Coastal and Floodplain Construction Inspector's Practice Exam

What is the criteria for securing wood piles connected to beams?

1. One large screw

2. Mechanical bonding

3. Two bolts of sufficient size

4. Wire ties

The correct answer is: Two bolts of sufficient size

The criteria for securing wood piles connected to beams centers around ensuring structural integrity and load transfer. Using two bolts of sufficient size provides enhanced stability and strength to the connection between the wood piles and the beams. This approach effectively distributes the loads and helps accommodate any movement or shifting that might occur over time, reducing the risk of failure at the connection. The use of two bolts allows for redundancy; if one bolt were to fail, the remaining bolt still maintains the connection's integrity. Sufficient sizing is crucial, as inadequately sized bolts may not provide the necessary strength to handle the load, potentially leading to structural failure. Other methods, such as using one large screw, while potentially convenient, do not offer the same level of security or reliability in load-bearing scenarios. Mechanical bonding and wire ties, although applicable in other contexts, lack the structural capacity and robust anchoring characteristics that bolted connections provide. Thus, the chosen method of securing with two adequately sized bolts stands as the most effective and safe option for this application.