There are three main standards for bolt grades: the classification system established by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the standard defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the metric standard developed by the International. There are three main standards for bolt grades: the classification system established by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the standard defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the metric standard developed by the International. The performance grades of bolts for steel structure connection are divided into more than 10 grades, such as 3. 8 and above are made of low-carbon alloy steel or medium carbon steel and are generally called high-strength bolts after heat treatment. A bolt grade refers to the mechanical properties of the bolt—mainly tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness. These grades are assigned by standards bodies like SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) in the U. Using the wrong bolt grade can result in: For example, a Grade 2 bolt used in a. Grade 5 and Grade 8 bolts differ mainly in preload capacity, yield margin, and service risk, just as Class 8. 9 are chosen when the joint needs higher clamp load, better slip resistance, and more stability under shock or vibration. Grade. Fasteners play a fundamental role in holding structures together, and using the wrong grade can result in catastrophic failures or costly downtime.