NE 127 – Codes, Standards, and Regulations

ASTM StandardsINSTRUCTOR: Chattanooga State CC

ASTM International

• Formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials (name changed in 2001)

• Approximately 30,000 members from more than 100 countries– Student membership free (call 610-832-9500)

• Includes ~12,000 standards used worldwide• Purpose of standards: “improve product quality,

enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence”

History of ASTM

• Formed in 1898 by chemists and engineers from the Pennsylvania Railroad– Spearheaded by chemist Dr. Charles B. Dudley

• Without standard material specifications, each manufacturer followed its own material testing procedures– Buyers of industrial products unable to ensure material quality and

uniformity

• Suppliers objected to standard material specifications and testing procedures– Feared customers more inclined to reject items and default on

contracts

History of ASTM, Continued

• Dr. Dudley concluded: “A good specification needs both the knowledge of the product’s behavior during manufacture and knowledge of those who know its behavior while in service.”– In other words, consensus needed among

producers and users• 1901 – first standard issued (on steel rails)

ASTM International Standards

• Voluntary, unless incorporated into contracts or laws• Used by scientists, engineers, architects, designers,

government agencies, etc.• 1995 – National Technology Transfer and

Advancement Act (Public Law 104-113)– Requires government agencies to use privately developed

standards whenever possible– Avoids cost of duplicating standards developing efforts

Development of Standards

• Anyone who identifies a need for standardization can submit a request to ASTM headquarters

• Task group members prepare a draft standard– Reviewed by appropriate subcommittee– Voted on by electronic ballot

Development of Standards, Continued

• Final approval of standard depends on concurrence by ASTM Standing Committee on Standards– Ensures proper procedures followed (due process)

• May take as little as 9 months

About ASTM

ASTM Committees

• Currently 141 technical standards-writing committees

• E-07 – Nondestructive Testing– Example standard: E1316 Standard Terminology

for Nondestructive Examination• Included in ASME BPVC Section V, Article 30 (as SE-

1316)

• E-11 – Quality and Statistics

E-07 Committee (Nondestructive Testing)

• Formed in 1938• 500+ members (from 25 countries)• 190+ standards • Meets twice a year (January and June)• Standards published in volume 03.03 of

Annual Book of ASTM Standards (one of 80 volumes)

Scope of E-07 Committee

• Promotion of knowledge, stimulation of research and the development of standard specifications, test methods, practices, guides, reference radiographs, terminology and classifications related to nondestructive examination methods, equipment and applications

E-07 - Subcommittees

• E-07 committee on NDT includes 12 technical subcommittees

• Subcommittee E07.01 Radiology (X and Gamma Method)– Covers 42 active standards– E94-04 Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination

• Included in ASME BPVC Section V, Article 22 (as SE-94)• Covers types of materials to be examined, RT techniques and

production methods, film processing and storage, etc.

E-07 – Subcommittee E07.01 Continued

• Other standards covered by E07.01– E1114-09 Standard Test Method for Determining

the Size of Iridium-192 Industrial Radiographic Sources

– E1254-08 Standard Guide for Storage of Radiographs and Unexposed Industrial Radiographic Films

E-07 - Subcommittees

• Subcommittee E07.07 Electromagnetic Method– Covers 20 active standards for ET

• Proposed new standards (or revisions) start with WK prefix

E-11 Committee (Quality and Statistics)

• Formed in 1946• 260+ members • 25 standards • Meets twice a year (October and April)• Standards published in volume 14.02 of

Annual Book of ASTM Standards

Scope of E-11 Committee

• Promote the appropriate use of the principles and methods of statistics and quality control in the development, application, and improvement of standards

• Subcommittee E11.30 Statistical Quality Control

E-35 Committee (Pesticides and Alternative Control Agents)

• Formed in 1973• 24+ members • 85 standards • Meets twice a year (October and April)• Standards published in volume 11.05 of

Annual Book of ASTM Standards

E35.15 Subcommittee

• ASTM E2755 - Test Method for Determining the Bacteria-Eliminating Effectiveness of Hand Sanitizer Formulations Using Hands of Adults– used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of hand

sanitizers on the hands of human subjects

Other Committees

• E06 – Performance on Buildings (example indoor air quality standards)

• F15 – Consumer Products (example toy safety)• F08 – Sports Equipment and Facilities (standards for

swingsets, trampolines, pools, etc.)Student Membership

Next Time…

• AWS Standards