ASTM E2499-18 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM E2499-18 — Standard Practice for Classification of Asset Physical Location Information. This practice establishes a notational and conversational approach to describing and classifying the physical location of assets (multiple levels of location precision, from country/site down to precise coordinates or identifiers).

Abstract

Defines a standardized set of location information levels and common terminology to enable consistent communication, requirements, and results when tracking or recording the physical location of moveable property, real property, intangible property, and related materials. The practice lists ten increasingly specific levels of asset location and includes examples such as country, city/site, building/floor, room/area, desk/shelf, and precise (GPS/IP) location.

General information

• Status: Historical (E2499-18); replaced by ASTM E2499-25 (active revision published 2025).
• Publication date: Edition designated E2499-18 (approved/published in 2018). Superseding edition E2499-25 published 1 December 2025.
• Publisher: ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials).
• ICS / categories: 03.100.10 — Purchasing. Procurement. Logistics.
• Edition / version: E2499-18 (2018); latest active edition E2499-25 (2025).
• Number of pages: E2499-18: 2 pages; E2499-25: 3 pages.

Scope

This practice standardizes terminology and practices for conveying an asset’s physical location. It describes ten levels of location specificity (examples include country, city/town, site, building/floor, room/area, desk/shelf/bench/user, precise location such as GPS or network identifiers, and spatial/space locations) and is intended to be applicable to all asset-holding entities; it may also be applied in whole or part to intangible property and real property.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of ten hierarchical levels of asset physical location (from broad to precise).
• Standardized names and level numbers to allow unambiguous specification and communication of location information.
• Guidance on applicability across asset types (moveable property, real property, intangible property) and across organizational contexts.
• Examples of precise location identifiers (e.g., GPS coordinates, network-based identifiers such as IP or host names) and conventional identifiers (site, building, floor, room, shelf/desk).
• Intended to enable interoperability between asset-tracking processes, information systems, and procurement/logistics activities.

Typical use and users

Used by asset managers, logistics and supply-chain professionals, facilities and building managers, information technology and systems integrators, museums/archives, defense and government property managers, and any organization that needs consistent, machine- and human-readable location descriptors for assets. It is commonly referenced when establishing asset-tracking requirements, inventory systems, storage/placement procedures, and interfaces between location-aware systems.

Related standards

Related ASTM standards and practices in the asset-management and moveable property family (examples include Practice E2132, Terminology E2135, Practice E2715 for moveable property storage, and other E53 committee publications). The 2025 revision of E2499 is cited by and referenced from several later asset-management practices and guides.

Keywords

asset, physical location, location level, location classification, moveable property, spatial tracking, location identifiers, asset tracking, procurement/logistics.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM E2499-18 is a standard practice that defines a hierarchical classification and common terminology for asset physical location information; it was the 2018 edition of the practice.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the names and definitions of ten levels of location specificity (from country/site down to precise coordinates or network identifiers), and provides a consistent framework for recording and communicating asset location information across organizations and systems.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Asset managers, logistics and procurement teams, facilities and IT staff, systems integrators, government/property custodians, museums/archives, and any organization needing standardized location descriptors for assets.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The E2499-18 edition is historical and has been superseded by ASTM E2499-25 (published 1 December 2025); users should reference the active E2499-25 edition for current text and any editorial or substantive updates.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of ASTM Committee E53 (Asset Management) publications and is related to other E53 practices and guides addressing asset identification, storage, movement, and management processes.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: asset, physical location, location level, location classification, moveable property, spatial tracking, location identifiers.