A1.Subject Headings of Text

A2.Title (Mandatory)

A3.Designation and Year Date

A4.Introduction

A5.Scope (Mandatory)

A6.Referenced Documents

A7.Terminology

A8.Summary of Test Method

A9.Significance and Use (Mandatory)

A10.Interferences

A11.Apparatus

A12.Reagents and Materials

A13.Hazards

A14.Sampling, Test Specimens, and Test Units

A15.Preparation of Apparatus

A16.Calibration and Standardization

A17.Conditioning

A18.Procedure (Mandatory)

A19.Calculation or Interpretation of Results

A20.Report

A21.Precision and Bias (Mandatory)

A22.Measurement Uncertainty

A23.Keywords (Mandatory)

A24.Annexes and Appendixes

A25.References

A26.Footnotes

A27.Notes

A28.Adjuncts

A29.Research Reports (Mandatory for Precision and Bias Statements Producing Numerical Results)

A30.Rationale

A31.Summary of Changes

INTRODUCTION

The broad scope of ASTM International, which covers materials, products, systems, and services, and the need to provide for a variety of approaches to the writing of ASTM specifications, prevent the development of a single document or a series of documents that list all subjects to be covered in all ASTM specifications. This document, however, is intended to provide considerable guidance to the committees in their specification-writing activities.

Special instructions with respect to the legal aspects shall be followed in writing any standard. These include such matters as contractual items, caveat statements, patents, and fire standards. Assistance on development of fire standards is available from Committee E05. See Part F for details.

When a standard is being developed, the costs associated with its development and subsequent use generally should be considered. The prime objective should be the optimum use of resources to achieve satisfactory definition of the product or service. However, it should be noted that when the standard relates to the safety of persons, cost considerations are likely to become much less important than when attributes of materials or products are involved. Some standards, such as definitions, impose no cost on the user; others that include numerous and extensive requirements can entail significant expense to users of the standard. The requirements to be included should, therefore, be those that are technically relevant and yield benefits commensurate with the cost of their determination.

Cost effective statements or rationale may be included within a standard if appropriate, usually in an appendix.

Standards or sections of standards relating to the safe use or performance of consumer products (see NOTE B1) may be sent to Committee F15 on Consumer Products for review and comment at some appropriate stage prior to letter ballot of the originating main committee. This review is offered by Committee F15 to provide for the maximum of consumer input. Draft standards submitted to Committee F15 will receive rapid and constructive critique.

INTRODUCTION

In addition to test methods and specifications, ASTM standards take other forms, including the following:

• Classifications

• Practices

• Guides

• Terminology or Definitions (see Part E)

• Reference Radiographs

• Reference Photographs

• Tables

• Charts

As a committee attempts to develop a standard, the question of differentiation between a practice and a guide may arise. In general, a practice underscores a general usage principle whereas a guide suggests an approach. A standard practice connotes accepted procedures for the performance of a given task. Refer to definitions given on p. iv. A guide may propose a series of options or instructions that offer direction without recommending a definite course of action. The purpose of this type of standard is to offer guidance based on a consensus of viewpoints but not to establish a standard practice to follow in all cases. A guide is intended to increase the awareness of the user concerning available techniques in a given subject area, while providing information from which subsequent testing programs can be derived.

Regarding reference radiographs, reference photographs, tables, and charts, there are relatively few subject headings, and the form of the standard is left to the jurisdiction of the sponsoring committee. The first two types listed in the introduction to Part C, however, are most common and are given greater treatment below.

Special instructions with respect to the legal aspects are included in Part F and shall be followed in writing any standard. These include such matters as contractual items, caveat statements, patents, and fire standards. Assistance on development of fire standards is available from Committee E05. The policies contained in Part F are approved by and are under the jurisdiction of the ASTM Board of Directors.

When a standard is being developed, the costs associated with its development and subsequent use generally should be considered. The prime objective should be the optimum use of resources to achieve satisfactory definition of the product or service. However, it should be noted that when the standard relates to the safety of persons, cost considerations are likely to become much less important than when attributes of materials or products are involved. Some standards, such as a definition, impose no cost on the user; others that include numerous and extensive requirements can entail significant expense to users of the standard. The requirements to be included should, therefore, be those that are technically relevant and yield benefits commensurate with the cost of their determination.

Cost effectiveness statements or rationale may be included within a standard if appropriate, usually in an appendix.

CLASSIFICATIONS

PRACTICES AND GUIDES

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, “point” systems for numbering sections of a document have come into extensive use. Many national organizations, associations, societies, industrial concerns, and government agencies are using a Modified Decimal Numbering (MDN) System. MDN is also used by standardization organizations.

In 1963, ASTM International adopted the MDN System for ASTM standards. This guide has been prepared for the use of members who are drafting or revising standards. The object of the MDN System is to assign to each division in a text a unique number that shows the relationship of the specific section to all previous sections and gives a complete designation which does not require reference to previous sections or pages.

INTRODUCTION

ASTM standard terminology is written to promote three objectives: (1) precise understanding and interpretation of ASTM standards, (2) standardization of terminology in standards, reports, and other technical writings, and (3) explanation of the meanings of technical terms for the benefit of those not conversant with them.

For terminology to be effective, it should be used consistently. It is, therefore, the responsibility of each technical committee to manage terminology usage in all standards for which it has jurisdiction to ensure that usage is consistent both within the committee and the Society. Part E provides guidance to technical committees and to those who review the work of technical committees regarding the principles of terminology.

Contained in this Part are general requirements for terminology management, requirements and guidance on form and style, and guidance on preparing terminology.

