Document Center Inc. celebrates 30 years in business

Document Center Inc., a leader in online distribution of technical standards and compliance information, is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary in business this year.   Based in Silicon Valley, the company has been selling standards since 1982 and on the web since 1993.  Document Center Inc. offers out-sourced management services for standards collections for ISO-9000  and FDA compliance, as well as individual document sales.  It is among the top 3% of women-owned businesses in the U.S.

President Claudia Bach is a well-known figure in the standards world, with the honor of being a Fellow of the Standards Engineering Society.  Her take on information distribution is that there is a real need for expertise in engineering and compliance information.  “With so many of the traditional venues for procuring technical information moving to the web, there is a real need for a resource to assist the average standards user understand the form, content, development and control of technical information.  This is the niche that Document Center fills.”

This anniversary year has been marked by a major upgrade in the company’s website, with a new look and feel as well as improved tools for discovering relevant standards.  There are easy links to standards sorted by both ICS (international classification) codes and FSC (U.S. Government procurement) Codes.  And new and trending documents can be easily reviewed right from the home page.

Customers rely on Document Center Inc to not only sell them standards, but to assist them with the numerous questions that arise when trying to implement a standards program.  There are few sources of no-charge standards expertise, but Document Center continues to provide such help thanks to the support of it’s many customers.

Then too, Document Center has the most timely and comprehensive updating services in the business.  The various notification services the company offers provides thousands of standards users with timely information on the many updates that occur with regularity to the standards catalog.

Customers continue to rave about Document Center Inc. and it’s superior customer service.  Says one long-time client, “Document Center has been our preferred (and nearly exclusive) source for technical specifications and references for the 22 years I have been here at Allied Engineering. Service, value and skilled staff are the reasons why.  We wish you 30 more.”

Find out more at Document Center Inc., www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’re here to assist you with all your standards requirements.

New ISO 14630 2012 Edition – Non-Surgical Medical Implants

ISO has just released the ISO 14630 4th Edition, “Non-active surgical implants — General requirements,” and it’s available now from Document Center Inc. in both paper and pdf format.  This 2012 edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 14630:2008), which has been technically revised.  You may want to review the complete revision history here.

This International Standard provides a method of addressing the fundamental principles outlined in ISO/TR 14283 as they apply to non-active surgical implants.  It also provides a method for demonstrating compliance with the relevant essential requirements as outlined in the general terms in Annex 1 of the European Council Directive 93/42/EEC (medical devices) as they apply to non-active surgical implants.

With regard to safety, ISO 14630:2012 specifies requirements for intended performance, design attributes, materials, design evaluation, manufacture, sterilization, packaging and information supplied by the manufacturer, and tests to demonstrate compliance with these requirements.

ISO 14630:2012 is not applicable to dental implants, dental restorative materials, transendodontic and transradicular implants, intraocular lenses and implants utilizing viable animal tissue.

All ISO standards are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We have been an authorized dealer of ISO standards since the 1990’s and can provide you with expert assistance on these and many other documents you may use in your business.

New ASTM E1444/E1444M 2012 Edition – Magnetic Particle Testing

ASTM E1444/E1444M-12, “Standard Practice for Magnetic Particle Testing,” has just been released and is available from Document Center Inc. in both paper and pdf format.  This practice establishes the basic parameters for controlling the application of the magnetic particle testing method.

Magnetic particle testing consists of magnetizing the area to be examined, applying suitably prepared magnetic particles while the area is magnetized, and subsequently interpreting and evaluating any resulting particle accumulations.  Maximum detectability occurs when the discontinuity is positioned on the surface and perpendicular to the magnetic flux.

A summary of changes appears at the end of the new edition of the ASTM E1444/E1444M.  There are a total of 9 technical corrections in this release.  Or you may prefer to purchase the redline edition, which provides you with both a copy of the new standard plus a copy of the 2011 Edition with changes “marked up” for easy identification.

