CHART XV American Standards Association (ASA) HOW AMERICAN STANDARDS ARE DEVELOPED The American Standards Association has four methods of procedure. The most common is the sectional committee method, principal steps of which are given below that work has been carried on in an open and orderly manner, and the vote on the standard in the Committee is judged sufficient to establish a real national consensus. Standard published by ASA or Sponsor. Committee continued for interpretation of standard and for its future revision, or discharged if no future action seems likely. For existing standards or for relatively simple problems of standardization, three other methods are provided by which standards may come before the Association. 1. The Existing Standards Method.-Any standard already in existence may be approved as an American Standard provided it is supported by a consensus of the groups concerned. Revisions must be approved by some other method. 2. The General Acceptance Method.-A relatively simple standard be may developed through a conference of the interested groups reinforced by written acceptances. 3. The Proprietary Standards Method.-A responsible organization having a position of preeminence in the field of the standard may assume responsibility for the revisions of a standard that has already been approved under one of the other methods, usually the existing standards or the general acceptance method. U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1941-0-272496 The American Society for Testing Materials. This society (A. S. T. M.) was organized in 1898 as a section of the International Association for Testing Materials. In 1902 it was incorporated as an independent society, the purpose of which is "the promotion of knowledge of the materials of engineering and the standardization of specifications and methods of testing." 41" The membership of the society is made up of individuals, companies, firms, corporations, associations, laboratories, governmental departments, universities, technical schools, and libraries. It is a national technical society with approximately 4,200 members. The society has 59 standing committees with a total membership of 3,405. These committees are organized under separate major divisions, such as ferrous metals; nonferrous metals; cementitious, ceramic, concrete, and masonry materials; miscellaneous materials, such as paints, petroleum products, gaseous fuels, coal, timber, paper and its products, rubber products, soaps and other detergents, textile materials, and plasties; and miscellaneous subjects, such as methods of tests, chemical analysis of metals, radiographic testing, nomenclature and definitions, research. The following statement is made concerning the work of these committees: The standing committees of the society have the broad functions of promoting the knowledge of materials of engineering and the formulation of standard methods of test, specifications, definitions, and recommended practices relating to such materials * *. The obtaining of accurate technical information on the characteristics of engineering materials is fundamental and serves as a basis for the standardization work, which comprises the following: 1. The development of suitable analytical procedures, sampling techniques, and ethods of test for determining the constitution, structure, or properties of materials. 2. The formulation of specifications defining the quality and characteristics of Laterials. 3. The formulation of standard definitions and systems of nomenclature. 4. The preparation of recommended practices governing certain methods and processes not ordinarily subject to contract. The scope of activities of each of the individual standing committees is indicated, particularly as to the materials falling within the jurisdiction of each. In general, the committees are interested in both standardization and investigative work, except in those instances where some limitation is definitely indicated." The society, which was one of the founding societies of the American Standards Association, is sponsor or joint sponsor of 15 sectional comittees functioning under the procedure of that association. These committees deal with a variety of subjects, such as portland cement, rain tile, plastering, copper wire, classification of coal, and methods of testing materials. The society is represented on 34 other sectional Committees of the American Standards Association and on 10 technical Committees of the International Standards Association. Representatives of the society serve on one or more committees or boards of 17 ther organizations. The American Society for Testing Materials is affiliated with the International Association of Testing Materials. The A. S. T. M. Standards and Tentative Standards are published by the society. Procedure for promulgation of Tentative Standards "Year Book," pp. 5-14, American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia, Pa., Angust 1939. Idem. 272496-41-No. 24- -15 and A. S. T. M. Standards is shown in chart XVI. tion of these standards appears in 3 parts totaling 3 includes 866 standards for materials or test methods: Part I. Materials.-Ferrous and nonferrous metals, except me analysis, general testing methods. Part II. Nonmetallic materials-Constructional.-Cementitiou crete, masonry building units, ceramics, pipe timber and pres road materials, waterproofing materials, soils, general testing n Part III. Nonmetallic materials-General.-Fuels, petroleun trical insulating materials, rubber, textiles, soaps and detergent: water, thermometers, general testing methods. The A. S. T. M. Standards are of exceptional value t consumers. These standards are developed by representa variety of interests for their own use in purchasing or pr are revised promptly as the need arises. One of the committees of great interest to ultimate co textile committee of the A. S. T. M., whose designation functions of this committee are best described in the foll from a letter by Prof. Herbert J. Ball, chairman of the co The committee is organized into subcommittees which deal wit fiber and their products, with definitions and nomenclature, met humidity, finishing processes, sampling, presentation, and interpre It has been chiefly instrumental in developing most of the test meth which are in use today and has formulated 37 separate standa them. The committee now proposes to add a new subcommittee on garment fabrics, whose chief interest will lie in those materials largely into the construction of ultimate consumer goods. Althou deal with the ultimate consumer article itself, it would be conce setting up of definitions, methods of test, and quality standards from which such articles are made. Its membership would be con ducer, consumer, and general interests. Its accomplishments shou firm foundation of scientific tests and data. Through cooperation v subcommittees and using a procedure tested by long experience, re expected which are practically attainable and mutually satisfact concerned. The present members of D-13 can supply a vast amount of technic regarding the production of textiles. The laboratories of its mem a great variety of testing equipment of both standard and special typ of supply of materials are generously open to the committee for its committee has the benefit of its long experience with work of thi its reputation is widely known and well established; and it benefi universal prestige which the A. S. T. M. enjoys." Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists of Nort (A. O. A. C.) was founded in 1884 by several representativ tural chemists interested in adopting a uniform system for th of commercial fertilizers. At the first meeting methods for the determination of ammo phoric acid, and potash in commercial fertilizers were adopte the passage of food and drug, and insecticide and fungicidi legislation by the States and by the Federal Government made sary to extend the scope of the association's activities for thi that the methods adopted by the association were designate. 43 "Committee D-13 and Consumer Goods," Journal of Home Economies, 14 390-391, June 1936. |