ASTM E2972-15 (2019) PDF

Full title and description

Standard Guide for Production, Testing, and Value Assignment of In-House Reference Materials for Metals, Ores, and Other Related Materials — provides guidance for preparing, testing, documenting, and assigning values to in-house reference materials (iRMs) used in the chemical and physical analysis of metals, ores and related industrial materials.

Abstract

This guide describes procedures and considerations for producing in-house reference materials intended for internal laboratory use in the metals and mining industries. Topics include material selection, production and processing, testing for homogeneity and stability, value assignment and uncertainty estimation (referencing ISO Guide 35 and GUM), documentation (development reports), and recommended quality controls. The guide clarifies that it applies to in-house RMs and not to the production of certified reference materials (CRMs).

General information

• Status: Reapproved (2019) — active as a reapproval of E2972‑15.
• Publication date: Original designation 2015; reapproved January 10, 2019.
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 77.140.01 (Iron and steel products in general) / Analytical chemistry for metals and ores.
• Edition / version: E2972‑15 (Reapproved 2019).
• Number of pages: 8 pages.

(General information summarized from the ASTM designation and document metadata.)

Scope

This guide provides guidance for implementing procedures to prepare in-house reference materials for analytical testing of metals, alloys, minerals, geological materials and related matrices encountered in the metals and mining industries. It is intended for production of reference materials for internal use (iRMs) and explicitly does not cover the development or certification procedures for certified reference materials (CRMs). The focus is principally on characterization of chemical composition and on producing materials suitable for quality assurance, method validation and control charts.

Key topics and requirements

• Guidance on selection and preparation of matrix-appropriate in-house reference materials.
• Testing for homogeneity and stability and definition of acceptable levels for routine use.
• Value assignment approaches, including use of independent methods and uncertainty estimation consistent with ISO Guide 35 and GUM (ISO Guide 98‑3).
• Documentation requirements (development report) to record preparation, test results, and intended uses.
• Recommendations for use of iRMs in method validation, process control charts, and QA/QC; limitations vs. CRMs noted.
• Safety and hazard considerations associated with sample preparation and production of reference materials.

These topics are presented as guidance rather than prescriptive requirements; the guide is intended to inform laboratory practice and quality-system implementation.

Typical use and users

Primary users are analytical and quality laboratories within metal producers, mining operations, smelters, alloy manufacturers, and contract testing laboratories that need cost-effective, well-documented in-house reference materials for routine calibration checks, method validation, inter-method comparisons and process control. Laboratory managers, QA/QC staff, and method development scientists will use the guide to design, test, document and maintain iRMs.

Related standards

This guide references and is commonly used alongside ISO Guide 35 (reference material preparation and characterization), ISO Guide 98‑3 (GUM — uncertainty in measurement), ISO/IEC 17025 (laboratory competence), and several ASTM practices/terminology standards such as E135 and other ASTM practices relevant to sampling and analysis of metals and ores. It is part of ASTM’s family of guides and practices supporting analytical quality in the metals and mining sectors.

Keywords

in-house reference material, iRM, reference material production, homogeneity, stability, value assignment, uncertainty estimation, metals analysis, ores, ISO Guide 35, GUM, quality assurance, quality control.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM E2972‑15 (reapproved 2019) is a standard guide that provides practical guidance for the production, testing and value assignment of in-house reference materials used in analysis of metals, ores and related materials.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers guidance on material selection and preparation, testing approaches for homogeneity and stability, approaches to value assignment and uncertainty estimation, documentation (development reports), intended uses (e.g., QA/QC, calibration checks, method validation), and safety considerations. It does not prescribe procedures for developing certified reference materials.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Analytical laboratories in the metals and mining industries, QA/QC personnel, method development teams, and any organization that needs to produce and maintain documented in-house reference materials for routine testing and control.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was originally issued as E2972‑15 and was reapproved in 2019. As a reapproved guide, it remains the current ASTM designation in its reapproved form (E2972‑15R19) unless a later revision or withdrawal has been issued by ASTM. Users should check ASTM records for any updates after the 2019 reapproval.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of ASTM’s suite of guides and practices for analytical chemistry and reference materials (cross-references include ASTM practices and terminology standards) and is commonly used together with international guidance documents such as ISO Guide 35 and ISO Guide 98‑3 (GUM). It is a guide (not a test method) intended to complement other ASTM and ISO documents.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: In-house reference material, RM, iRM, homogeneity, stability, value assignment, uncertainty, metals, ores, quality assurance, ISO Guide 35, GUM.