Procurement 101: Material Standards – ASTM, AISI, ASME, and Others

Introduction

Material standards play a crucial role in many industries by providing consistent specifications and testing methods for materials, products, systems, and services. They help ensure quality, safety, reliability, and interchangeability. Material standards provide detailed technical information so that all stakeholders—from designers to manufacturers to end-users—are on the “same page”.

Many material standards are voluntary consensus standards developed by experts from industry, government, and academia. They fill an important gap between broader regulations and the specific needs of businesses. Material standards benefit consumers by reducing errors and defects. They benefit companies by increasing efficiency. Overall, material standards make industries function more smoothly by facilitating communication and commerce. This article will provide an overview of major material standards organizations, the standards development process, and the many benefits that material standards provide.

History of Material Standards

The development of material standards and standards organizations began in the early 20th century as a response to the rapid growth of industry. As mass production and large-scale construction projects became more common, engineers recognized the need for consistent guidelines and specifications for materials.

Among the first standards organizations was the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), founded in 1898. ASTM brought together manufacturers, engineers, and other experts to collaboratively develop standard methods of testing materials. This allowed different companies, construction firms, and engineers to have a common set of testing procedures and material expectations.

Over the next few decades additional standards organizations emerged in the United States and globally. These included the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), founded in 1918, which serves as the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system across all industries. ANSI oversees the creation, promulgation, and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector.

Other notable organizations include the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), formed in 1921, focusing on structural steel standards, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), formed in 1880, which developed crucial standards for piping, pressure vessels, and other mechanical systems.

The development of centralized standards organizations and their material standards helped pave the way for large-scale innovation and construction projects in the 20th century. The consistent standards gave engineers and companies common guidelines to design and produce to, allowing complex, coordinated projects involving many different materials.

Major Standards Organizations

ASTM International, AISC, and ASME are three of the most important standards organizations for materials and manufacturing.

ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, was founded in 1898. ASTM develops international voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Some of ASTM’s most widely used standards are for steel, plastics, petroleum, construction, and medical services. ASTM has over 12,000 standards that are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance health and safety, strengthen market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.

ANSI oversees the development of standards by accrediting other standards organizations. While ANSI does not directly develop standards, it plays a key coordinating role in the broader U.S. standardization system. Many well-known standards like ISO 9001 for quality management are approved by ANSI.

AISC was founded in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry. AISC develops standards for the design and construction of structural steel buildings and bridges. Some of AISC’s most important standards relate to steel materials, design, fabrication, and erection for structural steel buildings and bridges. These include standards for structural steel shapes, specification for structural steel buildings, seismic design, welding, and quality control.

ASME was founded in 1880 to promote the art and science of mechanical engineering. ASME develops codes and standards relating to the functionality, quality, safety, and interoperability of mechanical systems and products. Some key ASME standards relate to materials and design for boilers, pressure vessels, piping, cranes, elevators, and nuclear components. ASME standards help define product specifications and best practices for mechanical engineering and manufacturing.

ASTM International

ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a nonprofit organization that develops and publishes technical standards for materials, products, and processes. Founded in 1898 as an engineering society focused on iron and steel, ASTM International has expanded its focus to include standards for almost every industry sector.  

ASTM International has over 30,000 members from 140+ countries worldwide, including manufacturers, academic institutions, government agencies, and other experts. The organization has a diverse membership with members representing over 100 countries. This global participation helps to build consensus and enables ASTM standards to be used worldwide.

Some of the many areas for which ASTM International has developed standards include metals, paints, plastics, textiles, petroleum, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, water quality, environmental assessment, renewable energy, construction, electronics, and more. ASTM International standards cover everything from the strength and durability of materials to test methods, safety guidelines, product specifications, classifications, and terminology.

ASTM International’s standards development process relies on consensus, transparency, and due process. Proposed new standards and revisions go through rigorous balloting and review by ASTM members. Standards are continuously reviewed and updated as needed to keep pace with technological developments. Compliance with ASTM standards is voluntary unless mandated by laws or regulations.

ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. Founded in 1918, ANSI coordinates and administers the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system.

ANSI does not itself develop standards. Instead, it accredits standards developers like ASTM, AISC, and ASME, ensuring that their standards development processes meet ANSI’s essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process. Once a standard is approved by an ANSI-accredited standards developer, it may be submitted for approval as an American National Standard.

ANSI represents the U.S. in international standards organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This helps to facilitate global trade by promoting the international alignment of standards.

In addition to its role in standards development, ANSI also:

• Accredits organizations that carry out product or personnel certification in accordance with requirements defined in international standards
• Provides education and training related to standards and conformity assessment
• Serves as a central resource for information about standards, conformity assessment programs, and related activities in the U.S. and globally

Through these activities, ANSI plays a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, protecting the environment and health and safety of consumers, and advancing the quality of life.

AISC

AISC is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association for the use of structural steel in the construction industry. Founded in 1921, AISC develops and publishes consensus standards for the design, fabrication and erection of structural steel buildings and bridges in the United States.

