ASTM International eNews is a monthly online newsletter that features the latest happenings at ASTM International, including technical committee news, publications, meetings, symposia and more. Like ASTM's bimonthly magazine Standardization News, eNews is a free benefit available to all ASTM members.
ASTM International Adds Certification Capabilities
The ASTM board of directors has authorized ASTM’s management to develop the capability to offer certification services. Titled ASTM International Certification Programs, the new initiative is sponsored by ASTM International and offers the opportunity for certification of products (materials, products, services and systems) as well as personnel. [Full story]
Free Webinar for Educators
Many leading educators are recognizing the importance of standards awareness to their students' career success. ASTM is offering a free one-hour Webinar for educators on Dec. 18. The session, which will be presented by winner of the 2009 ASTM Professor of the Year Award, Dr. John T. Germaine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will cover how professors can incorporate technical standards into their curricula. Visit the ASTM Web site to register.
Membership Renewal
Don't forget to renew your ASTM membership for 2010. Membership renewal is quick and easy and can be done through the ASTM Web site (www.astm.org/MEMBERSHIP).
ASTM's Virtual Classroom
A total of nine one-hour online training workshops are available free of charge to all ASTM members through the ASTM Web site. View course schedules and register.
COMMITTEE NEWS . . . The latest from ASTM's technical committees
Gypsum The first draft of a proposed new standard to identify corrosive gypsum board was reviewed and edited at a Committee C11 task group meeting in November. [Full story]
Catalysts Committee D32 recently held a virtual meeting that served as an "open house" for new members to join others in the committee who represent the global catalyst community. [Full story]
Solar Glass All interested parties are invited to participate in the standards developing activities of a new subcommittee on glass and solar applications that will be a part of Committee E44. Visit the E44 homepage to view a short video on the new activities. [Full story]
Protective Clothing A new Committee F23 standard provides minimum requirements for flame resistant rainwear to be used by workers who are exposed to flash fire and other flame hazards. [Full story]
Toy Safety Delegates from ISO TC 181 on Toy Safety were invited to attend a recent meeting of Subcommittee F15.22 on Toy Safety and fully participate in reviewing proposed changes to the ASTM toy safety specification. [Full story]
Sustainability and Textiles The subject of sustainability in the textile industry brought together an international audience for a virtual meeting hosted by ASTM. [Full story]
Composite Materials Committee D30 will co-sponsor the 25th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites. [Full story]
GLOBAL NOTES . . . ASTM around the world
Dubai In November, ASTM International participated in a workshop held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on best practices for standardization around the world. The event was sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO). Workshop attendees included representatives from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, the United States and Australia. ASTM staff manager Len Morrissey attended the workshop and made a presentation on the U.S. standards system and the importance of broad stakeholder participation in standards development.
India A delegation of eight technical experts from the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) in Chennai, India, participated in a two-week technical training program at ASTM headquarters in early November. In addition to attending ASTM meetings and presentations about the U.S. standardization system, the group visited representatives from the Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Washington, D.C., and attended the meetings of Committee D20 on Plastics at the November Committee Week in Atlanta, Ga.
DID YOU KNOW? . . . Safer Toys, Safer Children Parents and other consumers shopping for children’s toys this holiday season have an added benefit that they did not have last year – an important safety law designed to protect the young children receiving those gifts. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which states that all toys sold in the U.S. for children 12 years of age and younger must meet the safety requirements of ASTM F963 (Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety), went into effect in February 2009. ASTM F963 includes important safety measures already required under federal law as well as guidelines and test methods to help prevent injuries from choking, sharp edges and other potential hazards. The standard is reviewed and updated on a regular basis by ASTM Committee F15. Never forget the importance of safety when shopping for toys and other children's items. Happy Holidays from ASTM eNews.
December Committee Week, December 6-11, Atlanta, GA
January Committee Week, January 24-29, San Antonio, TX
See information on ASTM technical committee meetings and committee weeks, including locations, schedules and future meeting dates.
View listing of ASTM meetings by committee.
View a full course listing of ASTM TPT courses.
For more information, please visit the ASTM Web site.
To see a full list of ASTM's technical committees and view their Web pages, 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 representing industry, government, academia, and consumers. Participation in ASTM International is open to any interested party. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions around the globe.
