This specification covers industrial woven wire cloth (also known as, wire mesh), for general use including the separation of particles. Wire cloth can be produced in many thousands of combinations of size and shape of opening, wire diameter, and made of any primary metal or metal alloy wire that is suitable for weaving. E2016 presents standard terms and definitions, notes the normal range of specifications woven, and establishes technical requirements that include wire tolerances, mesh tolerance for double-crimp square mesh, width opening tolerances for space cloth, and delivery requirements. Developed based on obsolete Federal RR-W-360A, 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 Appendix X1), 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 are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.