Volume 6, Number 3
July 2007
Q. What is a “Body of Knowledge” and how does it relate to NDT? A. The term “Body of Knowledge” (BoK) describes the knowledge for a given area of expertise, and is also used to describe the repository that documents that knowledge. In the case of NDT, the most commonly recognized documents are those that list the knowledge requirements required to achieve a certain level of qualification. The BoK used by ASNT is the standard ANSI/ASNT CP-105: Topical Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel. Q. Please clarify the difference between “standard practice,” “standard guide” and “standard test method” in ASTM specifications. S.P. Tamil Nadu, India A. Definitions of terms are usually given in the foreword of the various volumes of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. The following definitions with discussion can be also found in the ASTM publication Form and Style for ASTM Standards.*
guide: Compendium of information or series of options that does not recommend a specific course of action. Increases awareness of information and approaches in a given subject area.
practice: Definitive set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations or functions that does not produce a test result. Examples of practices include, but are not limited to application, assessment, cleaning, collection, decontamination, inspection, installation, preparation, sampling, screening and training.
test method: Definitive procedure that produces a test result. Examples of test methods include, but are not limited to identification, measurement, and evaluation of one or more qualities, characteristics or properties. A precision and bias statement shall be reported at the end of a test method (see Form and Style for ASTM Standards, Section A21).Q. I have read the “Focus” article in the January issue of TNT and would like clarification on the stop bath emulsifier content. A makeup of 0.25% emulsifier content for the test comparison is mentioned. What emulsifier should be used? Should it be a fresh emulsifier or should it be from the emulsifier bath in use? When will the results of the CNDE fluorescent penetrant inspection research become part of the AMS 2647** standard? Z.H., Selangor, Malaysia A. The comparison sample should be made up from a fresh emulsifier. The concentration is based on experience at a major airline, one of the CNDE company participants in the generation of the best practice document. The next version of AMS 2647 is expected to be submitted for ballot in the summer of 2007. L.J.H. Brasche, ISU, Ames, Iowa * Download a pdf of ASTM’s Form and Style for ASTM Standards at http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/Blue_Book.pdf.
** SAE AMS 2647, Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection Aircraft and Engine Component Maintenance. Warrendale, PA: SAE International (October, 1999).
TNT
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