ASTM D7448-09

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Designation: D7448 − 09
StandardPractice for
Establishing the Competence of Laboratories Using ASTM
Procedures in the Sampling and Analysis of Coal and Coke
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7448; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D4749 Test Method for Performing the Sieve Analysis of
Coal and Designating Coal Size
1.1 This practice specifies requirements to operate and
D5061 Test Method for Microscopical Determination of the
evaluate the quality and management systems in a laboratory
Textural Components of Metallurgical Coke
thatprovidesserviceswithrespecttosamplecollection,sample
D5515 Test Method for Determination of the Swelling
preparation, or testing of coal, coke, and ash derived from coal
Properties of Bituminous Coal Using a Dilatometer
orcokeusingASTMstandardsthatareunderthejurisdictionof
D6172 Test Method for Determining the Volume of Bulk
Committee D05 on Coal and Coke.
Materials Using Contours or Cross Sections Created by
NOTE 1—The word “laboratory” is used throughout this practice when
DirectOperatorCompilationUsingPhotogrammetricPro-
referring to an organization that provides services in coal sampling or
testing, or both. It is recognized, however, that the word may not be
cedures
appropriate to an organization that does not perform actual laboratory
D6349 Test Method for Determination of Major and Minor
sample testing.
Elements in Coal, Coke, and Solid Residues from Com-
1.2 International standardANS/ISO/IEC 17025 shall be the
bustion of Coal and Coke by Inductively Coupled
governing document specifying requirements for management,
Plasma—Atomic Emission Spectrometry
technical competence and evaluation of a laboratory.
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
NOTE 2—An accrediting body or user of laboratory services can also
ASTM Test Methods
impose technical or non-technical requirements not specifically addressed
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
in ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 provided they do not invalidate the requirements
E2554 Practice for Estimating and Monitoring the Uncer-
of ANS/ISO/IEC 17025.
tainty of Test Results of a Test Method Using Control
1.3 This practice is used to evaluate only those capabilites
Chart Techniques
specifically claimed by a laboratory.
2.2 ANS/ISO/IEC Document:
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Cali-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
bration and Testing Laboratories
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1 International standard ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 promotes
the use of documented accountability and quality control
2. Referenced Documents
procedures to assure a laboratory and its clients that the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
laboratory can produce technically valid data and results in the
D121 Terminology of Coal and Coke
routine performance of its sampling, sample preparation and
D3174 Test Method forAsh in theAnalysis Sample of Coal
testing activities.
and Coke from Coal
3.2 Alaboratory shall useANSI/ISO/IEC 17025 to develop
D4239 Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis Sample of
its quality system. Clause 4 of ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 specifies
Coal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube Furnace
the requirements for sound management. Clause 5 of ANS/
Combustion
ISO/IEC 17025 specifies the requirements for technical com-
petence for the type of tests or calibrations, or both the
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and laboratory undertakes.
CokeandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD05.24onQualityAssurance.
3.3 In addition to complying with the requirements of
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2009. Published December 2009. DOI:
10.1520/D7448-09. ANS/ISO/IEC 17025, the Annex of this standard practice
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
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D7448 − 09
contains information that shall be considered important for the 3.5.4 Be able to demonstrate that the laboratory is in
evaluation and operation of a competent Coal and Coke statistical control at the time the measurements are made.
sampling or testing facility, or both. The information in this
4. Selection of an Evaluator
Annex is presented where it is not otherwise covered in
4.1 The evaluator(s) shall have sufficient technical back-
ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 or the applicable ASTM methods.
ground to competently evaluate the application of ASTM
3.4 Laboratory clients, regulatory authorities, and accredi-
standards employed for the sampling, preparation and analysis
tation bodies that recognize the competence of testing and
of coal, coke, and ash derived from coal or coke.
calibration laboratories can use this standard practice as the
4.2 The evaluator(s) shall review the laboratory with the aid
basis for their evaluation.
of a worksheet or checklist. Worksheets or checklists shall be
3.5 The primary significance of this practice is to establish
developed from the requirements of Clause 4 and Clause 5 of
that for a laboratory to generate measurements traceable to SI
ANS/ISO/IEC17025inconcertwithspecifictechnicalrequire-
units, it must:
ments specified in the ASTM standard(s) to be evaluated.
