These guidelines are intended to enable a laboratory monitor to perform onsite assessments of laboratory facilities. Accepted facilities will then participate in an interlaboratory test protocol to establish precision and bias for a particular ASTM standard.

This assessment is intended to determine that all of the participants have the necessary equipment, an understanding of the test method, and the minimum level of skill necessary to gather data which are to be used to establish precision and bias for the particular standard.

This guide is not intended to be used as a tool to qualify or accredit laboratories to perform any tests. Refer to the Referenced Documents for further guidance on accreditation requirements.

1.1 This guide provides a general outline, for use by a laboratory monitor, to assess the qualifications of a laboratory which has requested to participate in a specific ASTM interlaboratory test.

1.2 The preliminary assessment is based on observations made before initiation of any interlaboratory tests.

1.3 The subcommittee, which appoints the laboratory monitor, specifies the minimum requirements which an organization should meet to qualify as a participant for the interlaboratory test. If a pretest is to be included, see details in Section 13.

1.4 This fire standard can not be used to provide quantitative measures.

1.5 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 requirements prior to use.