Some of AISC’s most widely used standards include:

• AISC 360 – Specification for Structural Steel Buildings: Provides requirements for the design, fabrication and erection of structural steel buildings. Includes provisions for seismic design.
• AISC 341 – Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings: Contains additional detailed requirements and supplemental information specifically related to seismic design.
• AISC 303 – Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges: Describes the standard procedures used in detailing, fabricating and erecting structural steel.
• AISC 325 – Steel Construction Manual: Contains the main AISC specifications and additional data, tables, charts and examples for efficiently designing steel structures.

AISC standards cover everything from design philosophies and loads, to member, connection and plate design, as well as fabrication and erection practices. By following AISC standards, engineers can design safe, durable and cost-effective steel structures.

ASME

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was founded in 1880 as a professional membership organization for mechanical engineers. Today, ASME has over 130,000 members worldwide and develops standards for a wide range of mechanical technologies.

ASME is best known for its Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). First published in 1914, the BPVC provides requirements for the design and fabrication of boilers and pressure vessels. It is written and maintained by volunteer technical experts and covers crucial topics like materials, design, fabrication, inspection and testing. Compliance with ASME’s BPVC is required by law for many types of boilers and pressure vessels in North America.

In addition to the BPVC, ASME issues several other notable standards:

• B16 Standards for Piping and Valves – Standards that cover pipe dimensions and materials, valve materials and design, flange dimensions, etc. Important for fabrication of process piping.
• ASME B31 Pressure Piping Codes – Codes covering design, materials, fabrication, inspection and testing of pressure piping systems. B31.1 covers power piping, B31.3 covers process piping.
• ASME Y14 Engineering Drawings and Related Documentation Practices – Standardizes practices, symbols and formats used on engineering drawings. Important for mechanical design communication.
• Performance Test Codes – Standards for uniform test methods and procedures to verify performance of pumps, fans, engines, gears and other mechanical equipment.

By developing consensus standards relevant to mechanical engineering, ASME has had a major influence on ensuring safety and enabling innovation across many industries.

Other Notable Standards Organizations

A few other notable standards organizations in the materials and manufacturing space include:

SAE International (SAE) – This organization develops standards for the automotive, aerospace, and commercial vehicle industries. Some key standards include specifications for automotive fasteners, aerospace materials, and vehicle electronics.

Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) – AIST supports the steel industry with technical journals and programs for education, training, and networking. Their technical committees publish recommended practices on design, manufacturing, testing, and use of steel products and materials.

Benefits of Material Standards

Material standards provide numerous benefits that impact a wide range of industries and applications. Some of the key benefits include:

Quality

• Material standards help ensure consistent quality across products, manufacturing processes, testing procedures, etc. This leads to higher quality and more reliable end products for consumers and industry.
• Standards support quality control and quality assurance by establishing clear specifications and test methods that can be uniformly applied.
• They allow for certification and compliance testing to verify products meet specifications for quality and performance.

Safety

• Many material standards are developed with safety in mind. They establish rigorous test protocols to ensure structural integrity, durability, and other safety-related factors.
• Standardized production and testing helps identify defects and weaknesses in materials that could lead to failures and accidents if gone undetected.
• Compliance with standards minimizes risk and provides confidence in the safe performance of everything from consumer goods to infrastructure.

Interoperability

• Standards facilitate interoperability between components, products, and systems.
• They ensure parts from various manufacturers are compatible and interchangeable through compliance with the same specifications.
• This interoperability creates flexibility and efficiency in design, production, and utilization of goods.

Cost Savings

• The efficiencies and economies of scale enabled by standards result in significant cost savings for industries.
• Using standardized materials, processes, interfaces, etc. reduces the need for customization and speeds up integration.
• Standards support competitive bidding and procurement processes by establishing accepted specifications.
• They eliminate redundant design, testing, and certification costs that would otherwise be incurred.

So in summary, material standards provide far-reaching benefits of higher quality, improved safety, increased compatibility, and major cost reductions across many sectors. Their impact on the economy and society is substantial.

Conclusion

Material standards play a crucial role in manufacturing, construction, and engineering industries by ensuring consistency, reliability, and safety. As discussed in this article, key standards organizations like ASTM International, ANSI, AISC, and ASME use a rigorous process to develop consensus-based standards for materials, design, testing, and more.

The standards development process involves many experts volunteering their time and is open to public input. This collaboration enables the creation of standards that represent the broader industry’s needs. For manufacturers, following material standards provides assurance that their products will meet quality benchmarks. For builders and engineers, using standard specifications gives confidence the materials will perform consistently.

Overall, material standards allow for innovation while reducing risks. They provide a common language for industries to clearly define product attributes. Adhering to standards helps improve quality control and safety. It also enables interoperability between materials from different manufacturers. As materials science continues advancing, standards will need to evolve as well. However, their fundamental purpose of promoting reliability, productivity, and public welfare will remain unchanged.

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