1.1This guide provides minimum requirements for general-purpose scales, balances, and standard masses used in testing soil, rock, and related construction materials.

1.2This guide provides guidance for evaluating, selecting, and specifying general purpose scales, balances, and standard masses used in testing soil, rock, and related construction materials.

1.3The accuracy requirements for balances and scales are specified in terms of the combined effect of all sources of error contributing to overall balance performance. The measurement of specific sources of error and consideration of details pertaining to balance construction has been intentionally avoided.

1.4This guide does not include requirements for balances and scales having accuracies greater than those generally required in testing soil, rock, and related construction materials or for research programs or specialized testing requirements.

1.5This guide does not apply to nongraduated balances.

1.6This guide does not address the methods used to verify or quantify specific parameters dealing with balances and scales. For a description of tests used in evaluating balance performance, see NIST Handbook 44.

1.7This guide is not intended to be used as a specification for the purchase of balances and scales.

1.8This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.9This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.