FORM OF A TERMINOLOGY SECTION WITHIN A STANDARD

FORM OF A TERMINOLOGY STANDARD

INTRODUCTION

This section contains special instructions for the use of commercial-contractual statements, caveats, patents, trademarks, specific sources of supply, references to other organization, etc., in standards. When a standard contains any one of these statements or references, the committee shall obtain the necessary guidance from ASTM International Headquarters for the inclusion in the standard.

INTRODUCTION

In support of ASTM's mission to be recognized as an international standards developer, technical committees are urged to diligently consider the use of SI units as the standard unit of measurement. Throughout the ASTM Form and Style Manual references are made to the use of SI units, and in most cases, suggests that more detailed guidance can be found in IEEE/ASTM SI-10 American National Standard for Metric Practice.

This SI Quick Reference Guide was developed from content within IEEE/ASTM SI 10 to assist in applying SI units in the development of ASTM International standards. This section is intended to provide references on the more common SI units used, and frequently asked questions for SI units. For more detailed information, please refer to IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for Metric Practice.

A11.6.1If the apparatus is special or not readily available, detailed rules for referencing sources of supply shall be followed (see Section F4).

A11.6.2If the apparatus has to be built, blueprints, plans, etc., should be cited in a footnote in this section as available through ASTM International Headquarters as adjunct material to the standard.

A12.7.1Ammonium Carbonate (NH₄)₂CO₃).

A12.7.2Sodium Chloride Solution (100 g/L)—Dissolve 100 g of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water and dilute to 1 L.

A12.7.3Potassium Hydroxide, Methanol Solution (33 g/L)—Dissolve 33 g of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in methanol and dilute to 1 L with methanol.

A12.7.4Barium Chloride Solution (100 g BaCl₂/L)—Dissolve 117.3 g of barium chloride dihydrate (BaCl₂ · 2H₂O) in water and dilute to 1 L.

A19.2.1Examples of test methods that include rating systems are:

A21.3.1Bias is a systematic error that contributes to the difference between the mean of a large number of test results and an accepted reference value. A discussion on bias may be found in statistical documents, such as Practices E177 and C670.

A21.3.2The bias statement shall describe the bias and methods employed to provide corrected test results. If the bias is not known but the direction or bounds on the bias, or both, can be estimated, these shall be reported in the bias statement.

A21.4.1The precision and bias section of the test method shall include a brief descriptive summary of the interlaboratory study that will permit the user of the test method to judge the reliability of the data. This summary should include number of laboratories, number of property levels tested, range of the measured average property levels, and number of replicate tests. The summary may be included in a Note.

A21.4.2If precision or bias, or both, varies with the test level, the variation shall be described in the statement.

A21.4.3When revising or reapproving a test method, ensure that the information reported in the Precision and Bias section and the supporting data are still valid. If there has been a change to the test method that could affect precision, a new interlaboratory study should be conducted.

A21.5.1If the responsible committee decides that an interlaboratory study for a new test method should be delayed, a temporary statement shall be included which addresses only repeatability based on the results from a single operator. A repeatability limit is not included. This temporary precision statement is permitted for five years, use a statement such as the following:

A21.5.2If it is not feasible to determine the reproducibility, as directed in A21.2, within five years of the first approval of the standard, use a statement such as the following:

A21.5.3When a test method specifies that the procedure in another ASTM test method is to be used without modification, no statements of precision and bias are necessary if those in the other test method are applicable. When a test method specifies that the procedure in another ASTM test method is to be used with only insignificant modification(s), use a statement such as the following to assure the reader that precision and bias are not affected by the modification(s):

When a test method specifies that the procedure in another ASTM test method is to be used with significant revisions, provide statements on precision and bias as directed in A21.2 and A21.3.

A21.5.4When a test method specifies that a test result is a nonnumerical report of success or failure or other categorization or classification based on criteria specified in the procedure, use a statement on precision and bias such as the following:

A21.5.5If it is not possible to provide a statement on precision (repeatability or reproducibility) as directed in A21.2, use a statement such as the following:

Citing impracticability is not warranted if the reason is that an interlaboratory study has revealed that the precision is poor or that the standard was written before precision statements were required.

A21.5.6If bias cannot be determined, a statement to this effect shall be included, such as the following:

A24.4.1Notes on significance and interpretation of the test method, usually to amplify the statement in the text,

A24.4.2Development of equations used in the calculations,

A24.4.3Charts or supplementary information for computations,

A24.4.4Suggested data forms for recording test results, and

A24.4.5Commentary on rationale used in the development of the test method.

B2.1The following is the sequence for the text of ASTM specifications. Headings are those most generally used, but may not be all-inclusive. It may be necessary to include other headings for specialized subjects. The headings identified as “mandatory” are required. Other headings shall be included when the subject matter is pertinent to the document under development, in which case, all instructions and guidance for that particular section shall be followed. For example, if the standard does not contain reference to any standard documents within the text, it is not required to include a section on Referenced Documents. If, however, specific hazards are cited throughout the text, then the section on Hazards shall be followed. Not all of these headings may be required for a particular standard. Additional headings, which are included to cover specialized subjects, should appear in the most appropriate place and sequence depending on their relation to the sections below.

B2.2Subject headings in boldface type shall precede each section to orient the reader. Substitute text divisions and number in accordance with the Use of the Modified Decimal Numbering System guide in Part D of this publication.

B3.1The title should be as concise as possible, but complete enough to identify the material, product, system, or service covered by the specification. Titles are used in lists, table of contents, and indexes, and it is most important that they be brief but inclusive. Use the singular form: “specification.”

B4.1Designation (mandatory)—The ASTM designation, assigned by Headquarters on submittal for approval, consists of the following sequential parts:

B4.2Year Date: (for example, Specification C150-01):

B4.3Designation numbers of standards that have been discontinued are not reassigned.

