Glossary

ASTM stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials, officially known today as ASTM International. It is one of the world’s largest and most influential standards organizations, responsible for developing and publishing technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services used across virtually every industry — from construction and manufacturing to aerospace, energy, and consumer goods.

Founded in 1898 by a group of engineers and scientists, ASTM originally focused on standardizing the steel materials used in railroad construction, to ensure consistent quality and safety. Over time, its scope expanded dramatically, and today it maintains over 12,000 active standards that are recognized and used worldwide.

ASTM standards are voluntary consensus documents, meaning they are created through open collaboration among experts from industry, academia, government, and consumers. Each standard is carefully reviewed and approved by committees specializing in specific areas, such as ASTM A (ferrous metals), ASTM B (nonferrous metals), ASTM D (plastics), or ASTM F (fasteners and hardware).

For example:

- ASTM A193 defines requirements for high-temperature bolts and studs.

- ASTM A36 specifies carbon structural steel for construction.

- ASTM F593 covers stainless steel bolts, hex cap screws, and studs.

These standards describe chemical compositions, mechanical properties, test methods, tolerances, and quality assurance procedures, ensuring that materials and components meet consistent, verifiable specifications no matter where they are produced.

While ASTM standards are technically voluntary, they are widely adopted by governments, regulatory agencies, and industry bodies around the world. Many national and international codes, including those from ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute), reference or harmonize with ASTM standards.