ASTM F2342/F2342M-15(2021)

Standard Specification for Design and Construction of Composition or Quality Constituent Measuring Devices or Systems

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for design and construction of evaluation devices or systems for measuring composition or quality constituents of live animals, livestock and poultry carcasses, and individual cuts of meat, or a combination thereof. Examples include, but are not limited, to half and whole carcasses, primals, subprimals, and boxed meat.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the 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: 65.020.30 - Animal husbandry and breeding
• ICS: 67.120.20 - Poultry and eggs
• Technical Committee: F10 - Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Drafting Committee: F10.10 - Design Specification

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F2463-12b - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2012
• Refers: ASTM F2463-12be1 - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2012
• Refers: ASTM F2463-12a - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012
• Refers: ASTM F2463-12 - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2012
• Refers: ASTM F2463-06 - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2006
• Refers: ASTM F2463-05a - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Refers: ASTM F2463-05 - Standard Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems
• Effective Date: 01-May-2005

Overview

The ASTM F2342/F2342M-15(2021) standard provides comprehensive requirements for the design and construction of devices and systems that measure the composition or quality constituents of live animals, livestock and poultry carcasses, and individual cuts of meat. Developed by ASTM International, this standard ensures reliable and consistent measurement for applications such as half and whole carcasses, primals, subprimals, and boxed meat. It is recognized internationally and adheres to globally accepted principles for standardization set by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Key Topics

• Scope of Devices: Applies to equipment measuring or evaluating the value of live animals, carcasses, and meat cuts-including digital indicators, electronic records, and systems utilizing diverse unit measurements.
• Measurement Units: Devices must indicate and record values in either SI units or inch-pound units. Mixing units within a single system is not permitted to guarantee accuracy and compliance.
• Design and Functionality:
  • Devices require indicating and recording elements with clear, accurate, and readable output.
  • Recording can be via electronic means or physical records (tape, card, etc.).
  • Easy-to-read character sizes (minimum 4 mm) are mandated for primary indicators.
  • Communication interfaces must allow connection to recording elements for devices lacking built-in recording capability.
• Physical Properties and Performance:
  • Devices must function within standard ambient temperature ranges (-10 to 40°C unless otherwise marked).
  • Environmental resilience is required, with tolerance to disturbances such as RFI, EMI, acoustic changes, or ambient light.
• Operational Integrity:
  • Error/fault detection with clear visual and recorded messages for invalid measurements.
  • Placement or sensor pressure critical to accuracy must be automatically monitored with controls to prevent erroneous readings.
• Marking and Traceability:
  • Devices must be permanently marked with manufacturer information, model designation, serial number, and certification details (such as the NTEP Certificate of Conformance, where applicable).
  • Required markings must be plainly visible or easily accessible.
• Calibration and Security:
  • Security provisions for calibration and configuration parameters are required, using physical seals or audit trails according to specified categories in Table 1 of the standard.
  • Requirements for reference materials to support initial setup and ongoing calibration, with documented traceability.

Applications

The ASTM F2342/F2342M-15(2021) standard is crucial for:

• Meat Processing Facilities: Ensuring precise measurement of quality constituents for carcasses and meat cuts to support product grading, pricing, and regulatory compliance.
• Livestock and Poultry Evaluation: Supporting fair and consistent evaluation practices in live animal and carcass inspection, valuation, and trade.
• Device Manufacturers: Providing design and manufacturing benchmarks for evaluation and measurement devices, promoting product reliability and international market access.
• Quality Control: Facilitating traceable, auditable measurements for quality assurance departments and regulatory inspectors in the food production and supply chain.
• Exporters and Importers: Offering standardized criteria that help reduce technical barriers and support international trade in livestock and meat products.

Related Standards

• ASTM F2463 - Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems: Definitions relevant to understanding evaluation devices and systems.
• IEEE/ASTM SI 10 - Standard for the Use of the International System of Units (SI): Guidance on SI units referenced in measurement devices.
• National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) - Ensures devices conform with national standards and provides third-party certification traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Keywords: composition measuring devices, evaluation systems, livestock, poultry, meat quality, design specification, calibration security, ASTM F2342

