What is the lowest power level for a powder-actuated device (powder loads & tools)?

PAT technology fires the powder cartridge with a nail gun. This causes the gunpowder inside the cartridge to combust, releasing energy. Finally, it will drive the pins directly into concrete, steel, or brickwork. The powder actuated cartridges or loads are the energy source. Its power level and quality are directly related to the reliability of PAT fastening.

There are usually color codes to indicate the power level of powder actuated devices. Common there are six power levels. And the lowest power level is 1. And strongest power level is 6. Different numbers correspond to different colors. The tops of the powder loads will be painted in different colors. Usually gray color represents the powder cartridges with lowest power level. Then the low power level is brown or white color. And it is followed by green, yellow and red. Finally, purple or black has the strongest power level.

MIOSHA Color and Number Identification for Powder-Actuated Tools Power Levels:

MIOSHA requests that the power level of PAT loads be indicated using the color and number listed in the table below. The larger the number, the higher the power level. Conversely, the smaller the number, the lower the power level.

According to the table above, the highest power level is 6. It is identified by purple color. The lowest power level is 1. It is identified by gray color. Both inner box and outer carton also need to have corresponding color identification.

Select the powder actuated loads / cartridges with proper power level:

We need to select the appropriate power level for our specific application. Always start with the tool’s lowest recommended power load level. It usually requires testing the fasteners. If the lowest powder load level does not penetrate to the desired depth, use the next higher powder load level. Continue increasing the powder load level until the desired penetration depth is reached.

Some tools have a power adjuster. Start with the lowest power setting and lowest powder load level. Gradually increase the total power level until the desired penetration depth is reached.

According to the above MIOSHA table, purple color is the highest power level. It is suitable for scenes that require strong penetration (e.g. concrete, steel and other hard materials). And gray color is the lowest power level. We usually use it for common wood or soft substrates. In fact, different PAT device brands have different power level identification. Now we’ll take a look at the power level of some of the major brands of powder-actuated device.

 1. KeFastener loads for powder actuated devices or tools:

KeFastener is the most famous brand of PAT fasteners in China. We produce powder cartridges, integrated PAT nails, drive pins and PAT nail guns. Below sheet is our power level of powder actuated loads or boosters.

We have seven models of powder cartridges. Each model has a different minimum power levels. We use different colors to distinguish them. The S1 powder loads have a minimum power level of 2 and its color is white. S3, S4, S43, and S52 have a minimum power level of 3 and their colors are green. S42 also has a minimum power level of 3, but its color is white. The S5 powder boosters have a minimum power level of 1 and its color is gray.

In fact, some our powder actuated devices also have the power level adjustment function. For example, the JD450 low velocity tool has a device in it. We can adjust the power level as needed. Our factory also produces the loads for high velocity powder actuated devices. They are S42, S43 and S52.

In addition, we have another type of PAT fasteners. They are different from traditional powder loads and drive pins. They integrate the cartridges and nails together. But they don’t have different colors to distinguish the power level. So how we adjust the power level of powder-actuated device? 

2. Ramset powder cartridges of different power levels

Below is their selection chart for low velocity powder actuated devices / tools. The power levels of the powder loads are color-coded. And they are labeled with the load number. As the load number increases, the power level of loads increases. Its lowest power level is gray, followed by brown, green, yellow, and red. Purple color has the highest power level.

Compared to strip loads, single shot have lowest power. The lowest power level for powder actuated tool is 2. And its color is brown. 

3. Hilti cartridges, color codes and power levels

Among all the powder loads brands, Hilti has the most and full power levels. For example, their .27 caliber 6.8*11mm cartridges have six levels of colors. Its lowest power level is 1 (gray color). The average energy is 144 joules.

Our S1 model is a bit same to Hilit .27cal 6.8*11 loads. They have the same calibers and sizes. But the lowest power level of our powder actuated devices is not 1 (gray color), but 2 (white color). In addition, our S3 model is also a bit same to Hilti .27cal 6.8*18 loads. But we have no 4.5 power level. 

4. Tapcon Powder Actuated Loads

The higher the material hardness, the higher the power level required for PAT loads. If we want to fix the nails into the steel plate, it needs a red .27 caliber cartridge. It has the highest power level. But we can’t use it to fix the nails to a concrete block. Otherwise, it will break the concrete block. We need the lowest power level of powder actuated devices. So we can choose the brown color .22 caliber loads. Its power level is 2.

