HEADLINES... This month’s top stories:
PDF Healthcare Best Practices Guide
ASTM and AIIM, the Enterprise Content Management Association, have published the Best Practices Guide – PDF Healthcare (AIIM-ASTM BP-01-2008), which describes a proposed, voluntary, industry-wide reference tool and guideline to describe the features and functionality of the Portable Document Format (PDF) for the healthcare industry. It is designed to facilitate a means by which healthcare information is captured, exchanged, preserved and protected so that participants within the healthcare system can use the well-known PDF specification as the electronic container of the information. [Full story]
New Bill Would Make Toy Standard Mandatory
On March 6, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to enhance toy safety by passing a bill that would make ASTM F963, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, a mandatory federal requirement for all toys sold in the U.S. The bipartisan Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Reform bill would increase funding for the CPSC and require that toys be independently tested to F963, which incorporates relevant safety measures already required under federal law and includes additional guidelines and test methods to prevent injuries from choking, sharp edges and other potential hazards. [Full story]
ASTM Board Meeting in Stockholm
The ASTM International Board of Directors will meet in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 22-24. The selection of Stockholm as host city for the Board meeting came at the invitation of Lars Fink, CEO of the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) and a former Board member. SIS is the national standards body of Sweden. In addition to the formal Board sessions, Board members and staff will visit Swedish trade associations and ministries representing various industry sectors in which ASTM standards are globally influential, and will participate in this year's SIS seminar, "USA & Sweden - Similarities, Challenges and Opportunities."
Aviation Fuels Committee to Meet in Poland
Subcommittee D02.J on Aviation Fuels, part of Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, will meet June 3-5 at the Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre in Warsaw, Poland. A Technical and Professional Training Course, “Aviation Fuels: Specifications and Test Methods," will also take place at the Hilton Warsaw on June 2-3. For more information, including meeting/course topics, click here.
Amusement Industry Legislative Summit
ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices was represented at this year's IAAPA Legislative Summit held March 10-12 in Washington, D.C. IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) holds the annual summit to bring together representatives from amusement parks and attractions from around the U.S. to discuss industry issues and support legislation. F24 staff manager Len Morrissey, along with F24 chair Jim Seay, met with the legislative correspondent of U.S. Senator Robert Casey Jr. from Pennsylvania to discuss the role ASTM standards play in the amusement industry.
2008 ASTM Advantage Award
ASTM is again seeking success stories that clearly demonstrate the benefits of ASTM standards with the 2008 Advantage Award. Papers should demonstrate real life examples of the positive impact of an ASTM standard(s) and include supporting data and background information. Cash prizes for this year's award are $15,000 for first prize; $10,000 for second prize; and $5,000 for third prize. For more information, click here.
GLOBAL NOTES . . . ASTM around the world:
New MOU Signing
ASTM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kazakhstan Institute for Standardization and Certification (KAZINST). The MOU program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. To date, 58 MOUs have been signed. For more information about the MOU program, click here.
GeoAmericas Conference in Mexico
Members of Committee D35 on Geosynthetics, along with ASTM staff, attended the first GeoAmericas Conference in Cancun, Mexico, on March 2-5. The conference was a forum for geosynthetics engineers, practitioners and academia to explore current and potential applications for geosynthetics. At the event, the members and staff attended a course session on Geosynthetic Test Methods and Specifications and presented information on ASTM International standards and membership as well as global cooperation.
COMMITTEE NEWS... The latest from ASTM's technical committees:
Vapor Intrusion in Properties
New practice from the Environmental Assessment committee will provide guidance for vapor intrusion testing, a concern for property owners, prospective purchasers and environmental professionals conducting due diligence. [Full story]
Material Compatibility Issues in Concrete
The first standard from Subcommittee C09.48 will be useful in a variety of applications for producers of concrete, cement, admixtures and supplementary materials. [Full story]
Dynamic Drop Test for Rock Anchor Standard
A new test method from Committee D18 is the result of requests to standardize a test to determine dynamic rock anchor capacity that is used internationally in the mining industry. [Full story]
Airplane Electrical Wiring
A new practice from Committee F39 will ensure the safety of electrical wiring systems in airplanes. [Full story]
Analysis of Asbestos Data
New standard from the committee on Air Quality provides guidance for using data generated by ASTM standards in testing for asbestos in surface dust. [Full story]
Sediment Retention Devices
An innovative system that can be used to test and compare sediment control products is the basis of a new D18 standard. [Full story]
High Baked Phenolic Coatings
Finding a way to accurately measure the water and volatile content of high baked phenolic coatings is the focus of a test method from Committee D01. [Full story]
Polyethylene Pipe
Committee on Plastic Piping Systems has a new specification that covers the use of polyethylene pipe for gas gathering purposes. [Full story]
Testing of Round Specimens
A new standard from the Ceramics committee allows for the flexural strength determination of components made in a round shape or after finish machining with minimal waste. [Full story]
DID YOU KNOW?...Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets
Helmet Standards Keep You Safe
The spring season means an increase in outdoor activities for many, from baseball to bicycling and beyond. With sports-related head injuries on the rise, Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets, the most active subcommittee within Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities, is dedicated to keeping you safe. F08.53 has developed helmet standards for all types of sports and activities, including baseball, football, soccer, skateboarding, martial arts, bicycling and more. When enjoying your favorite sports activities this season, protect yourself with a helmet that conforms to ASTM standards and encourage others to do the same.
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CALENDAR... Committee Weeks, Symposia and Workshops, TPTs: Technical Committee Meetings
Upcoming ASTM Committee Week Meetings
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For more information on ASTM technical committee meetings and committee weeks, including locations, detailed schedules and future meeting dates, click here.
For a complete listing of all ASTM meetings, click here.
Upcoming Symposia & Workshops
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B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys
Workshop on Principles and Practices of Electrical Conductors
April 9, Anaheim, CA
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D10 on Packaging
Workshop on Distribution Packaging
April 7, Anaheim, CA
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D22 on Air Quality
International Symposium on Airliner Cabin Environment: Recent Progress in Characterization and Improvement
April 10-11, Anaheim, CA
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E08 on Fatigue and Fracture
Workshop on Application of Probabilistic Methods to Fatigue Life Prediction
Workshop on Crack-Tip-Opening Angle (CTOA) Applications in Pipeline and Aerospace Structures
May 7, Denver, CO
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E18 on Sensory Evaluation
Seminar on Design of Experiments Overview
Seminar on "How Many Markets is Enough?"
April 9, Anaheim, CA
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C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Second Seminar on Accelerated Testing of Materials in Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level Waste Storage Systems
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Tampa, FL
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For more information on current and past symposia and workshops, click here.
Upcoming Technical & Professional Training (TPT) Courses
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NEW Proficiency Testing for Textiles
This PTP is an industry-driven quality assurance program for companies doing yarn and thread component performance evaluations. The deadline for registration of the June test trial is April 30. For more information, click here.
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For a full course listing of ASTM’s TPT courses, click here.
ASTM International is one of the world’s largest management systems for the development of voluntary standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Currently, ASTM has more than 30,000 members from around the globe representing industry, government, academia, and consumers. Participation in ASTM International is open to any interested party. The Annual Book of ASTM Standards contains more than 12,000 standards developed by ASTM’s technical standards-writing committees representing over 100 diverse technical fields.