This 2012 Edition replaces the previous release, ASTM E1444/E1444M (now obsolete).  FYI: You can see the complete history of the standard at our usual revision history page (available for every standard on our website).

Document Center Inc. has been selling the ASTM documents since we were founded in 1982.  You can make your ASTM selection at our website, www.document-center.com.  There you can request delivery in paper or pdf format.  Or you may prefer to contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Our expert staff can assist you with not only your standards purchases, but other management services to insure that your collection is always up-to-date.

New IPC 2221 Revision B released – Generic Standard on Printed Board Design

IPC-2221 Revision B, “Generic Standard on Printed Board Design,” has just been released and is available now from Document Center Inc.  The document is available in both paper and CD Rom format, however the CD Rom does not have the capability to print.  For this reason, many users prefer the paper edition or to purchase the “kit” which includes both the paper and CD Rom copies.

IPC-2221B is the foundation design standard for all documents in the IPC-2220 series. It establishes the generic requirements for the design of printed boards and other forms of component mounting or interconnecting structures, whether single-sided, double-sided or multilayer.

Among the many updates to the new Revision B are new criteria for conductor characteristics, surface finishes, via protection, board electrical test, dielectric properties, board housings, thermal stress, compliant pins, panelization and internal and external foil thicknesses. Appendix A provides new test coupon designs used for lot acceptance and quality conformance testing.

This standard is one of our top-sellers here at Document Center Inc.  The new 170-page Revision B replaces IPC-2221A from 2003, which is now obsolete.

All IPC standards can be purchased on Document Center’s website, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been selling IPC standards for 30 years and can assist you with any questions or requirements you may have.

New Corrected Revisions for MS-51830, MS-51831 and MS-51832, for “Key-Locked” Screw-Thread Inserts

New revisions have been released for MS-51830, “Insert, Screw – Thread, Locked in, Key-Locked, Miniature and Lightweight,” MS-51831, “Insert, Screw-Thread, Locked in, Key Locked, Heavy Duty, ” and MS-51832, “Insert, Screw-Thread, Locked In, Key-Locked, Extra Heavy Duty,” and they are all available from Document Center Inc. now in both paper and pdf format.  These new revisions are marked with vertical lines in the margins where changes have been made.

These new documents all reflect the issuance of an amendment updating the previously issued revision.  Formerly, amendments would have been provided as a stand-alone sheet with the onus being on the user to make the directed pen-and-ink changes.  But now, with the adoption of computer-aided authoring tools by the U.S. military, these revisions are released with the changes already embedded into the text of the specification, making it much easier to use the new revisions.

Changes to all three Military Specifications are based on the adoption of SAE AS 5272 Type I lubricant, which is technically equivalent to the MIL-L-46010 Type I lubricant used in previous revisions. Additionally,  references to MIL-PRF-46010 itself now reflect the fact that the  lubricant is lead (Pb) free and is not technically equivalent to the MIL-L-46010 Type I lubricant used in previous revisions.  This means the use of MIL-PRF-46010 in aerospace applications must first be validated.

Due to these modifications springing from the use of lead-free technologies, the requirements section of all three documents is modified for Lubrication, Heat Treatment, and Part Numbering.

Here are the new editions, with the release date included.  Users of these specifications should confirm that they are using the new issues:

  1. MS-51830 Revision F with Amendment 1 Interfiled, 11/14/2012, “Insert, Screw – Thread, Locked in, Key-Locked, Miniature and Lightweight.”
  2. MS-51831, Revision G with Amendment 1 Interfiled, 11/20/2012, “Insert, Screw-Thread, Locked in, Key Locked, Heavy Duty.”
  3. MS-51832, Revision D with Amendment 1 Interfiled, 11/20/2012, “Insert, Screw-Thread, Locked In, Key-Locked, Extra Heavy Duty.”

