Claudia Bach

New AMS-S-8802 Revision C covers fuel resistant sealants

AMS-S-8802, Sealing Compound, Temperature Resistant, Integral Fuel Tanks and Fuel Cell Cavities, High Adhesion, has just been released as Revision C, dated 3/28/2011. This important standard covers temperature resistant, two component synthetic rubber compounds of the polysulfide type for sealing and repairing integral fuel tanks and fuel cell cavities. It is intended for continuous service use in the temperature range from -65 to +250 °F (-54 to 121 °C).

This sealing compound has been used typically for fuel tank sealing, cabin pressure sealing, and aerodynamic smoothing, but usage is not limited to such applications. It can be used for faying surface sealing, for wet-installation of fasteners, for overcoating fasteners, and for sealing joints and seams. The sealing compound can be used in fuel areas as well as in non-fuel areas. It may in some cases be used as a non-structural adhesive. It cures at room temperature and the cure can be accelerated by higher temperatures.

The document specifies two types of sealing compounds. One is based on Dichromate Cured Sealant Material with a dichromate curing agent. The other is Manganese Dioxide Cured Sealant Material with a manganese dioxide curing agent. Each of the two types is further broken down into classes A, B and C.

AMS-S-8802 Revision C replaces the AMS-S-8802 Revision B from 2005. The document was formerly published as the military specification MIL-S-8802. Copies of both documents, and all AMS and all available military specifications and standards, can be purchased from Document Center Inc. Use our website, www.document-center.com, or phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com) us your order. Our staff is happy to help you both with orders and with questions. And consider us for monitoring services as well.

MIL-STD-883 H – The DoD’s top standard for Microcircuits — Plus a list of other relevant standards

MIL-STD-883 Revision H, entitled “Test Method Standard – Microcircuits,” is Document Center’s all-time best selling military standard. It provides approximately 700 pages of tests for microelectronic devices suitable for use within Military and Aerospace electronic systems. It includes basic environmental tests to determine resistance to deleterious effects of natural elements and conditions surrounding military and space operations; mechanical and electrical tests; and workmanship and training procedures.

Revision H was released on 2/26/2010 and compliance with the standard was required by 9/30/2010. Usage of the standard is mandated as part of a contract with the U.S. government.

The document is intended to be used in conjunction with several other major military documents:
MIL-PRF-19500 – Semiconductor Devices, General Specification For.
MIL-PRF-38534 – Hybrid Microcircuits, General Specification For.
MIL-PRF-38535 – Integrated Circuits (Microcircuits) Manufacturing, General Specification For.
MIL-STD-1835 – Electronic Component Case Outlines.
MIL-HDBK-217 – Reliability Prediction of Electronic Equipment.
MIL-HDBK-505 – Definitions of Item Levels, Item Exchangeability, Models, and Related Terms.

There are also references to a number of industry standards that are basic to any standard library for electronic devices:

