How to Use the Material Specification Compliance Checker

Engineering boundary

What the checker does—and does not do

The checker compares entered material evidence with acceptance rules taken from a controlled source. It records the scope, performs defined unit conversions, evaluates each requirement, reports evidence coverage, and preserves the basis used for the decision.

It is a screening and documentation tool, not an authoritative standards database or certification authority. It does not replace the purchased standard, customer purchase specification, contract, engineering judgment, or approval by the responsible technical authority.

Use it for

Cross-specification screening, MTR review, evidence-gap identification, batch triage, rule-package management, comparison, and traceable reporting.

Do not use it for

Declaring equivalency from grade names alone, inventing missing limits, bypassing supplementary requirements, or releasing material without controlled-source verification.

Preparation

Before you begin

Collect the evidence and requirement sources before opening a production assessment.

Material, coil, plate, pipe, or heat identifier
Material test report or certificate reference
Produced/source standard, grade, and edition
Target standard, grade/class, and exact edition
Product form, thickness, width, or outside diameter
Chemistry, tensile, toughness, dimensional, and process evidence
Applicable product form, PSL/category, route, and heat treatment
Customer, sour-service, offshore, or supplementary requirements
Clause, table, footnote, or controlled-document references
Reviewer and approval authority

Best practice: record the exact edition or revision of the target requirement. A grade designation without its governing edition, product form, class, and supplementary conditions is not a complete acceptance basis.

Fast workflow

Quick start

Identify the material

Enter the material ID, heat number, product form, MTR reference, date, and reviewer.

Define source and target

Record the produced/source specification and the controlled target specification, including grade and edition for each.

Record applicability

Enter thickness and width or OD, then document service condition, orientation, sampling, heat treatment, and assumptions.

Select evidence sections

Choose Chemistry, Mechanical, Charpy/Toughness, Dimensions, and Process/Certification only where they apply.

Add controlled requirements

For each row, select the property, enter the actual result, enter the target minimum and/or maximum, choose the units, and cite the clause or source.

Run the compliance check

Review the overall result, evidence coverage, failures, missing evidence, review items, conversions, and basis.

Resolve exceptions

Correct data-entry or unit issues, obtain missing evidence, verify applicability, or document a controlled engineering disposition.

Save and report

Save locally, export the assessment, print a PDF, or use the advanced review workflow and engineering report.

Step 1

Define the material and specification scope

Field group	What to enter	Why it matters
Material identity	Material/coil/plate ID, heat number, product form, and certificate reference.	Provides traceability to the physical material and source evidence.
Source specification	The organization, standard, grade/class, and edition under which the material was produced or certified.	Describes the material's original certification basis. It is not automatically equivalent to the target.
Requirement source status	Controlled copy verified, working copy only, or not yet verified.	A working or unverified source prevents an unconditional release decision.
Target specification	The exact organization, standard, grade/class, and controlled edition being screened.	Defines the acceptance basis used by every requirement row.
Dimensions	Nominal thickness and width or OD with explicit units.	Many standards use thickness, diameter, product form, or size breakpoints.
Assessment notes	Service condition, orientation, test location, sampling plan, route, heat treatment, supplementary requirements, and assumptions.	Preserves conditions that may not fit into a numeric field but materially affect applicability.

Source versus target: the source identifies what the material was produced to. The target identifies what you are testing it against. Similar strength levels or aliases do not by themselves prove compatibility.

Step 2

Select the applicable evidence sections

Each selected section becomes part of the decision scope. A selected section with no configured requirements produces an unresolved result rather than silently passing.

Section	Typical evidence	Use when
Chemistry	Individual elements, CEIIW, Pcm, and other calculated chemistry values.	The target limits composition, calculated carbon equivalent, or combined alloy content.
Mechanical properties	Yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, Y/T ratio, hardness, reduction of area, bend, or flattening evidence.	The target includes tensile, ductility, ratio, hardness, or formability criteria.
Charpy / toughness	Test temperature, average energy, minimum individual energy, shear area, lateral expansion, location, and orientation.	Toughness is mandatory because of product form, thickness, service temperature, PSL, category, or supplementary requirement.
Dimensions	Thickness, wall thickness, width, OD, ID, length, out-of-roundness, straightness, and weight per length.	The target includes dimensional limits or tolerances.
Process / certification	MTR availability, traceability, route, heat treatment, hydrotest, NDT, supplementary tests, and signed certification.	Acceptance depends on documentary or manufacturing evidence, not only numeric test values.

Use Select all only when every section is genuinely applicable. Use Clear scope to start with no sections and build the decision deliberately.

Step 3

Enter actual results and controlled target requirements

Use Add requirement within each selected tab. The property list is category-specific so chemistry rows cannot be assigned to mechanical or dimensional properties.

Quantitative rows: chemistry, mechanical, and dimensions

Column	How to use it
Requirement / property	Select the canonical property. Use Custom only when the controlled requirement is not in the catalogue, then document it precisely.
Actual	Enter the measured or certified material result.
Actual unit	Select the unit used by the entered result.
Minimum / Maximum	Enter one or both acceptance limits from the controlled target source. Leave a bound blank only when it truly does not apply.
Requirement unit	Select the unit used by the acceptance limit. The checker converts only supported unit pairs.
Clause / source	Cite the standard clause, table, note, customer specification, approved rule package, or controlled internal document.
Mandatory	Keep checked when missing evidence must block an unconditional decision.

