ISO 8969:2011 specifies test methods for determining the strength and stiffness of joints made with punched metal plate fasteners in load-bearing timber structures, as follows:

1. load-slip characteristics and maximum load resulting from the lateral resistance of the embedded projections, at various angles between the direction of the applied force and
   • the axis of the plate (load-plate angle, α),
   • the direction of the grain of the timber (load-grain angle, θ);
2. the tensile strength of the plate at various angles, α;
3. the compression strength of the plate at various angles, α (optional test);
4. the shear strength of the plate at various angles, α.

ISO 8969:2011 is linked to ISO 6891, which gives general test requirements.

In addition, a method for testing the nail root in alternate bending is specified in Annex A.