 5. Strongtie PAT Loads

There are also two types. One is single shot loads, and the other is strip loads. Both of them are used for low velocity powder actuated tools. They have wide applications in concrete and steel fastening. Different colors, different power levels.

(1) Single Shot:

For .22 caliber single shot loads, the lowest power level is 2 (brown color). But the .27cal single shot loads are different. Its lowest power level is 4 (yellow color).

(2) Strip loads:

For .27cal strip loads, its lowest power level is 2 (brown color). But .25cal strip loads are not the same. Its lowest power level is 3 (green color).

6. Dewalt Powder Actuated Loads

They design PAT loads for different caliber powder actuated tools. Single loads units is suitable for single shot tools. And the safety strip loads are designed for semi-automatic powder actuated devices. 

For .22 caliber single shot, the lowest power level is 1 (gray color). And for .27 powder cartridge, its lowest power level is 2 (brown color). The red .27 caliber loads can be suitable for the steel with thickness over 1/2 inches. And green .27 caliber loads can fix drive pins into concrete and masonry. It can also install nails into steel with thickness 1/8 inches.

7. Bluepoint Fasteners Powder Loads

Bluepoint powder actuated boosters are all the low velocity. At present, they don’t have loads for high velocity PAT tools. There are four sizes of powder cartridges for choice. And the available caliber is .27cal, .25cal and .22cal. Different series loads have different colors. Below is the detailed technical chart of their powder loads.

According to the above sheet, different series loads have different colors and power levels. For example, lowest power level of 22SGNDL series is 1 (gray color). It is a bit similar to our S5 model powder loads. In addition, the 25MD10L series are metal disc loads. Their lowest power level is 2 (brown color). And its 22SGSWL series cartridges are same to our S52 model. The lowest power level is 3 (green color).

8. MOLOT Construction Cartridges

Construction blank cartridges use a clip-type design. They are used to drive pins into dense and load-bearing materials. They require a powder-actuated assembly gun or devices. There are two types of powder cartridges: one is single shot and the other is with magazine.

(1) Single shot: 

Our S3 model loads are similar to MOLOT D series powder loads. The caliber of both is 0.27 and the size is 6.8*18. But we have four power levels. The lowest level is 3 (green color). And MOLOT has three power levels. Its lowest level is D-3 (blue color). The D-3 powder cartridges can fix drive pins into medium strength concrete, masonry, and steel.

(2) Construction cartridges magazine:

Our S1 model is similar to MOLOT K series powder cartridges. Their calibers and sizes are the same. But Kefastener has five power levels for S1 model. And the lowest level is 2 (white color). And the lowest power level of MOLOT powder actuated cartridges is K-3 (green color). The K-3 powder loads can install the nails into solid bricks and metal up to 5 mm thick.

9. GEFEST mounting cartridges

The correct choice of powder cartridges is important for reliable construction fastening. The table below shows the PAT loads by size, color, and power level. Our powder boosters have strong power. They can drive nails into various hard surfaces.

There are many types of powder actuated cartridges. They differ from each other in caliber and power levels. If you want to buy powder loads in a cassette, you can choose .27 caliber 6.8×11 K series. Of course, you can also choose the single shot type mounting cartridges. They are C series and D series. C series powder loads are .22 caliber 5.6*16mm. And D series powder cartridges are .27 caliber 6.8*18mm.

There are different colors to distinguish their energy or power levels. The filling capacities of powder are different. So powder levels of powder-actuated devices are different. For C series loads, there are six power levels. The lowest level is white color. Its energy is only 100±50 Joule. D-1 (green color) is the lowest power level in D series loads. Its power is 293-370 J. In the end,K series cartridges have five power levels. They are strip loads and suitable for semi-automatic powder nailers. Its lowest power level is K-2 (brown color).

Our S1 powder loads are similar to GEFEST K series cartridges. Both of them have five power levels. And our S3 model is similar to GEFEST D series. But ours only have four power levels. In the end, our S5 model is similar to its C series. But GEFEST C series have six power levels.

Although colors and numbers vary from brand to brand, they all follow the same rules. The larger the number, the higher the power level. The lowest power level applies to power actuated devices that require less penetrating scenarios. For example, we can use them to fix nails into softer concrete, thinner metal sheet, wood, plastics, etc.