Verify proprietary angle brackets, hold-downs, and shear plates to AS 1720.1. Access a unified library of global suppliers like Rothoblaas, Pitzl, Eurotec, and Sihga, fully calibrated for Australian compliance.
The Australian mass timber market relies heavily on high-performance connectors imported from Europe. However, translating European Technical Assessment (ETA) characteristic values into AS 1720.1 design capacities is often a manual, confusing process for local engineers.
The SPEC Toolbox Brackets Module solves this “translation gap.” It acts as a compliance engine, automatically converting standard European data (Rk) into Australian Limit States Design capacities (Φ Nj). Whether you are specifying a Rothoblaas WHT hold-down or a Pitzl connector, this tool ensures your specification is safe, compliant, and optimized for local conditions.
This tool unifies the supply chain, allowing you to select and verify products from leading global manufacturers in a single interface. It includes:
1. The “Code Conversion” Engine
Most proprietary brackets perform according to an ETA. AS 1720.1 requires specific adjustments to these values.
Our module automatically handles the conversion:
Characteristic Strength ($R_k$): Pulled directly from the ETA.
Capacity Factor (Φ): Applied per AS 1720.1 (typically Φ = 0.70 or 0.80 depending on the failure mode and product type).
Duration of Load (k1): Adjusts for Wind vs. Dead Load cases.
2. Angle Brackets & Hold-Downs
We support the full range of connection geometries:
3. Integrated Education
Designers can visualize the “true behavior” of the connection. The module includes dynamic tooltips and educational content to help you distinguish between a bracket designed for shear and one designed for uplift, preventing costly site errors.
The platform features verified digital twins from the world’s leading connection specialists:
Rothoblaas
Pitzl
Eurotec & Sihga
Design Capacity (Nd):
Nd = Φ • k1 •t kmod,ETA • Rk
Fastener Group Checks:
For brackets using multiple nails/screws (e.g., 20x Anker Nails), the tool calculates the group capacity, ensuring the timber substrate doesn’t split before the bracket yields.
Yes. By applying the correct AS 1720.1 safety factors to verified ETA test data, the output can be used as part of a Performance Solution or DtS design (depending on the certifier’s interpretation of proprietary products).
The tool verifies the force transferred to the anchor. We provide the specific tension and shear reactions ($N^*, V^*$) required for you to run your concrete anchor check (e.g., to AS 5216).
Yes. You can compare a Rothoblaas solution against a generic alternative to find the most cost-effective or available option for your project.
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