ASTM

{{short description|Standards organization}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = ASTM International | logo = ASTM International logo.svg | logo_size = | alt = | logo_caption = | image = Astm hq west conshohocken 019.png | image_caption = ASTM's headquarters in [[West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania]] | foundation = {{start date and age|1902}} | defunct = | type = | location = [[West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania]], U.S | locations = Additional offices in [[Belgium]], [[Canada]], [[China]], [[Peru]], and [[Washington, D.C.]] | area_served = United States (1898–present)International (2001–present) | members = 30,000 | homepage = {{URL|www.astm.org}} }} '''ASTM International''', formerly known as '''American Society for Testing and Materials''', is a [[standards organization]] that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical [[international standard]]s for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services. Some 12,575 apply globally. The headquarters is in [[West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania]], about {{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Philadelphia]]. It was founded in 1902 as the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials.

In addition to its traditional standards work, ASTM operates several global initiatives advancing [[additive manufacturing]], advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies, including the [[Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence]] (AM CoE), the acquisition of [https://wohlersassociates.com Wohlers Associates] for market intelligence and advisory services, and the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]]-funded Standardization Center of Excellence (SCOE).

== History == [[File:Logo of ASTM International (2002).svg|thumb|Logo as of 2002]] In 1898, a group of [[scientist]]s and [[engineer]]s, led by chemist, industry leader, and proponent of standardization [[Charles Benjamin Dudley|Charles Dudley]], formed the American Society for Testing Material (ASTM) to address the frequent [[break of gauge|rail breaks]] affecting the fast-growing [[Rail transport|railroad]] industry. The group developed a standard for the steel used to fabricate rails.

In 1961 the name "American Society for Testing and Materials" was adopted.

In 2001, ASTM officially changed its name to "ASTM International" and added the tagline "Standards Worldwide".{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 2014, the tagline changed to "Helping our World Work better." ASTM International had offices in Belgium, Canada, China, Peru, Washington, D.C., and West Conshohocken, PA.{{cite web|last1=ASTM International|title=What is ASTM International?|url=https://www.astm.org/ABOUT/history_book.html|website=The History of ASTM International |access-date=12 May 2021}}{{cite web|last1=Gerard|first1=Barbara|title=What is ASTM International?|url=http://info.craftechind.com/blog/what-is-astm-international|website=Craftchind: Craftech Industries|access-date=1 February 2017|date=2015-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425235851/http://info.craftechind.com/blog/what-is-astm-international|archive-date=25 April 2017|url-status=dead}}

In April 2016, the [[Safety Equipment Institute]] (SEI) became a subsidiary of ASTM International. SEI is an accredited third-party certification organization that certifies various types of personal protective equipment to industry consensus standards.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Safety Equipment Institute Becomes ASTM Subsidiary |url=https://sn.astm.org/features/safety-equipment-institute-becomes-astm-subsidiary-ja16.html |access-date=March 27, 2024 |website=ASTM International Standardization News}}

On June 9, 2022, it was announced that the [[European Committee for Standardization]] (CEN) and ASTM International agreed to extend and expand a Technical Cooperation Agreement from 2019.{{Cite web |title=ASTM International and CEN Extend and Expand Cooperation Program {{!}} NEWSROOM |url=https://newsroom.astm.org/astm-international-and-cen-extend-and-expand-cooperation-program |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=newsroom.astm.org}}

== Membership and organization == Membership in the organization is open to anyone interested in its activities.{{cite web |url=http://www.astm.org/MEMBERSHIP |title=Membership|publisher=ASTM International}} Standards are developed within committees, and new committees are formed as needed, upon request of interested members. Membership in most committees is [[Volunteering|voluntary]] and is initiated by the member's request, not by appointment or invitation.

Members are classified as users, producers, consumers, and "general interest". The latter includes academics and consultants. Users include industry users, who may be producers in the context of other technical commodities, and end-users such as consumers. To meet the requirements of [[antitrust]] laws, producers must constitute less than 50% of every committee or subcommittee, and votes are limited to one per producer company. Because of these restrictions, there can be a substantial waiting-list of producers seeking organizational memberships on the more popular committees. Members can participate without a formal vote and their input will be fully considered.

