ASTM_E_2554_-_13.pdf

Designation:E255413An American National StandardStandard Practice forEstimating and Monitoring the Uncertainty of Test Resultsof a Test Method Using Control Chart Techniques1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2554;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice describes techniques for a laboratory toestimate the uncertainty of a test result using data from testresults on a control sample.This standard provides one methodfor a laboratory to estimate Measurement Uncertainty inaccordance with Section A22.3 in Form and Style of ASTMStandards.1.2 Uncertainty as defined by this practice applies to thecapabilities of a single laboratory.Any estimate of uncertaintydetermined through the use of this practice applies only to theindividual laboratory for which the data are presented.1.3 The laboratory uses a well defined and established testmethod in determining a series of test results.The uncertaintyestimated using this practice only applies when the same testmethod is followed.The uncertainty only applies for thematerial types represented by the control samples,and multiplecontrol samples may be needed,especially if the method hasdifferent precision for different sample types or response levels.1.4 The uncertainty estimate determined by this practicerepresents the intermediate precision of test results.Thisestimate seeks to quantify the total variation expected within asingle laboratory using a single established test method whileincorporating as many known sources of variation as possible.1.5 This practice does not establish error estimates(errorbudget)attributed to individual factors that could influenceuncertainty.1.6 This practice describes the use of control charts toevaluate the data obtained and presents a special type of controlchart to monitor the estimate of uncertainty.1.7 The system of units for this standard is not specified.Dimensional quantities in the standard are presented only asillustrations of calculation methods.The examples are notbinding on products or test methods treated.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D5184 Test Methods for Determination of Aluminum andSilicon in Fuel Oils by Ashing,Fusion,InductivelyCoupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry,andAtomic Absorption SpectrometryE177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias inASTM Test MethodsE456 Terminology Relating to Quality and StatisticsE2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test MethodE2587 Practice for Use of Control Charts in StatisticalProcess ControlISO/ASTM 51707 Guide for Estimating Uncertainties inDosimetry for Radiation Processing2.2 ASTM Publications:2Form and Style for ASTM StandardsManual on Presentation of Data and Control Chart Analy-sis 7th Edition2.3 ISO Standard:3ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competenceof Testing and Calibration Laboratories3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsThe terminology of Terminology E456applies to this practice except as modified herein.3.1.1 control sample,nsample taken from a stable,homo-geneous material for the purposes of monitoring the perfor-mance of a test method in a laboratory.3.1.1.1 DiscussionThe control sample material is repre-sentative of the product typically tested in the laboratory by the1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal andCoke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.07 on PhysicalCharacteristics of Coal.Current edition approved Oct.1,2007.Published May 2013.Originally approvedin 2007.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E2554 07.DOI:10.1520/E2554-13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036,http:/www.ansi.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 given test method.A control sample is run periodically usingthe complete test method protocol to develop a test result.Suchtest results may be statistically evaluated to monitor testmethod performance over time.It is not necessary to have anaccepted reference value assigned to the control sample mate-rial.When the current material is nearly consumed,a replace-ment material should be run in parallel with the currentmaterial to ensure