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.

New Amendment A2 issued for BS EN 55022 2006 Edition on Radio Disturbance Characteristics

The BS EN 55022:2006 — Information technology equipment, Radio disturbance characteristics, Limits and methods of measurement — has just been modified by Amendment A2 dated 3/1/2011.  The consolidated BS EN 55022:2006+A2:2010 supersedes (replaces) the BS EN 55022:2006+A1:2007, which will be withdrawn on December 1, 2013.

This new BS EN 55022 (the Official English language edition of EN 55022) is an adoption of the CISPR 22, 5th Edition,  with modifications.  The differences in the 2 documents are noted by specific tags within the EN copy.  Tags also define the changes generated by the 2 amendments, A1 and A2.

Since the CISPR 22 standard has recently been revised to the 6th Edition, there may be some question as to why the EN edition of the same source material is lagging behind.  With these documents that originate with IEC and then are adopted at the European regional level by CENELEC,  there is often a greater necessity for modifications and a longer adaption period for the countries affected.  This reflects the inherent difficulties generated by standards having to do with electricity, where protocols for its usage vary from country to country and region to region.

Since the BS EN 55022:2006+A2:2010 is interfiled, the document must be repurchased in its entirety.   The standard (and all BSI and BS EN specifications) are available from Document Center Inc. on our website, www.document-center.com.  Or you may contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  All questions are welcome.

New TIA 11-1 for NFPA 70 2011 National Electrical Code

A new TIA (Tentative Interim Amendment) 11-1 has been issued for the recently released 2011 Edition of the NEC (National Electrical Code) NFPA 70.  This particular TIA provides 2 exceptions in section 680.42(B) of the code.

A TIA is an amendment to an NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) document processed in accordance with specific NFPA protocols.  It is not required to go through the entire codes and standards-making process of being published for review and comment. It is labeled “interim” because it is effective only between editions of a particular standard. A TIA automatically becomes a proposal for the next edition of the standard.

Requests for TIAs need to provide the recommended revision and the reason as to why it is of an emergency nature requiring prompt action. The submitter must also provide the appropriate endorsments in writing of two members of the applicable technical committee or technical correlating committee within NFPA.

It is different from an Errata, which is a correction of the text of the standard.  A TIA provides a technical modification of the document itself.

All NFPA Standards, as well as the Erratum and TIAs, are available from Document Center Inc. through our website, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us via phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’re always happy to assist you with any standards-related issues.

New ASME B31.1 2010 Edition of the Power Piping Code

The ASME B31.1 Power Piping Code has recently been released in the new 2010 Edition.   The ASME standard regulates the proper installation, inspection, and maintenance of power piping systems, dictating the proper design, materials, fabrication, erection, and testing of piping.  It is one of the most frequently requested ASME standards sold by Document Center Inc. during the first quarter of 2011.

Rules for this Code Section have been developed considering the needs for applications which include piping typically found in electric power generating stations, in industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and central and district heating and cooling systems.

Piping as used in this Code includes pipe, flanges, bolting, gaskets, valves, relief devices, fittings, and the pressure containing portions of other piping components, whether manufactured in accordance with Standards listed in Table 126.1 or specially designed. It also includes hangers and supports and other equipment items necessary to prevent overstressing the pressure containing components.

Rules governing piping for miscellaneous appurtenances, such as water columns, remote water level indicators, pressure gages, gage glasses, etc., are included within the scope of this Code, but the requirements for boiler appurtenances shall be in accordance with Section I of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, PG-60.

Of course, this and all ASME standards are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com, by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) and by email (info@document-center.com).  Should you have additional questions about this or any other standard, please get in touch.

SAE’s AMS Index – A useful tool for Aerospace Material Specifications

SAE International publishes the AMS Index every January and July and we at Document Center Inc. regularly sell it.  Why would people continue to purchase a paper index in today’s online world?  Because you can use it to locate standards based on specified conditions like material, form, quality and so on.  And not only are the AMS documents identified, but similar documents from other organizations, UNS numbers and Alloy information are included as well.

Let’s take a common AMS specification as an example:  AMS 5518, on corrosion resistant steel.  The first section of the index is in numerical order, so the document can be found in the numerical section, further classified by it’s position under Wrought Corrosion and Heat Resistant Steels and Alloys.

We see the revision level is L, the complete title is “Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet and Strip 18Cr – 8Ni Cold Rolled, 150 Ksi (1034 MPa) Tensile Strength,” the UNS number is S30100, the alloy is 30301, and a similar specification is ASTM A480/A480M.

We could have also found the same document in the subject index under the alloy number, or in the similar specifications index under the ASTM A480/A480M number.  The subject index makes it fairly simple to find the references by the UNS number as well.

For folks who are using various metals and other materials for the aerospace industry, this index can prove very helpful in identifying which AMS standards or other documents should be used.

The index and all SAE documents (like the AMS, AS, MAM, and J Standards) can all be purchased from Document Center Inc. under licensed agreement with SAE.  Order on our website, www.document-center.com, or by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  And if you have any questions on these documents, please let us know.

New JESD22-B107 2011 Edition on Marking Permanency released by JEDEC

JESD22-B107, Revision D, on Marking Permanency for Integrated Circuits, has just been released at the beginning of March.  It replaces all previous editions of the standard.

The JESD22 series is a set of test methods for integrated circuits that are widely used in the semiconductor industry.  It is composed of both JESD22-A and JESD22-B series standards.

The B107 test method provides two tests for determining the marking permanency of ink marked integrated circuits. A new non-destructive tape test method is introduced to quickly determine marking integrity. The test method also specifies a resistance to solvents method based upon MIL-STD-883 Test Method 2015.

This and all JEDEC standards are available under license agreement from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com.  You can also order via phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) and email (info@document-center.com).  Feel free to contact us with any questions about JEDEC standards that you may have.