This handbook was prepared with the objective of improving the understanding of the basis for the use of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). While written from the viewpoint of a chemist, the basic concepts described are believed to be applicable to most areas of metrology. The handbook is arranged by section in a logical progression, starting with the basic concepts of precision & accuracy, followed by discussions of the calibration & quality assurance of the measurement process, the use of SRMs to evaluate various kinds of measurements, & the reporting of data with evaluated limits of uncertainty. Charts & tables.

Under the guidance of the German Federal Institute for Materials Research (BAM), the standards for fabrication and application of reference materials are presented here in comprehensive form. The areas covered are analytical chemistry, materials science, environmental analysis, clinical and forensic toxicological analysis, and gas and food analysis. A standard reference for every analytical laboratory.

It was seven years ago this month when I had the pleasure of writing the Foreword to the Proceedings of the Eighth Conference on Thermal Conductivity hosted by TPRC/ Purdue University in 1968. Since then this Conference has developed to the point where one can say it has just entered a new phase. At its meeting in June 1975, the Board of Governors of the International Thermal Conductivity Conferences passed a resolution which formalizes two main policies that were felt to be desirable for a number of years, A key item of the resolution was for CINDAS/Purdue University to become the permanent Sponsor of the Conferences and in this capacity assist the Conferences in all matters which will result in the effective implementation of its goals and mission. In short, CINDAS will serve as a home base for the Conferences thus providing continuity and a permanent point of contact. CINDAS/Purdue University is pleased to accept this respons ibility as it is well within its mission to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge on thermophysica! properties of matter. A second important aspect of the Conference resolution was the establishment of a policy to publish the Proceedings of future conferences on a continuing and uniform basis effective with this, the Fourteenth Conference.

There are many academic references describing how RMs are made, but few that explain why they are used, how they should be used and what happens when they are not properly used. In order to fill this gap, the editors have taken the contributions of more than thirty RM practitioners to produce a highly readable text organized in nine chapters. Starting with an introduction to historical, theoretical and technical requirements, the book goes on to examine all aspects of RM production from planning, preparation through analysis to certification, reviews recent development areas, RMs for life analysis and some important general application fields, considers the proper usage of RMs, gives advice on availability and sources of information and lastly looks at future trends and needs for RMs. This book is intended to be a single point of information that both guides the reader through the use of RMs and serves as a primary reference source. It should be on the reading list of anyone working in an analytical laboratory and be found on the library shelf of all analytical chemical laboratories.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Analytical Reagents sets the specifications for most chemicals used in analytical testing. Currently, the ACS is the only organization in the world that sets requirements and develops validated methods for determining the purity of reagent chemicals. These specifications have also become the de facto standards for chemicals used in many high-purity applications. Publications and organizations that set specifications or promulgate analytical testing methods-such as the United States Pharmacopeia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-specify that ACS reagent-grade purity be used in their test procedures. The Eleventh Edition incorporates the "supplements" accumulated over the past eight years, removes some obsolete test methods, improves instructions for many existing ones, and also introduces some new methods. Overall, the safety, accuracy, or ease of use in specifications for about 70 of the 430 listed reagents has been improved, and seven new reagents have been added.

A need is presented for wood-base materials suitable as Standard Reference Materials (SRM's) for nationwide fire testing. Need is based on increasing trend toward large-scale fire testing and use of non-characterized wood materials indiscriminately as a performance reference for other building materials. Research objectives are outlined and studies needed toward the ultimate goal of recommending a procedural guide for selection and processing of wood-base materials for fire testing to ASTM Subcommittee D07.12 on Fire Performance of Wood and Wood-Base Products. This paper presents results of first study which examined red oak as a candidate material from standpoint of present usage, forest resource, growth variability, and fire performance variability in the 8-foot tunnel furnace. The effort toward red oak as an SRM is abandoned primarily due to anticipated decreased usage. A recommendation is made that a reconstituted wood product be investigated as a potential SRM and the 8-foot furnace (ASTM E 286) be used as the reference standard test method for its evaluation. (Author)