Scope
1.1 This specification covers specific criteria for evaluating the technical capabilities of laboratories involved in testing, measuring, inspecting, and calibrating activities related to chemical analysis of earth materials. In this specification, earth materials shall mean soil, rock, and contained fluids. For the sake of brevity, the term "laboratory" is used in this practice to represent all the above.
1.2 This specification addresses the minimum requirements for laboratories that analyze earth materials for metals, volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds, pesticides, herbicides, PCBs, radionuclides, and various other parameters by miscellaneous wet chemistry techniques.
1.3 This specification presents specific criteria to be used in an evaluation, including restrictions, minimum requirements, and benchmarks of compliance for specific tests or for specific types of tests.
1.4 This specification is meant only for the evaluation of facilities performing chemical analysis of earth materials and is in no way intended to be an absolute guide. It shall not replace specific criteria that exist for test methods or that exist as separate standards. In instances where laboratory evaluation sections are included as part of a test method, or where specific criteria for test methods exist as separate standards, those separate criteria should also be considered.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.6 This 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.