B4.4SI Standards (see Part H and Section G24).

B5.1Include in this section information relating to the purpose of the specification. Concisely state the materials, products, systems, or services to which the specification applies and any known limitations. Include, where applicable, the intended use of the specification. Do not include references to trademarks.

B5.2Include in this section the system of units to be used in referee decisions.

B5.3Include in this section any caveats required by ASTM policy such as safety hazards (see F2.1) and fire hazards (see F2.2) if one or more test methods are detailed other than by reference.

B5.4For standards developed for reference in model (building) codes, include the following statement:

B6.1List in alphanumeric sequence the designation and complete title all documents referenced within the standard. Refer to Section A6 for further information.

B6.2Provide footnotes to this section to indicate the sources of these documents. When ASTM standards are referenced later in the text, use only the type of standard (that is, specification, test method, practice, classification, guide, terminology, etc.) and the designation letter and number (for example, Test Method D1310).

B6.3Do not include the year date when designating referenced documents unless there is a technical reason for requiring a particular revision.

B6.4When listing referenced adjuncts, provide a brief description in this section, and a footnote of the availability. (For more specific information on adjuncts, refer to Section B29).

B7.1Every standard should include a section on terminology. See Part E for information on Form and Style for terminology sections.

B8.1When more than one material, product, or system is specified, they may be separated first by types, which are distinguished by Roman numerals. This first subdivision shall be based upon some major property, composition, or application of the item. Designate further subdivision by grades according to some pertinent property or properties and identify by Arabic numbers. If necessary, make additional division into classes, identified by capital letters.

B8.2The precedence of type, grade, and class, as well as the method of designation, is the ASTM preferred style, and it shall be used in the absence of any established preference.

B8.3When a type, grade, or class has been deleted, do not use this designation again, to avoid confusion with earlier specifications. If new designations are used, they shall be of different format and preferably followed (for a limited time) by the previous designation in parentheses.

B9.1When the specification covers options for purchase, such as various types, grades, classes, alloys, sizes, and mass, the purchase order or inquiry should state which particular types, alloys, sizes are desired.

B9.2A listing of each such optional feature, together with a reference to the applicable section of the specification, will be of assistance in the wording of orders. After the attention of the purchaser is directed to all of the options in the specification, his attention might be directed to what would be furnished by the supplier if the purchaser fails to specify one or more of the options.

B9.3It is recommended that this section be included in all specifications as a checklist of items to be included in a purchase order or contract. If this list contains any ASTM designation (including referenced documents), it is desirable to specify “year date(s)” to avoid misunderstandings between contractual parties.

B9.4When citing a combined standard, indicate the system of units to be applied. For example:

B10.1General requirements regarding the materials and method of manufacture to be used may be included when deemed helpful to the user of the standard, such as the open-hearth, electric-furnace, or basic-oxygen bessemer processes generally specified for steel products. When the material, product, or system specified is made from two or more materials or products, this section should state briefly the general requirements of the materials or products to be used and the process to be followed in manufacture, including items such as the nature and character of any alloys, fillers, saturants, antioxidants, coatings, and plasticizers.

B11.1When necessary, detailed requirements shall be given as to chemical composition and other chemical characteristics for the material, product, or system. Frequently these are presented in tabular form. It is most important that the following information be clearly indicated: (1) name of each constituent specified, (2) whether the requirement is a maximum, minimum, or range, (3) whether an allowance for measurement error is incorporated in these limits, (4) the units applicable, (5) references to notes or footnotes when necessary for further clarification, and (6) appropriate analytical methodology.

B11.2The sequence of items specified shall be consistent within a related group of specifications.

B11.3The preferred introduction for this section is: “The material shall conform to the requirements prescribed in Table 1.”

B11.4Limits on Nonspecified Elements—It is suggested that the following statement be added to tables of chemical requirements as applicable to replace the requirements and statements presently being used regarding nonspecified elements: “By agreement between purchaser and supplier, analysis may be required and limits established for elements or compounds not specified in the table of chemical composition” (see also Section B24).

B12.1When necessary, detailed requirements should be given as to characteristics to which the material, product, or system shall conform. Frequently these are presented in tabular form. It is most important that the following information be clearly indicated: (1) name of each property or requirements, (2) whether the requirement is a maximum, minimum, or range, (3) whether an allowance for measurement error is incorporated in these limits, (4) the units applicable, (5) references to notes or footnotes when necessary for further clarification, and (6) appropriate test methodology.

B12.2Physical Properties—Present the requirements for electrical, thermal, optical, and similar properties in this section, usually in tabular form.

B12.3Mechanical Properties—Present the requirements for tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and similar properties in this section.

B12.4Performance Requirements—Include functional, environmental, and similar requirements in this section when necessary.

B12.5Other Requirements—Include additional requirements as needed.

B12.6In preparing a specification it is essential to make sure that there is a test procedure for determining conformance for each requirement. These shall be listed in the specification (see Section B18).

B12.7When it is not feasible to tabular the requirements, separate text division may be used to specify the various requirements. These shall be given appropriate headings consistent with the subject matter included.

B13.1Details as to the standard shapes, mass, and size ranges usually are presented best in tabular form with brief reference in the text. Separate sections may be necessary with individual tables. The tables shall clearly indicate where the various size ranges are divided; for example, ranges from 0 to 250 mm, 250 to 500 mm, 500 to 750 mm shall be more properly stated as 250 mm and under, over 250 to 500 mm, inclusive; over 500 to 750 mm, inclusive, etc.

