Form and Style for ASTM Standards - ASTM International

PART A
FORM OF ASTM TEST METHODS
INTRODUCTION
An ASTM test method, as defined on p. vii, typically includes a concise description of an orderly
procedure for determining a property or constituent of a material, an assembly of materials, or a product.
The directions for performing the test should include all of the essential details as to apparatus, test
specimen, procedure, and calculations needed to achieve satisfactory precision and bias.
An ASTM test method should represent a consensus as to the best currently available test procedure
for the use intended. It should be supported by experience and adequate data obtained from cooperative
tests.
In order to be the “best currently available,” test methods need periodic review to determine whether
revisions are desirable as the result of technological advances in manufacturing, testing, and use
requirements.
ASTM test methods are frequently intended for use in the buying and selling of materials according
to specifications and therefore should provide such precision that when the test is properly performed by
a competent operator the results will be found satisfactory for judging the compliance of the material
with the specification. These test methods cover the determination of fundamental properties of materials
such as density, absolute viscosity, softening point, and flash point. They may include a variety of
different laboratory procedures such as chemical and spectrochemical analyses, mechanical and
electrical tests, weathering tests, visual examination, fire tests, performance characteristics, sampling,
nondestructive tests, and radiation exposure tests. In some standards, optional test methods are included.
Statements addressing precision and bias are required in ASTM test methods. This gives the user of
the test method an idea of the nature of the sample to be prepared and analyzed and information
regarding the nature of the data obtained by using the method. The requirement of precision and bias
statements does not mean that numerical statements are required. It means that the spread of resulting
data and its relationship to an accepted reference material or source (if available) shall be addressed.
Some test methods have no numerical expression of precision or bias (for example, pass/fail tests, spot
tests.) In these cases, precision and bias shall be addressed and the reasons for not including relevant data
explained. Test methods are sometimes prepared for use in research rather than in the buying and selling
of materials. Other test methods cover process control, screening, and field tests. Although these latter
test methods may not always be as precise as referee test methods, they are sufficiently precise for the
intended use and usually require less time. Field tests allow testing at the site, thus eliminating
transportation of specimens to and from the laboratory.
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 the 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 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.
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