*areau of Standards

SEP 1 2 1930

!>$ 12.^

QC100

-US7 "I
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

R. P. Lamonl, Secretary BUREAU OF STANDARDS

George K. Burgess, Director

CERTIFICATION PLAN

SIGNIFICANCE AND SCOPE

Its Application to Federal Specifications and

Commercial Standards

Miscellaneous Publication No. 105

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1930

CONTENTS

Page Foreword rv The plan . 1 Aims and objects... 1 Facilitating the use of specifications 1 Voluntary use of specifications 2 Attitude of consumer groups 2 Attitude of those opposed to specifications 3 Attitude of trade associations and technical societies 3 Resulting economies 3 Benefits to small and large producers 3 Benefits to distributors 4 Need for testing service. 4 Economy in testing 4 Misrepresentation in certification 5 Cooperation of industry 5 Trade association activities 6 Result of widespread application of plan 7 Launching the plan 7 Indorsement by Federal agencies. 8 Application to Federal specifications 8

Significance and status of Federal specifications.. 9 Obligations to producers and consumers 9 Selection of specifications 10 Distinction between Federal specifications and commercial

standards 10 Compilation of wiEing-to-certify lists 11 Voluntary listing 11 Application to Federal specifications 12 Application to commercial standards _. 13 Circulation of willing-to-certify lists 13 (HI)
FOREWORD

An analysis of the status of the making and the

utilization of specifications reveals the fact that many purchasing officers are using "specifications"

which are such in name only, and that many excel- lent specifications well recognized throughout industry are not being widely used at the present time, attributable largely to the inability of most purchasers to determine whether or not commodities

correspond to the specification requirements. A

great impetus to the popularizing of the use and

unification of real specifications could be given by

eliminating this disadvantage to the small-quantity

contract purchasers. As a solution to the problem of minimizing

the above-mentioned disadvantage and thereby

facilitating the use of specifications, application is being made of the so-called "certification plan."

This plan is being applied to several different groups of nationally recognized specifications.

It is expected that it will prove of benefit not only

in the general promotion of the use of specifications

by both the small and the large consumers, but

also in the unification of specifications having

national recognition.

(xv)
CERTIFICATION PLAN

SIGNIFICANCE AND SCOPE

Its Application to Federal Specifications and Commercial Standards THE PLAN The so-called "certification plan" involves the compilation and distribution of lists of manufacturers

desirous of obtaining contracts based upon certain

selected nationally recognized specifications, and

willing, when requested to do so, to certify to the purchaser that the commodities delivered are guar- anteed to comply with the requirements and tests of the specifications.

AIMS AND OBJECTS

(a) To make thoroughly effective the benefits to be derived by producers and consumers from the well-known economies incident to mass production, mass distribution, and mass consumption.

(6) To encourage the producers to manufacture

staple commodities to comply with nationally

recognized commodity specifications.

(c) To assist the producers in expanding their markets for staple commodities complying with

nationally recognized specifications.

(d) To facilitate and expand the use of nationally

recognized commodity specifications by largequantity and medium-quantity buyers.

(e) To determine the commercial acceptability

of certain nationally recognized specifications.

(/) To aid in unifying the specifications used throughout the country.

(g) To broaden the source of supply of products

conforming to nationally recognized specifications. FACILITATING THE USE OF SPECIFICATIONS

In supplying purchasers with lists of manufacturers

willing to guarantee compliance with nationally

recognized specifications, thereby overcoming certain disadvantages incident to the use of specifications

by the medium-quantity buyer, and facilitating the

use of specifications by contract purchasers, both

(1)
2

large and small, a great impetus is given to the

popularizing of the use of specifications. Such

benefits as are derived from the use of specifications

by large consumers become available in full measure

to the smaller consumer, with incidental advantage

to the larger consumer of convenience in ordering and

accepting commodities and of lessening of the price

by reason of the broadening of the field of supply.

