Designation: A 880 – 95

Standard Practice for

Criteria for Use in Evaluation of Testing Laboratories and
Organizations for Examination and Inspection of Steel,
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 880; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope tions of steel products not related to specification conformance.

1.1 This practice provides a guide for the criteria to be used 1.7 This standard practice may also be employed as an
in the evaluation of testing laboratories and organizations evaluation guideline for individual, governmental, or technical
engaged in examination and inspection, or both, for society self-certification programs where accreditation may not
specification-conformance of steel, stainless steel, and related be required.
alloys. 2. Referenced Documents
1.2 This practice is intended for use by an accrediting
authority for qualification and accreditation of laboratories and 2.1 ASTM Standards:
organizations noted in 1.1. A 90 Test Method for Weight of Coating on Zinc-Coated
1.3 These criteria include the general characteristics (ge- (Galvanized) Iron or Steel Articles2
neric criteria) or organization, facility, human resources, and A 239 Test Method for Locating the Thinnest Spot in a Zinc
the necessary controls, for evaluating the ability of testing (Galvanized) Coating on Iron or Steel Articles by the
laboratories, examination organizations, and inspection orga- Preece Test (Copper Sulfate Dip)2
nizations, to perform their intended functions. A 255 Test Method for End-Quench Test for Hardenability
1.4 These criteria also include specific criteria for equip- of Steel3
ment and personnel qualification, and for necessary quality A 262 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranu-
control procedures, for evaluating the ability of testing labora- lar Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels4
tories, examination organizations, and inspection organizations A 275/A275M Test Method for Magnetic Particle Exami-
to perform specific tests, examinations, and inspections. nation of Steel Forgings3
1.4.1 If required, the appropriate ASTM Committee A-1 A 309 Test Method for Weight and Composition of Coating
Subcommittee concerned with a particular test, examination, or on Long Terne Sheet by the Triple-Spot Test2
inspection discipline may supplement this standard with addi- A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
tional specific criteria. See Table 1. of Steel Products4
1.5 This practice may not necessarily provide all the generic A 388/A388M Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of
criteria for the evaluation of independent testing, examination, Heavy Steel Forgings3
and inspection agencies as defined in Practice E 548. However, A 428 Test Method for Weight of Coating on Aluminum-
the generic and specific criteria of this standard, including any Coated Iron or Steel Articles2
supplements, are considered appropriate for the evaluation of A 435/A435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
any testing laboratory or inspection and examination organi- Examination of Steel Plates5
zations, or both involve in specification conformance (or A 456 Specification for Magnetic Particle Examination of
verification) testing and inspection of steel, stainless steel and Large Crankshaft Forgings3
related alloys. A 503 Specification for Ultrasonic Examination of Large
1.6 These generic and specific criteria may, where appro- Forged Crankshafts3
priate, be used by an accrediting authority for evaluating the A 577/A577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam
capabilities of a laboratory, examination organization, or in- Examination of Steel Plates5
spection organization to perform tests, examinations, or inspec- A 578/A578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic

1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel,
2
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloysand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06.
3
A1.13 on Methods of Mechanical Testing. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05.
4
Current edition approved June 15, 1995. Published August 1995. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.
5
published as A 880 – 88. Last previous edition A 880 – 89 (1994). Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 880
TABLE 1 Fields of Testing, Examination, and Inspection; and A 763 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranu-
Standards Available lar Attack in Ferritic Stainless Steels4
A 770/A770M Specification for Through-Thickness Ten-
Tension Testing, Room Temperature Impact Testing Drop Weight
A 370 E 208
sion Testing of Steel Plates for Special Applications5
A 770 Impact Testing, Swing Weight A 799/A799M Practice for Steel Castings, Stainless, Instru-
E8 E 436 ment Calibration, for Estimating Ferrite Content6
E 111 E 604
E 132 Miscellaneous Tests A 800/A800M Practice for Steel Casting, Austenitic Alloy,
E 143 A 255 Estimating Ferrite Content Thereof6
E 345 A 610 A 802/A802M Practice for Steel Castings, Textures and
F 606 A 800
Tension Testing, Elevated Temperature A 802 Discontinuities, Evaluation and Specifying, by Visual
E 21 E 228 Examination6
E 139 E 289 A 833 Practice for Indentation Hardness of Metallic Mate-
E 192 E 558
Compression Testing, Room Calibration Standards rials by Comparison Hardness Testers3
Temperature E 4 Practices for Load Verification of Testing Machines7
E9 A 799 E 8 Test Methods of Tension Testing of Metallic Materials7
Compression Testing, Elevated E4
Temperature E 9 Test Methods of Compression Testing of Metallic Ma-
E 209 E 74 terials at Room Temperature7
Bend Testing E 83 E 10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materi-
A 370 E 1012
E 190 Chemical Analysis als7
E 290 A 751 E 18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell
Hardness Testing Formability Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials7
A 370 E 517
A 833 E 643 E 21 Practice for Elevated Temperature Tension Tests of
E 10 E 646 Metallic Materials7
E 18 Weight of Coatings E 23 Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of
E 92 A 90
E 103 A 239 Metallic Materials7
E 110 A 309 E 74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instru-
E 384 A 428
E 448 A 630
ments for Verifying the Load Indication of Testing Ma-
F 606 A 754 chines7
Corrosion Testing Nondestructive Examination E 83 Practice for Verification and Classification of Exten-
A 262 A 275
A 763 A 388
someters7
Macroetch Testing A 435 E 92 Test Method for Vickers Hardness of Metallic Mate-
A 604 A 456 rials7
E 340 A 503
Metallographic Testing A 577
E 103 Test Method for Rapid Indentation Hardness Testing
E 562 A 578 of Metallic Materials7
Impact Testing, Charpy V-Notch A 745 E 110 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Metallic
A 370 E 114
A 673 E 494
Materials by Portable Hardness Testers7
E 23 E 709 E 111 Test Method for Young’s Modulus, Tangent Modulus,
E 797 and Chord Modulus7
E 112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size7
E 114 Practice for Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Straight-Beam
Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special Examination by the Contact Method8
Applications5 E 132 Test Method for Poisson’s Ratio at Room Tempera-
A 604 Test Method for Macroetch Testing of Consumable ture7
Electrode Remelted Steel Bars and Billets3 E 139 Practice for Conducting Creep, Creep-Rupture, and
A 610 Methods of Sampling and Testing Ferroalloys for Stress-Rupture Tests of Metallic Materials7
Determination of Size6 E 143 Test Method for Shear Modulus at Room Tempera-
A 630 Test Methods for Determination of Tin Coating ture7
Weights for Hot-Dip and Electrolytic Tin Plate2 E 165 Practice for Liquid Penetrant Inspection Method8
A 673/A673M Specification for Sampling Procedure for E 190 Test Method for Guided Bend Test for Ductility of
Impact Testing of Structural Steel5 Welds7
A 745/A745M Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Aus- E 208 Test Method for Conducting Drop-Weight Test to
tenitic Steel Forgings3 Determine Nil-Ductility Transition Temperature of Ferritic
A 751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Steels7
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products4 E 209 Practice for Compression Tests of Metallic Materials
A 754 Test Method for Coating Thickness by X-Ray Fluo- at Elevated Temperatures with Conventional or Rapid
rescence2 Heating Rates and Strain Rates7