ISO 14644-1 – Cleanrooms and Associated Controlled Environments – Part 1: Classification of Air Cleanliness.
ISO 14644-2 – Cleanrooms and Associated Controlled Environments – Part 2: Specifications for Testing and Monitoring to Prove Continued Compliance with ISO 14644-1.
IPC-T-50 – Terms and Definitions for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits.
ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 – Requirements for the Calibration of Measuring and Test Equipment, General Requirements
ANSI/J-STD-004 – Requirements for Soldering Fluxes
ANSI/J-STD-005 Requirements for Soldering Pastes
ANSI/J-STD-006 – Requirements for Electronic Grade Solder Alloys and Fluxed and Non-fluxed Solid Solders for Electronic Soldering Applications
IPC/EIA/JEDEC J-STD-002 Solderability Tests for Component Leads, Terminations, Lugs, Terminals and Wires.
EIA/JESD 22-B116 Wire Bond Shear Test
EIA/JESD 78 IC Latch-up Test.
EIA-557 Statistical Process Control Systems.
ASTM E263 – Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Iron.
ASTM E264 – Standard Test Method for Measuring Fast-Neutron Reaction Rates by Radioactivation of Nickel.
ASTM E265 – Standard Test Method for Measuring Reaction Rates and Fast-Neutron Fluences by Radioactivation of Sulfur-32.
ASTM E666 – Standard Practice for Calculating Absorbed Dose from Gamma or X-Radiation.
ASTM E668 – Standard Practice for Application of Thermoluminescence-Dosimetry (TLD) Systems for Determining Absorbed Dose on Radiation Hardness Testing of Electronic Devices.
ASTM E720 – Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Neutron Sensors for Determining Neutron Spectra Employed in Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics.
ASTM E721 Standard Method for Determining Neutron Energy Spectra with Neutron-Activation Foils for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics.
ASTM E722 – Standard Practice for Characterizing Neutron Energy Fluence Spectra in Terms of an equivalent Monoenergetic Neutron Fluence for Radiation-Hardness Testing of Electronics.
ASTM E801 Standard Practice for Controlling Quality of Radiological Examination of Electronic Devices.
ASTM E831 Standard Test Method for Linear Thermal Expansion of Solid Materials by Thermomechanical Analysis
ASTM E1249 – Minimizing Dosimetry Errors in Radiation Hardness Testing of Silicon Electronic Devices.
ASTM E1250 – Standard Method for Application of Ionization Chambers to Assess the Low Energy Gamma Component of Cobalt 60 Irradiators Used in Radiation Hardness Testing of Silicon Electronic Devices.
ASTM E1275 – Standard Practice for Use of a Radiochromic Film Dosimetry System.
ASTM F458 – Standard Practice for Nondestructive Pull Testing of Wire Bonds.
ASTM F459 – Standard Test Methods for Measuring Pull Strength of Microelectronic Wire Bonds.
ASTM F526 – Standard Test Method for Measuring Dose for Use in Linear Accelerator Pulsed Radiation Effects Tests.
ASTM F1892 – Standard Guide for Ionizing Radiation (Total Dose) Effects Testing of Semiconductor Devices.
ASTM C177 – Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded Hot-Plate Apparatus.
ASTM C518 – Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus.
ASTM D150 – Standard Test Methods for A-C Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials.
ASTM D257 – Standard Test Methods for D-C Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials.
ASTM D1002 – Standard Test Method for Strength Properties of Adhesives in Shear by Tension Loading (Metal-to-Metal).
ASTM D3850 – Standard Test Method for Rapid Thermal Degradation of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials By Thermogravimetric Method (TGA).

The MIL-STD-883, both the current Revision H and previous editions, as well as the other standards noted above, are all available from Document Center Inc. Use our website, www.document-center.com, or phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email us (info@document-center.com). Any questions or comments you may have are welcome.

ISO/TS 16949 – Quality in the Automotive Industry

When ISO 9001, “Quality management systems — Requirements” was first released in 1987, it provided a platform on which to build a verifiable quality program in any business. But over time, specific industries wanted to tailor the requirements to suit their particular needs. Thus in 1999, ISO/TS 16949, “Quality management systems — Particular requirements for the application of ISO 9001 for automotive production and relevant service part organizations,” was issued.

The TS in the document number stands for Technical Specification. This is a normative specification representing a level of technical consensus within an ISO committee. It requires a consensus vote accepted by 66% of the committee members, rather than the 75% needed to create an ISO standard.

The current 2009 edition of the document includes the text of the ISO 9001:2008, with the paragraphs of the standard in boxed sections. When needed, there is additional text providing additional commentary and requirements. The convention in the document is that the word “shall” indicates a requirement. The word “should” indicates a recommendation. Paragraphs marked “NOTE” are for guidance in understanding or clarifying the associated requirement.

ISO/TS 16949:2009 also includes an Appendix A, which covers Control Plans. This includes both Phases of the control plan and Elements of the control plan.

