ASTM E3315-21

Standard Specification for Certification of Metallic Materials

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements for material certifications, specifically including materials under the jurisdiction of Committee E29. It defines terminology related thereto, including melt mill, traceability, heat number vs. lot number, certificate of compliance, and specifies the information to be included on material certifications. Hence the document is an authoritative reference to dispel the incorrect interpretations put forth by unknowledgeable segments of the metals industry.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for material certifications, specifically including materials under the jurisdiction of Committee E29, as well as defining terminology related thereto.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2021
• ICS: 77.040.01 - Testing of metals in general
• Technical Committee: E29 - Particle and Spray Characterization
• Drafting Committee: E29.01 - Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media

Relations

• Refers: ASTM A478-97(2019) - Standard Specification for Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Weaving and Knitting Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2019
• Refers: ASTM E2016-15 - Standard Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2015
• Refers: ASTM A478-97(2013) - Standard Specification for Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Weaving and Knitting Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2013
• Refers: ASTM E1638-13 - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2013
• Refers: ASTM E1638-12 - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 15-May-2012
• Refers: ASTM E2016-11 - Standard Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2011
• Refers: ASTM E1638-11a - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2011
• Refers: ASTM E1638-11 - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Refers: ASTM E1638-10 - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2010
• Refers: ASTM E1638-09 - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2009
• Refers: ASTM A478-97(2008) - Standard Specification for Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Weaving and Knitting Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2008
• Refers: ASTM E1638-07a - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods and Screening Media
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2007
• Refers: ASTM E2016-06 - Standard Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2006
• Refers: ASTM E1638-94(2004) - Standard Terminology Relating to Sieve Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2004
• Refers: ASTM E2016-99(2004)e1 - Standard Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2004

Overview

ASTM E3315-21: Standard Specification for Certification of Metallic Materials provides clear and authoritative guidelines for certifying metallic materials, especially those under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E29. The standard is designed to clarify important terminology, such as melt mill, traceability, heat number, lot number, and certificate of compliance, while specifying the essential information required on material certifications. This specification plays a critical role in ensuring that manufacturers, suppliers, and purchasers understand and meet certification requirements, thereby helping to eliminate incorrect interpretations and enhance quality assurance in the metals industry.

Key Topics

• Material Certification Requirements: Defines the mandatory information to be included in metallic material certification documents to ensure full traceability and compliance.
• Terminology: Clarifies key terms, including:
  • Certificate of compliance/conformance
  • Heat number and lot number
  • Melt mill origin and certification
  • Traceability
  • Revision level
• Supporting Documentation: Outlines certification substantiation such as inspection reports, chemical analysis, mechanical property data, and independent verification records.
• Ordering Information: Specifies what must be communicated in material orders, including product description, specification, technical requirements, and agreement of additional terms.
• Supplementary Requirements: Guidance for special government or defense contracts, such as DFARS compliance and explicit clause definitions.

Applications

This ASTM standard is applicable to a wide range of sectors that source or process metallic materials and require reliable, standardized certifications for quality control and regulatory compliance. Practical applications include:

• Procurement and Supply Chain: Provides clear requirements for suppliers to deliver standardized certifications, facilitating procurement decisions for industrial buyers and ensuring supplier accountability.
• Quality Management Systems: Supports compliance with quality frameworks (such as AS9100) by defining how certificates of compliance and traceability documentation are generated and maintained.
• Regulatory and Contract Compliance: Enables metals industry stakeholders to meet stringent contracting conditions, especially for government or defense contracts which often specify detailed origin and compliance requirements.
• Risk Mitigation: Reduces potential for disputes or rejections caused by unclear or incomplete material certifications by establishing uniform terminology and documentation standards.

Related Standards

Organizations implementing ASTM E3315-21 should also be aware of related standards, which address specific material properties or quality system requirements:

• ASTM A478: Specification for chromium-nickel stainless steel weaving and knitting wire.
• ASTM E1638: Terminology relating to sieves, sieving methods, and screening media.
• ASTM E2016: Specification for industrial woven wire cloth.
• AS9100: Quality systems - Aerospace standards for quality assurance in design, development, and production.
• Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS): For government/military procurement, ensuring specific requirements such as melt origin compliance.

Practical Value

By adopting ASTM E3315-21, organizations in the metals and manufacturing sectors standardize their approach to certifying metallic materials, improve documentation transparency, and enhance downstream traceability. The specification helps avoid misinterpretation, strengthens supplier-purchaser relationships, and facilitates international trade by aligning with WTO principles. Reliable metallic material certification is foundational for quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and global business success.

Keywords: ASTM E3315-21, metallic materials certification, material traceability, heat number, lot number, certificate of compliance, melt mill certification, procurement, quality assurance, DFARS compliance, ASTM standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3315 −21
Standard Specification for
Certification of Metallic Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3315; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for material
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of related terms, refer to
certifications, specifically including materials under the juris- Terminology E1638.
diction of Committee E29, as well as defining terminology
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
related thereto.
3.2.1 as reported, v—information based on a prior process-
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
ing certification.
asstandard.Nootherunitsofmeasurementareincludedinthis
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Applicable to chemistry, mechanical,
standard.
or other properties or processes.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2 as tested, v—informationbasedonactualtestingofthe
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
current processed material.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Parameters to be tested must be speci-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
fied.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.3 certificate of compliance, n—an attestation document
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
in accordance with 5.1.1.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Informally also known as certificate of
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
conformance orCofC.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.2.3.2 Discussion—Whilegenerallythesetermsareconsid-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ered synonymous and used interchangeably, there is also
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
argumentthatcomplianceisamorebindingtermwhenusedin
reference to an external specification (for example, wire in
2. Referenced Documents
accordance with Specification A478), while conformance may
2.1 ASTM Standards:
be used in reference to an internal specification (for example,
A478Specification for Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel
quality system in accordance with AS9100).
Weaving and Knitting Wire
3.2.4 country of melt origin, n—the country where the
E1638Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods,
original raw material was melted/smelted.
and Screening Media
3.2.4.1 Discussion—Just the term country of origin is a
E2016Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
vagueclausesubjecttointerpretationwithoutqualification;see
2.2 SAE Document:
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement
AS9100Quality systems —Aerospace — Model for quality
(DFARS), Supplementary Requirements section.
assurance in design, development, production,
3.2.5 DFARS, n—Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation
installation, and servicing
Supplement.
3.2.6 heat number, n—traceable reference as established by
the original melt mill.
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE29onParticle
and Spray Characterization and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E29.01
3.2.6.1 Discussion—For some products it is common that
on Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media.
multiple heats of material may be used in their manufacture.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2021. Published October 2021. DOI: 10.1520/
E3315-21.
3.2.7 inspection report, n—a document that states dimen-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
sional inspection result data.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
3.2.8 lot number, n—traceable reference used by any pro-
the ASTM website.
cessor of the material.
AvailablefromSAEInternational(SAE),400CommonwealthDr.,Warrendale,
PA 15096, http://www.sae.org. 3.2.8.1 Discussion—This is also known as batch, charge,
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3315 − 21
roll, work, etc., number, but not in lieu of heat number if 5.1.1.1 Customer name, address, and purchase order num-
traceability is required. ber;
5.1.1.2 Vendor name, address, and order number;
3.2.9 material certification, n—an attestation document in
5.1.1.3 Vendor lot number; and
accordance with 5.1.2 and if applicable 5.1.3.
5.1.1.4 Vendor authorization name and date.
3.2.10 melt mill certification, n—a chemical attestation
5.1.2 If specified at the time of ordering, the certification in
document from the original melt mill for the heat number.
addition to the r
...