TIP 0402-21 "Ultrasonic technician performance test for boiler tube inspection" (Revision)

TIP 0304-31 "Splicer defects and cures" (Revision)

Special note: Documents appearing in the TAPPI online version of the Standards and TIPs are updated once a month (usually around the 15th). So it is possible that there is a delay between the publication announcement and the posting online. If you are a subscriber to the online access to Standards and TIPs and you are in a hurry for new documents that have not yet been posted, you can send a request to standards@tappi.org.

 

The TAPPI Standards regulations require public review of standards that are up for ballot. TAPPI members can view any drafts that are in ballot by logging in to the TAPPI web site (www.tappi.org), clicking on "My TAPPI," and then clicking on the "Standards Public Draft Review" link on the left side of the page. If you would like to review and comment on any draft and are not a member of the corresponding Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG), you may view the draft on line or you may request a copy of the draft being balloted by writing to standards@tappi.org. TAPPI members may join SSIGs as permanent members; go to the Subject Category page to download forms for this purpose. Nonmembers of TAPPI may join any SSIG as a voting member; to do so, send a message to standards@tappi.org to receive a copy of the draft and a ballot.

Listed below are TAPPI Standards that have recently gone out for ballot to the corresponding Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG). The date in parentheses is the closing date for voting.

T 625 "Analysis of soda and sulfate black liquor" (Proposed revision and reinstatement of withdrawn standard)

T 1205 "Dealing with suspect (outlying) test determinations" (September 20, 2013)

T 529 "Surface pH measurement of paper" (September 29, 2013)

Special note about the online balloting system: TAPPI has been experiencing some problems on its website with the online system for balloting. The problem may or may not have been corrected by the time of the publication fo this edition of the STAR newsletter.

If you are a TAPPI member and expderience problems trying to access drafts and vote on line, send a message to standards@tappi.org and request that a copy of the draft be sent to you. then you can vote by replying to the email. We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

 

Getting started is easy. Do you have just a general idea for a standard, or are you farther along and have a substantial draft? If you just have a general idea for a standard or TIP, complete the New Idea Submission Form. TAPPI will review your idea and identify an appropriate committee or group to work on your suggestion. If you are further along, send an initial draft to standards@tappi.org. From there, the TAPPI Standards Manager will guide you through the appropriate process to finalize and approve the new document.

 

Suppliers of reference materials for TAPPI Test Methods are requested to certify their compliance with TAPPI Standard Practice T 1211 "Acceptance Procedures for Calibration Laboratories." This practice, current edition T 1211 sp-11, establishes guidelines for the listing of organizations as calibration laboratories or providers of standardized materials for TAPPI Standard Test Methods. Such organizations are involved with the maintenance of master instruments, calibration of test instruments, and the issuance of calibration materials or transfer standards.

The list of reference material suppliers appears in the full set of TAPPI Standards, on the TAPPI website, or is available upon request from the TAPPI Standards Department (standards@tappi.org). Organizations currently on the list will be notified that it is required that they recertify on a yearly basis in order to remain on the list. Organizations that file the recertification form with TAPPI by September 3, 2013, are assured of being listed in the next edition of the full set of methods on CD that will be released in March 2014. The filing date of September 3, 2013, has been established so that there will be time to review the responses prior to the publication deadline.

Organizations that provide reference materials for TAPPI Standard Test Methods but which are not currently on the Reference Materials list should also submit self-certification forms by September 3, 2013, in order to be included in the next full set listing. Such organizations should contact the TAPPI Standards Department (standards@tappi.org) to obtain the certification form.

 

A revision has been proposed for T 257 om-12 "Sampling and preparing wood for analysis." The current method specifies a 40 mesh (0.40 mm) screen, but contains no definition of what type or screen is specified. A "40-mesh" screen may mean different sizes in different systems.

The proposed revision is to describe the screen more clearly by referring to an ASTM standard.

If you are not already a member of the Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG) for T 257, you may join in order to receive the ballot for this revision. Please contact standards@tappi.org before September 30, 2013, to be placed on the SSIG before the ballot is distributed.
 

 

The working group reviewing TIP 0305-31 "Daily and month-to-date status report" has recommended that it be withdrawn. The working group believes that it is no longer necessary due to the number of computer driven maintenance programs currently available.

Anyone who has any objection to the withdrawal of TIP 0305-31 should contact standards@tappi.org no later than September 30, 2013. If there are no objections after this comment period, the TIP will be withdrawn. 

 

T 604 "Sulfur dioxide in sulfite cooking liquor" was on the review schedule to be balloted for review on July 30, 2013. This was a mistake; T 604 is a Classical Method last published in 2009, so it should not be on the review schedule until 2018.

The web page has been corrected.

 

July 23, 2013, was the target balloting day for the five-year review of T 631 "Microbiological enumeration of process water and slush pulp." When the roster of the Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG) was pulled on that day, it was found to be not in balance according to TAPPI guidelines. "Balance" in the guidelines is defined as no one interest group having more than 50% of the members of a particular SSIG.

