ASTM E1595-98

Standard Practice for Evaluating the Performance of Mechanical Testing Laboratories (Withdrawn 2002)

SCOPE
1.1 This practice interprets the generic criteria listed in the referenced documents as they apply to mechanical testing. The omission of generic criteria contained in any of the reference documents does not necessarily mean that they are inapplicable to this practice.
1.2 The specific criteria assess features of organization, facilities, personnel, testing procedures, and record keeping to give an indication of the precision of the test results and the validity of the reports produced by a mechanical testing laboratory.
1.2.1 Some specific criteria of this practice may not be applicable when tests are only conducted for the company with which the lab is affiliated or when the tests are conducted on a company's own products and are reported only within the company or to purchasers of those products. When exceptions to this practice exist, the assessor shall be informed of them. The exceptions shall be made available to the assessor if requested.  
1.2.2 An appendix applicable to a specific test method further defines the specific criteria listed in the main portion of the practice.  
1.2.2.1 The test methods state some requirements without numerical values or recommended procedures for determining whether the requirements are met. One purpose of an appendix is to provide procedures and quantitative values which may be used during assessment. It is not to be considered as the requirements for assessment or for testing according to the method. Only the assessor or the accrediting agency can state requirements for assessment. Similarly, only the responsible subcommittee can state the requirements of the test method. Where mandatory requirements of the test method are referenced, mandatory wording is used in the appendix.  
1.2.2.2 For the purposes of this appendix it is assumed that when a measurement is required, some degree of accuracy is implied even if none is stated.  
1.2.2.3 If an assessor chooses to require any of these criteria, then the laboratory should be prepared to demonstrate compliance by measurement made during the assessment or to have at hand a report of such measurement made previously.  
1.2.3 An appendix covering details peculiar to certain tests is appended to this practice as follows:  
1.2.4 The specific test methods and practices applicable to the work of the laboratory and listed in 2.1 should be employed in assessing the capability of the laboratory.
1.3 The laboratory being accredited may be part of a larger organization.
1.4 Testing, approval, and certification of a company's own products or services, or both, by its own laboratory does not constitute a conflict of interest.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-1998
• Withdrawal Date: 31-Mar-2002
• ICS: 03.120.20 - Product and company certification. Conformity assessment
• ICS: 19.060 - Mechanical testing
• Technical Committee: E28 - Mechanical Testing

Standards Content (Sample)

Designation: E 1595 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Evaluating the Performance of Mechanical Testing
1
Laboratories
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1595; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Criteria for laboratory assessment are commonly divided into two classes: generic (or general) and
specific. The generic criteria are applicable to all laboratories regardless of the type of test being
performed. Specific criteria are interpretations of the generic criteria applied to more limited areas of
testing, such as a product class, type of test, or a particular test method.
The sources of the criteria for this practice include ISO/IEC Guide 25 (see Section 2), Guide E 548
and Practice A 880. If inconsistencies exist between these documents, the criteria given in this practice
have precedence.
Accreditation is only an indicator of the quality of service furnished by the laboratory and does not
relieve normal contractual responsibilities.
All information gained by an assessor or by an accreditation agency must be treated as confidential.
Such information shall be handled on a “need to know” basis and shall not be divulged without the
express written consent of the laboratory management.
1. Scope whether the requirements are met. One purpose of an appendix
is to provide procedures and quantitative values which may be
1.1 This practice interprets the generic criteria listed in the
used during assessment. It is not to be considered as the
referenced documents as they apply to mechanical testing. The
requirements for assessment or for testing according to the
omission of generic criteria contained in any of the reference
method. Only the assessor or the accrediting agency can state
documents does not necessarily mean that they are inapplicable
requirements for assessment. Similarly, only the responsible
to this practice.
subcommittee can state the requirements of the test method.
1.2 The specific criteria assess features of organization,
Where mandatory requirements of the test method are refer-
facilities, personnel, testing procedures, and record keeping to
enced, mandatory wording is used in the appendix.
give an indication of the precision of the test results and the
1.2.2.2 For the purposes of this appendix it is assumed that
validity of the reports produced by a mechanical testing
when a measurement is required, some degree of accuracy is
laboratory.
implied even if none is stated.
1.2.1 Some specific criteria of this practice may not be
1.2.2.3 If an assessor chooses to require any of these
applicable when tests are only conducted for the company with
criteria, then the laboratory should be prepared to demonstrate
which the lab is affiliated or when the tests are conducted on a
compliance by measurement made during the assessment or to
company’s own products and are reported only within the
have at hand a report of such measurement made previously.
company or to purchasers of those products. When exceptions
1.2.3 An appendix covering details peculiar to certain tests
to this practice exist, the assessor shall be informed of them.
is appended to this practice as follows:
The exceptions shall be made available to the assessor if
Rockwell Hardness Test (Test Methods E 18) Appendix X1
requested.
Brinell Hardness Test (Test Method E 10) Appendix X4
1.2.2 An appendix applicable to a specific test method
further defines the specific criteria listed in the main portion of
1.2.4 The specific test methods and practices applicable to
the practice.
the work of the laboratory and listed in 2.1 should be employed
1.2.2.1 The test methods state some requirements without
in assessing the capability of the laboratory.
numerical values or recommended procedures for determining
1.3 The laboratory being accredited may be part of a larger
organization.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-28 on Mechanical
1.4 Testing, approval, and certification of a company’s own
Testingand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.12 on Accreditation of
products or services, or both, by its own laboratory does not
Mechanical Test Laboratories.
constitute a conflict of interest.
Current edition approved July 10, 1998. Published September 1998. Originally
published as E 1595 – 94. Last previous edition E 1595 – 97a.
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E 1595
2. Referenced Documents 3.2.2 calibration—the comparison of measuring and test
equipment or a measurement standard of unknown accuracy to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
a measurement standard of known accuracy in ord
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