Tag: AMS-STD-595

FED-STD-595 Officially Cancelled

FED-STD-595, Colors Used in Government Procurement, has been officially cancelled.  The Cancellation Notice 2 for Revision C has been released and can be purchased from Document Center Inc. if needed.  The cancellation makes the transition to the AMS-STD-595 official.  All procurement using the FED-STD-595 should now be made using the AMS-STD-595 instead.

You will note that the AMS-STD-595 was released back in 2015.  However, there has been a recent update to the publication.  This is the Revision A released 2/10/2017. You’ll note that the transition become official only after the new Revision A was released for the AMS edition by SAE.

If you’d like to learn more about the AMS-STD-595 Revision A, please see my previous post: New AMS Standard AMS-STD-595 Revision A – Color Standard Updated.  In that post, I review the changes that have been recently made to the  document.

For those of you used to using the FED-STD-595, I’m sure there’s a number of questions that remain.  First of all, why did the document need to change?  I believe that the costs associated with publishing and distributing the publication became difficult for GSA (the original caretaker) to support.  This was an unusual Federal Standard, with the color chips included in the publication.  Finding an industry organization willing to take on the maintenance and distribution costs was in line with the federal government’s mandate to use external standards where ever possible.

Also, FED-STD-595 was widely used throughout industry, not only for DoD and Federal procurement.  So having an industry association maintain the document allows for broader input during the revision cycle.  Migration to SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers) is a natural fit.

What’s the downside for users of the FED-STD-595?  Of course, it’s the increased cost of the publication.  And the fact that the color chips are no longer included along with the text portion of the document.  The AMS-STD-595 does not include any color chips.  These must be purchased separately, as the traditional fanbook or individual color chips.

What’s the upside?  The underlying color reference media information has been expanded.  The use of the CIE L*a*b* color values is now a part of the standard.  So moving forward, the fundamental values of colors are likely to be linked to more commonly used color systems.

Should you need a copy of the cancellation notice for FED-STD-595, please get in touch with us by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com).  We can provide it to you in either paper format or for pdf download for a nominal fee.  To order the AMS-STD-595 or any of the color chips, try using the Document Center Inc. webstore at www.document-center.com.  Here is a direct link to the order page for the AMS-STD-595.  If you’d like to see an expanded catalog of the color chip choices, please review this AMS-STD-595 options page.

Document Center Inc. has been selling standards since 1982 and working with SAE under contract since the 1980’s.  We have a wide range of support services to help you with your Standards Requirements.  And we have the knowledge to assist you with the various questions that routinely come up.  Make us your Standards Experts!

New AMS-STD-595 Revision A – Color Standard Updated!

AMS-STD-595, Colors Used in Government Procurement, has just been revised.  The new Revision A is available from Document Center Inc. now.  I do want you to realize that the updated document is the text of the old FED-STD-595 only.  The color chips that used to come with the document now must be purchased separately.

FYI:  I blogged about the AMS-STD-595 when it was first released in 2015.  There were a few issues with the migration of the FED-STD-595 to the AMS-STD-595 at that time.  Those issues have now been resolved.

Of course, this publication is required for many U.S. government contracts.  It provides information on color identification, matching, and quality control.  You’ll also find designation and use of color media data here.  While the formulations in the standard are acceptable to some, many of our customers rely on the color chips for color matching.

So its notable that with the release of AMS-STD-595 A, there are an additional 42 new color chips.  If you would like a list of these new chips, please send us an email with your request (info@document-center.com).  Thanks!

Updates have been made to the AMS-STD-595 document as well.  Color reference media information has been updated.  The tristimulus color values have been replaced by CIE L*a*b* color values.  So this is a significant technical update from the previous edition, which is now obsolete.

AMS-STD-595, as the replacement document for the FED-STD-595, is widely used throughout industry.  As noted before, it is required for many government contracts.  But it is also widely referenced in many other applications as well.

If you’re using this publication, you’ll need a copy of the new update.  Search for and order all SAE Standards including all AMS documents from our webstore, www.document-center.com.  Here are direct links to the order page for the AMS-STD-595 A, for the order page for the AMS-STD-595 fandeck and the order page for the AMS-STD-595 complete set.  FYI: We would expect any chip orders to only ship when the new chips are available.

If you have any additional questions or would like more information on Document Center Inc., our products and services, please get in touch with our staff.  You can reach us by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been an authorized distributor of SAE standards since the 1980’s.  Make us your Standards Experts!

