A-A-50111 Piton, Mountain, FlatThis commercial item description covers the requirements for pitons to be used to provide security for personnel or equipment in operations involving steep ascents by driving the pitons into cracks in rock. The type IV pitons can also be used to remove dirt and vegetation from cracks and to aid in removing wired stoppers from cracks with the hook cut into the piton blade.

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A-A-50111C

3.2 Type I. Type I pitons shall have a blade length as measured from the tip to the eye 3-

1/4 +1/8 inches, a thickness of 3/16 +1/32 inch at blade length midpoint, and a width of

7/8 +1/16 inch at blade length midpoint. The eye hole shall be 11/16 +1/16 inch in

diameter. The piton shall weigh 3 +1/2 ounces.

3.3 Type II. Type II pitons shall have a blade length as measured from the tip to the eye

3-3/8 +1/8 inches, a thickness of 1/4 +1/32 inch at blade length midpoint, and a width of

13/16 +1/16 inch at blade length midpoint. The eye hole shall be 11/16 +1/16 inch in

diameter. The piton shall weigh 3-1/2 +1/2 ounces.

3.4 Type III. Type III pitons shall have a blade length as measured from the tip to the eye 3-1/2 +1/8 inches, a thickness of 5/16 +1/32 inch at blade length midpoint, and a width of 11/16 +1/16 inch at blade length midpoint. The eye hole shall be 11/16 +1/16 inch in diameter. The piton shall weigh 4 +1/2 ounces.

3.5 Type IV. Type IV pitons shall have a blade length as measured from the tip to the

eye 6 +1/8 inches, a thickness of 5/32 +1/32 inch at blade length midpoint, and a width of

11/16 +1/16 inch at blade length midpoint. The eye hole shall be 11/16 +1/16 inch in

diameter. The piton shall have a 3/16 +1/32 inch radius hook cut into the side of the blade at a distance of 3/8 +1/16 inch from the blade tip end of the piton. The piton shall weigh 4-1/2 +1/2 ounces.

3.6 Testing for pitons. All four types of flat pitons shall be pull tested in a clamping block with the top edges of the blocks having a 1/8-inch radius. Eighty percent of the blade length of the piton shall be held firmly in the clamp. A 2000 pound minimum force shall be applied using a steel hook or link with a diameter of 1/2 +1/32 inch at a right angle to the gripping surface of the clamp. Any piton that fails to withstand a minimum force of 2000 pounds without permanent deformation shall be classified as a defect. The lot size shall be all pitons of one type offered for delivery at one time. The test shall be performed at room temperature. Any industrial testing machine may be used to

determine compliance with this requirement.

4. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The offeror/contractor is encouraged to use recovered materials to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance with paragraph

23.403 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

5. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS.

5.1 Product conformance. The products provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this commercial item description, conform to the producer's own drawings,

specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and to be the same product

offered for sale in the commercial market. The government reserves the right to require proof of such conformance.