ASTM International has contributed to the relief efforts for victims of the massive earthquake that struck the Eastern Sichuan region of China in May with both monetary and product donations to assist with emergency response work and rebuilding efforts.

ASTM has donated two sets of the compilation ASTM Standards In Building Codes to serve as a resource in recovery and reconstruction in the Sichuan area. To better assist in identifying which of ASTM's 12,000 standards specifically pertain to earthquake response and building reconstruction, ASTM will also provide complete listings of the standards that address these aspects. The listings will be provided to both the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), which currently receives a full collection of ASTM standards at no charge as an MOU partner,and to the Chinese Ministry of Construction.

A donation in the amount of $25,000 has also been made by ASTM to AmeriCares, a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that provides immediate response to emergency medical needs and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs for all people around the world.AmeriCares is working with their long-standing partner the China Primary Health Care Foundation, physicians at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital and other health care organizations to deliver critical medication and medical supplies.

ASTM International standards are recognized, used and adopted by the Chinese government, and ASTM has cooperative agreements with the national and some provincial standards organizations in China; ASTM also has an office in Beijing. "We hope that technology can be proactively applied in the reconstruction efforts so that buildings are better able to withstand such tremendous forces and future events such as this have less impact," says Teresa Cendrowska, vice president of global cooperation at ASTM International.

Release #7996