WHAT IS ASTM E3022-18 & WHY DO WE NEED IT?

As responsible members of the NDT community, trusted by thousands of companies and NDT technicians worldwide, as well as being one of the authors of ASTM E3022-18, we are frequently asked questions relating to ASTM E3022-18.

We have also been recipients of complaints by users of NDT equipment that have on numerous occasions brought to our attention efforts to deceive them. Claims of compliance with the ASTM E3022-18 standard and promotion of products that have nothing to do with ASTM E3022-18, are real and frequent.

The objective of this document is to explain the positive impact ASTM E3022-18 has made to MPI and FPI methods. We also highlight the complexity and time-consuming nature of testing if a UV-A light complies with ASTM E3022-18. 

ASTM E3022-18 was written to promote safety and quality and prevent manufacturers from taking shortcuts. Claims by low cost manufacturers that LEDs only last a few months, promoting replacement parts and self-maintenance, are not an advancement in technology. It is the ultimate excuse of badly designed/manufactured lights.

Why was the ASTM E3022-18 standard created?

ASTM E3022-18 was created to fulfill the need for a standard outlining the minimum requirements needed to confirm that a UV-A LED light is suitable for inspections in an application as critical as NDT. Unless you can replace the landing gear of a plane while flying or take the responsibility that a non-compliant UV-A LED light can be used, this standard is necessary for safety.

ASTM E3022-15, the predecessor of E3022-18 was released on September 1st, 2015. This standard was the collective work of a task force comprised of UV-A light manufacturers and industry experts with over 200 years of combined experience. This task force was chaired by a member of the US Airforce and convened regularl for several years before submitting its findings in its final form for voting. Labino AB was one of the companies that participated and contributed with its industry knowledge.

Five years later, this standard has developed into a global standard and a benchmark for UV-A LED lights used in fluorescent penetrant and fluorescent magnetic particle inspections. Some PRIMES, such as Airbus, have incorporated ASTM E3022-18 and used it as the cornerstone of their own internal testing method (i.e. Airbus AITM6-1001 – issue 12). NADCAP Audit criteria checklists (AC711/1) for auditees seeking NADCAP accreditation also incorporate similar requirements as ASTM E3022-18, such as validation of a maximum peak wavelength of 370nm (Section 3.5.1), stabilization and sufficient UV intensity (Section 5.13.7).

The objective of the ASTM E3022-18 standard is to outline the procedures for testing the performance of UV-A LED lights. ASTM E3022-18 lists all reporting requirements that are considered essential to prove such lights are flawless and suitable to be used for fluorescent penetrant and fluorescent magnetic particle inspections.

The ASTM E3022-18 standard states that the tests, documentation of all the test results and certification of the UV-A lights are the responsibility of the manufacturer.

These actions are not intended to be performed by the end users. No end user is expected, and we suspect the great majority is not willing either, to:

(a) purchase thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment (a minimum list of what is required is provided on page 15) to validate the performance of inspection UVA lights, it has already paid thousands of dollars for.

(b)take on the responsibility and allocate resources internally, to master the ASTM E3022-18 procedures and measurements, to the same extend as the manufacturers.

According to ASTM E3022-18, it is the responsibility of the UV-A light manufacturer to test each lamp sold for compliance. The manufacturer must report the findings in a Unit Test Report and submitted to the user of the light along with a certificate stating that the light has been tested and found to be in compliance. UV-A LED lights must be tested:

(a) to comply with the limited acceptance tests required by ASTM E3022-18, Section 8.

(b) as a single unit, taking into consideration ALL the parts that make up the light such as the housing, filter, diodes, electronic circuit design, optical elements, cooling system, and power supply combination (Section 1.2).

According to ASTM E3022-18, it is also the responsibility of the UV-A LED light manufacturer to test each lamp model for compliance, using a reference UV-A LED light. The manufacturer must report the findings in a Type Test Report and make this report available to the user. The reference UV-A LED light must be tested:

(a) to comply with the tests required by ASTM E3022-18, section 7.

(b) as a single unit, taking into consideration ALL the parts that make up the light such as the housing, filter, diodes, electronic circuit design, optical elements, cooling system, and power supply combination (Section 1.2).

What are the tests required by the ASTM E3022-18 standard for each Lamp model?

Tests on the lamp model (referred to as Type Test Report) must be made available to users by the UV-A lights manufacturer. The manufacturer cannot claim compliance by only supplying a unit test report and not making available the measurements required on the lamp model. 

A Type Test report is a very detailed and comprehensive report that each manufacturer is obligated to make on a specific model using a reference light (not the actual light sold to you) of that same model. This is part of the process to claim compliance. The reference light is stored safely and should be made available in case of an audit. If you are the owner of a Labino UV-A light, regardless if you are an individual or company, Labino doors are open for you to visit us with your quality management and/or NDT team, audit us and remeasure the values included in the type test report with our reference light. 

If you buy a UV-A LED light that is labeled to have been tested for compliance with ASTM E3022-18, you have the right to ask the manufacturer for this report

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