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 A 880
E 228 Test Method for Linear Thermal Expansion of Solid Competence of Testing Laboratories14
Materials with a Vitreous Silica Dilatometer9
E 289 Test Method for Linear Thermal Expansion of Rigid 3. Terminology
Solids with Interferometry9 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
E 290 Test Method for Semi-Guided Bend Test for Ductility 3.1.1 accrediting authority—an organization that evaluates
of Metallic Materials7 a testing laboratory, examination organization, or inspection
E 340 Test Method for Macroetching Metals and Alloys7 organization for conformance to this practice.
E 345 Test Methods of Tension Testing of Metallic Foil7 3.1.2 examination—the process of evaluating materials us-
E 384 Test Method for Microhardness of Materials7 ing nondestructive methods.
E 436 Test Method for Drop-Weight Tear Tests of Ferritic 3.1.3 generic criteria—general characteristics pertaining to
Steels7 organization, equipment, facility, human resources, and quality
E 448 Practice for Scleroscope Hardness Testing of Metallic systems, that provide the basis for evaluation of an organiza-
Materials7 tion.
E 494 Practice for Measuring Ultrasonic Velocity in Mate- 3.1.4 human resources—the people involved in the techni-
rials8 cal operations or an organization being evaluated.
E 517 Test Method for Plastic Strain Ratio r for Sheet 3.1.5 inspection—the process of measuring, visually exam-
Metal7 ining, testing, and gaging to determine conformance of mate-
E 543 Practice for Determining the Qualification of Nonde- rials and products to required standards.
structive Testing Agencies8 3.1.6 qualification—evaluation of an organization that es-
E 548 Practice for Generic Criteria for Evaluating Labora- tablishes that the organization conforms to established accep-
tory Competence 9 tance criteria.
E 558 Test Method for Torsion Testing of Wire7 3.1.7 quality assurance—the activity of providing, to all
E 562 Practice for Determining Volume Fraction by Sys- concerned, the evidence needed to establish confidence that the
tematic Manual Point Count7 quality function is being performed adequately.
E 604 Test Method for Dynamic Tear Energy of Metallic 3.1.8 quality control—the technical process through which
Materials7 actual quality performance is measured, compared with stan-
E 643 Test Method for Ball Punch Deformation of Metallic dards, and action taken with regard to differences.
Sheet Material7 3.1.9 specific criteria—those detailed requirements essen-
E 646 Test Method for Tensile Strain-Hardening Exponents tial to demonstrate an organization’s capability to perform
(n-Values) of Metallic Sheet Materials7 specific tests, examinations, or inspections.
E 709 Practice for Magnetic Particle Examination8 3.1.10 testing—determination of the chemical, mechanical,
E 797 Practice for Measuring Thickness by Manual Ultra- and physical characteristics of a material or product using
sonic Pulse-Echo Contact Method8 established scientific principles and procedures.
E 807 Practice for Metallographic Laboratory Evaluation7
E 851 Practice for Evaluation of Spectrochemical Labora- 4. Qualification or Accreditation, or Both
tories10 4.1 Where qualification or accreditation, or both, of an
E 882 Guide for Accountability and Quality Control in the organization (laboratory, examination organization, or inspec-
Chemical Analysis Laboratory11 tion organization) is desired or required, it may be achieved by
E 994 Guide for Laboratory Accreditation Systems9 means of one of the following:
E 1012 Practice for Verification of Specimen Alignment 4.1.1 On-site review, by the accrediting authority, of docu-
Under Tensile Loading7 mented quality assurance information (such as a Quality
E 1595 Practice for Evaluating the Performance of Me- Assurance Manual) which demonstrates that the organization’s
chanical Testing Laboratories7 quality assurance program is in accordance with the referenced
F 606 Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Prop- criteria of this practice.
erties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners, 4.1.2 On-site review, by the accrediting authority, of the
Washers, and Rivets12 organization’s operations and verification that the operations
2.2 ASNT Standard: conform to the referenced criteria of this practice.
RP SNT-TC-1A Personnel Qualification and Certification in 4.1.3 Off-site review, by the accrediting authority, of docu-
Nondestructive Testing13 mented quality assurance information or objective evidence, or
2.3 ISO Standard: both, that demonstrates that the organization meets the refer-
ISO/IEC Guide 25 General Requirements for the Technical enced criteria of this practice.

5. Organization, Capabilities, and Responsibilities

5.1 The following information shall be made available to
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. the accrediting authority, for on-site review:
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.08.
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Available from American Society for Nondestructive Testing, 4153 Arlingate Available from International Organization for Standardization, Case Post 56,
Plaza, Columbus OH 43228-0518. Geneva 20 1211, Switzerland.

