New ISO Standards on Non-destructive Ultrasonic Testing have just been released

ISO has just released 6 new standards addressing the topic of non-destructive ultrasonic testing.  The standards are based on the EN 583 series and are available from Document Center Inc. now.

These new standards are:

ISO 16810:2012, “Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic testing — General principles”

ISO 16811:2012, “Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing – Sensitivity and range setting”

ISO 16823:2012, “Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing – Transmission technique”

ISO 16826:2012, “Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing – Examination for discontinuities perpendicular to the surface”

ISO 16827:2012, “Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing – Characterization and sizing of discontinuities”

ISO 16828:2012, “Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing – Time-of-flight diffraction technique as a method for detection and sizing of discontinuities”

Another recent release, based on EN 15317:2007, is also interconnected:

ISO 16831:2012, “Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing – Characterization and verification of ultrasonic thickness measuring equipment”

All these new releases can be purchased in paper or pdf format from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com.  Or consider contacting us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Our StandardsInformer product can help you identify newly-released standards that might have an impact on your business.  Ask us about it.

How do Internet sites that sell Standards illegally get customers?

In my investigation of the sites on the Internet that sell downloaded standards illegally, I notice a few characteristics that most sites have in common.  I want to bring these to your attention so that you will not be duped into purchasing a pirated copyright document.

First, it appears that there are only a few individuals that perpetrate the majority of the sites.  We can  determine this because of the use of similar home page designs in various URL’s (Uniform Resource Locator — the website address).

There are about 3 or 4 designs that crop up for several different websites, suggesting that the intellectual property thieves are reusing the code in order to maximize the profits to be made as quickly as possible.  The sites will look like authorized stores, with logos from the actual SDO’s (Standards Developing Organizations) prominently displayed.

Additionally, the home pages display the covers of the standards they offer.  They include copies of standards from API, ASME, AWS, IEC, DIN, SAE, UL, and others.

When you look on WHOIS to determine who owns the website in question, you’ll often find that the owner is located in Florida, unfortunately with a 6 digit zip code that starts with the number 8.  Too bad Florida zip codes are 5 digits and start with the number 3…  Additionally, the names and email addresses of the owners are also patently false or incomplete.  Or the WHOIS information may be linked to a service that provides internet domains anonymously.

These sites are ranking fairly high in website ratings.  They are doing so by posting trackbacks and comments to various blogs.  The blogs they target do not bother to edit the incoming requests.  They tend to not only have trackbacks from these IP (Intellectual Property) pirating sites, but also from sites that offer introductions to young ladies from Russia, storefronts for the purchase of viagra, etc.

The sites in question also use Google adwords to get advertisements posted in the margins when you do a search for a standard.  This is particularly onerous, as it appears to give these sites legitimacy when they are actually in the business of thievery.

We cannot stress enough that should you choose to purchase a document on such a site, you are abetting those who are stealing from the standards community and helping to destroy a system that is already under pressure from the changes in technology we’re currently experiencing.

Stopping these sites is a time-consuming business, costing time and money. Often the cases must be pursued in non-U.S. courts (notably in China).  The results of a favorable judgement are not effective enough to prevent the perpetrators from renewing their services once out of jail.

Since Document Center Inc. is an advocate for proper use of intellectual property and the copyright obligations that accompany the sale of standards, we continue to work with Standards Developing Organizations to identify and solve this problem.

 

New Health Informatics Standard ISO/TR 14292 on Personal health records — Definition, scope and context

ISO, the International Organization for Standards, has just released ISO/TR 14292:2012, “Health informatics — Personal health records — Definition, scope and context,” and it’s available from Document Center Inc.  This Technical Report defines a personal health record (PHR) as opposed to a clinical Electronic Health Record (EHR).   PHR’s are health records that are primarily managed and controlled by the individual who is the subject of the record, or his/her authorized representative.

This Technical Report includes:
— a definition of a PHR;
— a pragmatic multidimensional classification of PHRs;
— an overview of the possible ways in which the inclusion and engagement of individuals in managing their health and healthcare impacts on the potential roles of the PHR, including scenarios for collaborative care between individuals and healthcare organizations.

