An ASTM International task group is developing a proposed new standard, WK11343, Test Method for Performance Verification of Blast Resistant Trash Receptacles (BRTR). Manufacturers of BRTR and related products, transit and other security organizations that may deploy them, organizations that could conduct testing and other interested parties are welcome to attend a task group meeting from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 26, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Va.

The task group is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E54.08 on Operational Equipment, which is part of ASTM International Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications. “We are seeking additional participation to establish a balanced task group of users, manufacturers, testers and other interested parties,” says Philip Mattson, task group chair and program manager for Critical Incident Technologies at the Office of Law Enforcement Standards, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

WK11343 will identify and define minimum performance requirements for BRTR and establish test methods to be used to evaluate them in relation to the parameters set in the proposed standard.

“Blast resistant trash receptacles have been deployed in a number of areas, in many cases in response to a security directive issued by the Transportation Security Administration,” says Mattson. “This effort is to develop performance standards and test methods to support the design, testing, procurement and fielding of these devices.”

The development of WK11343 is the first step of the BRTR project, according to Mattson. The task group will conduct research to examine structural and other aspects of employment of BRTR, resulting in more detailed guidance being made available in the field. “This project will also serve as the springboard and a model for the development of other explosive mitigation equipment standards development,” says Mattson.

For further technical information, contact Phillip Mattson, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md. (phone: 301/975-3396; philip.mattson@nist.gov).  Committee E54 meets June 25-27 at the June Committee Week in Norfolk, Va. For membership or meeting information, contact Timothy Brooke, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9729; tbrooke@astm.org).

Release #7688