Rationale

The current certified reference material (CRM) requirements in C114 are restrictive, as they require that the CRM be procured through NIST as a sole source. The proposed changes allow for CRMs to be obtained through a reference material producer accredited to ISO 17034. The industry is rapidly evolving, and there is a need for a greater range and availability for standards. The development of new CRMs through NIST is a lengthy process that does not provide the needed agility. In addition, NIST is the national metrology institute (NMI) for the United States. Allowing for other NMIs as well as NIST ensures that users of this standard beyond the U.S. are able to obtain CRMs without difficulty and reflects upon ASTM’s status as an international standards development organization that serves many economies. For additional information on CRM’s and ISO 17034, please refer to this ASTM article: https://sn.astm.org/data-points/certified-reference-materials-ja23.html