This definition is intended to help clarify the kinds of records that should be called PHRs, in recognition of the lack of consistency in how this term is presently used. This Technical Report considers the PHR from the perspective of the personal information contained within it and the core services needed to manage this information.

A PHR is not a singular entity; the concept encompasses a spectrum of possible information repositories and services that meet different purposes consistent with the definition. This Technical Report therefore also discusses the scope of the PHR in terms of this spectrum as a series of dimensions by which a PHR may be classified and equivalent PHR products compared.

It also includes one dimension to classify the kinds of collaborative care PHRs provided by healthcare organizations. This Technical Report also considers the wider context of engagement of individuals in the management of their own health and healthcare, since this engagement is the primary driver for present-day growth of PHR systems and services internationally.

The many kinds of end-user application that might be implemented and used to deliver PHR system functionality are outside the scope of the ISO 14292 Technical Report.

All current and many obsolete ISO standards are available from Document Center’s website, www.document-center.com, in both paper and pdf format.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  With our long history of providing ISO standards to our customers, we can assist you with both the purchase and maintenance of your compliance documents.

ASTM D3363 on Standard Test Method for Film Hardness by Pencil Test has new editorial corrections

ASTM D3363, “Standard Test Method for Film Hardness by Pencil Test,” has just been released as a new 2005 Reapproved in 2011 (e2) Edition and is now available from Document Center Inc.  The technical content of the 2005 Edition has not changed, but the Figure 2 and Section 7 were editorially corrected (the e2 designation).

Pencil hardness measurements have been used by the coatings industry for many years to determine the hardness of clear and pigmented organic coating films. This test method has also been used to determine the cure of these coatings, especially when forced dried using heat.

ASTM D3363-05(2011)e2 is especially useful in developmental work and in production control testing in a single laboratory. It should be recognized that the results obtained may vary between different laboratories when different pencils as well as panels are used. Every effort should be made to standardize the hardness of the lead used and the technique followed.

The changes provide the user with a clearer picture of how the lead is to be positioned when using a mechanical pencil.  Additionally, duplicated material in Section 7 has been removed.

All current ASTM standards and many obsolete revisions are available from Document Center Inc.  You can use the Document Center website, www.document-center.com, or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Many of our customers appreciate having us as a resource to review new information on particular standards prior to making the purchasing decision.

New 2012 Editions for ISO 11608-1 and ISO 11608-2 on Needle-based injection systems for medical use

ISO has just released 2 new documents in the ISO 11608 series and both are available now from Document Center Inc.  They are the new ISO 11608-1, “Needle-based injection systems for medical use — Requirements and test methods — Part 1: Needle-based injection systems,” and ISO 11608-2, “Needle-based injection systems for medical use — Requirements and test methods — Part 2: Needles.”

ISO 11608-1:2012 covers needle-based injection systems (referred to as NISs) primarily intended for human use. It provides performance requirements regarding essential aspects so that variations of design are not unnecessarily restricted.  Containers covered in this part of ISO 11608 include single- and multi-dose syringe-based and cartridge-based systems, filled either by the manufacturer or by the end-user.

The first edition of ISO 11608-1 in 2000 introduced the concept of interchangeability and the labeling designations “Type A” (i.e. interchangeable) and “non-Type A” for needles and container systems. Since it was released, experience has shown that the complexity of these systems makes it very difficult to ensure functional compatibility, particularly when products are made by different manufacturers.

Based on this experience, the labelling designation “Type A” has been removed. The design requirements related to system function have been maintained as a guide to assist manufacturers during the design phase, supporting the achievement of cross-platform compatibility. However, these design requirements are an insufficient replacement for system testing of the components and, where possible, direct communication and/or quality agreements between system component manufacturers.

Given the patient convenience benefits associated with cross-platform compatibility, manufacturers of needles, containers and needle-based injectors need to label their products with the specific system components that have been tested and demonstrated to be functionally compatible.

ISO 11608-2:2012 covers sterile double-ended needles intended for single use in conjunction with needle-based injection systems (e.g. pen injectors).  These needles are often referred to as pen needles.

Again, the labelling designation “Type A” has been removed.  Flow rate is introduced as a new parameter.  However, this part of ISO 11608 does not specify requirements or test methods for freedom from biological hazards because no international agreement on the methodology and the pass/fail criteria has been reached.