3.5.1 Have a clear understanding of the work requested by
4.3 Observationsandcommentsmadebytheevaluatorshall
the client.
be keyed to item numbers in the checklist.
3.5.2 Meet the quality system requirements of the interna-
5. Keywords
tionally accepted ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
3.5.3 Use test methods which have been shown to be
5.1 accuracy; competence; evaluation; laboratory; manage-
traceable to SI units of measurement ment; stability
ANNEX
(Mandatory Information)
A1.
INTRODUCTION
Factors that can influence the technical validity of tests performed by a laboratory include but are
not limited to:
(1) Sampling apparatus operation,
(2) Sampling procedures,
(3) Sample preparation apparatus,
(4) Sample preparation operation,
(5) Sample preparation procedures,
(6) Laboratory equipment,
(7) Laboratory equipment operation,
(8) Test methods,
(9) Calibration, control and consumable materials,
(10) Calibration,
(11) Uncertainty of measurement,
(12) Control charts,
(13) Reporting procedures,
(14) Qualification of laboratory personnel, and
(15) Environmental conditions (sampling, sample preparation and analyses).
This annex while mandatory, identifies several items as a “typical practice”.A“typical practice” is
not to be considered the only correct practice. Typical practices have been included throughout this
Annex only for the purpose of clarifying the content of this Annex.
The extent to which the factors contribute to the technical validity of results can differ considerably
between tests. The laboratory shall have procedures that address these factors where these are
applicable and under the laboratory’s control.
D7448 − 09
ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 4.1.5 states:
“The laboratory shall have managerial and technical personnel who, irrespective of other
responsibilities, have the authority and resources needed to carry out their duties, including the
implementation, maintenance and improvement of the management system, and to identify the
occurrence of departures from the management system or from the procedures for performing tests
and/or calibrations and to initiate actions to prevent or minimize such departures.”
Managerial and technical personnel shall have the authority and resources to implement the
practices specified in this Annex in a manner that ensures laboratory procedures produce data of the
type and quality needed for the intended end use.
A1.1 Sampling Apparatus Operation A1.4.1.6 Minimizing contamination at each stage of sam-
pling and sample preparation.
A1.1.1 The laboratory shall have procedures describing
A1.4.1.7 Minimizingdustlossandverifyingmaterialrecov-
acceptance requirements for all sampling equipment.
ery at each stage of sampling and sample preparation.
A1.1.2 The laboratory shall have procedures describing
A1.4.1.8 Verifying particle size reduction equipment pro-
verification of all sampling equipment.
duce samples of the appropriate particle size criteria and
homogeneity.
A1.2 Sampling Procedures
A1.4.1.9 Minimizing changes in moisture and or oxidation
A1.2.1 The laboratory shall have sampling procedures de-
of the sample(s) during transportation, preparation, storage and
scribing all processes under its control.
handling.
A1.4.1.10 Mixing to minimize selection of a biased size
A1.2.2 The laboratory shall have procedures describing
fraction at each stage of sampling, including extraction of test
requirements for bias tests.
portions from the laboratory analysis sample.
A1.2.3 The laboratory shall have procedures describing
A1.4.1.11 Recording date and time the sample(s) are re-
requirements for periodic bias tests after initial bias testing and
ceived in the laboratory.
acceptance of sampling systems.
A1.4.1.12 Verifying compliance or corrective action with
A1.2.4 The laboratory shall have procedures describing
respect to all elements of the management plan, or both.
requirements for bias tests subsequent to maintenance and
A1.4.1.13 Approval of changes or exceptions to the sam-
or/modification of sampling systems.
pling and sample preparation procedures
A1.3 Sample Preparation Apparatus
A1.5 Sample Preparation Procedures
A1.3.1 The laboratory shall have procedures describing:
A1.5.1 Thelaboratoryshallhaveproceduresforallstagesof
A1.3.1.1 Acceptance requirements for all sample prepara-
sample preparation that are under its control.
tion equipment.