You can order all publicly distributed Mil Specs and Standards (formerly indexed in the DODISS) from Document Center Inc. at our webstore, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Why do people purchase these documents from us when they are free elsewhere on the Internet?  Because we always have the current editions available for you and because we provide you with no charge email notifications when they are modified in any way.  You pay a modest sum for the services we provide when you purchase from Document Center Inc. and in return, we offer the best service in the business.

New ANSI B11.3 2012 Edition released on Safety Requirements for Power Press Brakes

ANSI B11.3, “Safety Requirements for Power Press Brakes,” 2012 Edition has just been released and is available now from Document Center Inc.  The requirements of this standard apply to power press brakes designed and constructed for the specific purpose of bending material.

The 133-page standard’s objective is to eliminate, control or reduce hazards to individuals associated with power press brakes by establishing requirements for their design, construction, operation and maintenance.  To accomplish this objective, the standard assigns responsibilities to the supplier (e.g., manufacturer, modifier, rebuilder and integrator), the user, and individuals in the working environment.

ANSI B11.3-2012 is not intended to replace good judgment, proper training, and personal responsibility.  Operator skill, job monotony, fatigue, and experience are safety factors that should be considered by the user.

During the revision process, the subcommittee determined that powered folding machines (included in the previous [now obsolete] 2002 edition) have evolved into multi-axis machines that process metal in numerous ways, many of which are unlike a press brake.  And because ANSI B11.0 can be used in conjunction with ANSI B11.19 to provide guidance for the safe use of machines in general, the subcommittee decided to exclude powered folding machines in the scope of the 2012 ANSI B11.3 standard.

All standards in the ANSI B11 series are available from Document Center Inc. in both paper and pdf format, via our webstore at www.document-center.com.  Or feel free to contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We have the expertese to assist you with both your standards purchases and collection maintenance issues.

New BS-EN-61000-4-4 released on Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Testing and measurement techniques – Electrical fast transient/burst immunity test.

BS-EN-61000-4-1:2012, “Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Testing and measurement techniques. Electrical fast transient/burst immunity test,” has just been published and it’s available now from Document Center Inc.   The standard covers the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment to repetitive electrical fast transients.  It gives immunity requirements and test procedures related to electrical fast transients/bursts and additionally defines ranges of test levels and establishes test procedures.

The object of BS EN 61000-4-4 is to establish a common and reproducible reference in order to evaluate the immunity of electrical and electronic equipment when subjected to electrical fast transient/bursts on supply, signal, control and earth ports.

The test method documented in this standard describes a consistent method to assess the immunity of an equipment or system against a defined phenomenon.

This British Standard is the UK implementation and official English language edition of EN 61000-4-4:2012.  It is identical to IEC 61000-4-4:2012.  That is, the text of the International Standard IEC 61000-4-4:2012 was adopted by CENELEC as a European Standard without any modification.  The BS EN edition supersedes BS EN 61000-4-4:2004+A1:2010 which will be withdrawn on 4 June 2015.

All BS documents are available from Document Center Inc. by going to our webstore, www.document-center.com.  Or feel free to contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been working with standards since 1982 and can assist you with your standards questions, including those generated by the adoption of ISO and IEC standards by the EN.

Controversy surrounds ITU’s 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications

ITU (the International Telecommunications Union, a UN organization) is holding meetings in Dubai and the swirl of controversy surrounds the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) meetings that began today.  WCIT-12, a global treaty conference, is set to review the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), which were last addressed at the World Administrative Telegraph and Telephone Conference in Melbourne, Australia, in 1988.

Prior to today’s  opening ceremonies, the usual World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) was held last week.  This meeting occurs every four years and defines the next period of study for ITU-T.  Current new focus areas include expanding ITU standards on e-health, software-defined networking (SDN) and e-waste.  Noteably, there was also a Resolution inviting ITU Member States to refrain from taking any unilateral and/or discriminatory actions that could impede access to the Internet.

