products shall be manufactured under an
approved quality control program with inspections by an
inspection agency accredited by the International
Accreditation Service (IAS) or otherwise acceptable to ICC-
ES.
5.2 Quality control documentation complying with the ICC-
ES Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation (AC10)
shall be submitted.
6.0 EVALUATION REPORT RECOGNITION
6.1 General: The evaluation report shall include basic
information required by Section 2.1, including product
description, packaging and identification.
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6.2 Steel Cable Assembly Properties: The following
properties shall be reported for each steel cable assembly
installation configuration to be recognized: standard
specifications cable breaking strength; prestretching details,
as applicable; Constructive Stretch, Cs, as applicable;
Stretch Modulus, Es; Relaxation Coefficient, Cr; prestress
load value, Pps; induced settlement/shrinkage value and
corresponding Residual Tension, Pr; allowable external
tensile force and corresponding elongation.
6.3 The evaluation report shall include the following
statements:
6.3.1 Design of connections and anchorages, including
plates and hold-downs, as well as other components
needed to transfer the tension load between portions of the
structure shall be determined in accordance with the
applicable code for each project.
6.3.2 Use of the cable assemblies is limited to Seismic
Design Categories A and B.
6.3.3 Prestress load shall be determined by the person
responsible for the structural design, and shall be specified
to accommodate the worst-case scenario for a particular
building. The selection of the prestress load shall consider:
framing compression, initial building settlement, wood
subject to shrinkage and cable assembly properties.
6.3.4 Use of steel cable assemblies to compensate for
localized wood compression is outside the scope of this
report.
6.3.5 Unless data in accordance with Section 3.1.3 of
this criteria is submitted, the evaluation report shall state
that installation must be limited to dry, interior conditions.
6.3.6 Use of the cable assemblies within fire-resistance-
rated construction is beyond the scope of this report.
6.3.7 Special inspection and structural observation shall
comply with IBC Sections 1704 and 1709, respectively.#
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR STEEL CABLE ASSEMBLIES

FIGURE 1

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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR STEEL CABLE ASSEMBLIES

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3