1- t> H • 1 Tti= PRODUCT STANDARD PS7-66 Wire Bar Supports For Reinforced Concrete Construction A RECORDED VOLUNTARY STANDARD OF THE TRADE MfUBM KYVfli 2 8 JS67 00 I'WVRSIty flf ItUnipfj WITHDRAWN University of Mlinois Library at Urbana-Champaign U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 10 cents UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 01 12105147687U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE John T. Connor, Secretary. NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS A.V.Astin, Director Office of Engineering Standards Services EFFECTIVE DATE Having been passed through the regular procedures of the Office of Commodity Standards (now the Office of Engineering Standards Services^ National Bureau of Standards) and approved by the acceptors hereinafter listed, this Product Standard is issued by the National Bureau of Standards, effective August 1, 1966. A. V. Asttn, Director. PRODUCT STANDARDS Product Standards are developed by manufacturers, distributors, and users in cooperation with the Office of Engineering Standards Services of the National Bureau of Standards. The purpose of a Product Standard may be either (1) to establish standards of practice for sizes, dimensions, varieties, or other characteristics of specific products; or (2) to establish quality criteria, standard methods of testing, rating, certifying and labeling or manufactured products. The adoption and use of a Product Standard is voluntary. However, when reference to a Product Standard is made in contracts, labels, invoices, or advertising literature, the provisions of the standard are enforceable through usual legal channels as a part of the sales contract. Product Standards usually originate with the proponent industry. The sponsors may be manufacturers, distributors, or users of the specific product. One of these three elements of industry submits to the Office of Engineering Standards ServiceSj the necessary data to be used as the basis for developing a standard of practice. The Office, by means of assembled conferences or letter referenda, or both, assists the sponsor group in arriving at a tentative standard of practice and thereafter refers it to the other elements of the same industry for approval or for constructive criticism that will be helpful in making any necessary adjustments. The regular procedures of the Office assures continuous servicing of each Product Stanclard through review and revision whenever, in the opinion of the industry, changing conditions warrant such action. The initial printing of Product Standard PS7-6© was made possible through the cooperation of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute in securing copies for its members.Product Standard PS7-66 Wire Bar Supports For Reinforced Concrete Construction (Effective August 1, 1966) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 The purpose of this Product Standard is to establish a standard for the various types and sizes of wire bar supports used to position reinforcement bars for reinforced concrete construction. It is intended to serve as a guide in the manufacture, selection, and utilization of wire bar supports by listing the types and sizes in greatest demand and in most general use. The use of simplified sizes enables producers and distributors to improve their service to the customer, reduce inventories and to maintain a current stock. 2. SCOPE 2.1 The standard lists twelve types of wire bar supports and the sizes of each in greatest demand. The minimum size of wire is given for each type of bar support. Maximum spacings at which the bar supports will function properly in ordinary slabs, joists, beams, and girders are included. The standard also lists a number of modifications of the standard bar supports for special 'plications in concrete reinforcement, which are ot regularly stocked but may be obtained as standard items when specified. 3. DEFINITIONS 3.1 The following glossary of terms is applicable to wire bar supports for reinforced concrete construction: Bar support.—A device for positioning concrete reinforcement and maintaining the reinforcement in the specified position until the concrete hardens. Joist.—A single rib, part of a monolithic or precast reinforced concrete ribbed slab. Beam.—A horizontal framing element used to provide support for a monolithic or precast reinforced concrete solid or ribbed slab. Girder.—A horizontal framing element used to provide support for beams. One-way slab.