The sampling plans for inspection selected for this part of ISO 11608 are intended to verify, at a high confidence level, the manufacturer’s ability to manufacture one “lot” of needles that conforms to the critical product attributes. The sampling plans for inspection do not replace the more general manufacturing quality systems that appear in standards on quality systems, for example ISO 9000.

The other standards in this series are:

ISO 11608-3:2000, “Pen-injectors for medical use — Part 3: Finished cartridges — Requirements and test methods”

ISO 11608-4:2006, “Pen-injectors for medical use — Part 4: Requirements and test methods for electronic and electromechanical pen-injectors”

ISO 11608-5, 2011 Draft, “Needle-based injection systems for medical use — Requirements and test methods — Part 5: Automated functions”

ISO 11608-3 is due to be revised soon.

All ISO standards, and many obsolete revision as well, are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, 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).  We can assist you with all your compliance documentation requirements.

New ASTM B221 2012 Edition on Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes

ASTM B221, “Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes,” has just been released as a new 2012 edition and is available from Document Center Inc. now.  This specification covers extruded bars, rods, wires, profiles, and tubes made from aluminum and aluminum alloys. It is for items produced by hot extrusion or similar methods.

In ASTM B221-12, the chemical composition of each material is determined in accordance with the specified suitable chemical and spectrochemical test methods.  Samples for chemical analysis should be taken when the ingots are poured or from the finished or semi-finished products by drilling, sawing, milling, turning, or clipping.

Tensile properties, elongation, and yield strengths of each product should conform to the requirements listed in this specification.  Elongation requirements are not applicable for materials with sizes smaller than specified.

The ASTM B221 specification, along with AMS-QQ-A-200 standard, replaced the canceled QQ-A-200 series back in  1998.  It also replaces the ASTM B221-08 previous edition.

All ASTM standards are available on Document Center Inc.’s website www.document-center.com, either in paper or pdf format.  Many obsolete editions of these standards are available as well.  Contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com) for more information.

New MIL DTL 16878 Revision H, the General Specification for Insulated Electrical Wire

MIL-DTL-16878, “Wire, Electrical, Insulated, General Specification for,” has just been revised and the new Revision H is available from Document Center Inc. now.  The 20-page specification is used for internal wiring of electronic equipment, defining a popular military hookup wire.

MIL DTL 16878 covers unshielded wire for hookup and lead wiring of electrical and electronic components and equipment so that minimum size and weight are consistent with service requirements. The temperature rating of wire included in this specification ranges to a maximum of 260 degrees Celsius (°C), with potential rating from 250 to 5000 volts root mean square (Vrms).

The single conductor wire covered in this specification is intended for use in lead wire and internal wiring of electrical and electronic equipment and switchboards.

There are additional “slash sheets” for the document that define a variety of sub-types of this wire.  The documents were formerly the MIL-W-16878 series prior to mil spec reform.  Then in the 1990’s they were renumbered to signify that they are now “detail” specifications with exact requirements for contract fulfillment.

Document Center Inc. has been providing customers with Military Specifications and Standards for over 30 years and through our website, www.document-center.com, since 1993.  Or you may prefer to contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We can assist you with all your regulatory documentation requirements.

New IEEE 828 2012 Edition for Configuration Management in Systems and Software Engineering

IEEE 828 2012 Edition, “IEEE Standard for Configuration Management in Systems and Software Engineering,” has just been released and is now available from Document Center Inc. in either paper or pdf format.  This standard establishes the minimum requirements for processes for Configuration Management (CM) in systems and software engineering.

This 71-page revision of the standard expands the previous version to explain CM, including identifying and acquiring configuration items, controlling changes, reporting the status of configuration items, as well as software builds and release engineering.

The previous 2005 Edition (now obsolete) defined only the contents of a software configuration management plan. The new edition addresses what CM activities are to be done, when they are to happen in the life cycle, and what planning and resources are required.   It also describes the content areas for a CM Plan.

IEEE 828 supports ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008 and ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 and adheres to the terminology in ISO/IEC/IEEE Std 24765 and the information item requirements of IEEE Std 15939.

