The ASTM aluminum specifications are maintained by ASTM�s Committee

B-7 on Light Metals and Alloys. This committee is composed mostly of

representatives of aluminum producers, and many of these representatives are
also members of the Aluminum Association�s Technical Committee on Product
Standards (TCPS), which maintains the Aluminum Association�s Aluminum
Standards and Data (11) publication. Hence, it isn�t too surprising that
the ASTM and Aluminum Standards and Data requirements are almost
identical.
ASME aluminum specifications are nearly identical to ASTM specifications
of the same name except that ASME specifications include only those
alloy tempers included in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and
the ASME specification numbers are prefixed with an ��S�� (for example,
ASME SB-209 is similar to ASTM B209). The ASME aluminum welding
electrode and rod specifications SFA-5.3 and SFA-5.10 are identical to AWS
specifications A5.3 and A5.10, respectively (87)(88).
4.11 ALLOY IDENTIFICATION
A color code has been assigned to some common wrought aluminum alloys
for identification purposes (11). The color may be used on tags attached to
the material, or in the case of extrusions, rods, and bars, may be painted on
the end of the part. Table 4.6 lists the color assignments for alloys listed in
the Aluminum Specification. While the color code identifies the alloy, it does
not reveal anything about the material�s temper.
4.12 CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION
Frequently, owners will require that materials incorporated into the work be
accompanied by ��mill certification.�� Often, the specific properties to be
certified
are not identified. Various forms of documentation are available to purchasers
to certify that suppliers have inspected and tested the material and
that it meets requirements, typically those established by the Aluminum Association
(11) or the appropriate ASTM specification for the material. Customers
buying aluminum for structural applications may obtain one of the
following types of documentation:
Certificate of Compliance: Issued to cover shipments made over a period of
time (usually one year), rather than a specific shipment. No test results are
included.
Certificate of Inspection: Similar to the certificate of compliance, but for a
specific shipment of material. This certificate is what ASTM specifications
require manufacturers to provide when purchasers require material certification
in their ordering information.