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.
Standards and the U.S. Congress
ASTM President James A. Thomas will make a presentation on "How Standards Impact Trade" to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2 as part of a free event on U.S. standards. The purpose of the event is to introduce Congressional staff to the U.S. private sector-led approach to standards. Attendees will learn how standards and conformity assessment measures help companies meet their global needs, and how the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act impacts the U.S. standardization system. ASTM is a co-sponsor of the event, along with eight other standards organizations, including ANSI, UL, SAE International, ASME, ASHRAE, NFPA, NIBS and API.
Medical Device Portal
Medical professionals can now access 1,300+ medical device standards from one single database developed jointly by ASTM International, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, the American National Standards Institute, and the German Institute for Standardization. The portal will enable users to search and link between all of the standards, integrate company practices alongside the standards and more. View an online demonstration.[Full story]
World Standards Week World Standards Week 2009, the American National Standards Institute's annual series of meetings and events for the standards and conformity assessment community, will be held Oct. 5-8 in Bethesda, Md. This year's theme of the U.S. celebration of World Standards Day, which is on Tuesday, Oct. 7, is "Standards for Environmental Stewardship." For a schedule of events,visit www.ansi.org.
Year of the Professor Continues
ASTM International is continuing its “Year of the Professor” campaign throughout the remainder of 2009. ASTM student membership is up 22 percent since the campaign began in January. ASTM members and staff have visited various colleges and universities to present seminars on standards and have more visits planned for the fall semester. Click here for more information about ASTM Standards on Campus, student membership and to read about the winner of the Professor of the Year Award - Dr. John (Jack) T. Germaine.
ASTM Online Classroom
A total of nine Web-based training courses are now 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
Aviation Fuel This initial version of Committee D02's newest petroleum standard provides criteria for the production, distribution and use of aviation turbine engine fuel produced from coal, natural gas or biomass using the Fischer-Tropsch process. [Full story]
Hydraulic Cements A new specification from Committee C01 covers hydraulic cements, which are often used in paving, construction, stucco and mortar block. [Full story]
Sustainability E60 subcommittees on buildings and construction, hospitality and general sustainability will continue work on a number of standards at their October meeting. [Full story]
Performance Testing Interested parties are invited to attend a virtual meeting on Oct. 29 concerning a new ASTM standardization activity on performance testing. [Full story]
Lead Content in Turf A new specification from Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities covers the lead content in turf fibers used in synthetic turf fields. [Full story]
Computer Forensics Committee E30 has published a new standard guide that provides a road map for post-secondary institutions to develop degree programs in computer forensics. [Full story]
Bicycles Committee F08's new standard defines the performance of bicycle wheel retention systems in order to prevent unintended wheel separation. [Full story]
Paint and Coatings Committee D01 has approved two new standards that cover architectural coating touch-up properties and ink stainblocking of paint systems. [Full story]
Metal Powders Committee B09's latest standard addresses flow characteristics of fine metal powders in filling dies for pressing of powder metallurgy compacts. [Full story]
Corrosion Terminology A new terminology standard is the result of a joint effort between the two major organizations that develop corrosion standards, ASTM International and NACE International. [Full story]
Concrete Pipe Committee C13's new specification covers flexible joints for concrete box sections using rubber gaskets for leak resistant joints. [Full story]
Copper Wire Committee B01 has approved a new standard for tin-coated annealed copper wire. [Full story]
Flue Gases A proposed Committee D28 standard would evaluate the performance of activated carbon for removal of elemental mercury in a simulated flue gas. [Full story]
Metalworking Fluids Water-miscible metalworking fluids and dermatitis in the wet metal removal fluid environment are the subjects of three new standards from the committee on Occupational Health and Safety. [Full story]
GLOBAL NOTES . . . ASTM around the world
New ASTM Global Website There is a new global cooperation section of the ASTM Web site. The updated site has a new look and features more information about ASTM activities with MOU partners and other international standards development organizations than ever before. Click here to read about international training programs, online centers, open houses and much more.
Colombia Committee C09 chair Anthony Fiorato made a presentation at the XXVI Technical Congress of FICEM-ACPAC, the Interamerican Cement Federation, which was held in Bogota, Colombia, in September. Fiorato spoke about ASTM Committees C01 and C09 and the Cement and Concrete Research Laboratory (CCRL). Another ASTM member, Mike Retford from Committee F33, also presented at an event in Colombia. Retford, who was invited by ASOCRETO, the Colombian Ready Mixed Concrete Association, spoke about ASTM standards at an international seminar on detention and correctional facilities.
DID YOU KNOW? . . . Fire Prevention Week
The National Fire Protection Association’s annual Fire Prevention Week is October 4-10. This year’s theme is “Stay Fire Smart…Don’t Get Burned,” and focuses on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires. ASTM Committee E05 develops fire standards that support the construction, building content, transportation and furnishing industries. With smoking materials such as cigarettes and pipes listed as the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States, a majority of U.S. states as well as Canada and other countries have adopted laws that require ASTM E2187, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes. Visit the ASTM Web site for more information on ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards.
Search for other ASTM publications. Visit the ASTM Digital Library to get instant access to the digital editions of nearly every ASTM book and paper published in the past 100+ years.
October Committee Week, October 18-23, Atlanta, GA
November Committee Week, November 8-13, Atlanta, GA
December Committee Week, December 6-11, Atlanta, GA
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.