All current IEEE standards are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com.  We also have obsolete IEEE standards as well.  You may prefer to contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been assisting standards users like yourself for over 30 years!

 

ANSI’s response to the OMB Circular A119 petition on Free Internet Access to Standards incorporated into Federal Regulations

Last week I blogged about the petition by a group of academics led by Professor Peter Strauss regarding the availability of standards incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR’s).  ANSI, as the umbrella organization for U.S. standards developers, has sent in a reply addressing a number of questions raised by NARA, the National Archives and Records Administration, the executive branch that oversees that part of the CFR addressed by the petition.

The first area of concern for NARA was the meaning of “reasonably available,” existing language in the circular which is at the center of the discussion.  ANSI’s position is that the text of standards and associated documents should be available to all interested parties on a reasonable basis, which includes appropriate compensation as determined by each SDO (Standards Developing Organization).

ANSI brings up the fact that the accessibility of information on the Internet has not diminished the protections of copyright.  They additionally note that online access has not “…changed the need and the ability of standards developers to cover the significant costs of creating the documents that are used to further public policy goals in law and rulemaking.”

ANSI also points out that requiring various agencies to purchase licenses for public access to standards incorporated into regulations would defeat the original intent of Circular A119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities.”

The ANSI response notes that if agencies subsidize the costs of certain standards by licensing, then “budgets will need to be substantially increased in order to pay such costs, either through taxes or additional interest on the national debt.”  This is precisely the kind of costs that OMB Circular A119 intended to avoid!

Other areas of concern for NARA, and by extension for ANSI, are articulated in the recent Recommendation issued by the Administrative Conference of the United States.  The ACUS recommendation addresses many of the issues raised by the academic’s petition.

ACUS, an independent agency of the Federal Government, provides suitable arrangements through which the various agencies may cooperatively study mutual problems, exchange information, and develop recommendations for action with regards to regulatory activities and other Federal responsibilities.

The recommendation suggests that agencies should work with the various SDO’s to promote (not mandate) free access to standards referenced in U.S. regulation.  The Conference’s research revealed that some agencies have successfully worked with copyright owners to further the goals of both transparency and public-private collaboration.

For example, some agencies have secured permission to make a read-only copy of incorporated material available in the agency’s public, electronic docket during the pendency of the rulemaking proceeding relating to the material. In other cases, the copyright owner has made the material publicly available in read-only form on its own Web site.  The ACUS recommendation therefore encourages agencies to take steps to promote the availability of incorporated materials within the framework of existing law.

The recommendation has a total of 18 line items to promote effective use of standards within the regulations of the U.S.  Since this encourages increased availability but does not mandate free access, ANSI supports the adoption of the suggestions by NARA.

Document Center Inc. congratulates ANSI on an articulate and timely response to NARA’s request for comment.   This is a subject that concerns both Standards Developers and Intellectual Property owners in general.  Use of copyright material, patents, and so on in public documents requires a fine balancing act between the needs of society and the rights of the property owner.

The petition reminds us that the perception of access to standards and other copyright material can be improved.  Document Center actively promotes new ways for the public to find and purchase the standards they need.  Hopefully the suggestions of ACUS will encourage Federal Agencies and SDO’s to continue to work together to come up with innovative solutions to this complex problem as well.

New ASTM A582/A582M 2012 Edition on Standard Specification for Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars

ASTM A582/A582M-12, “Standard Specification for Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars,” has just been released and is available now from Document Center Inc. It covers hot-finished or cold-finished bars, except bars for forging, suitable for machining processes.  Typical applications include bolts, bushings, nuts, shafts, and parts produced on automatic screw machines.

It includes rounds, squares, and hexagons in the more commonly used types of stainless free-machining steels designed especially for optimum machinability and for general corrosion and high-temperature service. Bars may be furnished either hot finished or cold finished in one of the conditions specified.

Materials referenced in ASTM A582 need to adhere to specified chemical composition requirements. At least one hardness testing is made midway between surface and center on each lot to determine that the material conforms to the hardness requirements. Test methods and definition for hardness testing are also included.

The standard is expressed in both inch-pound units and in SI (metric) units.  It and all current ASTM standards, as well as many obsolete revisions, are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com.  Or consider reaching us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We are your Standards Experts.