The SSIG for T 631 has 13 members, of which 9 are suppliers of chemicals or raw materials. Balloting cannot proceed until the SSIG is in balance (i.e., no interest group being more than 50% of the members).

For this standard to continue to be active, either the number of suppliers of chemical and raw materials must be reduced or the number of other interest categories must be increased.

If you are NOT a supplier of chemicals or raw materials, then it would be very helpful if you have enough of an interest in this standard to join the SSIG. Even if your specialty is not necessarily microbiology, but you have a broad knowledge of the industry and standards in general, you may wish to join the SSIG to help out with this balance problem.

There are two other "supplier" categories – "equipment" (companies that provide equipment and machinery) and "service and general" (which would include companies that provide general services, such as consulting or testing, but do not actually provide chemicals or equipment). New SSIG members from either of these two categories would help with the balance, as would those of you whose interest group would not be as a supplier (producers of pulp and paper, consultants, educators, marketers and commercial sellers, commercial users of pulp and paper, and general interest; "general interest" usually includes retirees or persons not affiliated with the paper industry but who may have an interest in the standard.

If you would like to join this SSIG, please contact standards@tappi.org before September 13, 2013. If we are able to achieve a balance from these responses, this method wil be balloted for its five-year review shortly after September 13.

 

The next meeting of the Standards Advisory Review Group (SARG) is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 1:30 pm EASTERN time, at TAPPI Headquarters.  SARG approval is the last step prior to publication for any new or revised standard.

In order to act on any appeals from TAPPI members relevant to the standards up for approval, the SARG meeting is open to anyone for participation. The agenda will be posted on the SARG page at least 50 days prior to the meeting, in accordance with TAPPI’s guidelines. There will be links from the agenda items to the final drafts that are up for approval.

If you would like to participate in the SARG meeting by conference call, please send a message before November 5, 2013, to standards@tappi.org.

 

Reports outlining the overdue reviews for Standards and TIPs were sent to the Quality and Standards Management Committee (Q&SMC) on August 19, 2013. Copies of these reports were also sent to the assigned Working Group Chairmen for these overdue reviews as well as to chairmen of the appropriate technical groups in TAPPI.

Anyone who did not receive the overdue reports but who have an interest may obtain copies by requesting them from standards@tappi.org.

Working Group Chairmen: These reports were sent to you for your information and action, if required. Q&SMC may, according to the Standards Guidelines, withdraw any Standards or TIPs whose reviews are overdue, especially if it appears that little progress is being made on the Work Item. If more information or indications of progress on these Work Items are received prior to the next meeting (November 5, 2013), Q&SMC will take these reports of progress under consideration. 

If you are working on a Standard that will be ready to go to the Standards Advisory Review Group (SARG) for final approval, please be aware that the SARG agenda must be posted on the web at least 30 days before their next meeting on November 5, 2013. This means that any standards that are ready for SARG must be submitted no later than September 4, 2013, in order to be included in the Fall 2013 SARG agenda. 

To provide updates regarding these reports, send a message to to standards@tappi.org no later than Monday, November 4, 2013, in order to be able to provide this information to Q&SMC at their next meeting.

 

For details on these commonly-used acronyms in the development of TAPPI Standards and TIPs, please see the Standards Guidelines and the TIP Guidelines, or send your questions to standards@tappi.org.

TIP = Technical Information Paper
Q&SMC = Quality and Standards Management Committee
SSIG = Standard-Specific Interest Group
SARG = Standards Advisory Review Group
WI = Work Item
WG = Working Group
WGC = Working Group Chairman
om = Official Method
pm = Provisional Method
sp = Standard Practice
cm = Classical Method
ss = Standard Specification
sg = Standard Guideline
gl = Standard Glossary
wd = Withdrawn Standard
UM = Useful Method

 

Details on how to search and order TAPPI Standards, TIPs and Useful Methods can be found on the TAPPI website's Search and Order page.

For Individual TIPs, order Item Number: 0108____ (Insert TIP number)

For Individual Standards, order Item Number: 0104T____ (Insert Standard number)

For individual Useful Methods, order Item Number 0104UM____ (insert UM number)

List price: $49; TAPPI member price: $32. There are no shipping or handling charges for electronic documents.

The 2013 collection of Standards, TIPs, and UMs, published in March of 2013 (product code STUCD-13), is available on CD. An Individual or Company License for access to the continually updated collection of Standards, TIPs, and UMs via the web is the best way to always have a current set of documents accessible. A print-on-demand version of either the Standards, TIPs, or UMs, current and updated as of the date printed, is also available.

For information and quotes on company licenses, contact Jeff Wellsat jwells@tappi.org or +1-770-209-7228. For regular orders (including individual online licenses), contact Member Connection at 1-800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), or +1-770-446-1400 (international), or order on line at www.tappi.org.