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 A 880
5.1.1 The complete legal name and address of the testing [Link] Calibration programs. Compliance certificates
laboratory, examination organization, or inspection organiza- should be either on file traceable to the equipment or displayed
tion to be accredited. by each piece of equipment.
5.1.2 A written outline or chart delineating the responsibil- [Link] Traceability of calibration standards (chemical,
ity and authority of operational personnel positions. physical, mechanical).
5.1.3 The specific identity, address, and location of the [Link] Objective evidence of accuracy of equipment (small
organization to be accredited. tools, micrometers, dial gages, gage-mark punches, etc.).
5.1.4 The designated steel, stainless steel, or related alloy 7.1.2 Data control systems, including methods of recording,
products tested, examined, or examined at the location; as well processing, and maintenance, including any computerized
as the specific tests, examinations, and inspections performed. systems, software, and data processing equipment.
5.1.5 The capability of the organization to perform specific 7.1.3 Documentation of quality system employed, including
tests, examinations, and inspections. such elements as:
[Link] A detailed listing of fields of testing, examination, or [Link] Methods of inspection and measurement,
inspection, showing applicable standards and calibration stan- [Link] Traceability of samples and data through receiving
dards shall be available. An example of such a listing is shown to final data,
in Table 1. [Link] Procedure for sample preparation,
[Link] A summary showing the frequency of testing, ex- [Link] Internal audits of samples and test data,
amination, or inspection, by type performed, on an annual basis [Link] Corrective action,
and for the most-recent 12-month period. [Link] Quality control program,
5.1.6 Identification of the person accepting technical re- [Link] Quality assurance program,
sponsibility for issuance of reports. [Link] Statistical process control data for personnel and
NOTE 1—It is not necessary to identify this individual on reports on equipment.
which the legal name and address of the organization is clearly identified, 7.1.4 Procedures for evaluating services of subcontractors
unless such identification of the individual is required by a jurisdiction. for testing, examination, or calibration.
5.1.7 Existing relevant certification, licensing, and formal
qualification granted by technical societies or by jurisdictions, 8. Reports
etc. 8.1 Each report supplied to clients (customers) should
5.1.8 Evidence of proficiency. include the following:
5.1.9 Demonstration of current awareness by such items as 8.1.1 Names and addresses of testing laboratory, examina-
participation in specification-writing bodies, participating in tion organization, or inspection organization, or corporate
round-robin testing programs, written corporate test proce- name or logo.
dures, and possession of current standards of ASTM and other 8.1.2 Name and address of client.
standards organizations. 8.1.3 Description and identification of the item tested,
5.1.10 Reference samples utilized to verify precision and examined, or inspected.
bias of the particular test method. 8.1.4 Identification of material specification, testing speci-
fication, examination specification, etc., if applicable.
NOTE 2—Certain accreditation programs may require that the accred-
iting authority utilize their own reference samples to verify the accuracy 8.1.5 Description of laboratory sampling procedure, if not
of a particular test method during an on-site review as described in 4.1.2. included in the documents listed in 8.1.4, when relevant.
8.1.6 Notation of deviations from standard procedures as
6. Human Resources defined in 8.1.4, if any.
6.1 The following information, where applicable, shall be 8.1.7 Measurements, examination, and derived results, sup-
made available for on-site evaluation: ported where applicable by tables, graphs, sketches, and
6.1.1 A summary description of each position category, photographs.
including the requisite education, training or experience, or 8.1.8 Notation of failures of the item to conform to speci-
both, to perform specific tests, examinations, and inspections. fication requirements.
Present management and supervisory personnel should be
shown, along with their qualifications and experience. 9. Record and Sample Retention
6.1.2 Where personnel qualification or requalification is 9.1 The organization should maintain a record system to suit
required, a procedure for such qualification or requalification its particular circumstances and should comply with any
and necessary documentation. existing regulations. The organization should retain on record
6.1.3 Training programs for new or untrained staff, and all original observations, calculations, and derived data, cali-
records to document personnel qualifications. bration records, and the final test report for an appropriate
period. The records for each test, examination, or inspection
7. Facilities and Laboratory Systems should contain sufficient information to permit a review of
7.1 The following additional information, as applicable, specification compliance or a satisfactory repetition of the test,
shall be made available for on-site evaluation. etc.
7.1.1 Systems of metrology employed, such as: 9.2 The organization should maintain a description of its
[Link] Testing, examination, and testing equipment. sample retention schedule and traceability.

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 A 880
10. Additional Background Information 10.1.4 Chemical Analysis—Practice E 851 and Guide
10.1 The following list may be useful as background infor- E 882.
mation: 10.1.5 Mechanical Testing—Practice E 1595.
10.1.1 General—Practice E 548, Guide E 994, and ISO/IEC
Guide 25. 11. Keywords
10.1.2 Nondestructive Examination—Practice E 543 and 11.1 accreditation; accreditation (of test labs); evaluation (of
Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A. test labs); examination of steels; inspection of steel; laboratory
10.1.3 Metallography—Practice E 807. systems; qualification (of test labs)

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Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above address or at
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