ASTM E4 has been updated again and you can purchase your copy of the new edition from Document Center Inc. in both paper format and for pdf download. This standard provides you with the requirements for calibrating a testing machine that includes the measurement of the force of gravity (weight). Titled “Standard Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines,” it covers three types of verification methods. It was last revised in June of last year.
This ASTM standard practice allows you to review and choose from verification by standard weights, by equal-arm balance and standard weights, and by elastic calibration. It includes a table that shows you how much unit force is exerted by a unit mass in the atmosphere (air) at various latitudes. Not only does the document provide you with the protocols for each of the three test methods, but it also gives you the requirements for calculations and for reporting.
Additionally, you’ll find an Annex A that provides you with the methodology for verifying the force measuring system outside of the machine you are testing. And there are two (non-mandatory) appendixes that cover the determination of resolution of the force indicator and identifying and determining the measurement uncertainty components during your force verification process.
Of course, if you use the ASTM E4, you’ll be wondering what the changes are in this new release. ASTM’s Committee E28 (which authored the standard) has identified two areas where changes were made: Clause 4.1 was revised and Clause 21.1.5 has been added. For a more complete way to identify these updates, consider purchasing the redline edition. For a slight increase in the cost of the document, you’ll get two copies: One of the new edition as published and another of the previous edition with all the changes marked for easy identification.
You’ll also be pleased to know that the ASTM E4 can be made part of your Standards Online access service from Document Center. This means that you can have multi-user access during the annual subscription period for the employees at your company. And any changes that are made to the document during the subscription period are included at no additional charge!
Find out more by contacting our staff by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). And use our webstore at www.document-center.com for all your standards purchases. You’ll get speedy service and no-charge notification of future changes to your documents. Make us your Standards Experts!
