ASTM standardsASTM

Standards published by the International Organization for Standardization, the worldwide federation of national standards bodies. ISO test methods, such as the ISO 527 tensile series and ISO 14125 flexural method for composites, are widely cited on material datasheets, alongside management system standards such as ISO 9001.

European Standards produced by the European standardisation bodies and adopted identically by national standards institutes, appearing in the UK as BS EN standards. Harmonised ENs under the Construction Products Regulation define how construction products, including roofing membranes and insulation, are tested, classified and CE marked.

A mechanical test in which a specimen is pulled along its axis until it breaks, measuring properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break. For plastics and composites it is commonly performed to methods in the ISO 527 series or ASTM D638 and D3039. It is the baseline test for characterising resins, laminates and reinforcement materials.

Mechanical or physical testing of small standardised specimens, known as coupons, cut from a laminate, panel or production sample rather than testing the full component. Coupon results underpin material qualification, design allowables and batch quality control in composites manufacture.