Standardization News

ASTM International Provides Public Access to Standards Used for COVID-19

ASTM International is providing no-cost public access to two dozen important standards used in the production and testing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to combat the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency.

In an effort to support manufacturers, testing labs, healthcare professionals, and the general public, the standards being made available cover PPE, including face masks, medical gowns, gloves, and hand sanitizers. 

“ASTM International is committed to supporting healthcare providers, manufacturers, labs, and others in their efforts to address this global pandemic,” said Katharine Morgan, ASTM International president. “Providing access to these standards at no cost will help companies manufacturing these products to understand necessary safety, quality, and performance requirements, helping our world work better.”

The available standards include test methods, performance specifications, and terminology. Developed and maintained by ASTM International’s committees on personal protective clothing and equipment (F23), textiles (D13), rubber (D11), pesticides, antimicrobials, and alternative control agents (E35), and medical and surgical devices and materials (F04).

Visit the CDC and WHO for more information and recommendations related to the coronavirus.

Technical Visitor Grant Program Promotes Global Expert Participation in the ASTM Process

A special funding opportunity offered by ASTM International to its memorandum of understanding (MOU) signatories, the Technical Visitor Grant Program (TVGP) strengthens the participation of technical experts worldwide in the ASTM standards development process. The TVGP provides two to three weeks of financial assistance that supports one or two individuals from any MOU partner country to participate in an educational program about ASTM International standards in a given sector. ASTM funds up to 50% of the program costs (not to exceed $5,000 USD).

This year, TVGP applications have been received from five MOU partner countries: Angola, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, and Uzbekistan. The global cooperation department interviewed candidates in April before making a final selection for the fall. Work will then begin to design a unique technical program for each participant.

Exo Technology Center of Excellence Launches Research to Standards Funding Round Totaling $102K

ASTM International has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the Research to Standards core activity of the organization’s Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE). The center anticipates providing three awards up to $34,000 each, totaling $102,000.

“The Exo Technology Center of Excellence is committed to bringing the exo community together to accelerate standards,” said William Billotte, Ph.D., ASTM International’s director of global exo technology programs. “This RFP will help pave the way for our Research to Standards efforts.”  

Research to Standards projects are expected to target immediate, critical needs that advance new standards, revise existing standards, or address lagging work items. The center will consider proposals related to these questions:

• How do we design safety into exo technologies and promote safe practices across the community?
• How do we objectively measure the performance, safety, and reliability of exo technologies?
• How do we determine the proper fit of the technology to the user and task?
• What process do we use to determine where to employ exo technologies?
• How does the community recycle the data, lessons learned, and innovations into the next generation of exo technologies? 
• How does the community bring down the barriers through business models/support channels to allow more people/organizations to test and implement use of the devices?

Applicants are requested to submit white papers to bizdev@astm.org with the subject header “ASTM ET CoE Research to Standards RFP: name of applicant/organization” no later than 5 p.m. (EST) on May 15. For additional information on the RFP application and submission requirements, visit the ET CoE to submit. 

The ASTM International ET CoE was formed in 2019 to pursue safe and reliable exo technologies for all of humanity. The center brings together a diverse group of users, suppliers, researchers, and stakeholders across academia, government, healthcare, and other industries, and builds on the growth of ASTM’s exoskeletons and exosuits committee (F48).

Standards Experts Program Accepts Nominations, Marks Anniversary

2020 marks the 15th anniversary of ASTM International’s Standards Expert Program. This program sponsors selected participants who meet with staff throughout the organization at ASTM headquarters, visit standards-related public and private organizations located in and around Washington, D.C., and attend technical committee meetings at a committee week. 

The memorandum of understanding partners invited to nominate candidates for 2020 are: Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI), Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), and the Ethiopian Standards Agency (ESA). Based on interviews conducted, information received, and current global circumstances, participants will be part of the program in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Underwriters Laboratories and ASTM International Sign First International Collaboration Agreement

Underwriters Laboratories and ASTM International have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for cooperation on developing a dual-logo International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and ASTM standard. The agreement is the first of its kind between the two standards development organizations (SDOs). 

Under the terms of the MOU, ASTM will serve as the SDO, which includes managing all activity and administrative support. This will involve convening ASTM’s additive manufacturing technologies committee (F42) to review and advance the document and ultimately publish the standard. The document’s basis will be UL 3400 Outline of Investigation for Additive Manufacturing Facility Safety Management, which was developed using UL research.

“This partnership brings together both organizations’ expertise and shared desire to drive global safety,” said Phil Piqueira, vice president, global standards, UL Standards. “It leverages ASTM’s technical committee and relationship with ISO with our document and research to drive impact and positively influence the international standards landscape.”

“The collaborative nature of global standardization creates many opportunities for partnership with other SDOs,” said Brian Meincke, ASTM International’s vice president of finance, business development, and innovation. “We appreciate these opportunities to share knowledge with partners like Underwriters Laboratories to help advance public safety in this fast-evolving field.”

ASTM International has an agreement in place with ISO to publish standards documents as ASTM-ISO standards. Under the agreement, UL Standards will transfer to ASTM its copyright of the material in UL 3400, and the published standard will include attribution to UL Standards for its contribution of content and technical expertise.

RTCA Inc. and ASTM International Sign Memorandum of Understanding

RTCA Inc. and ASTM International — two standards developers that support the global aviation community — have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The two organizations will explore ways to cooperate in developing standards and solutions for their members and other stakeholders.

“For decades, both of our organizations have helped build a strong technical foundation for the global aerospace and aviation industry.” said Brian Meincke, vice president of finance, business development, and innovation at ASTM International. “We are thrilled to be working more closely together to avoid duplication and support technical cooperation at this key moment in standardization when so many emerging technologies are beginning to take flight.” 

“This strategic partnership with ASTM International will bring tremendous value to aviation, especially new entrants to the industry, who will benefit from greater collaboration and alignment between our respective technical committees,” added Terry McVenes, president and CEO of RTCA. “Leveraging our collective strengths will also make our standards supportive of our goal for international harmonization and global interoperability.”

The MOU mentions several areas for potential cooperation on standards, including traffic management for unmanned aircraft systems (drones), urban air mobility, detect-and-avoid systems, ground-based radars for drones, and cybersecurity. The two organizations also plan to explore joint workshops, symposia, and training.

MOU Total Climbs to 114, Citations of ASTM Standards Top 8,400

With the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO), the total number of signed MOUs has risen to 114. In addition, there are 8,400+ citations of ASTM International standards by both MOU and non-MOU nations, and international participation in almost all technical committees. Learn More.