Apr 15, 2010

According to a recent annual report, several ASTM International standards were referenced by the Grenada Bureau of Standards (GDBS) in 2009. 

Established by Standards Act No. 6 in 1989, GDBS is a corporate body within the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry that oversees national standards, provides for the testing and calibration of precision instruments, encourages standardization in commerce and trade, and offers standards-related consultation services to government and industry.

GDBS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ASTM International in 2008. Since then, GDBS has referenced 47 ASTM standards in the development of Grenada national standards.  Most of the standards come from ASTM Committees C01 on Cement and C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and were used in the construction sector.  GDBS currently oversees 139 national standards, with 24 of those standards used in legislation.

“The Grenada Bureau of Standards has successfully implemented programs to improve the quality of materials used in construction in Grenada, and the success of these programs mainly depends on the bureau’s ability to test the various materials used in this sector,” says L. Simeon Collins, director, GDBS. “The use of ASTM International standards and test methods has provided the confidence and reliability in the results produced by the bureau’s material testing laboratory, and in turn, has generated great success in the bureau’s programs. GDBS will continue to develop programs in other areas with the help of standards from ASTM International.”

Initiated in 2001, ASTM International's MOU program promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. The purpose of the program is to increase greater worldwide participation in the ASTM standards development process and facilitate the development of national standards that will aid health, safety, and environmental and economic conditions. More information on the MOU program can be found on the ASTM International Web site (www.astm.org/GLOBAL).

ASTM Staff Contact: Teresa Cendrowska, Phone: 610-832-9718; tcendrow@astm.org

Release #8549/Apri2010