New ASTM E220 2013 Edition released for Thermocouples

When it comes to measuring temperature, thermocouples are a frequently used option.  Now there’s a new 2013 Edition for ASTM E220, “Standard Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples By Comparison Techniques.”  You’ll be using this standard if you intend on calibrating a thermocouple by comparing it’s results to that of a reference thermometer.  The standard covers the principles, apparatus and procedures you’ll use.  Temperature ranges used can cover an astounding -320 to 3100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The thermocouple works by using two dissimilar conductors.  They touch at one or more contact points, creating voltage when the temperature of that point differs from the termperature of the rest of the circuit.  This voltage can be used for a visual output, for example, like the temperature reading on the heating controller on the wall of your room.

You’ll be using ASTM E220 to test unused thermocouples.  The basic test uses a defined type of apparatus to prepare an isothermal medium.  Both the thermocouple and a reference thermometer are used to measure the temperature of the medium at the same time.  Since many types of apparatus may be used, care must be taken to insure that yours maintains a steady (identical) temperature of the medium for both devices.

You may think that this is a fairly straight-forward proposition, but the standard is 16 pages in length, which is long for an ASTM standard.  The many types of testing apparatus, reference thermometers and thermocouples covered results in a wide range of details for each section.  And by the time you get to calibration, you’re at Section 12.  In total, there’s 17 sections and 4 annexes!

You can get the standard as just the new 2013 Edition, or you can purchase the redline copy as well.  It’s slightly higher in price, but provides you with 2 copies — The clean 2013 one and the previous (now obsolete) 2007A Edition with the changes all included in highlighted fashion.

You’ll go to the Document Center Inc. web store to purchase this standard (and any other current and many obsolete ASTM standards as well).  It’s at www.document-center.com.  Or you can get in touch with us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Our many customers rely on us for purchasing and maintaining their standards collection.  Make us your Standards Experts too!