ASTM INTERNATIONAL

eNewsFEBRUARY 2012   

ASTM eNews is a monthly e-newsletter that features the latest happenings at ASTM International, including technical committee news, publications, meetings, symposia and more. Like ASTM's bimonthly magazine Standardization News, eNews is a free benefit available to all ASTM members.

ASTM Publications

 

STP 1521, Testing and Use of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants   

 

 

ASTM Interactive Catalogs

 

Proficiency Testing Programs Catalog   

  

Petroleum Catalog 

 

2012 Standards Catalog 

 

2012 Products Catalog  

 

 

CALENDAR

Committee Week

 

April Committee Week

April 15-20, Phoenix, AZ 

 

May Committee Week 
May 6-11, Phoenix, AZ   

 

June Committee Week  June 24-29, San Diego, CA         

  

See more on committee meetings/committee weeks. 

 

Symposia/Workshops  

Technical/Professional 
 Training Courses     

 

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HEADLINES...This month's top stories 
ASTM Launches a Nuclear Portal
ASTM has added a nuclear portal to its website that ties together the nuclear-related activity being conducted across its technical committees. The portal highlights the latest information on newly-published ASTM nuclear standards; proposed new standards and revisions to current standards; schedules of upcoming meetings and symposia; and video presentations from nuclear industry officials. In addition, the portal features a blog in which visitors can post comments or questions related to nuclear industry standardization. Visit the portal at www.astm.org/portals/nuclear. [Full Story]
ASTM and IAPMO Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop ASTM Standards for Heat Meters
ASTM International and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials signed a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 20, 2011, to establish a framework of cooperation for the development of ASTM standards for heat metering. On Jan. 20, the EPA officially delegated and presented the newly forged partnership of ASTM and IAPMO with the heat metering standard framework. According to the terms of the MOU, ASTM will serve as the standards developing organization for the activity on heat metering. IAPMO will participate within the ASTM process and provide technical expertise. [Full Story]      
Memorandum Clarifies Principles Guiding Federal Government Involvement in Standards Activities
On Jan. 17, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a memorandum to clarify principles guiding federal government engagement in standards activities that can help address national priorities. The memo stated that "the vibrancy and effectiveness of the U.S. standards system in enabling innovation depend on continued private sector leadership and engagement" and that federal agencies should continue to involve the private sector in the development of standards. In instances where a national priority has been identified in statute, regulation, or administration policy, the government will work with private sector standards organizations to accelerate standards development and implementation. Current examples include standards for healthcare technology and clean energy. Click here to read the full White House standards memo.   
Nominations for William T. Cavanaugh Memorial Award
Free Online Member Training 
ASTM offers free one-hour online training courses for members. Upcoming courses are: WebEx Training (Feb. 15), New Member Orientation and Training (Feb. 15), Responsibilities for Task Group Chairs and Technical Contacts (March 8), Balloting and Handling Negative Votes (March 8), ASTM Online Tools (March 13), Interlaboratory Studies Program (March 15), Roster Maintenance Training (March 20), and Developing and Revising an ASTM Standard (March 20). Visit the ASTM website to register.
committeenewsCOMMITTEE NEWS . . . The latest from ASTM's technical committees

Aerial Adventures     

A proposed Committee F24 standard is the result of a collaborative effort between ASTM and the Association for Challenge Course Technology to develop  standards for commercial zip lines and other aerial adventure rides. [Full Story]  

  

Vacuum Cleaners     

All interested parties are invited to join a new Committee F11 task group that will be developing standards to measure the performance of battery operated vacuum cleaners. [Full Story] 


Fiber-Reinforced Concrete  

Committee C09 is developing a new standard that will provide proper direction and ensure adequate documentation to aid in the interpretation and reduction of variance in test results for fiber-reinforced concretes. [Full Story] 


Printing Ink Vehicles   

Committee D01's proposed new standard will be the first compilation of definitions for terms commonly used in the printing ink vehicle industry. [Full Story]

Electrical Conductors    

A proposed Committee B01 standard will provide clear guidelines for performing the test used to develop a model for electrical conductors employed in overhead power lines. [Full Story]   

  

Pole Vaulting   

A proposed new Committee F08 standard has the potential to make pole vaulting safer by specifying the performance requirements for pole vault box collars. [Full Story]   

 

Footwear Slip Resistance     

A new Committee F13 standard will provide safety and risk management professionals with an aid in measuring the slip resistance of footwear. [Full Story] 

 

Amusement Rides and Devices       

Approximately 150-200 safety experts from around the world are expected at the Feb. 16-18 Committee F24 standards development meetings. [Full Story]

more3GLOBAL NOTES . . . ASTM around the world 

ASTM Participates in Textile Forum in India    

Jayakumar Gopalakrishnan, ASTM's local textile instructor and technical and service consultant in India, was the chief guest and a presenter at an  international technical forum on sustainability, innovation and the textile industry's current and future market prospective, held in Tirupur, India, in January. The event, hosted by Natimeo India, featured experts from organizations, testing agencies, and chemical and dye manufacturers who discussed solutions to challenge the current market situation and develop a new vision for the future of the textile industry. Gopalakrishnan spoke about standards development within ASTM Committee D13 on Textiles and its new subcommittee on Sustainability.  

 

more3DID YOU KNOW? . . .National Engineers Week   

National Engineers Week, an annual celebration of the positive contributions engineers make to society, will occur Feb. 19-25. Sponsored by the National Engineers Week Foundation, the campaign is part of many corporate and government cultures and is celebrated on every U.S. engineering college campus, according to the Foundation. The Foundation hosts many events during Engineers Week and throughout the year to recognize the important role engineers play in today's society and to teach students across the U.S. about engineering. Events include "Discover Engineering Family Day," "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day," "New Faces of Engineering and News Faces of Engineering-College Editions" and much more. For more information on Engineers Week and to see how you can get involved, visit the website at www.eweek.org. 



ASTM International is one of the world's largest management systems for the development of voluntary standards for materials, products, systems and services.

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Erin K. Brennan, Editor
ebrennan@astm.org

Copyright ©2012 ASTM International