B13.2The permissible variations in dimensions, mass, etc., may be included in the same tables with the nominal sizes. It shall be made clear whether the tolerances specified are both plus and minus or apply in only one direction.

B14.1Requirements covering the workmanship and finish include such general requirements as the type of finish and general appearance or color, uniform quality and tempers (for metals), and whether the item is clean, sound, free of scale and injurious defects. To avoid misunderstanding, these should be spelled out clearly. Provisions for removal or repair of minor surface imperfections that are not considered cause for rejection should be stated.

B14.2For products such as pipe and tile it is usually customary to specify absence of defects such as fractures, large or deep cracks, checks, blisters, laminations, and surface roughness. The finish and shape of the ends also should be specified.

B15.1If a specification applies to a unit of product or material such as a piece of cloth, a coil of wire, a section of plastic pipe, or a heat of steel, from which specimens are to be taken for testing, the procedure for obtaining these specimens shall be described.

B15.2If a specification pertains to individual units of a lot and sampling inspection is likely to be the normal procedure, it is desirable for the specification to reference or include in a supplementary section a sampling procedure for determining acceptability of the lot (see Section B25).

B15.3If a specification pertains to the mean of a lot, in particular to the mean of a lot of bulk material such as cement or pig iron, the procedure for sampling the lot or the formation of sample test units, or both, shall be described or referenced. The criterion for determining conformance of the lot shall be specifically stated.

B15.4If a specification applies to a lot of bulk material, state the number of increments required to create a sample test unit and the number of test units to be taken to determine conformance of the lot.

B15.5The minimum amount of material required to carry out conveniently all the tests in the specification should be indicated for the convenience of the user of the specification.

B16.1State the number of test units and the number of test specimens or subunits that are required to determine conformance of the material or product to the specifications. In the sampling of a lot of bulk material, state the size of the sample in terms of the number of primary (first stage) sampling units that is required to determine conformance to the specifications.

B16.2If a specification allows retesting in cases where the material or product fails to pass the specification, state the rules for the retesting and the conditions under which the retesting would be permitted.

B17.1Where special preparation is required, as for example in specifications for molding materials, this section shall be included.

B17.2Refer to a standard test method if possible.

B17.3If no standard test method exists, include sufficient detail in the specification to assure acceptable reproducibility of test results.

B17.4State that specimens are to be prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer only if neither B17.2 nor B17.3 is feasible.

B18.1List standard test methods for measurement of all requirements of a specification. Refer to the ASTM test methods used in testing the material to determine conformance with the specification. This includes sampling, chemical analysis, mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, and other testing procedures. When alternative procedures are given in test methods, it is important to state which particular procedure shall be used as the basis for the specification requirement.

B18.2When there is no ASTM test method specified for a particular quality or property of a specified material, describe the test procedure to be followed in detail in the specification, following the Form of ASTM Test Methods (Part A of this publication). Include all mandatory information listed in A1.1 (title, scope, significance and use, hazards, procedure, precision and bias).

B18.3Where a method of some other organization is being used and the committee has not approved the test as an ASTM test method, then it is preferable to describe the test in detail in the specification and to include a footnote reference to the original source. Appropriate copyright releases shall be obtained.

B18.4State all procedures in the imperative mood.

B19.1The following statement has been adopted by the Board of Directors to be used when there is a substantial disagreement between producers and users within a particular committee, resulting in a blockage of progress in the acceptance of new specifications or revisions to specifications:

B19.2Place any technical requirements on inspection such as sampling plan and physical or mechanical properties in other appropriate parts of the specification.

B20.1The following statement serves as a guide to ASTM committees when there is need for a section on rejection and rehearing:

B21.1A certification section may be included in the standard when in the judgment of the committee, technical considerations make this advisable. If a certification section is included, the certification shall include reference to the standard designation and year date.

B21.2The following are suggested statements:

B21.3Upon the request of the purchaser in the purchase order or contract, the certification of an independent third party indicating conformance to the requirements of this specification may be considered.

B22.1It is customary to specify the information to be marked on the material or included on the package, or on a label or tag attached thereto. Such information typically may include the name, brand, or trademark of the manufacturer, quantity, size, weight, ASTM designation, or any other information that may be desired for a specific material. If an ASTM standard is specified, indicate “ASTM” and the designation number (for example, ASTM F2063) on the marking, when possible.

B23.1When it is customary and desirable to package, box, crate, wrap, or otherwise protect the item during shipment and storage in accordance with a standard practice, it is customary to state the requirements.

B24.1In this section, identify the words, terms, or phrases that best represent the technical information presented in the standard. Select the keywords from the title and body of the document and include general, vernacular, and trade terms. These keywords will be used in the preparation of the ASTM Subject Index.

B24.2Select three or more keywords that describe the names of tests, procedures, special materials, or the specific application(s) that will facilitate the identification and retrieval of the standard.

B24.3All selected keywords shall be stand-alone terms; the type of standard, incomplete phrases, unattached adjectives, etc., shall not be used.

B25.1For some standards supplementary requirements may be specified. These should not include statements that would allow the lowering of minimum requirements of the standard (see B1.2). Usually these apply only when specified by the purchaser in the purchase order or contract. A statement to this effect shall appear in the first paragraph of the Supplementary Requirements section. The following is a suggested statement relating to special requirements:

B25.2Supplementary requirements shall appear separately in a Supplementary Requirements section.

B25.3Quality Assurance—This requirement, if included, shall be qualified by the statement: “When specified in the purchase order or contract.” Reference to a suitable document, such as ASTM International, ANSI, MIL, etc., may be made by agreement between the supplier and the purchaser.

B25.4 Qualification:

B26.1Additional information may be included in one or more annexes or appendixes to the specification.