Which bring us to the WCIT and the issue that is causing a stir in the IT community — is ITU planning to try to usurp control of the Internet?  As part of the opening ceremonies, Fadi Chehadé, president of ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) proclaimed a new season of  cooperation between ICANN and ITU.  Addressing today’s “historic opening ceremony,” Chehadé said  “I am here because I believe in the power of engagement. Engagement starts with listening.”

In spite of all assurances to the contrary, many Internet companies and interested parties are concerned that this is yet another attack on governance of the Internet.  With many years of an open and technology-based system, folks are not enthused about seeing control move to an organization that is composed of nations, with monitoring and censorship goals in stark opposition to the current open system.

Not only is there talk of the ITU taking over the responsibilities of ICANN (assigning Internet numbering, addressing and identification services), but also the possibility that ITU member nations might be allowed to tax Internet content companies for transmitting data across national boundaries.  Such proposals are coming from Russia, Africa, and the Middle East, areas where the internet is having a profound impact on society.

ITU started out as the International Telegraph Union back in 1865 and then was renamed the International Telecommunications Union in 1932.  Due to the technical basis of it’s work, ITU has been in the forefront of International Standardization and creating standards in advance of implementation for many years.  However, in this case, the Internet has been developed and shaped independently, leaving ITU behind as new systems for standards development have been created by the Internet Society and it’s IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), IAB (Internet Architecture Board), and IRTF (Internet Research Task Force).

We’ll be watching to see what developments occur as the WCIT continues for the next two weeks.  But for more information as the conference progresses, see the Internet Society webpage on this meeting.

Document Center Inc. provides standards sales on its website, www.document-center.com.  We also monitor and audit standards collections for our clients.  For more information, please contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We’ve been in the standards business for 30 years and can assist you with all your standards requirements.

New SAE AMS 2406 Revision M released, “Plating, Chromium, Hard Deposit”

There’s a new AMS 2406M, “Plating, Chromium, Hard Deposit,” and it’s available now from Document Center Inc. in both paper and pdf format.  Dated 11/27/2012, this specification covers the engineering requirements for electrodeposited hard chromium plate and processing requirements.

The AMS 2406 plating has been used typically on parts for increasing abrasion resistance, increasing tool and die life, maintaining accuracy of gauges, and reconditioning worn or undersized parts, but usage is not limited to such applications.  It is one of the fundamental plating specifications we sell here at Document Center.

The new 7-page Revision M results from the usual 5 year review of the document.  Changes have been made to the Technical Requirements   (section 3) – for Stress Relief Treatment and for Hardness.  These changes are brought to the user’s attention by change bars in the left margin.  FYI:  If you need to see a history of the revisions to this standard, we have the revision history page for AMS 2406 available on our website.

Document Center Inc. provides you with easy ordering for all SAE standards on our website, www.document-center.com.  Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  We provide updating notification to our customers, too, for a fast way to keep track of changes to the documents they use.  Our 30 years experience in the standards business can be utilized by you, too, just by making Document Center your standards library.

New ASTM D6198 2012 Edition released – Standard Guide for Transport Packaging Design

ASTM has just released a new edition of ASTM D6198, “Standard Guide for Transport Packaging Design,” and it’s available now from Document Center Inc. in both paper and pdf format.  This guide assists users in the design and development of packaging intended for the protection of goods while they are in transit.  By following all steps of this guide, users will be assured that the most important factors are included in their design.

The guide focuses on the identification of the key steps involved in development of transport packages, including shipping containers, interior protective packaging, and unit loads.  But please note, ASTM D6198-12 is not intended for design of primary packaging unless the primary package is planned for use as a shipping container.

Users of this guide must be aware of the carrier rules regarding packaging for shipment via each mode of transportation in which the transport package may move, such as the National Motor Freight Classification (less-than truckload) and the Uniform Freight Classification (railroad). For hazardous materials packaging, the packaging must perform to the requirements of the applicable regulations.

All current and many obsolete ASTM standards, specifications and guides are available to order on Document Center’s webstore, www.document-center.com.  Or you can always contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Our staff is available to help you during business hours, Monday through Friday, California time.