STD 595 Color Chips — They’re back!

The STD 595 Color Chips are back!  Ever since SAE took over the responsibility for the FED STD 595 “Colors Used in Government Procurement” (republishing it as AMS STD 595), there has been no authorized source for the color chips so many of you use.  The wait is over!  SAE has just issued official copies of the chips in 3 formats.  These are the complete set of 3X5 chips, the fandeck format, and individual chip sales.

Why did SAE take over the publication of the FED STD 595?  Ever since the mid-1990’s, the federal government (and in particular the DoD) has been mandated to look for commercial sources for the documentation used in the procurement process whenever possible.  Moving the FED STD 595 to SAE with the publication of the AMS STD 595 meant that the GSA (General Services Administration) could shed the responsibility for maintaining this challenging chip set. The only problem was that SAE was not fully prepared for the transfer.

Why were the color chips missing from the AMS STD 595 when it was released?  At first, SAE just published the text component of the standard.  The contents include methods for calculating compliance without the use of the color chips.  However, industry relies on the color chips far more than expected.  So it looks like SAE had to go back to the drawing board to get a source of supply for the chips that would comply with the exacting requirements.

How can you get these new chips?  As an authorized SAE distributor, Document Center is here for your AMS documentation requirements, including the STD 595 color chips!  Go ahead and order them at our webstore, www.document-center.com.  Here’s the direct link to the order page for the STD 595 complete set of chips and the order page for the STD 595 Fandeck.  Individual chips may also be supplied.

Have more questions?  Please get in touch with our staff by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been supplying specs and standards to government contractors since 1982.  We’re a trusted source for all your compliance requirements.  Make us your Standards Experts!

AMS-STD-595 replaces FED-STD-595

FED-STD-595, “Colors Used in Government Procurement,” has just been replaced by AMS-STD-595 of the same title.  It is important to note that the new publication does not contain any color chips yet.  It is just the text component of the document that’s been re-issued by SAE.

Exactly what’s going on?  FYI:  The FED-STD-595 (the last issue was Revision C with Change Notice 1 from 2008) was printed and distributed by the GSA (General Services Administration).  A couple of years ago, the GSA decided that it didn’t want to be the “caretaker” of the standard any more and stopped distributing it on July 31, 2014.  Ownership has now been transferred to SAE.

The color chips themselves remain stable.  The last Revision C and it’s Notice 1 just added chips to the earlier Revision B, making the grand total 658.  The chips have been available in three formats in the past – affixed in 3 columns on 8 1/2 by 11 sheets of paper, in flip-book format, and as 3 by 5 individual chip cards.  Most colors are presented in 3 finishes, gloss, semigloss, and lusterless.  The set is arranged according to the color pallette: browns, reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, grays, miscellaneous, and fluorescents.  Each chip is given a unique 5 digit code for identification.

Since these colors are used for all Federal level procurement, included DoD contracts, they are an important resource.  Indeed, many prime contractors require the chips themselves be replaced every couple of years.  It can’t be emphasized enough that government contracts for products with some type of coating require colors and finishes to match these chips exactly.  So you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got a way to confirm you’re in compliance for any government contractual work you do.

At the present time, SAE states the following for the use of the new AMS-STD-595:

  1.  The document has been taken directly from the FED-STD-595C and contains only minor editorial and format changes in order to make it an AMS document.
  2. This new 2015 Edition of AMS -STD-595 is intended to replace FED-STD-595C.
  3. All colors in the old FED-STD-595C (with Notice 1) remain current.

Do you need a copy of AMS-STD-595?  Since there are no technical changes (or any changes to the color chips), it is not essential from a technical point of view.  And certainly neither the DoD or the GSA has issued any official notice adopting the SAE publication yet.  However, if you do any government contract work involving coatings (colors), you may be well advised to get your copy of AMS-STD-595 now.

As for those chips, SAE as the new caretaker will have a strategy for replacing them soon I’m sure.  I have been checking in with them every couple of days since the new standard was released, but as yet there is no official word on when the chip situation will be clarified.  I expect an answer in the next 1 to 2 weeks and will let you know at that time.

And how do you get your copy of AMS-STD-595?  Luckily, it’s available now from Document Center Inc. in either paper format or for pdf download.  Here’s the order page for AMS-STD-595 and here’s the link to our Standards Store www.document-center.com.  If you have more questions, just get in touch with us by phone (650-591-7600) or by email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been selling standards since 1982 and our mission is to help folks use standards more effectively.  Make us your Standards Experts!