1.1 This guide provides recommended formats and guidelines for the use of data quality indicators for material and chemical property data and databases.

1.2 The principal content of this guide is the identification of the key indices of data and database quality and reliability. It is recognized that actual usage and application to individual databases and data systems may vary appreciably without minimizing the value of the process.

1.3 While these guidelines have been established with computerized databases in mind, many of the elements of quality and reliability covered are equally applicable to data provided through other media.