B26.2The words “Mandatory Information” shall be included directly under the title of annexes and the words “Nonmandatory Information” shall be included directly under the title of appendixes.

B26.3Annexes—Include in annexes any detailed information such as that on apparatus or materials that is a mandatory part of the specification but too lengthy for inclusion in the main text. Annexes shall precede appendixes.

B26.4Appendixes—There are times when it is desirable to include in a specification additional information for general use and guidance, but which does not constitute a mandatory part of the specification. It is appropriate to include such informational material in appendixes. Examples of material that has been included in such appendixes are tables showing approximate relationship between tensile strength and hardness, list of preferred thickness of plate, sheet, and strip reproduced from other documents, tables of standard mass and standard sizes, information on typical applications of the material covered, and information on typical physical properties whose definite values are not prescribed in the specification.

B27.1Include only references to publications supporting or providing needed supplementary information. Historical and acknowledgment references are not recommended. If there are five or more references, list them in an unnumbered section at the end of the specification in the order in which they appear in the text. If there are fewer than five literature references, use footnotes (see Section G21).

B28.1General—Footnotes referenced in the text are intended only for reference and shall never include any information or instructions necessary for the proper application of the specification. Table footnotes are a part of the table. Use consecutive superior numerals for reference to footnotes except in connection with tables, in which case use italic capital letters.

B28.2Committee Jurisdiction and History—Footnote 1 shall include in the first paragraph the committee having jurisdiction and, where the committee so requests, the subcommittee. The second paragraph shall include history information as follows: (1) approval date of latest revision, (2) month and year of publication, (3) designation and year of original issue, (4) designation and year of previous issue, and (5) information as to the other standards that may have been replaced by the standard, year of redesignation, etc.

B28.3Literature References—Use footnotes for references if there are fewer than five. For five or more see Section B27, observing the limitations noted therein. Also see Section G21.

B28.4Sources of Apparatus—Where apparatus may be special or not readily available from more than one source, the source may be referenced. (However, see Section F4 for detailed rules.)

B28.5Research Reports—Reference in a footnote the availability of research reports (see Section B31).

B29.1Notes in the text shall not include mandatory requirements. Notes are intended to set explanatory material apart from the text itself, either for emphasis or for offering informative suggestions not properly part of the standard. Clarification of the description of required apparatus or procedure and modifications required or permitted in certain cases belong in the text itself. If inclusion of the contents yields a different result, then that information is considered mandatory for the performance of the standard and shall be located in the text. Notes may be preferable for detailed description of auxiliary procedures (for example, correction of barometric pressure in a test method not primarily concerned with pressure). Table notes are a part of the table and are mandatory provisions.

B29.2Notes appearing in a given standard shall be numbered in sequence and should appear at the end of the paragraph to which they pertain. If it is necessary to refer to a text note in connection with a specific word or phrase in the text, that word or phrase should be followed by a reference to the note, “NOTE 1”), etc.

B29.3Notes in the text are preferred for the following:

B29.4Patent Disclaimer of Liability—See Section 15 of theRegulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees This note, quoted in F3.2 and not numbered, is generally placed at the end of the standard. Questions regarding the applicability of this section should be referred to the Staff Manager of your committee.

B29.5General Statement of ASTM Policy—This note, quoted in F2.3 and not numbered, is generally placed at the end of the standard after the note on Patent Disclaimer of Liability.

B30.1Occasionally it is not practicable to publish as an integral part of the standard, because of its nature, material that may be required for use of the standard. Such material is published as an adjunct.

B30.2Include a description of the adjunct in the text of the standard. If appropriate, include a figure (illustration) of the adjunct.

B30.3When adjunct material is indicated, it shall be made available at the time of publication of the standard.

B30.4Include all referenced adjuncts in the Referenced Documents section (see Section A6).

B30.5Examples of adjuncts are as follows:

B31.1Research reports, which include historical or round-robin information, or other data, shall be sent to Headquarters, provided ASTM holds copyright permissions, where they are given a file number and may be obtained upon request. Such reports may be referenced in a footnote (see B28.5). If the specification contains a detailed test method, the requirements in Section A29 apply.

B32.1The inclusion of a rationale (commentary) section in ASTM standards is encouraged to ensure that brief and concise documentation is available to the user of the standard and to provide traceability and clarification of past actions. This documentation might include: (1) a brief history of the development of a new standard or revision to an existing standard including when and why the effort was initiated, (2) reasons and justification for requirements, (3) documentation of factors considered, and (4) listing of technical sources and literature.

B32.2If included, this information shall appear in an appendix of the standard.

B32.3Examples of standards that include sections on rationale:

B33.1General—Part-numbering systems may be included in an ASTM specification. The part-numbering system shall be placed in the appendix, shall be called out “when specified” as a supplementary requirement, and shall be referenced to appropriately under either “product marking,” “packaging and package marking,” or both places.

B33.2 When Used for DOD Procurement:

B33.3 Criteria for Inclusion of Part Numbers:

B34.1If the committee chooses to provide a Summary of Changes, place this unnumbered section at the end of the standard and begin with the following introductory paragraph:

B34.2An asterisk will appear after the Scope (Scope*) with the following wording at the bottom of the first page:

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

B34.3Next list, by section or subsection, changes made since the last issue that may impact the use of the standard. For standards that have undergone multiple revisions in a short period of time, keep the Summary of Changes in the standard for 18 months. This will ensure that all changes from one publication of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards to the next are recorded. Brief descriptions of the changes and reasons for the changes may be included. If desired, a more extensive description of reasons for the changes should be placed in the appendix.

