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Several years ago, a housing boom followed by recovery from damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and other storms created a surge in the use of imported drywall in the United States, particularly in the southeastern area of the country. However, since then, there have been a number of complaints concerning corrosion and odors in homes in which some of this drywall was used. Interim guidance…
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Air permits from regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), often require the measurement of a plume's opacity as the plume is emitted from a stationary point source (for example, smokestacks) in the outdoor ambient environment. While such opacity is often visually measured by human observers as “certified smoke readers,” an opacity measurement method using…
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Standards developed by ASTM International Committees F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response and E47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate play a role in both the initial response and follow-up to oil spills. The recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the importance of standards that cover all aspects of oil spill response and cleanup. F20 on Hazardous Substance and Oil…
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With heightened interest in issues involving corrosive gypsum board, the first draft of a proposed new standard on the subject, ASTM WK26072 , Practice for Evaluation of Buildings to Identify Corrosive Gypsum Board, was reviewed and edited at a task group meeting on Nov. 10 in Atlanta, Ga. The proposed new standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Subcommittee C11.01 on Specifications and Test…, ASTM Committee C11 Next Meeting:, May 17-19, 2010, St. Louis, Mo., Technical Contact:, Spiderman Mulholland, U.S. Building Consultants Inc., Gainesville, Fla., Phone: 352-505-6771; spiderman@usbcinc.com, ASTM Staff Contact:, Thomas O’Toole, Phone: 610-832-9739; totoole@astm.org, ASTM PR Contact:, Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org Release #8414/Nov2009
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At an ASTM International meeting held on Oct. 20 it was decided to initiate the formulation of a proposed new ASTM standard that will cover issues relating to drywall and indoor air quality. Representatives from various ASTM International committees, including C11 on Gypsum and Related Building Materials and Systems and E06 on Performance of Buildings attended the meeting, which was held during…
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The use of non-metallic plaster bases (lath) is growing in the construction industry, and minimum consensus standards are being set for installation, test methods and performance requirements. A task group within Subcommittee C11.02 on Specifications and Test Methods for Accessories and Related Products is currently developing three lath standards: ASTM WK24554 , Test Method for Non-Metallic…
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Vessel-mounted cameras can be effectively and economically used by ship crews investigating and responding to an oil spill. ASTM International Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response is currently developing a proposed new standard on use of cameras in this realm. WK24607 , Specification for the Design and Use of Vessel-Mounted Camera Systems for Oil Spill Response, is under…
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The measurement of acid mist is becoming increasingly important due to recent actions taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on fine particles (2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller) that are unhealthy to breathe. ASTM International Committee D22 on Air Quality is currently working on a proposed standard for measuring acid mists that come from combustion sources, WK22846 , Test…
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Oil skimmer nameplate capacities are used to evaluate system performance for spill response planning standards. While manufacturers had been free to state any value as to the theoretical capacity of an oil skimmer, a new ASTM International standard provides a test that can be used to establish a realistic capacity. The standard, F2709 , Test Method for Determining Nameplate Recovery Rate of…
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A new ASTM International standard provides guidance for using data generated by ASTM standards in testing for asbestos in surface dust. ASTM D 7390 , Guide for Evaluating Asbestos in Dust on Surfaces by Comparison Between Two Environments, was approved by ASTM International Committee D22 on Air Quality, part of Subcommittee D22.07 on Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos. According to James Millette…