Notice of Proposed Standards Activity

Date Posted: 7-30-2019

Proposed Changes to Quality Systems for Asbestos Testing (Volume 1, Module 3)

The TNI Asbestos Expert Committee has modified Volume 1, Module 3 of the 2016 Standard. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input. All input provided by August 30, 2019 will be considered by the Committee for possible inclusion in the Voting Draft Standard.

Those who are interested in providing input into this process are invited to contact the Asbestos Expert Committee Chair, Myron Getman, through e-mail at [email protected] or the Consensus Standards Development Program Administrator, Robert Wyeth, through e-mail at [email protected].

This announcement includes the proposed changes as well as their benefits. No impacts to laboratories, accreditation bodies are anticipated nor are there any financial impacts anticipated from the proposed modifications to the standard.

Restructuring of Volume 1, Module 3 by Technology

The current (2016) standard is currently arranged by Quality Control requirements and then further divided by technology. Based upon feedback from assessors and laboratories, the Asbestos Expert Committee has decided to restructure Volume 1, Module 3 by technology to better facilitation of method-specific reference by stakeholders. By doing so, if a question is raised about Polarized Light Microscopy, for example, someone will now just go to section 7.4 – “Polarized Light Microscopy.”

Update Requirements and Standards to Current State of the Art

The Draft Revised Standard is being reviewed and edited to better reflect the current state of asbestos testing. In addition to basic corrections and edits, changes include revising language to better permit electronic record keeping, adding definitions, and refining references. Additionally, the lack of method-required NIST SRMs is a persistent and serious issue for asbestos testing facilities and the TNI Asbestos Expert Committee felt it needed to be addressed. Language is proposed to facilitate the use of NIST-equivalent Standard Reference Materials (SRMs).

Organization of Proposed Draft Revised Standard

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Scope

3.0 Terms and Definitions

3.1 Additional Terms and Definitions

3.2 Exclusions and Exceptions

4.0 Method Selection

5.0 Method Validation

6.0 Demonstration of Capability (DOC)

6.1 General
6.2 Initial DOC
6.3 On-Going DOC

7.0 Technical Requirements

7.1 Reference methods
7.2 Transmission Electron Microscopy

7.2.1 Water and Wastewater

7.2.1.1 Calibration
7.2.1.2 Test Variability/Reproducibility
7.2.1.3 Analytical Sensitivity
7.2.1.4 Data Acceptance/Rejection Criteria

7.2.2 Air

7.2.2.1 Calibration
7.2.2.2 Test Variability/Reproducibility
7.2.2.3 Analytical Sensitivity
7.2.2.4 Data Acceptance/Rejection Criteria

7.2.3 Bulk Samples

7.2.3.1 Calibration
7.2.3.2 Test Variability/Reproducibility
7.2.3.3 Analytical Sensitivity
7.2.3.4 Data Acceptance/Rejection Criteria

7.2.4 General

7.2.4.1 Quality Control
7.2.4.2 Other Quality Control Measures
7.2.4.3 Quality of Standards and Reagents

7.3 Phase Contrast Microscopy

7.3.1 Calibration
7.3.2 Test Variability/Reproducibility
7.3.3 Analytical Sensitivity
7.3.4 Data Acceptance/Rejection Criteria
7.3.5 Quality Control
7.3.6 Other Quality Control Measures
7.3.7 Quality of Standards and Reagents

7.4 Polarized Light Microscopy

7.4.1 Calibration
7.4.2 Test Variability/Reproducibility
7.4.3 Analytical Sensitivity
7.4.4 Data Acceptance/Rejection Criteria
7.4.5 Quality Control
7.4.6 Other Quality Control Measures
7.4.7 Quality of Standards and Reagents

7.5 Constant and Consistent Test Conditions Sample and Sampling Requirements