Moreover, to the extent that the plan becomes effec- tive throughout industry the manufacturers benefit from the well-known economies accompanying "mass

production."

VOLUNTARY USE OF SPECIFICATIONS Any method which will facilitate the general use

of specifications by agencies not now using specifi- cations, or making only a limited use of them, tends

to increase the use of specifications, but so long as such use remains voluntary and the specification

method of buying can be abandoned if found unsatisfactory, the facilitating method may not be

classified as "forcing" the use of specifications.

The pressure of economics and the inherent merit

in the specifications result in the spread of specifica- tion buying, but "force" is not the correct term to use in this connection. The compilation and dis- tribution of lists of manufacturers willing to certify to compliance with certain specifications are of interest not only to the purchasers who desire to base their contracts on these specifications, but also to producers who desire to supply comodities on

contracts based on them. ATTITUDE OF CONSUMER GROUPS

Without exception organized consumer groups are

definitely in favor of the application of the certifi- cation plan for facilitating the use of specifications, as shown by statements from the officers of these groups. Included among these, in addition to the Federal agencies, are the American Hospital Association, American Sanatorium Association, Educational Buyers Association, the Governmental Purchasers Group, International City Managers Association, National Association of Public School

Business Officials, the National Association of Purchasing Agents, the National Education Association, the National Municipal League, and the National Tuberculosis Association. It is not an

exaggeration to state that the certification plan for

facilitating the use of specifications is fully approved

by governmental and institutional purchasers, Federal, State, county, and municipal.
3 ATTITUDE OF THOSE OPPOSED TO SPECIFICATIONS

It is not to be assumed that all manufacturers are

enthusiastically advocating specifications. However, many manufacturers have expressed their approval of the application of the certification plan

to nationally recognized specifications formulated

under the auspices of, or with the cooperation of, associations in which they hold membership, even though some of these manufacturers would prefer

their customers not to order on specifications. In

other words, they consider it better to have the

various isolated specification users make use of commercially acceptable specifications than to have

them write their own specifications. To the extent

that the certification plan will be effective in unifying the specifications used by those who will in any event buy on specifications, these manufacturers approve of the plan as tending to "minimize the

evils of specification buying." ATTITUDE OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND TECHNICAL

SOCIETIES Correspondence conducted with the officers of technical societies and trade associations showed

that all technical societies familiar with the for- mulation of specifications look with favor upon the

certification plan as an effective method of bringing specifications to the attention of the interested producers and consumers. With surprisingly few

exceptions, the officers of trade associations (many

of whom might have been assumed to be opposed

to the plan, at least initially) are actually very

favorably inclined toward it. RESULTING ECONOMIES

Considerable economy to the country as a whole

would result from abolishing the hit-or-miss method

of specifying, hit-or-miss method of manufacturing,

and hit-or-miss method of testing, and substituting

therefor a logical arrangement in accordance with

which (1) a nationally recognized specification for a

selected commodity is so formulated as to cover the most satisfactory commodity in the best possible manner; (2) this commodity is placed in mass pro- duction by the manufacturers in accordance with

this specification; (3) certificates are issued by the

suppliers guaranteeing compliance with this specifi- cation; and (4) tests and inspections, based on this identical specification, are conducted by independent testing and guaranteeing establishments. BENEFITS TO SMALL AND LARGE PRODUCERS

To whatever extent the certification plan can be made effective throughout an industry all manufacturers will benefit from the well-known economies
4

accompanying "mass production." To the small

producer, the merchandising benefits are self-evi- dent, in giving him the opportunity to obtain contracts without excessive sales effort. To the large

producer, the benefits are no less real in permitting

him to minimize the expense involved in sales-promotion work among contract buyers. An analysis

of the lists of willing-to-certify manufacturers already

compiled shows that they contain the names of many

progressive, wide-awake firms, irrespective of size, in

all lines of manufacture covered by the specifications to which the certification plan has been applied. BENEFITS TO DISTRIBUTORS

