RM, CRM, ERM and ECRM

RM*

Reference material (RM): Material or substance one or more of whose property values are sufficiently homogeneous and well established to be used for the calibration of an apparatus, the assessment of a measurement method, or for assigning values to materials.

CRM*

Certified reference material (CRM): Reference material, accompanied by a certificate, one or more of whose property values are certified by a procedure which establishes its traceability to an accurate realization of the unit in which the property values are expressed, and for which each certified value is accompanied by an uncertainty at a stated level of confidence.

^{*ISO-Guides 30}

ERM

Within the ERM-initiative the leading European producers of reference materials IRMM, LGC and BAM are cooperating in the production of certified reference materials fulfilling uniform quality criteria. CRMs of highest metrological quality are distributed under the brand European Reference Materials (ERM^®). BAM is one of the founder members of the ERM-initiative. For more information see: www.erm-crm.org.

CRM which are released as ERM have to be peer-reviewed by the other partners within the ERM initiative. Documentation (planning, report, certificate) has to follow agreed technical guidelines, which are in accordance with ISO Guides 34 and 35.

ECRM

ECRM (EURONORM certified reference materials) are prepared under the auspices of the European Committee for Iron and Steel Standardization (ECISS) in a collaboration between the producing organisations in:

• France: Institute de Recherches de la Sidérurgie (IRSID), Centre Technique des Industries de la Fonderie (CTIF),
• Germany: Iron and Steel CRM Working Group comprising BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Stahlinstitut VDEh,
• the United Kingdom: Bureau of Analysed Samples Limited,
• Sweden/Finland: Jernkontoret, Swedish Institute for Metals Research (Swerea-KIMAB).

Approximately 20 laboratories from coutries from the European Union take part in the certification interlaboratory comparisons to characterise EURONORM CRM.

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