Under which condition can fastener components that accumulate rust or dirt be used in work?

Fastener components that have accumulated rust or dirt can be used in work when they are prequalified. Prequalification refers to the process in which fasteners are assessed for their performance and suitability under specific conditions, including the presence of minor contaminants. If fasteners are prequalified, it means they have met certain standards and criteria established by relevant codes or specifications, ensuring that despite the presence of rust or dirt, their integrity and ability to perform effectively in connections have been validated.

Prequalified fastener components help ensure that they will still function as intended in structural applications, even under less-than-ideal surface conditions, provided those conditions are accounted for in their qualification testing. This is crucial in construction and engineering practices, where safety and reliability are paramount.

In contrast, simply painting, manufacturing new components, or cleaning them does not guarantee their acceptability without proper prequalification assessment to confirm their reliability and strength under operating conditions. Thus, prequalification is key to determining whether fasteners can be used in the presence of such impurities.