—A solid reinforced concrete slab supported on two opposite sides with main reinforcement only at right angles to supports. Depth is uniform transversely to main reinforcement. Two-way flat slab.—A concrete slab reinforced in two orthogonal directions, capable of transmitting loads to point supports generally without beams or girders; a thickened portion (drop panel) at supports may be provided. ^ Two-way flat plate.—A two-way flat slab of W uniform depth throughout. Two-way joists.—A two-way ribbed flat slab with ribs in an orthogonal pattern; often called a “waffle slab”. Waffle slab.—Another term for a two-way slab. Hot dip galvanized.—A process of galvanizing after fabrication of bar supports consisting of dipping the entire support or lower portions thereof in molten zinc to apply a zinc coating of predetermined thickness. Pre-galvanized bar support.—A bar support fabricated from standard commercial galvanized wire. Smooth wire.—A wire having no deformations impressed on its surface to increase the bond with the concrete. Corrugated wire.—A wire which has been crimped into a regular wave pattern. Runner wire.—A horizontal wire attached to and forming a support for individual wire legs of a bar support. Radius bearing legs.—A wire leg of a bar support bearing upon a hook or spherical foot at the lower end. Sand-plate.—A bearing plate of sheet metal attached to the lower end of individual wire bar support legs. 4. REQUIREMENTS 4.1 Material.—It is recommended that the bar supports for reinforced concrete construction be made of cold-drawn steel wire of the sizes shown in Table 1. 4.2 Standard types and sizes.—The recommended types and sizes of bar supports are given in Table 2. 4.3 Modifications of standard types.—When specified, the following modifications of the stand- Table 1.—Sizes of steel wire for bar supports. Gage No.1 Nominal diameter 0_______________________________ Inch 0. 3065 . 2830 . 2625 . 2437 . 2253 . 2070 . 1920 . 1770 1___________________________ 2__............................. 3............................... 4_______________________________ 5_______________________________ 6............................... 7............................... i Steel Wire Gage (A. S. & W.).ard types of bar supports may be furnished for special conditions of use. 4.3.1 Earth-bearing bases.—Types CHC, SB, SS, BB, and HC bar supports may be provided with earth-bearing bases (sand plates) of 20 gage (0.0359 inch)1 sheet steel. Such supports are designated by the suffix “P”, ie, CHCP, SBP, SSP, BBP, or HCP. When so ordered, horizontal runner wires can be substituted for sand plates. In either case, the height of the bar support shall be the distance from the bottom of the sand plate or runner wire to the bottom of the reinforcing bar. 4.3.2 Radius bearing legs.—Types BC, JC, HC and CHC are furnished with straight legs as shown in the illustrations in Table 2, but can be furnished with radius bearing legs in the form of a hook or spherical foot at the lower end when specified. The hook shall consist of elevating the cut end of the support at least y8 inch above the supporting base. The spherical foot shall have an outside diameter of not less than 1 y2 times the specified wire diameter and shall be not less than ys inch above the supporting base. 4.3.3 Rust protection. 4.3.3.1 Zinc-coated supports. 4.3.3.1.1 Pre-galvanized supports.—The bar supports may be furnished with the legs only fabricated of pregalvanized (zinc-coated) cold-drawn wire. The legs shall be turned up a minimum of y8 inch. Spherical feet may not be used on pregalvanized wire supports. 4.3.3.1.2 Hot-dip galvanized.—The bar supports may be furnished with the legs only hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. Points of weld or lacing need not be galvanized. It is recommended that the zinc-coating conform to the requirements for Class D material of Table 1 of ASTM Designation A153-612j Standard Specifications for Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware. 43.3.2 Plastic-coated supports.—Bar supports coated with a plastic material suitable for the application are available for rust protection. It is recommended that the coating thickness be not less than %2 inch at any point, with an average thickness of % inch at points of contact with tne form. The coating should extend upward on the wire to a point at least 1 inch above the forms. 4.3.4 Standard spacings for bar supports.