Introduction
Metallurgy is a branch of engineering that studies the properties and processing of metals. There are a variety of products associated with metallurgy. This includes things such as structural steel, steel plates, aluminum products, cast iron, steel tubes, and more. The quality of products produced in the metallurgical industry can vary significantly. It is important to have standards of measurement so that products created in the metallurgical industry adhere to an accepted standard. This helps ensure that products coming out of this industry are safe, reliable, and consistent.
Definition of Terms
The following terms are defined for the purposes of this paper.
Products: Items manufactured in metallurgy including steel, aluminum, cast iron and other metal related products.
Standards: The guidelines by which to measure the quality of metal products. These standards provide detailed technical specifications and procedures for metal manufacturing and testing.
Regulatory Bodies: Organizations responsible for establishing and enforcing metal manufacturing standards. These include the American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the National Association of Steel pipe manufacturers (NASPM).
ISO Standards
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international organization that produces technical standards for nearly every aspect of industry, technology and government. The ISO standards for metals provide guidance for the choice of materials, quality control of products and processes.
ISO standards are divided into three different types. These are “task” standards, metric standards, and product standards. Task standards are general specifications, while metric standards are related to specific measurements. Product standards are specific requirements related to particular products.
For metallurgical products, ISO has developed a standards system that includes quality control and manufacturing specifications. Two of the most important ISO standards related to metallurgy are the ISO 9001 quality management system and the ISO 14001 environmental management system. The ISO 9001 standard sets out a set of principles and requirements for quality management, and is required for any organization that manufactures metal products. The ISO 14001 is for organizational environmental performance and sets out the requirements for an environmental management system.
ASTM Standards
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International develops standards for metal products and services. The organization was founded in 1898, and since that time has established and produced nearly 12,000 standards for industry, government and consumer use.
The ASTM standards for metallurgical products include tests for hardness and strength, dimensional standards, material property requirements, and standards for protective coatings. Standards developed by ASTM are often used by regulatory bodies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
NASPM Standards
The National Association of Steel Pipe Manufacturers (NASPM) develops industry standards for the production and sale of steel pipe products. The organization works in partnership with government agencies such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to develop and maintain standards to ensure the production and sale of quality steel pipe products.
The NASPM standards are used by steel pipe manufacturers and distributors, as well as regulatory agencies. The standards specify the required strength and safety of steel pipes, including standard measurements and test methods. The organization also develops standards for materials and construction practices related to the manufacture and sale of steel pipe.
Conclusion
Because of the highly technical nature of metallurgy, there are a variety of standards related to the products created in this industry. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the National Association of Steel Pipe Manufacturers (NASPM) all have established standards to ensure the quality of metals used in construction and other applications. These standards cover a range of topics, including tests for hardness and strength, dimensional standards, material property requirements, and standards for protective coatings. It is important for organizations manufacturing or distributing metal products to be aware of these standards to ensure the production and sale of quality products.