As of 2015, ASTM has more than 30,000 members, including over 1,150 organizational members, from more than 140 countries.{{cite web |url=http://www.astm.org/ABOUT/full_overview.html|title=Detailed Overview|publisher=ASTM International}}{{cite web|url=http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/BOD/ASTM|title=ASTM International Board of Directors|publisher=ASTM International|access-date=November 6, 2013|archive-date=November 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126064549/http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/BOD/ASTM|url-status=dead}} The members serve on one or more of 140+ ASTM Technical Committees. ASTM International has several awards for contributions to standards authorship, including the [[ASTM International Award of Merit]] (the organization's highest award){{cite web |url=http://www.astm.org/MEMBERSHIP/socawards.htm#Award |title=Society Awards|publisher=ASTM International}} ASTM International is classified by the United States [[Internal Revenue Service]] as a [[501(c)(3)]] nonprofit organization.

== Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) ==

In 2018, ASTM International launched the [https://amcoe.org Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence] (AM CoE), a global initiative uniting industry, government, and academia to accelerate research, development, standardization, certification, and industrialization of [[additive manufacturing]] (AM). Headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]], with a network of experts across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, the AM CoE focuses on bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and consensus-based standards.

The AM CoE’s main pillars include:

• Targeted research and development (R&D) projects aligned to standards development;
• Certification programs for AM quality management, machine operator competency, and facility safety;
• Education and workforce development through certificate programs, workshops, webinars, and e-learning;
• The Consortium for Materials Data and Standardization (CMDS), advancing high-quality AM materials datasets and best practices;
• Organizing the International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ICAM), ASTM’s flagship annual event for AM standardization and qualification.

These initiatives aim to close standardization gaps, support qualification frameworks, and promote the broader adoption of additive manufacturing technologies across the [[aerospace]], [[defense industry]], [[medical devices]], [[automotive industry]], and [[energy]] sectors.

== Acquisition of Wohlers Associates ==

In 2021, ASTM International acquired [https://wohlersassociates.com Wohlers Associates], a consulting firm and market intelligence provider in additive manufacturing and [[3D printing]]. Wohlers Associates provides industry analysis and forecasts covering hardware, software, materials, and applications related to additive manufacturing.

Operating within ASTM’s Advanced Manufacturing Division, Wohlers Associates continues to provide:

• Advisory services for industry, government, and investors;
• Market intelligence reports including the Wohlers Report and specialized sector analyses;
• Technical expertise contributing to standards development and qualification frameworks.

== Standardization Center of Excellence (SCOE) ==

Funded by the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] (NIST), the Standardization Center of Excellence (SCOE) is a more recent initiative under ASTM International. SCOE focuses on advancing innovation and standardization for critical and emerging technologies, offering a coordinated framework connecting R&D, standards development, workforce readiness, and regulatory alignment.

The SCOE enables cross-industry collaboration to ensure that next-generation technologies are developed, validated, and deployed with trusted, globally harmonized standards.

== Standards compliance == ASTM International has no role in requiring or enforcing compliance with its standards. The standards may become mandatory when referenced by an external contract, corporation, regulation, law, or government.

In the United States, ASTM standards have been adopted by incorporation or reference in many federal, state, and municipal government regulations. The 1995 [[National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act]] requires the Federal government to use privately developed consensus standards whenever possible. The Act reflects what had long been recommended as best practice within the Federal government. Other governments, including state and foreign, have also referenced ASTM standards.[http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdc/summary/14000/14063e.htm Transport Canada use of ASTM] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051119212130/http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdc/summary/14000/14063e.htm |date=November 19, 2005 }}

Corporations doing international business may choose to reference an ASTM standard. All toys sold in the United States must meet the safety requirements of ASTM F963, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, as part of the [[Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act]] (CPSIA) of 2008. The law makes the ASTM F963 standard a mandatory requirement for toys while the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) studies the standard's effectiveness and issues final consumer guidelines for toy safety.{{cite web|url=http://www.astmnewsroom.org/default.aspx?pageid=1663|title=Safer Children's Toys – ASTM F963 Toy Safety Standard Required by U.S. Law|publisher=ASTM International|access-date=April 14, 2014|archive-date=June 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622181126/http://www.astmnewsroom.org/default.aspx?pageid=1663|url-status=dead}}

== See also ==

• [[International Organization for Standardization]]
• [[Materials property]]
• [[Pt/Co scale]]
• [[Technical standard]]

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links ==

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{official website|http://www.astm.org}} ** [https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html Standards and Publications] {{HVAC}} {{ASTM standards}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Astm International}} [[Category:Standards organizations in the United States]] [[Category:ASTM standards| ]] [[Category:Organizations based in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Organizations established in 1898]] [[Category:International organizations based in the United States]] [[Category:Technical specifications]] [[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]]