To the manufacturer, the jobber or retailer is a

consumer; to the final buyer, he is equivalent to the producer or his agent. The certification plan would

affect jobbers and retail merchants much more largely

as buyers than as sellers; they would be affected

directly as buyers and only indirectly as sellers. Such

benefits as are derived by contract buyers from the

certification plan are immediately available to the

jobbers and retailers. NEED FOR TESTING SERVICE A greatly increased realization of the need for test- ing service by both producers and consumers is to be

anticipated from the widespread application of the

certification plan. Manufacturers will be in need of testing and inspection service upon which to base such certificates as they may be asked to issue to con- sumers buying upon nationally recognized specifications, and numerous consumers will resort to such

tests as may be considered necessary or desirable to

satisfy themselves that the commodities delivered do actually comply with the specifications.

ECONOMY IN TESTING

Assume the existence, at the present time, of a

limited few manufacturers of a certain group of commodities supplied to say 1,000 consumers, each

having his own specifications and making his own

acceptance tests. As a substitute therefor, let there be set up a single set of specifications for this croup of commodities mutually satisfactory to the manufacturers and the consumers. Let the manufacturers be thoroughly equipped with testing

apparatus (a few sets of such apparatus will be needed instead of 1,000) to insure that the commodities made by them actually comply with the specifications, and let a few well-recognized independent

testing establishments be utilized by the 1,000 consumers to check the deliveries under the specifications. Considerable economy to the country

as a whole would result from making the above-
5 noted changes in the prevailing methods of specifying,

manufacturing, testing, and accepting commodities.

MISREPRESENTATION IN CERTIFICATION

Misrepresentation in connection with the certifi- cation plan is the equivalent of "obtaining money

under false pretenses." It might be a proper subject

for Federal Trade Commission action, but doubtless nongovernmental agencies for accomplishing the same result would be even better. It is unnecessary

for the Federal Government, or any governmental

agency, to police the contracts entered into by buyers

and sellers of commodities guaranteed to comply

with certain specifications. The existing laws of the land relating to contracts are adequate to take

care of all such cases. Misrepresentation means

obtaining, by false representation, business which

rightly belongs to a competitor. Hence, the competitors collectively are more vitally interested in the unethical practices of a manufacturer than is the isolated purchaser. By cooperating in the

certification plan trade associations, inspection

bureaus, testing establishments, and similar organizations can render a real service to both the pro- ducers and the consumers.

There are several ways in which industry, through

representative trade associations, can become very

active in the certification plan for facilitating the

use of nationally recognized specifications.

(a) First of all is publicity, by means of which

the industry will be made acquainted with the real significance of the undertaking and shown the

benefits to be derived from the plan.

(6) Second, but of no less importance than the

first, is thorough cooperation in the preparation of specifications that can most properly be referred to

as nationally recognized.

(c) Next is cooperation in the plan by inducing

all of the members of the association to have their names included in the list of manufacturers willing to certify to the purchaser that the commodities

supplied by them under nationally recognized

specifications comply with the requirements and

tests of these specifications.

(d) Trade associations representing wholesalers,

retailers, or manufacturers reaching consumers

through retailers, can be of much help in showing

the wholesalers and retailers how they (as both

purchasers and sellers) will benefit from the plan.

(e) A final step for the trade association to take,

when the time seems ripe for it to do so, is to make

sure that its members are keeping faith so far as the certification is concerned. 87864°—30 2

COOPERATION OF INDUSTRY
G TRADE ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES Among the agencies that are now engaged in, or have definitely planned for, activities tending

to bring about a change from the present illogical to logical methods of formulating specifications,

manufacturing in conformity therewith, and testing to insure or guarantee compliance, are the following:

1. American Chemical Society.

2. American Corn Millers Federation.

3. American Gas Association.

4. American Institute of Steel Construction.

5. American Medical Association.

6. American Petroleum Institute.

7. American Railway Association, freight container bureau.

8. American Sanatorium Association.

9. American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

10. American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers.

11. American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

12. American Society for Testing Materials.

13. Arkansas Soft Pine Bureau.

14. Asphalt Shingle and Roofing Institute.

15. Associated Cooperage Industries of America.

16. Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies.

