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ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, announced the approval and availability of a new standard for collecting, packaging, and transporting visible powder samples suspected of being biological agents. ASTM E 2458 ,, Standard Practices for Bulk Sample Collection and Swab Sample Collection of Visible Powders Suspected of Being Biological Agents from Nonporous Surfaces, is the first standard to address the subject. E 2458 incorporates reference guidance to comply with appropriate federal regulations regarding biosafety and biosecurity. The standard is applicable to nonporous surfaces only., Cooperative Interagency and Stakeholder Effort, The development of a sample collection standard was initiated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to address the problems associated with haphazard sample collection and screening. DHS assigned the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate and lead a task group whose charge was to develop a standard protocol for the collection of powders that are…, ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security, Currently there are over 500 stakeholders in Committee E 54 on Homeland Security, representing diverse groups including first responders, manufacturers, suppliers, trade and professional associations, and federal, state and local government. The committee was first organized in 2003. E 2458 is the third standard issued by Committee E54 on Homeland Security, and the first standard of Subcommittee…, Two-Step Procedure, E 2458 is a two-step procedure that is performed after an initial risk assessment is conducted and a visible powder is deemed a credible biological threat. The first step of the procedure, or Method A, covers the bulk collection and packaging of the suspicious visible powders from solid nonporous surfaces. Bulk samples are collected and transported in a manner that permits public health and…, Sample Collection Procedure Proven to Work, A study was conducted in March 2006 to validate the reliability of the sampling procedure at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. The study demonstrated that the sampling procedure can be used by trained Emergency Responders in simulated emergency conditions to consistently recover samples. The study also proved that sufficient number of Bacillus anthracis spores can be detected by Emergency…, after, all bulk samples have been collected. The evaluation study was designed to determine the recovery efficacy on seven environmental surface types that included stainless steel, food-grade painted wood, rubber, tile, concrete, finished wood, and plastic. The study involved six teams that included four National Guard Civil Support Teams (CST), the Navy’s Chemical Biological Incidence Response Force (…, Contacts, ASTM standards are available from Customer Service (610-832-9585); https://www.astm.org/contact/ ) or the ASTM web site store ( www.astm.org ). For further technical information, contact E54.01 Chairman Alim A. Fatah, Program Manager, Chemical Systems & Materials, Office of Law Enforcement Standards, NIST (phone: 301/975-2753; alim.fatah@nist.gov ). The next meeting of Committee E54 is Jan.…
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Concrete producers of both ready-made and precast/prestressed concrete will be the primary users of a new standard recently approved by ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates. The standard, C 1621/C 1621M , Test Method for Passing Ability of Self-Consolidating Concrete by J-Ring, is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee C09.47 on Self-Consolidating Concrete. …
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ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates has recently approved a new standard that will facilitate post-crack performance measurement for fiber-reinforced concrete intended for slabs-on-grade, pavements, pre-cast elements and shotcrete. The standard, C 1609/C 1609M, Test Method for Flexural Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (Using Beam With Third-Point Loading…
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Proposed New ASTM International Homeland Security Standard to Provide Preparedness Plans for SchoolsThe mass murder at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., in 1999 brought the subject of school security into the U.S. national spotlight and subsequent events, including other school-related incidents and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have kept it there. A proposed new ASTM International standard will help schools and school districts prepare for and mitigate against both large-scale…
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Applications are currently being accepted for the 2006 ASTM International Katharine and Bryant Mather Scholarship., Administered by ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, the scholarship applies to students pursuing degrees specializing in cement or concrete materials technology. Full-time undergraduate students completing their second/sophomore year of college, or later, or graduate students (specializing in cement or concrete materials technology) are eligible to apply. The…
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Robots have a long and storied history in science fiction, but the rapid advance of technology has placed robotics very much within the realm of science fact. A new ASTM International initiative has now been launched that will investigate the role of robots in search and rescue operations. ASTM International has recently been selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a…
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A new ASTM International subcommittee, E54.08 on Operational Equipment, is devoted to the development of standards related to operational equipment for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incident response. The subcommittee, which is under the jurisdiction of Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications, defines operational equipment as specialized equipment…
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Technical issues with test methods and reference materials identified by ASTM Committee F40 on Declarable Substances in Materials will be among the topics discussed at a workshop hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in October. The goal of the workshop is to assist U.S. manufacturers and their supply chains in meeting new environmental regulations that restrict the…
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ASTM International, Committee C01 on Cement and Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates have joined forces to form a new subcommittee, C09.48/C01.48 on Performance of Cementitious Materials and Admixture Combinations. The scope of the new subcommittee is to develop and maintain standards for investigating interactions and evaluating changes in early-age properties when various combinations of hydraulic…
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ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates has recently approved two new standards, C 1611, Test Method for Slump Flow of Self-Consolidating Concrete, and C 1622, Specification for Cold-Weather Admixture Systems. Descriptions of both new standards follow. , C 1611 Test Method for Slump Flow of Self-Consolidating Concrete, The concrete industry has been using self-consolidating concrete for the past several years. A new ASTM International standard developed by Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, C 1611, Test Method for Slump Flow of Self-Consolidating Concrete, will allow users to measure the consistency of self-consolidating concrete for the first time. "Because of its high fluidity, the…, C 1622 Specification for Cold-Weather Admixture Systems, Using concrete during construction in cold weather is difficult since concrete can freeze before it hardens. However, a new ASTM standard, which is the result of a project to prove that antifreeze technology for concrete is feasible, will allow for greater use of concrete during construction in cold weather. ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates has approved the new standard…