ASTM E105-21

Standard Guide for Probability Sampling of Materials

ABSTRACT
This practice is primarily a statement of principles for the guidance of ASTM technical committees and others in the preparation of a sampling plan for a specific material. The purpose of the sample may be to estimate properties of a larger population, such as a lot, pile or shipment, the percentage of some constituent, the fraction of the items that fail to meet (or meet) a specified requirement, the average characteristic or quality of an item, the total weight of the shipment, or the probable maximum or minimum content of some chemical. A probability sampling plan will possess an objective procedure for the selection of the sample with the use of random numbers and a definite formula for the estimate and standard error of any estimate.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of the sample may be to estimate properties of a larger population, such as a lot, pile or shipment, the percentage of some constituent, the fraction of the items that fail to meet (or meet) a specified requirement, the average characteristic or quality of an item, the total weight of the shipment, or the probable maximum or minimum content of, say, some chemical.  
4.2 The purpose may be the rational disposition of a lot or shipment without the intermediate step of the formation of an estimate.  
4.3 The purpose may be to provide aid toward rational action concerning the production process that generated the lot, pile or shipment.  
4.4 Whatever the purpose of the sample, adhering to the principles of probability sampling will allow the uncertainties, such as bias and variance of estimates or the risks of the rational disposition or action, to be calculated objectively and validly from the theory of combinatorial probabilities. This assumes, of course, that the sampling operations themselves were carried out properly, as well. Proper sampling requires that any random numbers were generated properly, the units to be sampled from were correctly identified, located, and drawn, and the measurements were made with measurement error at a level not exceeding the required purposes.  
4.5 Determination of bias and variance and of risks can be calculated when the selection was only partially determined by random numbers and a frame, but they then require suppositions and assumptions which may be more or less mistaken or require additional data which may introduce experimental error.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is primarily a statement of principles for the guidance of ASTM technical committees and others in the preparation of a sampling plan for a specific material.  
1.2 A system of units is not specified 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-May-2021
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E11 - Quality and Statistics
• Drafting Committee: E11.10 - Sampling / Statistics

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: E105 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
1
Probability Sampling of Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E105; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope positional, or other cues that are believed to be related to the
variable of interest, so that the selected items appear to match
1.1 This guide is primarily a statement of principles for the
the population.
guidance of ASTM technical committees and others in the
3.1.2 probability sampling plan, n—a procedure which pro-
preparation of a sampling plan for a specific material.
vides a result from a randomly selected set of sampling units
1.2 A system of units is not specified in this standard.
that will agree, within calculable limits of variation, with the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
population value.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Probabilitysamplingplansmakeuseof
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the theory of probability to combine a suitable procedure for
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
selecting sample items with an appropriate procedure for
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
summarizing the test results so that inferences may be drawn
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
and risks calculated from the test results by the theory of
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
probability. For any given set of conditions, there will usually
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
be several possible plans, all valid, but differing in speed,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
simplicity, and cost.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.2.2 Discussion—FurtherdiscussionisprovidedinGuide
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
E1402 and Practice E141.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 The purpose of the sample may be to estimate properties
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,With
of a larger population, such as a lot, pile or shipment, the
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
percentage of some constituent, the fraction of the items that
Lot or Process
fail to meet (or meet) a specified requirement, the average
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
characteristic or quality of an item, the total weight of the
E141 Practice for Acceptance of Evidence Based on the
shipment, or the probable maximum or minimum content of,
Results of Probability Sampling
say, some chemical.
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
4.2 The purpose may be the rational disposition of a lot or
E1402 Guide for Sampling Design
shipment without the intermediate step of the formation of an
3. Terminology
estimate.
3.1 Definitions—Unless otherwise noted in this standard, all 4.3 The purpose may be to provide aid toward rational
terms relating to quality and statistics are defined in Terminol- actionconcerningtheproductionprocessthatgeneratedthelot,
ogy E456. pile or shipment.
3.1.1 judgment sampling, n—a procedure whereby enu-
4.4 Whatever the purpose of the sample, adhering to the
merators select a few items of the population, based on visual,
principles of probability sampling will allow the uncertainties,
such as bias and variance of estimates or the risks of the
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E11 on Quality and
rational disposition or action, to be calculated objectively and
Statistics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E11.10 on Sampling /
validly from the theory of combinatorial probabilities. This
Statistics.
assumes, of course, that the sampling operations themselves
Current edition approved June 1, 2021. Published June 2021. Originally
were carried out properly, as well. Proper sampling requires
approved in 1954. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E105 – 16. DOI:
10.1520/E0105-21.
that any random numbers were generated properly, the units to
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
be sampled from were correctly identified, located, and drawn,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
and the measurements were made with measurement error at a
Standards volume information, refer to the stand
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E105 − 16 E105 − 21 An American National Standard
Standard PracticeGuide for
1
Probability Sampling of Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E105; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practiceguide is primarily a statement of principles for the guidance of ASTM technical committees and others in the
preparation of a sampling plan for a specific material.
1.2 A system of units is not specified 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or
Process
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
E141 Practice for Acceptance of Evidence Based on the Results of Probability Sampling
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E1402 Guide for Sampling Design
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:Definitions
3.1.1 For general terminology, refer to Terminology E456 and Guide E1402.—Unless otherwise noted in this standard, all terms
relating to quality and statistics are defined in Terminology E456.
3.1.1 judgment sampling, n—a procedure whereby enumerators select a few items of the population, based on visual, positional,
or other cues that are believed to be related to the variable of interest, so that the selected items appear to match the population.
3.1.2 probability sampling plan, n—a sampling plan which makes use of the theory of probability to combine a suitable procedure
1
This practiceguide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E11 on Quality and Statistics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E11.10 on Sampling /
Statistics.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016June 1, 2021. Published April 2016June 2021. Originally approved in 1954. Last previous edition approved in 20102016 as
E105 – 10.E105 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/E0105-16.10.1520/E0105-21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E105 − 21
for selecting sample items with an appropriate procedure for summarizing the test results so that inferences may be drawn and risks
calculated from the test results by the theory of probability.procedure which provides a result from a randomly selected set of
sampling units that will agree, within calculable limits of variation, with the population value.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—
Probability sampling plans make use of the theory of probability to combine a suitable procedure for selecting sample items with
an appropriate procedure for summarizing the test results so that inferences may be drawn and risks calculated from the test results
by the theory of probability. For any given set of conditions, there will usually be several possible plans, all valid, but differing
in speed, simplicity, and cost. Further discussion is provided in Practice E141.
3.1.2.2 Discussion—
Further discussion is provided in Guide E1402 and Practice E141.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of the sample may be to estimate properties of a larger population, such as a lot, pile or shipment, the percentage
of some constituent, the fraction of the items that fail to meet (or meet) a specified requirement, the average characteristic or quality
of an item, the total weight of the shipment, or the probable maximum or minimum content of, say, some chemical.
4.2 The pu
...