Where can I take a peek at ASTM standards without buying?

[patrick_1446]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a look at an ASTM standard testing procedure without buying it?

Due to the recent need to double check my supplier and to keep them honest, I would like to do Compression Deflection testing on each lot of foam that enters the plant. I don't have a need or a desire to become a certified lab or have it done in one, I'd just like to be able to catch problems prior to them running in production. I currently check the density and hardness (shore 00) of each lot, but I believe CD testing would give me a better idea of consistency that my suppliers are sending me.

I've Googled until I'm red in the face and haven't found anything except sites wanting me to buy. I believe the standard I need is ASTM D-1056, but am not sure.

Thanks,
Patrick Pelltier

 

[Coury Ferguson]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a look at an ASTM standard testing procedure without buying it?

Due to the recent need to double check my supplier and to keep them honest, I would like to do Compression Deflection testing on each lot of foam that enters the plant. I don't have a need or a desire to become a certified lab or have it done in one, I'd just like to be able to catch problems prior to them running in production. I currently check the density and hardness (shore 00) of each lot, but I believe CD testing would give me a better idea of consistency that my suppliers are sending me.

I've Googled until I'm red in the face and haven't found anything except sites wanting me to buy. I believe the standard I need is ASTM D-1056, but am not sure.

Thanks,
Patrick Pelltier

Patrick,

Welcome.

That would be a problem. All of those standards are copyright. For the information that you request, I doubt that the overviews found via the web would not be what you are seeking.

If it is a requirement of your supplier, I hope they have a copy of the standard. Ask to see their copy.

 

[Kevin H]

Patrick, I'd have to agree with Coury. You may be able to get a copy from your supplier. The least expensive way to purchase a single ASTM standard is to go to their website and download it as a pdf file via a credit card purchase. The ballpark cost that I remember per single standard is $50. Caveat - I haven't purchased a single standard in a couple years.

They also offer different levels of subscription services that permit downloading x number of standards in pdf form in a 1 year time frame. I believe the number of standards goes by 25, 50, 100, ? The single cost per standard worked out to less than ordering them just by single standards as needed. I remember $675 or so for the 25 standard packet - again I haven't been directly involved for a couple years so I'm sure prices have changed upward.

To pursue this route, go to www.astm.org

 

[Jim Wynne]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a look at an ASTM standard testing procedure without buying it?

Due to the recent need to double check my supplier and to keep them honest, I would like to do Compression Deflection testing on each lot of foam that enters the plant. I don't have a need or a desire to become a certified lab or have it done in one, I'd just like to be able to catch problems prior to them running in production. I currently check the density and hardness (shore 00) of each lot, but I believe CD testing would give me a better idea of consistency that my suppliers are sending me.

I've Googled until I'm red in the face and haven't found anything except sites wanting me to buy. I believe the standard I need is ASTM D-1056, but am not sure.

Thanks,
Patrick Pelltier

Just out of curiousity, how can you apply the standard to your supplier's product if you don't know what standard is being applied? If you do know, and your supplier is supposed to be doing the testing, or claiming that his products meet the standard, ask him to see his copy.

 

[quality_gurl]

I have found that main library's tend to keep copies of all the ASTM books and/or CD's on hand. Sometimes, I have found they are willing to fax copies to you. I hope this helps.

 

[Wayne]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a look at an ASTM standard testing procedure without buying it?

Five things:

First, the reason that the standards cost something to own is that then only the people who need to see the standard are paying for the privilege of having the technical data provided in such a concise manor. Years past, the standards were compiled at taxpayer expense. This is no longer fully true. The cost of supplying the data now is mostly from fees for purchase. Your employer would be much better served to purchase the standard for the minimal charge, than to pay you for hours of internet searching to avoid the cost. That is false economy.

Second, if your company has the design responsibility for a product and you specify compliance to a standard, you should own the standard. It could be a product liability issue.

Third, and this almost never happens, but violation of copyright law can be costly.:mg: It is best for any company who needs a standard to just purchase the standard. Again, the cost of the standard is minimal compared to the hidden costs of avoiding the purchase.

Fourth, I have been purchasing standards one at a time and I am finding that the copyright protection on the downloaded standards is getting very good. Basically you can only view the standard on the computer to which it was downloaded, and you can only print one copy of the standard. The protection is tight. A real life example: I purchased a standard because I urgently needed to read one page. Immediately upon receiving the download I printed the one page so I could finish my task. I later went back to the standard to print the whole file for my data records and was prohibited from doing so. It took some phone calls, but I did eventually get the whole thing printed, but I will not do that again.

Fifth, owning and knowing the standard will give you an upper hand in any quality debate. When questioned on an issue, the answer to the question can be: What does the standard say about this? If the answer is vague, ask: From which paragraph in the standard did they get their data? If it is admitted that they were trying to make your product to a standard of which they have no copy, and thus no direct knowledge of your requirements, you win by pointing out their incompetence, but only if you own the standard, and, oh-by-the-way, you cannot give them a copy because it is copyrighted. Tell them to purchase their your own copy, it is part of the cost of doing business.

Please take all my heavy talk with a big grin.