ASTM International Developing New Standard Guide for Estimating Accuracy of Test Methods

ASTM International’s committee on building and environmental acoustics (E33) is developing a new standard guide for estimating the accuracy of test methods through interlaboratory studies (ILS).

The acoustic test methods are used to measure the acoustical performance of products, such as doors, windows and wall systems. The new standard guide (WK81571) will cover both laboratory and field methods.

“Each test method is required to have a precision and bias statement but performing an ILS with fewer than six laboratories involves different statistical considerations than with larger groups,” says ASTM International member Robert Hallman. “Also, for many E33 measurement standards, the several measured results are algorithmically combined into a single number rating or classification. These classifications are the metrics our industry primarily cares about, but existing standards dealing with precision and bias do not address them within these classifications.”

According to Hallman, the standard is being developed to help E33 task groups with interpreting and presenting results from these studies done by a smaller number of labs. Hallman adds that although the standard will most benefit E33 task groups overseeing the acoustic test methods, the end users of those methods will benefit from improved precision and bias statements.