The document has the support, and is copyrighted by, not only ISO but also ANFIA, FIEV, SMMT, VDA, and the companies Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corp., PSA Peugeot Citroen, and Renault. It was written with the assistance of the International Automotive Task Force.

For automotive manufacturers and their supply chain, the ISO/TS 16949 remains a critical document for compliance with quality requirements in this industry. The document, and all ISO standards, can be purchased from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). Your questions and comments are welcome.

Human Factors for Medical Devices – IEC 62366 and ANSI/AAMI HE75

Do you need help in finding the best practices guidance in medical device human factors engineering? With the focus of good design being expanded to the entire product life cycle, the issue of insuring adequate medical device usability has taken on new importance. Here at Document Center Inc. our customers have been relying on two standards for this – ANSI/AAMI 75 and IEC 62366.

Human Factors Engineering (HFE) is a new and separate discipline within the medical device industry. It has evolved due to the high concentration of medical device incident reports and recalls involving use error. HFE includes all aspects of a device that users interact with when operating the product. It considers the interaction with the device by operators, maintainers, cleaners, caregivers, and patients. By providing adequate labeling, instruction, and ease of use, manufacturers can reduce use-associated risk.

IEC 62366 Edition 1.0 from 2007, “Medical devices – Application of usability engineering to medical devices,” focuses on the process of analysis, evaluation, and testing methods for developing safe and usable medical devices. It aims to improve usability by reducing design-induced error. Simply stated, IEC 62366 covers human factors design process — what needs to be done and when.

One important aspect in using the standard is the presumption of reduction of risk as defined in ISO 14971. If the usability engineering process detailed in the standard and the acceptance criteria documented in the usability validation plan have both been met, then the residual risks associated with usability of a medical device are considered to be acceptable, unless there is objective evidence to the contrary.

It is my understanding that if you already meet the IEC 60601-1-6, you have most of the requirements of the IEC 62366 already achieved. The document has been adopted for use in Europe as EN 62366: 2008.

ANSI/AAMI HE75-2009, “Human Factors Engineering—Design of Medical Devices,” covers the principles of HFE. The standard provides detailed human factors engineering design guidance, examples, checklists, and case studies. With 445 pages, and extensive illustrations, it is considered an encyclopedia of HFE for specific situations. It covers all aspect of design, from basic human skills and abilities to post-market issues. The standard is a powerful tool in all stages of the design life cycle.

These standards can all be purchased from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). As always, questions and comments are welcome.

Use of BS EN 10204 for compliance with the Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC)

BS EN 10204:2004, titled Metallic materials, Types of inspection documents, was published in support of the Directive for Pressure Equipment (97/23/EC). This New Approach Directive allows for self-certification of compliance with European Regulations. By following the EN standard when doing business in Europe, one can be assured of meeting the requirements of the Directive. But what exactly is required?

This EN Standard specifies the different types of inspection documents supplied to the purchaser, in accordance with the requirements of the order, for the delivery of all metallic products, e.g. plates, sheets, bars, forgings, castings, whatever their method of production. It may also apply to non-metallic products.

But the document itself does not contain any inspection directions. Indeed, it must be used in conjunction with the product specifications which specify the technical delivery conditions of the order itself.

So what exactly does it specify?

The document first of all defines a series of document type designations, like Type 2.1, Declaration of compliance with the order, and 2.2, Test report. For each document type, there is a brief description of the content and the validating entity.

So for Type 2.1, Declaration of compliance with the order, the description is “Statement of compliance with the order” and the validating entity is the manufacturer. For Type 2.2, Test report, the description is “Statement of compliance with the order, with indication of results of nonspecific inspection.” The validating entity is again the manufacturer.

Terminology is defined in the beginning of the standard. And a chart is provided to specifically show the use of EN 10204 to support the 97/23/EC Directive. Reference is additionally made to EN 10168, Steel products – Inspection documents – List of information and description.

