ASTM E105-21 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM E105-21 — Standard Guide for Probability Sampling of Materials. This practice‑guide provides principles and guidance for preparing probability‑based sampling plans for lots, piles, shipments, and other material populations so that objective estimates (with calculable uncertainty) can be drawn about population characteristics using random selection and appropriate estimators.

Abstract

This guide is primarily a statement of principles intended to help ASTM technical committees, laboratories, producers, and users design sampling plans that use probability‑based methods (random selection, stratification, systematic procedures) and provide formulas for estimates and their standard errors. It emphasizes calculation of bias, variance, and risks associated with sampling and outlines circumstances where additional assumptions or supplementary data are required.

General information

• Status: Active.
• Publication date: June 1, 2021 (approved June 1, 2021; designation E105‑21).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 91.100.01 (Construction materials in general / sampling and testing of bulk materials).
• Edition / version: E105‑21 (replaces E105‑16).
• Number of pages: 4 pages.

Scope

The guide sets out general principles for probability sampling of materials and for preparing a sampling plan for a specific material or situation. It does not mandate a single sampling design but describes objective procedures for selection (use of random numbers, frames, stratification, systematic approaches) and for calculating estimates and their standard errors so that valid inferences and risk calculations can be made. Safety, health, and environmental considerations are not specifically addressed and remain the responsibility of the user.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles of probability sampling: random selection, frames, and objective selection procedures.
• Designing sampling plans for lots, piles, shipments, and bulk materials (including stratification and systematic sampling options).
• Estimators and calculation of standard errors, bias, and variance for sample‑based estimates.
• Guidance on circumstances where partial randomization or additional assumptions affect uncertainty and risk calculations.
• References to related ASTM guides and terminology (for example, Terminology E456, Guide E1402, Practice E141) for detailed definitions and sampling design methods.

Typical use and users

This guide is used by ASTM technical committees when specifying sampling in standards, by quality/QA engineers, statisticians, testing laboratories, material inspectors, manufacturers, and regulators who need to design or evaluate sampling plans for material lots, shipments, or bulk quantities. It is primarily a principles‑level guide rather than a detailed procedural test method.

Related standards

Commonly referenced documents and standards include ASTM Terminology E456 (Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics), Guide E1402 (Guide for Sampling Design), Practice E141, and other sampling and statistical standards such as E122 (sample size calculations) — and the prior edition E105‑16 which E105‑21 replaces. Users should consult these documents together when developing complete sampling procedures.

Keywords

probability sampling, random sample, sampling plan, stratification, systematic sampling, bulk sample, estimator, bias, variance, lot sampling.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM E105‑21 is a Standard Guide for Probability Sampling of Materials that provides principles and guidance for designing probability‑based sampling plans to obtain representative samples and to calculate estimates and their uncertainties.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers high‑level principles for probability sampling (random selection, frames, stratification, systematic methods), estimation formulas and the calculation of standard errors, and discussion of how partial randomization or assumptions affect bias and variance — intended to guide the preparation of specific sampling plans. It is not a prescriptive procedural test method for every material.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: ASTM technical committees, QA and quality engineers, testing laboratories, material inspectors, statisticians, manufacturers, and regulators use it when creating, specifying, or evaluating sampling plans for materials and bulk shipments.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: E105‑21 is the current active edition published/approved June 1, 2021; it supersedes ASTM E105‑16. Users should check ASTM’s catalog or their document subscriptions for any later revisions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: The guide is maintained under ASTM Committee E11 (Quality and Statistics), Subcommittee E11.10 (Sampling/Statistics), and is intended to be used alongside related ASTM documents (E456, E1402, E141, E122, etc.) that together cover terminology, sampling design, and statistical methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Probability sampling, random sample, sampling plan, stratification, systematic sample, bulk sample, estimator, bias, variance.