— Standard wire bar supports should be used at the spacings3 shown in Table 3 for ordinary reinforced concrete construction. The spacings and end overhangs shown are maximum. To maintain 1 Manufacturers Standard Gage (within commercial tolerances). • Later issues of the ASTM publication may be used providing the requirements are not lower than the issue designated. Copies of ASTM publications are obtainable from the American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103. P The standard spacings are designed principally to maintain sag within tolerances on position of reinforcement adopted as standard practice under the 1963 Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete of the American Concrete Institute, 22400 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit, Mich. 48219. an even multiple of interior spacings and not el ceed maximum edge distances at the ends of the bars supported, maximum spacings should be reduced as necessary. Bar supports are not intended to and should not be used to support runways for concrete buggies or similar loads. HISTORY OF PROJECT In a letter dated September 13, 1963, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute requested the cooperation of the Office of Commodity Standards in the establishment of a Simplified Practice Recommendation for Wire Bar Supports for Reinforced Concrete Construction, and submitted technical data as a basis for the standard. The Commodity Standards Division circulated copies of the proposed Simplified Practice Recommendation to representative producers, distributors and users, including Government agencies, for constructive comment. All comments and suggestions received were carefully considered and adjustments were made to the proposal to satisfy the comment wherever practicable. The Recommended Simplified Practice Recommendation was circulated to the trade on August 30, 1965. On May 16, 1966, the Office of Product Standards (formerly the Office of Commodity Stand-ardfc) announced that acceptances had been received representing a satisfactory majority of the industry, and the Simplified Practice Recommei dation to be designated R268-66 (since changed Product Standard PS7-66) would be considered effective beginning August 1, 1966. Project Manager: D. R. Stevenson, Office of Product Standards, National Bureau of Standards STANDING COMMITTEE In accordance with the established procedure for keeping recommendations abreast of current conditions and best industry practice, this program will be reviewed from time to time, and revised whenever necessary. For this purpose, a standing committee composed of representatives of the industry has been appointed. All comments and suggestions concerning the standard will be referred to the standing committee for consideration. This committee also serves as the medium through which the industry may be consulted, and'through which the industry may in turn make known its views concerning the standard. The members of this committee are: MANUFACTURERS A. E. Kerstetter, Superior Concrete Accessories, Inc., 9301 King St., Franklin Park, 111. 60131 (chairman). Carl W. Meisterlin, Master Accessories, Inc., P.O. Box 2818,13033 Telegraph Rd., Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Powell Awbrey, Ankortite Co., Inc., 1900 Wilson, Parsons, Kans. a Frank D. Reiland, Gateway Erectors, 3233 West Granfl Ave., Chicago 51, 111.Lynn B. Hirshorn, Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem, Pa., 18016. Thomas J. Galligan, Carroll-McCreary Co., Inc., Corona, N.Y. Paul F. Rice, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, 228 North La Salle St., Chicago, 111. 60601. H. A. Kutscha, Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc., Chicago, 111. 60680. George C. Cooper, U.S. Steel Supply Division, U.S. Steel Corp., 15535 South Torrence, Chicago, 111. Samuel J. Henry, American Concrete Institute, P.O. Box 4754, Redford Station, Detroit, Mich. 48219. Robert G. Free, Western Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, 1499 Bayshore Highway, Suite 111, Burlingame. Calif. 94010. Richard C. Elstner, Wiss, Janney, Elstner and Associates, 570 Northwest Highway, Des Plaines, 111. 60016. Robert J. Cowling, The American Institute of Architects. 