B34.4An example of the list of changes is:

1. (1) Deleted Section 5 and renumbered subsequent sections.

2. (2) Updated precision statement in Section 10 to reflect the results of a recent interlaboratory study.

3. (3) Revised hardness requirements in Table 2.

4. (4) Revised Section 14 on Product Marking.

Figure B1Part Numbering System Covering Standard Items Used by U.S. Government

C3.1The title of a classification standard should be concise, but complete enough to identify the nature of the basis for classification, for specific materials, systems, services, and products.

C4.1The ASTM designation is assigned by Headquarters on submittal for approval. Refer to Sections A3 or B4 for sequential parts of numbering.

C5.1Include in this section information relating to the purpose of the classification. Concisely state what characteristics have been classified and the materials, products, systems, or services to which the classification applies. Where applicable state any limitations to the use of the classification.

C5.2Include in this section the system of units to be used in referee decisions.

C5.3Include, where applicable, comparisons of the classification to other similar classifications.

C6.1List here in alphanumeric sequence the designation number and complete title of all documents referenced within the classification. Refer to Section A6 for further information.

C7.1Every standard should include a section on terminology. See Part E for information on Form and Style for terminology sections.

C8.1Include in this section information relating to the relevance of the classification. State how the classification is used and who would typically use it.

C9.1The basis of classification is in fact the most important portion of the document. This heading sets up categories in which groupings are made. For example, ASTM Classification D388, of Coals by Rank (Vol 05.06) defines classification of higher rank coals according to fixed carbon on a dry basis while lower rank coals are classed according to caloric value on the moist basis.

C10.1Properties enumerated in a classification may be determined in accordance with specific test methods. These methods should be referenced in this portion of the document.

C10.2Because of variability resulting from sampling and a lack of satisfactory reproducibility, and in instances when the first test results do not conform to the requirements prescribed in this classification, then a retest option may be provided.

C11.1In this section, identify the words, terms, or phrases that best represent the technical information presented in the standard. Select the keywords from the title and body of the document and include general, vernacular, and trade terms. These keywords will be used in the preparation of the ASTM Subject Index.

C11.2Select three or more keywords that describe the names of tests, procedures, special materials, or the specific application(s) that will facilitate the identification and retrieval of the standard.

C11.3All selected keywords shall be stand-alone terms; the type of standard, incomplete phrases, unattached adjectives, etc., shall not be used.

C12.1Supplementary information is provided herein to aid in understanding and using the standard.

C12.2Annexes (see A24.3).

C12.3Appendixes (see A24.4).

C13.1Examples of classifications are:

C14.1If the committee chooses to provide a Summary of Changes, place this unnumbered section at the end of the standard and begin with the following introductory paragraph:

C14.2Next list, by section or subsection, changes made since the last issue that may impact the use of the standard. Brief descriptions of the changes and reasons for the changes may be included.

C14.3An example of the list of changes is:

1. (1) Deleted Section 5 and renumbered subsequent sections.

2. (2) Updated precision statement in Section 10 to reflect the results of a recent interlaboratory study.

3. (3) Revised hardness requirements in Table 2.

4. (4) Revised Section 14 on Product Marking.

C17.1The title should be concise but complete enough to identify the nature of the practice. It should identify the subject of application and should be distinguishable from similar titles (see A2.1 as it applies to titles of test methods).

C18.1The ASTM designation is assigned by Headquarters on submittal for approval. Refer to Sections A3 and B4 for sequential parts of numbering.

C19.1Include in this section information relating to the purpose of the practice or guide and to what it applies. Clearly state any limitations of the practice or guide.

C19.2Include in this section the system of units to be used in referee decisions.

C19.3Include in this section any caveats required by ASTM policy such as safety hazards (see F2.1) and fire hazards (see F2.2).

C19.4For standards developed for reference in model (building) codes, include the following statement:

C20.1List here in alphanumeric sequence the designation number and complete title of all documents referenced within the practice (or guide). Refer to Section A6 for further information.

C21.1Every standard should include a section on terminology.See Part E for information on Form and Style for terminology sections.

C22.1Include here a brief outline of the practice, describing its essential features without the details that are a necessary part of the complete statement of procedure and sequence. If desired, a brief statement of the principle of the practice may be given.

C23.1Include in this section information that explains the relevance and meaning of the practice (or guide). State the practical uses for the practice and how it is typically employed. Avoid repetition of information included in the Scope (see Section C19).

C23.2Include separately any appropriate comments on limitations of the practice. Indicate any means of recognizing cases where the practice may not be applicable.

C23.3Include, where applicable, comparisons of the practice (or guide) to other similar procedures.

C24.1See Section A12.

C25.1Include in the procedure detailed directions for performing the task outlined in the practice.

C25.2In some cases, to aid in clarity, a diagrammatic, photographic, or schematic may be of value to the user of the practice. These shall be supplied to the ASTM editorial staff as originals. An excellent example of this type of approach is illustrated in ASTM Practice D2855, for Making Solvent-Cemented Joints with Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Pipe and Fittings.

C26.1List standard test methods for measurement of all requirements of practices or guides. Refer to the ASTM test methods used in testing the material to determine conformance with the practice or guide. This includes sampling, chemical analysis, mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, and other testing procedures. When alternative procedures are given in test methods, it is important to state which particular procedure shall be used as the basis for the practice or guide requirement.

C26.2When there is no ASTM test method specified for a particular quality or property of a specified material, describe the test procedure to be followed in detail in the practice (or guide), following the Form of ASTM Test Methods (Part A of this publication). Include all mandatory information listed in A1.1 (title, scope, significance and use, hazards, procedure, precision and bias).

