ASTM standard is prepared by the International Organization for Standardization. This organization defines and publishes technical standards voluntarily. These standards include a wide range of products, systems and devices. ASTM is like other standard organizations such as: BSI (British Standard), DIN (German Standard Organization) and AFNOR (French Standard Organization), but with the difference that this organization is not a national standards board that is responsible for standard development in the United States. . In fact, in America, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has the same task as the above organizations. However, the ASTM standard has a controlling function among standard developers in America and claims to be the largest standard developing body in the world.

What is the ASTM standard and where does it work?

Its full name is the American Society for Testing and Materials, which was founded by Benjamin Dudley’s efforts in 1898 to regulate the production of railroad tracks. About 13,000 ASTM standards cover more than 140 different industries, from steel and nuclear power plants to textiles and whiteboards. If you work with plastics, adhesives, or metals, or in almost any industry you’re in, you’ve probably heard the name ASTM, or you’ve probably seen it on a material’s data sheet. Be aware that a contract requires compliance with ASTM. The question is, what is ASTM and what exactly does it do?

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM was originally known as the American Society for International Testing and Materials when it was founded in 1898 by Pennsylvania railroad engineers and scientists. The aim of this association was to create a guideline to prevent the frequent breaking of railway rails, which would guarantee the quality of rail products in the industry by creating standards. Today, the American Society for Testing and Materials is known as ASTM International. The association has more than 30,000 members, including manufacturers, consumers, academics and consultants. The main headquarters of this association is still located in the state of Pennsylvania and another domestic office in Washington DC, but it also has offices around the world such as Belgium, Canada, China and Mexico.

What exactly does ASTM do?

As it was said, ASTM initially developed standards related to steel in the rail industry, which over time became far away from it. Today, ASTM develops technical standards for many different industries with the aim of enhancing performance and safety in a wide range of industries. Creates and publishes products, materials, systems and services. There are thousands of ASTM standards around the world, each with its own unique number. Each standard is placed in different categories, which include the following:

• Standard specifications
• Standard test method
• Standard practice guide
• Standard classification
• Terminology standard

ASTM not only creates reliable standards, but also offers skill-based training programs and interlaboratory control programs. Online and face-to-face training programs are still available for industry and government employees. Courses can include plastics, coal, statistics, glass, and more. Self-paced training courses are also available for QA/QC technicians who work with cement, perform concrete strength tests or aggregate tests. There is also on-site training that covers a wide range of products, materials, systems and services (such as holding courses that teach how to issue quality certification). Labs can assess their performance with a “skill test”. These ASTM tests are defined for aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum products, engine coolant, textile testing, and more.

ASTM Standard Annual Book

Every year, ASTM publishes the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. This book deals with various products, services and industries which include the following:

• Plastic
• stickers
• tire
• Iron and steel
• Non-ferrous metal
• Metal testing methods and analytical methods
• Construction
• Textiles
• Electrical and electronic insulation
• Water technology and environment
• Nuclear
• Solar and geothermal energy
• Medical devices and services
• And so on…

Because the ASTM book covers many industries, it is divided into several volumes. A total of 143 technical committees write on the standards in the workbook and prepare those standards according to the guidelines of the World Trade Organization.

Compliance

Generally, compliance with ASTM standards is not required in general, but in the contracts of the parties (employer, contractor and consultant) in a project, compliance with the standards of this association is considered mandatory due to their completeness and comprehensiveness. In some cases, ASTM compliance is the rule. All toys sold in the United States must meet ASTM F-963 specifications thanks to the US government’s Consumer Product Safety Amendments Act of 2008.

Types of ASTM standards

Manufacturing standards are published every year in the form of year books, which are divided into six groups based on the standards defined by ASTM International.