3.12 Examples of Standards and Codes Organizations in the United States 69
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Founded in 1898, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is another not-for-
profit organization. It publishes standards and test procedures that are considered authoritative
technical guidelines for product safety, reliability, and uniformity. The testing is performed by
its national and international member laboratories. The ASTM collects and publishes the work
of over 100 standards-writing committees dealing with material test methods. For example,
ASTM sets the standard procedures for tests and practices to determine elastic properties of
materials, impact testing, fatigue testing, shear and torsion properties, residual stress, bend and
flexure testing, compression, ductility, and linear thermal expansion. The ASTM also sets the
standards for medical devices and equipment, including bone cements, screws, bolts, pins, pros-
theses, and plates, and specifications for alloys used in surgical implants. Electrical insulation and
electronics-related standards are also set by ASTM. Additional examples of ASTM work include
the following:- Test guidelines for evaluating mechanical properties of silicon or other procedures for test-
ing semiconductors, such as germanium dioxide. - Testing methods for trace metallic impurities in electronic-grade aluminum-copper and
aluminum-silicon. - Standards related to the chemical analysis of paints or detection of lead in paint, along with
tests to measure the physical properties of applied paint films, such as film thickness, physi-
cal strength, and resistance to environmental or chemical surroundings. - Standard procedures for evaluating properties of motor, diesel, and aviation fuels, crude petro-
leum, hydraulic fluids, and electric insulating oils. - Test procedures for measurements of insulation properties of materials.
- Standard procedures for soil testing, such as density characteristics, soil texture, and moisture
content. - Building-construction-related tests and procedures, such as measuring the structural perfor-
mance of sheet metal roofs. - Tests for evaluating the properties of textile fibers, including cotton and wool.
- Standards for steel piping, tubing, and fittings.
You can find specific standards dealing with any of the materials in these examples in the
Annual Bookof ASTM, which includes large volumes of standards and specifications in the
following areas:Iron and steel products
Nonferrous metal products
Metals test methods and analytical procedures
Construction
Petroleum products, lubricants, and fossil fuels
Paints, related coatings, and aromatics
Textiles
Plastics
Rubber
Electric insulation and electronics
Water and environmental technology
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