So, the BS EN 10204 does not describe specific requirements for any given order. The expectation is that the order itself will define the product specifications required. The document does however, define a series of document types issued by the manufacturer in which he declares that the products supplied are in compliance with the requirements of the order and in which he may supply test results if required.

The BS EN 10204 and all BS EN standards are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone at 650-591-7600, fax at 650-591-7617, or by email at info@document-center.com. Your questions and comments are welcome.

AMS-C-26074 and MIL-C-26074 – An explanation of the revision path

When AMS-C-26074 (titled Coatings, Electroless Nickel, Requirements for) was released to replace MIL-C-26074 and then subsequently was canceled and then inactivated, it caused a great deal of confusion among users of the document. In order to help you understand the current situation, here’s the revision path for the documents and information on what’s current now.

The last issue of MIL-C-26074 was Revision E, from 10/1990. In 1994 as part of mil spec reform, the document was cancelled by Cancellation Notice 1 and was replaced by AMS-2404 and AMS-2405. However, the two documents did not adequately replace the mil spec and a second cancellation notice was issued in 8/1995. This time MIL-C-26074E was replaced by ASTM-B607, ASTM-B656, AMS-2404, AMS-2405 and AMS-2433.

This still did not completely satisfy the requirements of the original mil spec, so in 2/1998 the document was reinstated.

Now one feature of mil spec reform is that a number of cancelled military specs and standards ended up being reprinted in their entirety by various industry associations. In this case, MIL-C-26074E was adopted and reprinted by SAE as AMS-C-26074, 1998 Edition in 8/1998. Unfortunately, the MIL-C-26074 was not cancelled at that point in time.

With two concurrent and identical specifications in force at the same time, confusion ran rampant. On 2/4/2003, an administrative notice was issued referring to a classified MIL-DTL-26074 Revision F. The 2/5/2003, this MIL-DTL-26074F was cancelled. On the same day, the MIL-C-26074E was cancelled as well. The Revision E was replaced by the AMS-C-26074, except for Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program applications which were directed to use MIL-DTL-32119 (a classified document not available to the general public). The Revision F was just replaced by the MIL-DTL-32119.

Still SAE felt that the 26074 specification duplicated pre-existing standards and wanted to withdraw the document in favor of those older (and well-used) documents. So a Cancellation Revision A was released for the AMS-C-26074 in 2/2005. The document was replaced by AMS-2404 and AMS-2433. However, again there was resistance to this move. So in October 2005, the document was reinstated in the current Inactive Revision B and thus it remains to this day.

FYI, an Inactive Revision is a status of being current (OK to use), but only for replacement purposes. The 2 replacement documents (AMS-2404 and AMS-2433) should be used for all new design.

Should you need copies of any of the standards mentioned, or have any further questions, please get in touch. You can order through our website at www.document-center.com, or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).

Document Center’s Standards Audit — Are your standards current?

Here at Document Center Inc., we know that one of the most difficult tasks for Document Control personnel, or any standards user for that matter, is keeping a collection of standards current. Documents often change without a great deal of publicity to the public sector, leaving the user vulnerable to the liability of using obsolete documentation.

So to help our customers solve this problem, we developed our Standards Audit service. We take a list of the documents our customer is using, complete with document numbers and dates. We review each document to confirm that the customer’s copy is complete and correct. Any item that a customer should have is noted on a quote that includes the document number, revision information and dates. This allows the customer to go back to the collection and confirm that indeed the items are missing or not.

Our system allows us to review standards much faster and with greater accuracy that a person might do on their own. Knowing where to go for all information on a standard is not as easy as one might think. For example, its not unusual for us to get a document from a source organization that’s missing an errata.

So if you have a document collection and need some help prior to a certification review or just to gain peace of mind, contact us for a Standards Audit.

