Grommet Seal and Bulb-Tite Rivets

Grommet Seal fasteners are compression fasteners for side-lap and end-lap joints in fiberglass, plastic or composite sheeting and skylights. They suit exposed-fastener panel work such as metal roof replacement with exposed-fastener panels. The grommet goes into a pre-drilled 1/4 in or 3/8 in hole and is tightened with a screw gun and a standard 1/4 in or 5/16 in socket. The machine screw engages the nut insert and forces the sleeve to expand against the inner wall of the materials. The grommet seals against air, moisture and vibration.

The sleeve is EPDM and the nut insert is brass. The machine screw is 302 HQ with a 304 SS/EPDM bonded washer. A 316 stainless steel version is also available. Bulb-Tite blind rivets sit in the same line. The rivet body folds into three legs and forms a large blind-side head. That head spreads the clamp force in soft, thin or brittle materials and resists pull-through. The wide grip range lets one rivet cover a greater variation in thickness. Some versions have a flush break mandrel that seals the rivet bore and adds shear strength. Standard Bulb-Tite rivets are aluminum alloy, a non-rusting fastener that withstands weather-related corrosion.

• Grommet 1/4 x 1: body length .948; 6-32 nut insert; sleeve durometer 70; ultimate tensile 50 lbs.; 6-32 x 1 machine screw; 1/4 in hex; recommended hole .250; grip range .375-.607
• Grommet 3/8 x 1: body length .812; 10-32 nut insert; sleeve durometer 60; ultimate tensile 80 lbs.; 10-32 x 1 machine screw; 5/16 in hex; recommended hole .375; grip range .312-.450
• Bulb-Tite A, 3/16 in, part RV6604-6-4W: grip .062 - .250; hole .209 - .221 (#4); shear 675; tensile 450
• Bulb-Tite B, 1/4 in, part RV6604-8-6W: grip .062 - .250; hole .250 - .263 (1/4 in); shear 1,100; tensile 675
• Bulb-Tite C, 9/32 in, part RV6603-9-6W: grip .032 - .375; hole .308 - .327 (5/16 in); shear 1,500; tensile 1,100
• Bulb-Tite D, 9/32 in, part RV6605-9-6W: grip .042 - .375; hole .308 - .327 (5/16 in); shear 1,500; tensile 1,100

• Grommet hex drive: 1/4 in on the 1/4 x 1 size; 5/16 in on the 3/8 x 1 size
• Machine screw: 302 HQ
• Bonded washer: 304 SS/EPDM
• Sleeve: EPDM
• Nut insert: brass
• Stainless option: 316 stainless steel
• Bulb-Tite rivets: aluminum alloy, with sealing washer