1999 - Volume 2 - Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics

Standard Development Forum
INJ DEPARTMENTS
STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
FORUM
By Chuck Allen, INDA Technical Director
Test Method Harmonization
The buzzword in the area of standardized test methods is harmonization (making test methods the same in different parts of the
world). As discussed in the last issue of the INJ, there are any number of standards setting organizations worldwide. Each
organization has its own process for evaluating and adopting test methods.
One can imagine the technical and political difficulties that could be associated with identical test methods being adopted by two
or more of the organizations. Having to use different test methods on the same product, depending on where the product is being
sold geographically, presents difficulties and is costly. Laboratories may need to purchase and maintain different pieces of
equipment or instruments for testing the same properties of fabrics or products. To be able to generate reliable and reproducible
results, lab personnel must become familiar and experienced in conducting the applicable test methods from more than one
standard setting source.
Almost all the standard setting organizations recognize there is demand for test method harmonization and are investigating ways
of cooperating with each other to reach this difficult goal.
Harmonization In Nonwovens: INDA and EDANA have made test method harmonization a high priority. INDA publishes its
own Standard Test Method (STM) manual, which contains over 50 test methods for nonwoven fabrics. Test methods from the
STM manual are then moved through the ASTM process, where the goal is to have them all eventually approved as ASTM
methods, and in the ASTM format. All the currently adopted ASTM Nonwovens test methods, except for the geotextile methods,
originated as INDA Standard Test Methods.
Likewise, EDANA publishes a test method manual, EDANA Recommen-ded Test Methods (ERT), containing over 40 methods
for testing nonwoven fabrics. EDANA works through CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and ISO (International
Organization for Standards) to have their methods recognized as national and international standards.
The STM and ERT manuals contain many methods that measure the same properties, but the methods have differences. Due to
recent correlation activities by the two organizations, there are now five methods that have been harmonized and are identical as
contained in the INDA STM and the EDANA ERT manuals.
Work has begun on the next series of five STM and ERT methods scheduled for harmonization. INDA, through the Nonwovens
Cooperative Research Center (NCRC) at North Carolina State University, has put together a harmonization document, which is
in its final editing stages; this document lists the differences between INDA STM methods and related EDANA, ASTM, TAPPI,
ISO and AATCC methods. This document will soon be available through INDA.
Global Harmonization: INDA and EDANA are not the only ones involved in test method harmonization. In late 1998, ASTM
and ISO had a meeting to discuss how they could work together more productively. As an outcome, ASTM submitted a pilot
program for ISO consideration involving ASTM standards used in the global market where there are no ISO counterpart
standards. ASTM would be the developer and maintainer of the standards and would actively seek input from ISO member
bodies. The resulting standards would carry an ASTM/ISO designation.
The proposal has met with approval by the ISO leadership task force and has been presented to the ISO council for final
approval. At the time of this writing, the outcome is not known, but the vote was expected to take place at the ISO meeting in
file:///D|/WWW/inda/subscrip/inj99_2/standard.html (1 of 5) [3/21/2002 5:02:17 PM]