17. Associated General Contractors of America.

18. Associated Knit Underwear Manufacturers.

19. Associated Thermometer Manufacturers.

20. Associated Tile Manufacturers.

21. Association of American Wood Pulp Importers.

22. Association of Feed Control Officials.

23. Association of Manufacturers of Chilled Car Wheels.

24. Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (enforced by the Agricultural Department).

25. Better Bedding Alliance of America.

26. Bureau of Explosives.

27. California Redwood Association.

28. Canners' League of California.

29. Certified Milk Producers Association of America.

30. Commission on Standardization of Biological Stains.

31. Concrete Products Association.

32. Converters' Association.

33. Eastern Clay Products Association.

34. Fire Equipment Institute.

35. General Supply Committee, Treasury Department (list of successful bidders).

36. Glass Container Association.

37. Glycerine Producers' Association.

38. Grain Dealers National Association (polices its members under United States standard grain grading).

39. Hardwood Interior Trim Manufacturers Association.

40. Hardwood Manufacturers Institute.

41. Heating and Piping Contractors National Association.

42. Hickory Handle Association.

43. Hollow Building Tile Association.

44. International Association of Garment Manufacturers.

45. International Society of Master Painters and Decorators.

46. Interstate Cotton Seed Crushers Association.

47. Iron Research Institute.

48. Laundryowners National Association.

49. Malleable Iron Research Institute.

50. Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association.

51. National Association of Dyers and Cleaners of United States and Canada. . . . 52. National Association of Finishers of Cotton Fabrics.

53. National Association of Musical Instruments and Accessories Manufacturers.

54. National Association of Real Estate Boards.

55. National Association of Shirt Manufacturers.

56. National Board of Fire Underwriters.

57. National Builders Supply Association.

58. National Canners Association.

59. National Confectioners Association.
i

60. National Fertilizer Association.

61. National Hardwood Lumber Association.

62. National Hay Association.

63. National Lumber Manufacturers Association.

64. National Macaroni Manufacturers Association.

65. National Pickle Packers' Association.

6C. National Preservers' Association.

67. National Retail Lumber Dealers Association.

68. National Sand and Gravel Association.

69. Northern Hemlock and Hardwood Manufacturers Association.

70. Northern Pine Manufacturers Association.

71. Northern White Cedar Association.

72. Paperboard Industries Association.

73. Periodicals (such as Good Housekeeping, Modern Priscilla, and

Popular Science Monthly) issue certificates of approval for trade-brand articles.

74. Pine Institute of America.

75. Pipe Nipple Standards Corporation.

76. Porcelain Plumbing Fixture Manufacturers.

77. Portland Cement Association.

78. Rice Millers' Association.

79. Sheet Steel Trade Extension Committee.

80. Society of Automotive Engineers.

81. Society for Electrical Development.

82. Southern Pine Association (grading under American standards).

83. Steamboat Inspection Service, of the Department of Commerce.

84. Steel Barrel Manufacturers Institute (I. C. C. specifications).

85. Tire and Rim Association of America.

86. Tissue Paper Manufacturers' Association.

87. Vitreous China Plumbing Fixture Manufacturers.

88. Wall Paper Manufacturers' Association of the United States.

89. West Coast Lumbermen's Association.

90. Western Pine Manufacturers Association. RESULT OF WIDESPREAD APPLICATION OF PLAN

Not all of the nationally recognized specifications to which the certification plan might be applied are

in complete harmony one with the other. However,

in many cases the conflicts are more seeming than

real, in that commodities that could be certified as complying with certain of these specifications

would be accepted as complying with certain other

specifications differing therefrom in some details. In any event, no new confusion would be created by having firms now accepting orders based upon

conflicting specifications certify that the commodities

delivered do actually comply therewith. In fact, the application of the certification plan to several groups of nationally recognized specifications will serve to draw attention to the present confusion and

arouse an interest in a greater uniformity of standards. The result to be expected from a widespread application of the certification plan is a

general recognition of specifications as the proper,

logical, and economical basis of the written contract between the buyer and the seller. LAUNCHING THE PLAN