1735 New York Av., Washington, D.C. 20006. Symbol Type of support Table 2. Standard types and sizes of bar supports Top Wire Gage No. (mln.) Legs Standard sizes Description SB 3/4 inch high-6 Over 3/4 inch-5 3/4, 1, 1-1/2, and 2 inch height in 5 and 10 foot lengths Legs spaced on 5 inch centers. Corrugations in a vertical plane, spaced on 1 inch centers. SS Same as SB Same as SB Slab Bolster with Runners Same as SB except with No. 7 gage wire runners. VARIABLE Slab Spacer Same as SB 3/4» 1, 1-1/2 and 2 inch heights Minimum leg spacing 4 inches. Legs spaced to provide supporting leg under each reinforcing bar. BB 1, 1-1/2 and 2 inch heights in 5 foot lengths All legs spaced 2-1/2 inch centers. HBB r UBB Heavy Beam Bolster 1-1/2 to 5 inch heights in increments of l/4 inch Same as Same as BB Same as BB except with No. 7 runner wire. Upper Beam Bolster UHBB BC Same as HBB Upper Heavy Beam Bolster Same as UBB except with No. 4 runner wire. Individual Bar Chair 3/4, 1, 1-1/2, 1-3/4 inch height JC HC CHC 1/ * UCHC Joist Chairs 4,5, and 6 inch widths in 3/4, 1, 1-1/2 inch heights. Individual High Chair 4 from 2 to 6 inches 2 over 6 to 9 inches 0 over 9 inches 2 to 15 inches high In 1/4 inch increments. Larger heights to special order. Lags at 20* or less with vertical. Legs reinforced on supports over 12 inches high with welded cross wire or encircling wire. ITU Continuous High Chair Upper X Continuous Hi an Chair Same as HC Same as HC Legs spaced on 8-1/4 inch centers (max.) with leg within 4 inches of end of chair Same as HC Same as HC Same as CHC with No. 4 runner wire. i/ Continuous high chairs. CHC, may also be composed of Individual high chairs, HC, spaced at 4 foot intervals with w5 top deformed reinforcing bar. When this arrangement is used and placed with an overlap as required for a lap splice, the #5 bar may also be considered effective as reinforcement.Table 3. Standard spacings for bar supports Reinforced concrete construction element Position of bars Type of wire bar support End bar^ support spacing Interior bar support spacing (max.; (max.) One-way slab Top CHC or 1 . HC + #5 bar4 l»-0" 4»-0" Bottom SB or SS1 0»-6" 4'-0" One-way joist Top (Not usually required for top of trussed Joist bars) Bottom JC l»-0" 5f-0" Two-way Joist 0 ("waffle slab") Top (Not usually required for top of trussed Joist bars; for solid area at column, same as in flat slab.) Bottom JC l»-0" 5'-0" 2 Two-way flat slab: 2 Two-way flat plate Top CHC or 1 . HC + #5 bar u l»-0" % Bottom SB or SS1 0»-6" 4l-0" ^ Beam or girder Top (Not usually required for top of trussed bars) (Bars No. 9 or smaller Bottom BB l»-0" 5'-0" Beam or girder .....T.°p.......... (Not usually required for top of trussed bars) (Bars larger than No.9) Bottom HBB3 l»-6» 5*-0" No bar shall be placed more than 2" beyond the last leg of any continuous bar support. o Where two layers of reinforcement at right angles are used as top or bottom steel the upper layer is supported by the lower. Heavily reinforced beams and girders may require bottom reinforcement in two or more layers. For this condition, the bar supports HBB support the lower layer of bars upon which bar supports UBB or UHBB are placed to support the layer of bars above. Individual high chairs (HC) spaced not more than 4f-0" Tinder #5 support bars. Support bars smaller than #5 may be used providing spacing of the individual high chairs prevents undue sagging. Use HC at 3'-O'' (max.) under #4 support bars, and at 2t-0" (max.) under #3 support bars. The #3, #4, and #5 support bars are of the deformed concrete reinforcing type. 5 Dimensions shown are maximum spacing from the edge of span for bottom bars, or from the end of any bars which terminate within the span.The manufacturers, distributors, users, and others listed below have indicated in writing their acceptance of this Product Standard prior to its publication. ASSOCIATIONS (General Support) American Concrete Institute, Detroit, Mich. Building Officials Conference of America, Inc., Chicago. 111. Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Chicago, 111. Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago, 111. Rail Steel Bar Association, Chicago, 111. Western Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Burlingame, Calif. PRODUCERS Alamo Iron Works, San Antonio, Tex. Ammann & Whitney, New York, N.Y. Ankortite Co., Inc., Parsons, Kans. Burke Industries, Hayward, Calif. Conver Steel & Wire Division, Hico Corp. of America, Bronx, N.Y. Gateway Erectors, Inc., Chicago, 111. Hausman Corp., Toledo, Ohio Holister, Frank Co., Inc., Dallas, Tex. Laclede Steel Co., St. Louis, Mo. Meadow Steel Products, Inc., Birmingham, Ala. I Meadow Steel Products, Inc., of Florida, Tampa, Fla. Richmond Screw Anchor Co., Division of Shattuck Denn Mining Corp., Brooklyn, N.Y. Superior Concrete Accessories, Inc., Franklin Park, 111. Sylgab Steel & Wire Corp., Corona, N.Y. ^^Universal Form Clamp Co., Chicago, 111. i# DISTRIBUTORS AND USERS American Builders Supply Co., Louisville, Ky. Armoo Steel Corp., Kansas City, Mo. Baker, Hugh J., & Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem, Pa. Bomstein, Ale, Inc., Louisville, Ky. Brashears, Joe, Steel, Inc., Albany, Ga. Builders Metal Products Co., Inc., Louisville, Ky. Calumet Steel, Division of Borg-Wamer Corp., Chicago, 111. Carolina Rebard, Inc., Catawba, S.C. Carroll-McCreary Co., Inc., Corona, N.Y. Ceco Corp., Chicago, 111. Central Texas Iron Works, Inc., Waco, Tex. Concrete Steel Division, Hausman Corp., Detroit, Mich. Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc., New York, N.Y. Contractors Material Co., Inc., Jackson, Miss. Corson & Gruman Co., Washington, D.C. Cowin & Co., Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. Dave Steel Co., Inc., Asheville, N.C. Dietrich Brothers, Inc., Baltimore, Md. Ir Donley’s, Ernest F., Sons, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio Dur-O-Wal Products, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y. Enco Materials, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn. Fabricators Steel Corp., Bladensburg, Md. Farnsworth Division, Fruin-Oolnon Contracting Co., New Orleans, La. Fireproof Products Co., Inc., Bronx, N.Y. Fischer Steel Corp., Memphis, Tenn. Flint Steel Corp., Tulsa, Okla. C, Florida Steel Corp., Charlotte, N.C. Grellinger-Rose Associates, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis. Hall-Hodges Co., Ino., Norfolk, Va. Hall Steel Co., Atlanta, Ga. Harding & Lawler, Inc., Orange, Tex. Heron Engineering Co., Denver, Colo. Hustad Co., Minneapolis, Minn. Igoe Brothers, Inc., Newark, N.J. J & B Building Products Co., Houston, Tex. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, Pa. K-C Construction Supply Co., Denver, Colo. Lind Steel Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Lofland Co., Dallas, Tex. Meehleis Steel Co., Los Angeles, Calif. Molded Fiber Glass Co., Ashtabula, Ohio Montague-Betts Co., Inc., Lynchburg, Va. Montgomery Construction Co., Grove City, Pa. Mosher Steel Co., Houston, Tex. North Texas Steel Co., Inc., Fort Worth, Tex. Patterson Steel Co., Tulsa, Okla. Peden Iron & Steel Co., Houston, Tex. Pipkorn, W. H„ Milwaukee, Wis. Poliak Steel Co., Cincinnati, Ohio Ramsey Steel Co., Inc., El Paso, Tex. Republic Steel Corp., Manufacturing Division, Youngstown, Ohio Roberts and Schaefer Co., Inc., New York, N.Y. Ryerson, Joseph T., & Son, Inc., Chicago, 111. Sessinghaus & Ostergaard, Inc., Erie, Pa. Soule Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif. Southern G. F., Co., Atlanta, Ga. Southern States Steel Corp., Dallas, Tex. Stevenson Construction Corp., Rochester, N.Y. Thornton Industries, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex. United States Steel Corp., United States Steel Supply Division, Chicago, 111. Western Steel Co., Corpus Christi, Tex. Wheeler, E. K., Inc., Worcester, Mass. Wiss, Janney, Elstner and Associates, Des Plaines, 111. Young, F. E., Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif. ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS Baker, Michael, Jr., Inc., Consulting Engineers, Jackson, Miss. Barry & Kay, Chicago, 111. Baumer, Herbert, Architect, Columbus, Ohio Brust & Brust, Architects, Milwaukee, Wis. Camlet, J. Thomas & Son, Architects, Clifton, N.J. Cannon & Mullen, Architects, Salt Lake City, Utah Conrad & Cummings, Associated Architects, Binghamton, N.Y. Ellerbe Architects & Engineers, St. Paul, Minn. Ewing Miller Associates, Inc., Terre Haute, Ind. Flannagan, Eric G., and Sons, Architects and Engineers, Henderson, N.C. Holdstein, Milo S., Architect, Cleveland, Ohio Fridy-Gauker & Fridy, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. Kimball, L. Robert, Consulting Engineers, Ebensburg, Pa. Metcalf & Eddy, Engineers, Boston, Mass. Miller, Hiett, Dronberger, Arbuckle & Walker, Architects & Engineers, Hutchinson, Kans. Porter, Armstrong, Ripa & Associates, Newark, N.J. Post, George B. & Sons, New York, N.Y. Quickel, William A., Engineer, Knoxville, Tenn. Rist-Frost Associates, Consulting Engineers, Glens Falls, N.Y. Shepley Bulflnch Richardson & Abbott, Boston, Mass. Vogel, Willis A., Architect & Consultant, Toledo, Ohio Wank, Adams & Slavin, Office of Fellheimer & Wagner, Architects & Engineers, New York, N.Y. LABORATORIES American Standards Testing Bureau, Inc., New York, N.Y. Omaha Testing Laboratories, Inc., Omaha, Nebr. Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory, Pittsburgh, Pa. Shilstone Testing Laboratory, Inc., Houston, Tex. Southern Testing Laboratories, Inc., Birmingham, Ala. United States Testing Co., Inc., Hoboken, N.J.Agriculture, U.S. Department of, Office of Plant and Operations, Washington, D.C. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, Washington, D.C. Interior, Department of the, Office of the Secretary, Washington, D.C. Veterans Administration, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D.C. Florida State Purchasing Commission, Tallahassee, Fla. Nevada State Purchasing Division, Carson City, Nev. New Jersey State Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Construction, Trenton, N.J. New York City of, Department of Marine and Aviation, New York, N.Y. North Carolina Division of Purchase and Contract, Raleigh, N.C. Orange County Highway Department, Goshen, N.Y.PS7-66 Wire Bar Supports For Reinforced Concrete Construction If acceptance has not previously been filed, this sheet properly filled in, signed, and returned will provide for the recording of your organization as an acceptor of this Product Standard. Date____________________________ Office of Engineering Standards Services National Bureau of Standards U.S. Department of Commerce Washington, D.C. 20234 Gentlemen: We believe that this Product Standard constitutes a useful standard of practice, and we individually plan to utilize it as far as practicable in the production1 distribution1 use1 testing1 of this commodity. We reserve the right to depart from the standard as we deem advisable. We understand, of course, that only those articles which actually comply with the standard in all respects can be identified or labeled as conforming thereto. Signature of authorized officer_______________________________________ (In ink) (Kindly typewrite or print the foUowing lines) Name and title of above officer. __________________________ Organization___________________________________________ (Fill In exactly as it should be listed) Street address__________________________________________ City, State and Zip Code_________________________________ 1 Underscore the applicable words. Please see that separate acceptances are filed for all subsidiary companies and affiliates which should be listed separately as acceptors. In the case of related Interests, trade associations,, trade papers, etc., desiring to record their general support, the words ' "General support” Bhould be added after the signature.TO THE ACCEPTOR The following statements answer the usual questions arising in connection with the acceptance and its significance: 1. Enforcement.—A Product Standard contains requirements which are voluntarily established by mutual consent of those concerned. They present a common basis of understanding between the producer, distributor, and consumer and should not be confused with any plan of governmental regulation or control. The National Bureau of Standards has no regulatory power in the enforcement of their provisions, but since they represent the will of the interested groups as a whole, their provisions soon become estabJ;shed as trade customs, and are made effective through incorporation into sales contracts, labels, invoices, and the like. c 2. The acceptor's responsibility.—The purpose of a Product Standard is to establish, for specific items, nationally recognized grades or consumer criteria, and the benefits therefrom will be measurable in direct proportion to their general recognition and actual use. Instances will occur when it may be necessary to deviate from the standard and the signing of an acceptance does not preclude such departures; however, such signature indicates an intention to follow the standard, where practicable, in the production, distribution, or consumption of the article in question. 3 .The Department's responsibility.—The major function performed by the National Bureau of Standards in the voluntary establishment of Product Standards on a nationwide basis is fourfold: First, to act as an unbiased coordinator to bring all interested parties together for the mutually satisfactory development of voluntary standards; second, to supply such assistance and advice as past experience with similar programs may suggest; third, to canvass and record the extent of acceptance of the standard on the part of producers, distributors, and users; and fourth, after acceptance, to publish the standard for the information and guidance of buyers and sellers or the product. # 4. Arnioimcement.—When a standard has been endorsed by a satisfactory majority of production or consumption, in the absence of active, valid opposition, the success of the project is announced. If, however, in the opinion of the standing committee or of the National Bureau of Standards, the support of any standard is inadequate, the right is reserved to withhold publication. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1967 O—224-635