C26.3Where a method of some other organization is being used and the committee has not approved the test as an ASTM test method, then it is preferable to describe the test in detail in the practice or guide and to include a footnote reference to the original source. Obtain appropriate copyright releases.

C26.4State all procedures in the imperative mood.

C27.1Include detailed information as to calculating, interpreting, and reporting results in this section.

C27.2Depending upon the nature of the practice, an entire section may, by necessity, be devoted to calculation or interpretation of results, or both.

C27.3When a practice permits variance in conditions under which the standard practice has been performed, these conditions should become part of the report.

C28.1In this section, identify the words, terms, or phrases that best represent the technical information presented in the standard. Select the keywords from the title and body of the document and include general, vernacular, and trade terms. These keywords will be used in the preparation of the ASTM Subject Index.

C28.2Select three or more keywords that describe the names of tests, procedures, special materials, or the specific application(s) that will facilitate the identification and retrieval of the standard.

C28.3All selected keywords shall be stand-alone terms; the type of standard, incomplete phrases, unattached adjectives, etc., shall not be used.

C29.1Supplementary information is provided herein to aid in understanding and utilizing the standard.

C29.2Annexes (see A24.3).

C29.3Appendixes (see A24.4).

C30.1The inclusion of a rationale (commentary) section in ASTM standards is encouraged to ensure that brief and concise documentation is available to the user of the standard and to provide traceability and clarification of past actions. This documentation might include: (1) a brief history of the development of a new standard or revision to an existing standard including when and why the effort was initiated, (2) reasons and justification for requirements, (3) documentation of factors considered, and (4) listing of technical sources and literature.

C30.2If included, this information shall appear in an appendix of the standard.

C30.3Examples of standards that include sections on rationale:

C31.1If the committee chooses to provide a Summary of Changes, place this unnumbered section at the end of the standard and begin with the following introductory paragraph:

C31.2An asterisk will appear after the Scope (Scope*) with the following wording at the bottom of the first page:

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

C31.3Next list, by section or subsection, changes made since the last issue that may impact the use of the standard. For standards that have undergone multiple revisions in a short period of time, keep the Summary of Changes in the standard for 18 months. This will ensure that all changes from one publication of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards to the next are recorded. Brief descriptions of the changes and reasons for the changes may be included. If desired, a more extensive description of reasons for the changes should be placed in the appendix.

C31.4An example of the list of changes is:

1. (1) Deleted Section 5 and renumbered subsequent sections.

2. (2) Updated precision statement in Section 10 to reflect the results of a recent interlaboratory study.

3. (3) Revised hardness requirements in Table 2.

4. (4) Revised Section 14 on Product Marking.

E3.3.1A term is adequately defined in reference source material (print or electronic version), unless a definition is required for clarity, also see E5.5 Delimiting Phrases;

E3.3.2A term has a well-recognized authoritative meaning such as terms defined in the International System of Units (SI);

E3.3.3A term is defined acceptably for the committee’s purposes in the ASTM Terminology Dictionary or the committee’s terminology standard;

E3.3.4A term that meets the committee’s needs has been defined in a technical standard of another committee or subcommittee.

E5.9.1Notify Headquarters that permission to publish shall be obtained from the organization holding copyright. The definition shall not be published without permission.

E9.1The title should be as concise as possible but complete enough to identify the subject covered by the terminology. The title of a terminology standard preferably is Terminology of ..., although Terminology Relating to ... is acceptable.

E10.1The designation will be assigned by ASTM International Headquarters upon submittal of the standard for Society approval.

E11.1Provide information about the field of application of the terminology. Include information on how, when, and by whom the terminology will be used. Indicate here whether the terminology standard is general or relates to a specialized field. Where the content of a terminology standard is limited or restricted, as in a specialized terminology standard, the scope statement should so indicate.

E12.1Include in this section only ASTM standards, adjuncts, and standards or codes of other organizations. All referenced documents shall be cited.

E13.1When use restrictions exist, include a significance and use statement. Give a warning of them such as: “This terminology is not intended to …”

E14.1Terms and Their Definitions (Mandatory)—Compose a definition in the dictionary-definition form (see E4.5) and include the term, part of speech, definition, and when applicable, a delimiting phrase. Boldface the term and italicize the part of speech and delimiting phrase. Do not capitalize the term or any other components of the definition except for proper nouns, acronyms, or any other words capitalized in normal usage. List the terms unnumbered and in alphabetical sequence.

E15.1Any of these subsections can be used for the convenience of the user of the standard. Follow the guidelines detailed in Section E6.

E16.1In this section, identify the words, terms, or phrases that best represent the technical information presented in the standard. Select the keywords from the title and body of the document and include general, vernacular, and trade terms. These keywords will be used in the preparation of the ASTM Subject Index.

E16.2Select three or more keywords that describe the names of tests, procedures, special materials, or the specific application(s) that will facilitate the identification and retrieval of the standard. Keywords for terminology standards should include the words definitions and terminology.

E16.3All keywords shall be stand-alone terms; incomplete phrases and unattached adjectives shall not be used.

E17.1To aid in understanding and using the terminology, supplementary information such as illustrations, commentaries, or rationale may be included in annexes (mandatory information), or appendixes (nonmandatory information).

E18.1Supplementary publications, useful for consultation by users who wish to have more detailed information on the particular terminology, may be provided. If the publications are cited in the text, they should be listed in a References section at the end of the standard (see Section A25); otherwise, the section should be titled Bibliography.

E19.1This unnumbered section shall be placed at the end of the standard and begin with the following introductory paragraph:

E19.2Next list, by section or subsection, changes since the last issue that may impact the use of the standard. Brief descriptions of the changes and reasons for the changes may be included.

