The Ultimate Guide to Wood Screws in Ireland (2026)
2nd August 2026
- Click & Collect
- Free Delivery on orders over €150.00 - EXCLUDING BULK DELIVERY
- 100% Irish Owned
When searching for stainless steel bolts, nuts, screws, washers or fixings in Ireland, you may come across several different terms.
You might see:
INOX. A2. A4. 304. 316. Marine Grade. Stainless Steel.
For builders, engineers, fabricators, agricultural contractors and DIY customers, these terms can sometimes be confusing.
Are INOX and stainless steel the same thing?
What is the difference between A2 and A4 stainless steel?
When should you use 304 stainless steel, and when is 316 marine-grade stainless steel the better choice?
At Icon Fasteners & Supplies Ltd, we supply fasteners and construction products to customers in Wicklow and throughout Ireland. This guide explains the different types of stainless steel fasteners and helps you choose the right product for your application.
INOX simply means stainless steel.
The word comes from the French word inoxydable, meaning resistant to oxidation or rusting.
Across Europe, particularly in countries such as:
you will regularly see stainless steel products described as:
So if you see a supplier advertising INOX fasteners, they are generally referring to stainless steel fasteners.
However, it is important to check the exact stainless steel grade.
Not all stainless steel offers the same level of corrosion resistance.
Stainless steel is popular because of its excellent resistance to corrosion.
Stainless steels contain chromium, which helps form a protective passive surface layer. This layer provides the corrosion-resistant characteristics associated with stainless steel. The correct grade still needs to be selected for the environment because corrosion can occur in unsuitable conditions.
This makes stainless steel fasteners ideal for many applications throughout Ireland.
Ireland’s wet climate makes corrosion resistance particularly important for outdoor construction projects.
The two most commonly requested stainless steel fastener grades are:
and
Understanding the difference can help you avoid both unnecessary expense and premature corrosion.
A2 stainless steel is commonly associated with the 304 stainless steel family.
It is the most widely used general-purpose stainless steel for fasteners.
Typical applications include:
A2 offers good resistance to normal atmospheric corrosion and is commonly used where the environment does not involve severe chloride or marine exposure.
For many general-purpose applications in Ireland, A2 stainless steel provides an excellent balance between performance and cost.
A4 stainless steel is commonly associated with the 316 stainless steel family.
A4 contains molybdenum, which improves corrosion resistance, particularly in environments involving chlorides.
This is why A4 is often called:
A4 stainless steel is commonly selected for:
Even marine-grade stainless steel is not completely immune to corrosion in every environment. The exact application and exposure conditions should always be considered.
| Feature | A2 Stainless Steel | A4 Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Common equivalent | 304 family | 316 family |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent general resistance | Higher corrosion resistance |
| Marine environments | Limited suitability depending on conditions | Better suited |
| Chloride resistance | Lower | Higher |
| General construction | Excellent | Excellent |
| Coastal areas | May not be suitable for severe exposure | Preferred |
| Cost | Generally lower | Generally higher |
👉 General applications: Choose A2 where suitable.
👉 Coastal, marine or higher-corrosion environments: Consider A4.
The specification and environmental conditions should always take priority over simply choosing the cheapest fastener.
Stainless steel bolts are used throughout the Irish construction, engineering and agricultural industries.
At Icon Fasteners, the most common types customers look for include:
Commonly supplied to standards such as:
Available in various diameters and lengths.
Popular materials include:
Matching the correct nut with the bolt is essential.
Common stainless steel nuts include:
A common specification is:
When ordering fasteners, always ensure the materials and specifications are suitable for the complete assembly.
Washers may look like a simple product, but they perform important functions.
They can:
Common stainless washer types include:
Typical specifications include:
For demanding environments, the washer material should be selected to suit the bolt, nut and application.
Stainless steel threaded rod is extremely popular across Ireland.
It is used for:
Common sizes include:
A2 threaded rod is commonly used for general applications, while A4 is selected for more aggressive environments.
Stainless steel screws are used across almost every construction sector.
Ideal for:
Used for:
Popular with:
Stainless and bi-metal fasteners can be particularly important where corrosion resistance is required.
Agricultural buildings in Ireland experience difficult conditions.
Fasteners can be exposed to:
Choosing the correct fastener can significantly affect the long-term durability of a farm building.
Common products include:
For farm sheds and agricultural buildings, the environment should always be assessed before selecting A2 or A4.
Ireland has an extensive coastline, making corrosion resistance an important consideration.
Coastal locations can include:
Salt in the atmosphere can increase corrosion risk.
For projects close to the coast, A4 / 316 stainless steel fasteners are often considered where higher chloride resistance is required.
When buying stainless steel bolts, you may see markings such as:
or
The first part identifies the stainless steel group.
The second number relates to the specified property class.
ISO 3506 covers mechanical properties for corrosion-resistant stainless steel fasteners, including bolts, screws and studs.
Common examples include:
For engineering or structural applications, customers should always follow the required specification or design documentation.
A common question is:
Not necessarily.
Austenitic stainless steels are generally regarded as non-magnetic in the annealed condition, but manufacturing processes such as cold working can result in some magnetic response.
Therefore, a simple magnet test is not a reliable method for confirming the exact stainless steel grade.
Many people assume stainless steel can never rust.
That isn’t completely correct.
Stainless steel can experience corrosion when exposed to unsuitable or aggressive conditions.
Possible causes include:
The best solution is choosing the correct stainless steel grade for the application from the beginning.
Construction companies throughout Ireland use stainless steel fasteners for:
At Icon Fasteners & Supplies Ltd, we understand that customers need more than just a box of bolts.
Trade customers need:
✅ Reliable products
✅ Consistent specifications
✅ A2 and A4 options
✅ Competitive pricing
✅ Bulk quantities
✅ Technical support
✅ Nationwide delivery
We supply customers including:
Icon Fasteners is based in:
Unit W9, Wicklow Enterprise Centre
Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow
A67 HD86
We serve customers locally in:
And supply trade and construction customers throughout Ireland.
Whether you need a small quantity of stainless steel screws or bulk quantities of bolts, nuts, washers and threaded rod, our team can help identify the right fastening solution.
INOX means stainless steel and comes from the word inoxydable, meaning resistant to oxidation.
Yes. In European fastener terminology, INOX is commonly used to describe stainless steel.
A2 is a commonly used austenitic stainless steel fastener group associated with the 304 family and is widely used for general-purpose corrosion-resistant applications.
A4 is commonly associated with the 316 stainless steel family and offers improved corrosion resistance in chloride-containing environments.
Neither is universally “better”.
A2 is often the more economical choice for suitable general applications.
A4 is preferred where the environment requires greater corrosion resistance.
A4 / 316 is commonly referred to as marine-grade stainless steel because of its improved resistance to chloride environments, although the exact suitability still depends on the application and exposure conditions.
Icon Fasteners supplies a range of bolts, nuts, washers, screws, threaded rod and other fasteners for trade and construction customers.
Choosing the correct fastener is about more than simply selecting something that looks like stainless steel.
You should consider:
For general applications, A2 stainless steel is often an excellent choice.
For coastal, marine and more aggressive environments, A4 / 316 stainless steel may provide the additional corrosion resistance required.
Icon Fasteners & Supplies Ltd supplies stainless steel fasteners for construction, engineering, agricultural and DIY applications.
📍 Unit W9, Wicklow Enterprise Centre, Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow, A67 HD86
☎ 01 223 3066