_ Before the certification plan was placed in operation an outline thereof was submitted for the criti- cisms of the members of an advisory board organized for the purpose of cooperating with the Department of Commerce in solving some of the problems
8

of the Federal, State, and municipal agencies

expending tax money in making their purchases, and

consisting of official representatives of 14 leading

national organizations interested in the preparation

and unification of specifications. The replies

from the board members were quite encouraging,

and they were very helpful in calling attention to methods of avoiding certain well-known difficulties. Outlines of the plan were then submitted to about

500 public purchasers (those using tax money)

throughout the United States and to about 500

officers of technical societies and trade associations having national recognition. The replies showed

that the plan would be fully indorsed by the con- sumer organizations, and that the only opposition

to the plan itself (as distinguished from certain

specifications or groups of specifications to which

it might be applied) would come from such organizations as are not truly in favor of really effective standardization. INDORSEMENT BY FEDERAL AGENCIES

Approval of the certification plan in principle has been given by the Federal Purchasing Board. The

details involved in compiling the lists of manufacturers willing to certify to compliance with Federal

specifications (United States Government master

specifications) were worked out in full accord with

the ideas expressed by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, and the lists are being distributed to all Federal Government departments and establish- ments at the suggestion of the Chief Coordinator. APPLICATION TO FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS Among the duties assigned to the Federal Specifi- cations Board are not only the compilation and

adoption of standard specifications for materials and

services, but also the bringing of the Government

specifications into harmony with the best commercial

practice whenever conditions permit, bearing in mind

the broadening of the field of supply. Encouraging

the maximum possible number of purchasing agents

to make use of the specifications of the Federal

Specifications Board would broaden the field of supply by inducing the maximum possible number

of producers to manufacture commodities meeting

the requirements of the Federal Government. Moreover, the widespread use of the Federal specifications

would serve to drav\r attention to such modifications

as might well be made therein in order to render them

satisfactory to contract buyers, and to bring them

into harmony with the best commercial practice.

Every effort is being exerted to make the certifica- tion plan as effective as possible for "public pur-
9

chasers" (that is, governmental and institutional agencies, Federal, State, and municipal, who are spending the money collected from the public in the form of taxes) in conformance with the wishes

of these agencies as expressed on numerous occasions. SIGNIFICANCE AND STATUS OF FEDERAL SPECIFICA- TIONS

In formulating specifications for the United States Government, the Federal Specifications Board acts

for the Government departments as consumers, not

as law makers, and no specification is promulgated

until after all interested producers have had abundant

opportunity to offer constructive criticisms. To as great an extent as practicable the Federal Govern- ment as a consumer makes use in its specifications

of the requirements set forth in the specifications of nationally recognized organizations. The controll- ing policy of the board in this respect is shown by a

letter addressed by the chairman of the Federal

Specifications Board to the chairmen of all technical committees of the board on December 1, 1924:

If there is an existing specification which is adequate for the Govern- ment requirement, it is desired that such specification be adopted,

rather than to write a new specification with slight, unnecessary

variations, which might require special fabrication with the resulting unnecessary increased costs. Special effort is made continuously to bring the

specifications of the Federal Specifications Board

into harmony with the best commercial practice, and

no method for doing this more effectively and rapidly

than the certification plan has yet been developed.