A1.6 Laboratory Equipment
A1.3.1.2 Procedures for verification of all sample prepara-
tion equipment.
A1.6.1 The laboratory shall utilize equipment that meets the
specifications of the relevant sampling/test methods.
A1.4 Sample Preparation Operation
A1.7 Laboratory Equipment Operation
A1.4.1 The laboratory shall have a documented manage-
ment plan which shall include requirements for:
A1.7.1 The laboratory shall have procedures describing
A1.4.1.1 Maintaining a chain of custody for samples.
equipment set-up and startup where appropriate.
A1.4.1.2 Identifying the source of the sample.
A1.7.2 Equipmentthatisoperatedoutsideofnormalparam-
A1.4.1.3 Identifying date and time of initial sampling.
eters shall be subject to verification.
A1.4.1.4 Identifying the individual(s) responsible for sam-
pling and sample preparation. A1.7.3 The laboratory shall have procedures describing the
A1.4.1.5 Describing test and reserve sample(s) collected at minimum quality control that is required to validate the
each stage of sampling and sample preparation including date, equipment is in statistical control at the time the measurements
time, top size and mass. are made.
TABLE A1.1 Using ASTM Standard Designations
Standard Method Designation Standard Method Designation
Technically Equivalent
Lab A Lab B
ASTM D5061-92 ASTM D5061-92 (Reapproved Yes: Reapproval indicates no technical changes to standard D5061.(Note A1.1)
1997)
ASTM D5515-94 ASTM D5515-97 No: The lab B year designation is 97. The lab A designation is 94. This indicates technical differ-
ences between the two methods.
ε
ASTM D6172-98 ASTM D6172-98 Yes: Epsilon indicates an editorial change added to improve clarity of use.
ASTM D4239-02 ASTM D4239-02a No: The “a” indicates a technical revision occurred in the same year.
D7448 − 09
A1.7.4 The laboratory shall maintain all original instrument have expired are clearly identified and are not subsequently
observations in accordance with their records control proce- employed for calibration or verification purposes. These pro-
dures. cedures shall ensure that discarded materials can not be
subsequently used.
A1.8 Test Methods
A1.9.7 Calibration and Control Materials:
A1.8.1 Laboratory procedures can consist of standard and
A1.9.7.1 All reference materials must meet the require-
non-standard methods. A non-standard method includes the
ments of a certified reference material (CRM) and can include
application of a standard method to samples that fall outside
pure substances, pure mixtures, external reference materials
the scope or validated range of the standard method or that
(ERMs) and internal reference materials (IRMs) in a solid,
allow conditions of test which depart from those specified in a
liquid, or gaseous state.
standard method.
A1.9.7.2 Certified reference materials include primary ref-
A1.8.2 Publications from the AOAC International, (1) as
erence materials, secondary reference materials and other
well as ISO (2, 3) describe procedures for establishing the
reference materials.
precision and accuracy of a non-standard method or demon-
(1) A primary reference material is defined by ISO as a
strating the equivalency of a non-standard method with a
reference material “whose quantity value and measurement
standard method.
uncertainty are established without relation to another mea-
A1.8.3 The laboratory shall identify by ASTM (or other
surement standard for a quantity of the same kind.” (4)
source) designation including revision, all standard and non-
(2) A secondary reference material is defined by ISO as a
standard sampling, sample preparation and test procedures
reference material “whose quantity value and measurement
employed by the laboratory. The ASTM designation system
uncertainty are assigned through calibration against, or com-
allows users to determine the potential for technical discrep-
parison with, a primary measurement standard for a quantity of
ancies to exist between laboratories claiming to employ the
the same kind.” (4)
same ASTM test method.
(3) An internal reference material is one generated by a
laboratory solely for its own use.
A1.8.4 Table A1.1 provides examples of how this system
operates. (a) The laboratory shall have procedures describing the
NOTEA1.1—Referenced documents within a method or practice always
...