ASTM A370-12a

3.1.1 These test methods may be and are used by other ASTM Committees and other standards writing bodies for the purpose of conformance testing.

3.1.2 The material condition at the time of testing, sampling frequency, specimen location and orientation, reporting requirements, and other test parameters are contained in the pertinent material specification or in a General Requirement Specification for the particular product form.

3.1.3 Some material specifications require the use of additional test methods not described herein; in such cases, the required test method is described in that material specification or by reference to another appropriate test method standard.

3.2.1 As with any mechanical testing, deviations from either specification limits or expected as-manufactured properties can occur for valid reasons besides deficiency of the original as-fabricated product. These reasons include, but are not limited to: subsequent service degradation from environmental exposure (for example, temperature, corrosion); static or cyclic service stress effects, mechanically-induced damage, material inhomogeneity, anisotropic structure, natural aging of select alloys, further processing not included in the specification, sampling limitations, and measuring equipment calibration uncertainty. There is statistical variation in all aspects of mechanical testing and variations in test results from prior tests are expected. An understanding of possible reasons for deviation from specified or expected test values should be applied in interpretation of test results.