E19.3An example of the list of changes is:

F2.2.1Every fire standard shall state its purpose, specify the known limitations of the standard, and specify the significance of the data that are generated (including relevance to human life and property, where appropriate). Use precise terminology (see Part E, Terminology in ASTM Standards), and include the appropriate caveat as listed below. Standards should include, when practical, sufficient background or explanatory material to guide users in properly applying ASTM fire standards.

F2.2.2ASTM fire standards include fire-test-response standards, fire hazard assessment standards, and fire risk assessment standards. Other types of fire standards shall also be permitted, including terminologies, guides, specifications, and practices. The following criteria shall be followed by fire standards:

F2.2.3Titles and Criteria for Fire-Hazard and Fire-Risk Assessment Standards—All standards developed, approved, or reapproved for the analysis and control of fire hazard or fire risk shall contain the words “FIRE-HAZARD ASSESSMENT” or “FIRE-RISK ASSESSMENT” in the title. The results of all such assessments shall be expressed in terms that relate the item in question to the anticipated fire environment. When appropriate, the standard may also contain acceptance or classification criteria and a statistical sampling plan as a guide to its use.

F2.2.4ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards is available to provide review of fire standards developed by other ASTM committees.

F4.3.1To allow the widest possible use of ASTM standards, it is the responsibility of the sponsoring committee to ensure that sources of supply exist for unique or difficult-to-obtain apparatus, reagents, and materials.

F4.3.2Reference to specific commercial sources of supply are permitted only when there is a sole source of supply.

F4.3.3If the apparatus is not widely available, but more than one source of supply is known, or if apparatus that is widely available needs to be checked for suitability in the application specified, the committee can reference criteria for evaluating the apparatus. This reference can be to a section of the standard, to a separate existing standard or other published document, or can be in the form of an annex or appendix to the standard, or filed as an ASTM research report or adjunct.

G12.3.6.1Technical drawing or other information visual FTP—Please scan the line art at 1200 dpi (dots per inch).

G12.3.6.2Photograph FTP—Please scan at 600 DPI. If the image is to be enlarged, increase the percentage of the scanned image.

G12.3.6.3ASTM can also scan for you (see G12.5).

G12.4.1E-mail your staff manager or editor.

G12.4.2FTP—Please contact the ASTM Help Desk for assistance at 1-877-909-2786.

G12.4.3 DVD/CD-ROM

G12.4.4 Hard copy can be mailed to ASTM Headquarters, in case ASTM cannot use the electronic file. See the following instructions.

G12.5.1Provide camera-ready figures of professional quality, because the printer will scan what is submitted, and it will appear in the standard exactly as you have supplied it. To this end:

G15.2.1 Italicize:

G15.3.1Use roman (upright) fonts (irrespective of the typeface used in the surrounding text) for symbols representing units, or numbers, or words that are descriptive in nature, such as labels, names, compounds, and elements. For example:

G16.5.1Type on a separate line and number as described in Section D7.

G16.5.2Use numerical values for any constants.

G16.5.3Spell out quantity names in the text but use letter symbols in the equations. For specific guidance on SI formatting of symbols, see IEEE/ASTM SI 10.

G16.5.4Define each letter symbol immediately under the equation, unless it was defined previously. See also G16.1.1.

G16.5.5The format for a typical numbered equation is:

G16.8.1To present the essential information contained in a set of observations from one population, give the average, the standard deviation or coefficient of variation, and the number of observations.

G16.8.2Whenever you give an average, give also the number of observations on which the average is based.

G16.8.3Use the following symbols, where needed:

G18.3.1Do not begin a sentence with a numeral. When the numeral is spelled out, also spell out the unit following, as “One gram is usually sufficient.”

G18.3.2Spell out round numbers used in an indefinite sense, such as, “a hundred metres or so.”

G18.3.3Spell out numbers when used in the following manner: “fifteen 25 mm rods” (or 15 twenty-five-millimetre rods).

G18.3.4In decimal numbers having no units, place a zero before the decimal point, as: “0.65 mm,” not “.65 mm.”

G21.3.8.1 Whole Book:

G21.3.8.2 Single Paper:

G21.3.8.3 Journal Reference to Website:

G27.1.9.1When the size of a table and limitations of space (on the printed page) make it impractical to expand the table to include SI unit equivalents, duplicate the table.

G27.1.9.2When following the instructions given in G27.1.9 or G27.1.9.1 is impractical, because of the size and the number of tables, include the pertinent conversion factors as footnotes under each table instead of attempting to include the actual converted numbers themselves.

G27.2.1General—For clarity, all entries on the line of the graph axes should be simply numbers with the scale and units of measurement expressed unambiguously.

G27.2.2Graphs are a type of figure. They should be given a title that is complete and descriptive and a figure number as described in Section D9. See Section G12 for more information on figures.

G27.2.3Label axes of graphs as described for table headings in G27.1.2 and G27.1.3.

H3.1.2.1Scope—Include the following in the scope as a numbered paragraph, replacing “inch-pound” with other applicable non-SI units, such as centimetre gram second (cgs), as necessary:

H3.1.2.2Units—Within the text, it is recommended that SI units appear first followed by the inch-pound (or other non-SI) units in brackets. However, a technical committee can opt to reverse the order in which the units appear (i.e., inch-pound (or other non-SI) units shown first, followed by SI units in brackets) if the following additional conditions are met: all units appear in a consistent order throughout the text of the standard; all combined standards under the technical committee’s jurisdiction apply the same convention. See also H5 for special format considerations.

H3.1.2.3Specifying Selected Units in Combined Standard—When citing a combined standard and applying only one system of units, indicate the system of units to be applied (see B9.4).