OBLIGATIONS TO PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS

While safeguarding the interests of the Federal Government as a purchaser, the certification plan

also conserves the interests of the producers. It is being so applied as (1) to bring the United States Government master specifications to the attention

of all interested responsible manufacturers throughout the United States and not merely to the attention of a favored few; (2) to list as sources of supply

of commodities covered by these specifications all responsible manufacturers who have expressed their desire to be listed, even though some other manufacturers may not care to be listed, and notwithstanding the opposition of certain maunfacturers

who can obtain business satisfactory to them with- out being listed; (3) to distribute copies of the lists of "sources of supply" to all governmental and

institutional buyers making purchases out of tax money; (4) to supply copies to nongovernmental

purchasers when specifically requested to do so.
10

SELECTION OF SPECIFICATIONS Only such Federal specifications as are believed by the committees responsible for the preparation

and revision of the specifications to be thoroughly

satisfactory to both producers and consumers in their present form are selected in applying the certification plan. Formal consideration has been

given by the Federal Specifications Board to the method of selecting the specifications. The board

expressed the opinion that the specifications should have been in actual use for at least one year before they are included in the "certification plan"; that

in some cases, for example, those not "seasoned"

by use, a longer period may be required, and that

the chairman of the Federal Specifications Board

technical committee concerned is the most competent person to judge in such cases. The board expressed the opinion that it is highly

desirable that the chairman of the respective committees be given reasonable notice (say 60 days)

before putting any of the Federal specifications on

"certification," so that any desirable revisions may

be adopted prior to "certification." Before placing any of the Federal specifications in final form for promulgation by the board for the mandatory use

of the Government departments and establish- ments, all criticisms of the specifications and advice received from interested commercial and in- dustrial concerns are given serious consideration by the technical committees. Moreover, the specifications in tentative form are submitted formally to

all departments and establishments of the Govern- ment and informally for criticism and suggestion to various interested engineering and technical societies through the American Standards Association. Thus the selection is limited to "seasoned" specifications, believed to be commercially satisfactory. DISTINCTION BETWEEN FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS AND COMMERCIAL STANDARDS

To certain Federal agencies has been assigned the duty of formulating and maintaining United States Government specifications in harmony with good

commercial practice to broaden the field of supply of commodities covered by these specifications, which

are, therefore, of much interest to producers who

desire to supply commodities on contracts based on them and to purchasers who desire to base

their contracts thereon. No producer is asked to confine his transactions to those commodities.

Their use by nongovernmental agencies is entirely

voluntary.

Commercial standards, on the other hand, are

set up by industry itself as the basis for trade throughout the industry as a whole, including producers, distributors, and consumers, both contract
11 and over-the-counter, and the manufacturers,

dealers, and users are asked to limit their trans- actions to those lines of commodities so far as they can conveniently do so. COMPILATION OF WILLING-TO-CERTIFY LISTS To all known manufacturers of the general line of commodities covered by the selected specifications, or group of specifications, is sent a check list of the

particular kinds of commodities called for by the

specifications. From the complete list of firms (which can be found in several directories) are omitted such manufacturers as do not indicate on

the check lists that they build the exact kinds of commodities referred to, and from the smaller list are then omitted those manufacturers who do not

desire to build commodities in accordance with the designated specification, and from the still smaller

list are omitted such firms as have not expressed

their willingness to certify to the purchaser, upon

request, that the commodities delivered under a

contract based on the designated specification do

actually comply therewith. VOLUNTARY LISTING Great care is used to make as nearly complete as

possible the initial lists of firms manufacturing

commodities of the same general type as that covered by a specification to which the certification plan is being applied, and extreme care is exerted to have the final " willing-to-certify

" listing entirely

voluntary. Follow-up letters are sent in connection

with the initial but not the final listing. No

attempt has been made to induce manufacturers, not

desiring to do so, to be listed as willing to certify, and no special attempt has been made to obtain

official indorsement of the certification plan by any

trade association. However, the executive officers of the Asphalt Shingle and Roofing Association, the Gypsum Industries, and the Leather Belting Exchange, upon their own initiative, took definite steps to make sure that the name of every member of