We’ll need a list of the documents you maintain, with as much information as you have, like title and revision information, including dates. We’ll use the list to get you a quote for the cost of the audit, since this depends on how many documents you include on your list. Then you’ll authorize the transaction with a purchase order or credit card and the audit will be done in 2 to 5 days!

You can reach us by phone at 650-591-7600, fax at 650-591-7617, or by email at info@document-center.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

New ASTM A484/A484M 2011 Edition on Standard Specification for General Requirements for Stainless Steel Bars, Billets, and Forgings Released

ASTM A484 / A484M 2011 Edition, titled Standard Specification for General Requirements for Stainless Steel Bars, Billets, and Forgings, has just been released. The new issue is 13 pages in length.

This specification covers general requirements that apply to wrought stainless steel bars, shapes, forgings, and billets or other semi-finished materials, except wire, for forging. The following conditions are covered: (1) hot-worked; (2) hot-worked and annealed; (3) hot-worked, annealed and cold-worked; or (4) hot-worked, annealed, and heat-treated. It additionally provides for product analysis tolerances confirming conformation to the required chemical compositions of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, titanium, cobalt, columbium, tantalum, copper, aluminum, nitrogen, tungsten, vanadium, and selenium. Additionally, materials shall be heat treated and austenitic stainless steels and austenitic-ferritic grades shall be furnished in the solution annealed condition and shall conform to the required values of temperature, permitted annealing procedure, quenching, and rapid cooling.

This is another standard that covers both metric and inch-pound units of measurement. The values stated in either SI (metric) units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately and cannot be mixed. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Therefore, unless the order specifies an “M” designation, the material shall be furnished to inch-pound units.

All ASTM standards and other ASTM publications are available from Document Center Inc., many in electronic delivery options. Order from our website at www.document-center.com, or by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). Be sure to ask us about additional standards services that we offer.

EN adoption of ISO/IEC 17021:2011 on Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems is now available

The new ISO/IEC 17021:2011, Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, was released in February and the EN adoption (sold as BS EN ISO/IEC 17021:2011 for the official English language edition) has now been released as well.

Adoption by the European Union means that the countries in Europe have participated in the process to accept the ISO/IEC standard as a European Standard (EN) per the Vienna and Dresden agreements. The process includes a public enquiry, followed by an approval by weighted vote of CEN national members and final ratification. The European Standard is then announced at national level, published or endorsed as an identical national standard and every conflicting national standard is withdrawn.

This ISO/IEC 17021 revision sets new requirements for the auditing of management systems and for auditor competence in order to increase the value of management system certification to public and private sector organizations. The changes relate to the competence of the auditors who carry out certification and to the way in which they are managed and deployed.

Certification bodies that use the new edition will be able to ensure competent audit teams, with adequate resources, following a consistent process and reporting audit results in a consistent manner.

The certification bodies that carry out management system certification are being given a two-year period to bring their operations in line with the new edition.

All ISO, IEC, and ISO/IEC standards, as well as their EN adoptions, are all available from Document Center Inc. under license agreements. You’ll find them at our website, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). Your questions are welcome.

New ASTM A240/A240M 2011 Edition released on Chromium and Chromium-Nickel

The new 2011 Edition of ASTM A240 / A240M, Standard Specification for Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip for Pressure Vessels and for General Applications, has just been released. It covers chromium, chromium-nickel, and chromium-manganese-nickel stainless steel plate, sheet, and strip for pressure vessels and for general applications.

The use of the A240/A240M designation means that the document covers both feet and inches (inch-pound) as well as metric (SI) measurements. The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately. 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.

This is a frequently referenced ASTM standard, and it has been updated 4 times in 2009, 3 times in 2010, and now once again in 2011. This is quite unusual, since ASTM standards normally get reviewed once every five years.

To purchase the new edition, or any other ASTM standard, go to Document Center’s website at www.document-center.com. Or give us a phone call (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or send us an email (info@document-center.com). All ASTM standards are sold under license agreement and the various compilations and other publications are available as well.