Industrial woven wire cloth can be produced in many thousands of combinations of size and shape of opening, wire diameter, type of weave, and metal. Standard E2016 covers wire cloth for industrial use, including the separation of particles. Its purpose is to introduce standard terms and definitions, to note the normal range of specifications woven, and to establish tolerances and requirements. Standard E2016 was developed due to the void created by the obsolesence of ASTM E437, ANSI:AWCI-01, Federal RR-W-360A, and CID A-A-1037. It is the only standard that covers wire cloth as specified and manufactured according to mesh count.

1.1 This specification covers industrial woven wire fabric, referred to as wire cloth, for general use including the separation of particles. Wire cloth can be made of any primary metal or metal alloy wire that is suitable for weaving. This specification does not apply to the following special types of wire cloth: filter cloth or dutch weave (see ), fourdrinier and cylinder cloth, galvanized hardware cloth, insect wire screening, spiral weave wire cloth, testing sieve cloth, or welded wire cloth.

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units shall be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.