their organizations appeared on the willing-to-certify

lists, and the secreta^ of the National Industrial Council (a federation of National, State, and local associations organized under the leadership of the National Association of Manufacturers to foster constructive industrial legislation and to oppose the enactment of class laws) has stated that the certifi- cation plan is "one of the most effective media for combating questionable or unethical merchandising

and production practices ever conceived." He

continued: "Its strictly voluntary character in my

opinion is one of the most constructive works any

branch of the Government is carrying on; and it is
12 bound to be a million times more effective than all of the legislative dictums or panaceas, such as indi- gestible truth-in-fabrics laws, could or would accomplish. " APPLICATION TO FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS There have been compiled by the National Bureau

of Standards 267 lists of such firms as have expressed

to the bureau their desire to have their names placed on the lists of manufacturers, willing, when requested

to do so, to certify to purchasers that material

supplied in accordance with the designated 267

Federal specifications complies with the requirements

and tests of these specifications, and is so guaranteed

by them. These lists represent more than 7,500

requests for listing from about 2,000 firms. The groups of commodities covered by the speci- fications to which the certification plan has been

applied, the number of Federal specifications in each group, the number of requests for listing, and

the number of firms requesting listing in each group,

are shown in the accompanying table.

Statistical summary of willing-to-certify lists as applied to Federal specifications

Commodity groups

Total number ofSpecifi- cations

List- ings Firms

9 108 50

48 944 168

1 33 33

1 68 68

11 176 139

3 78 49

1 59 59 8 58 30

7 126 47

4 106 78

4 149 86

2 10 5

1 21 21

13 162 70

1 17 17 30 3,004 305

29 459 96

7 86 60

3 107 57

3 94 36

7 123 45

16 571 105

1 15 15

1 3 3

1 7 7

1 13 13

13 563 149

1 7 7 36 598 207 4 61 49

267 7, 826 2,074

Abrasives and polishing materials Brushes and brooms..

Builders' hardware- Cement, Portland

Electrical supplies Fire extinguishers and liquids Glass

Heat-insulating materials Inks Leather goods Lime and plaster Linoleum

Liquid-measuring devices Packing and gaskets Padlocks

Paints and paint materials Paper. Pipe and pipe fittings Refractories Ribbons, typewriter Road and paving materials Roofing, bituminous, and waterproofing. Rope, wire..

Safes, burglar-resisting

Scales, railroad track Screws, wood

Soaps and scouring compounds

Tableware, silver-plated Textiles Tubing, metallic Total.
13 APPLICATION TO COMMERCIAL STANDARDS

The certification plan has also been applied to 7 commercial standards, 125 firms having expressed

their desire for 159 listings among the willing-tocertify manufacturers of the commodities covered by commercial standards for clinical thermometers;

Stoddard solvent; staple porcelain all-clay plumbing

fixtures; brass, steel, and wrought-iron pipe nipples;

and regain of mercerized cotton yarns. Application

of the plan to the above-noted commercial standards

has been made in accordance with the formal request

of the general conferences of industry which adopted

the standards referred to. Similar formal requests

have been made by general conferences relating to commercial standards for surgical gauze; standard

weight malleable iron or steel screwed unions;

plain and thread plug limit gage blanks; builders' template hardware; dress patterns; boys' blouses,

waists, shirts, and junior shirts; men's pajamas; wall paper; and diamond core drill fittings. CIRCULATION OF WTLLING-TO-CERTIFY LISTS The lists of manufacturers willing to certify to compliance with certain selected Federal specifica- tions are contained in a Bureau of Standards Letter

Circular No. 256 entitled "Sources of Supply of Commodities Covered by United States Govern- ment Master Specifications." This circular is not

published; its distribution is limited to govern- mental and institutional purchasers, Federal, State, county, and municipal. In slightly modified form

it is sent to others only upon specific request, or to

officers of interested associations and societies for comment and criticism. The lists of manufacturers willing to certify to compliance with commercial standards which have

been established by the various industries as the

basis for trade throughout the industry as a whole

are given the widest possible distribution, use being

made of every available channel for such distri- bution. o






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