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: F2342/F2342M −15 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Specification for
Design and Construction of Composition or Quality
Constituent Measuring Devices or Systems
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF2342/F2342M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
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 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 evaluation device, n—equipment designed to measure
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for design
composition or quality constituents used to determine the value
and construction of evaluation devices or systems for measur-
of live animals, carcasses, and individual cuts of meat (see
ing composition or quality constituents of live animals, live-
Terminology F2463).
stock and poultry carcasses, and individual cuts of meat, or a
combination thereof. Examples include, but are not limited, to
3.2.2 evaluation system, n—device or group of devices used
halfandwholecarcasses,primals,subprimals,andboxedmeat.
to measure and record composition or quality constituents used
to determine the value of live animals, carcasses, and indi-
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
vidual cuts of meat (see Terminology F2463).
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
3.2.3 fault condition, n—abnormal condition that may cause
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
a reduction in, or loss of the capability of, a functional unit to
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
perform a required function.
with the standard.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Principally, a fault is the result of an
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the error in the data contained in or flowing through a measuring
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the device or system.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.4 inch-pound unit, n—inASTM standards, unit based on
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
the inch and pound, commonly used in the United States of
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
America and defined by the National Institute of Standards and
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
Technology, including certain other units accepted for use with
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
the units.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.2.4.1 Discussion—Inch-pound, also known as US Cus-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
tomary Units, are one type of non-SI units.Another example of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
non-SI units is the centimetre gram second (cgs) system.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.5 indicating element, n—element incorporated in a mea-
2. Referenced Documents
suring device or system by means of which its output, relative
2.1 ASTM Standards: toquantityorqualitymeasurement,isdisplayedor“read”from
the device itself as, for example, a digital indicator.
F2463 Terminology for Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evalu-
ation Systems
3.2.6 meat, n—edible product(s) harvested by the livestock
or poultry packing industries (see Terminology F2463).
3. Terminology
3.2.7 National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP),
3.1 For definitions relating to livestock, meat, and poultry
n—program administered by the National Conference on
evaluation systems, see Terminology F2463.
Weights and Measures, Inc. (NCWM) in cooperation with the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), state
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F10 on
and local governments, and the private sector for determining,
Livestock, Meat, and Poultry Evaluation Systems and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F10.10 on Design Specification.
on a uniform basis, conformance of a type, with an applicable
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2021.PublishedJuly2021.Originallyapproved
standard.
in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F2342/F2342M – 15. DOI:
10.1520/F2342_F2342M-15R21.
3.2.8 recording element, n—element incorporated in a mea-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
suring device by means of which its output, relative to quantity
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
or quality measurement, is permanently recorded on a tape,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. ticket, card, electronic storage medium, or the like, in the form
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2342/F2342M − 15 (2021)
of a printed, stamped, punched, perforated representation, or a accurate measurements and a stable ready to measure reference
retrievable electronic record. point has been attained.
3.2.9 reference material, n—physical object used as a basis 5.3 A device or system shall be designed to operate within
for comparison or calibration.
prescribed tolerances when subjected to environmental distur-
bances normally found in the environment in which it is used.
3.2.10 SI unit, n—in ASTM standards, unit of the Interna-
Examples of disturbances include but are not limited to Radio
tional System of Units (SI) and other units specifically ap-
Frequency Interference (RFI), Electromagnetic Interference
proved in IEEE/ASTM SI 10 as a unit for use with SI.
(EMI), acoustic changes, ambient light, and so forth.
3.2.11 units of measure, n—for the purpose of this
5.3.1 If the measuring accuracy of a measurement device is
specification, the units of measure shall be the International
adversely affected by the speed of operation, the device must
System of Units (SI).
bemarkedwithamaximumnumberofmeasurementsperhour.
3.2.11.1 Discussion—SI units are divided into three classes:
6. Other Requirements
base units, derived units, and supplementary units.
6.1 Error Message(s):
4. Materials and Manufacture
6.1.1 All measurement devices or systems shall be equipped
with a mechanism that provides a visual and recorded fault
4.1 Indicators and Recording Elements—All evaluation sys-
indication or message if any condition causes an invalid
tems or devices shall be provided with an indicating element,
measurement as defined by the manufacturer.
and all systems must include a recording element appropriate
6.1.2 If the placement of the measurement device is critical
in design and adequate in amount for purposes of measuring,
to the accuracy of the measurement process for any measuring
training, calibrating, and testing. The recording of measure-
or evaluation device or system used for evaluating carcasses:
ments may be an electronic record. Primary indications and
6.1.2.1 The device shall leave a placement mark or dot on
recorded representations shall be clear, definite, accurate, and
the carcass being evaluated, or
easy to read during normal use and testing of the device.
6.1.2.2 The device or system shall not accept the measure-
4.2 The minimum character size of all indications necessary
ment or shall indicate a fault condition if the device is
to the measurement process shall be not less than 4 mm and
inappropriately placed on a carcass that is properly presented
easy to read under any ambient condition.
for measurement or evaluation.
4.3 Any measuring or evaluation device or system without a 6.1.3 If the application pressure of the sensor is critical to
built-in recording element shall be provided with a communi-
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