Charpy / toughness rows

Record the location and orientation, actual test temperature, actual average energy, actual minimum individual energy, required maximum test temperature, required average energy, required individual energy, units, and source. A temperature requirement is usually a maximum test temperature; energy criteria are usually minimums.

Process / certification rows

Select the required evidence item and set its status to yes, no, unknown, or not-applicable. Mandatory evidence marked unknown or unjustified as not applicable remains unresolved.

Supported automatic conversions

Quantity	Supported conversion	Practical caution
Chemistry	% ↔ ppm	Confirm whether the source reports mass percent and whether any element is expressed differently.
Stress / strength	MPa ↔ ksi	Do not confuse ksi with psi.
Length	mm ↔ in	Confirm nominal versus measured dimensions and tolerance basis.
Impact energy	J ↔ ft-lb	Energy conversion does not apply specimen-size reduction factors automatically.
Temperature	°C ↔ °F	Verify the entered test temperature and whether the target requires testing at or below a stated value.

No silent assumptions: an undefined conversion, missing limit, missing actual result, duplicate requirement, or incomplete custom property should be treated as a review item—not as a pass.

Step 4

Run and interpret the compliance decision

Select Run compliance check. The checker uses conservative gating: a failure controls the overall result; unresolved mandatory evidence prevents an unconditional pass.

Status	Meaning	Required response
Pass	All configured and applicable requirements are satisfied, required evidence is present, and no blocking review condition remains.	Complete the technical review and release controls required by your organization.
Fail	At least one actual result is outside an entered limit, or required process/certification evidence is explicitly absent.	Verify the entry and units, then document rejection, retest, regrade, concession, or another controlled disposition.
Conditional	No failure was found, but required evidence, controlled-source verification, applicability, or engineering review remains unresolved.	Resolve every missing or review item before treating the material as acceptable.
Missing	A mandatory actual result or required evidence item was not supplied.	Obtain the evidence or document why it is not applicable.
Review	A rule is incomplete, a conversion is undefined, an applicability decision requires justification, or another technical check is needed.	Correct or formally review the condition.
Not assessed	The checker has not been run or no meaningful decision scope exists.	Select sections, configure requirements, and rerun.

Evidence coverage

Coverage is the proportion of applicable requirements that have assessable evidence. A high coverage percentage does not override a failure, and a low percentage should not be interpreted as a favorable result.

Result table

Review every row across Section, Requirement, Actual, Acceptance rule, Result, and Basis. The basis should identify the controlled clause or source used for that row.

Step 5

Use the advanced material compliance workspace

The advanced workspace extends the manual checker without replacing the controlled requirement source.

Tab	Primary function	Key control
Overview	Summarizes the current decision, coverage, rule packages, batch records, derived calculations, gaps, and near-limit results.	Refresh analysis after changing the main checker inputs.
Applicability	Uses product form, manufacturing route, PSL/category, sour service, heat treatment, service temperature, Charpy, hydrotest, and NDT selections to suggest evidence sections.	The wizard changes evidence scope only; it does not create acceptance limits.
Rule packages	Stores versioned, user-verified requirements with edition, applicability, clause, table, footnote, ownership, and verification status.	Only approved and verified packages should support release decisions.
Import & batch	Imports MTR, laboratory, or production data, requires mapping confirmation, and evaluates multiple records against a selected rule package.	Review every field mapping and unit before running the batch.
Compare	Screens the current material against multiple rule packages and displays a requirement-by-requirement matrix.	Compatibility screening is not automatic grade equivalency.
Statistics	Calculates descriptive statistics, capability indices, a histogram, and an individuals chart from imported numeric records.	Confirm the unit of analysis and independence before interpreting capability.
Review & audit	Records reviewer, approver, disposition, next actions, overrides, approval lock, reports, and audit history.	An override records a separate disposition and never changes the calculated result.
Admin & storage	Controls roles, aliases, local or organization storage, sign-in, synchronization, and automated validation.	Use organization mode only when Netlify Identity and secure storage are configured.

Automatic derived calculations

The Overview can calculate CEIIW, Pcm, yield-to-tensile ratio, and diameter-to-thickness ratio when the required canonical inputs are available. Missing inputs are listed explicitly.

Rule packages and templates

Rule packages store acceptance requirements and applicability. Templates store the scope, selected sections, and row structure without actual material results. Capture a template for repeat workflows; capture a rule package only after verifying every requirement against the controlled edition.

High-volume workflow

Import and batch screening

The Import & Batch tab accepts CSV, XLSX, XLS, JSON, and text-based PDF files.

Drop or select the source file.
Confirm the number of detected records.
Review each source field, sample value, canonical mapping, unit, and confidence score.
Correct all uncertain mappings. Low-confidence mappings are not intended to be accepted without manual verification.
Select the target rule package.
Run the batch assessment.
Review record count, pass rate, failed and conditional counts, exception Pareto, and each record's key exception.

PDF caution: the tool extracts text from text-based PDFs. Image-only or scanned PDFs require manual verification or conversion to a structured file. Never assume every value was detected correctly.

Mapping caution: field-name matching is only a starting point. Confirm the property identity, orientation, specimen type, unit, and aggregation level before screening.

Batch analysis

Use statistics and capability responsibly

Select a mapped numeric property, enter the applicable LSL and/or USL, and calculate the summary. The tool reports N, mean, standard deviation, median, minimum, maximum, Cpk/Ppk, and Pp, with a histogram and individuals chart.

Unit-of-analysis caution: determine whether each row represents a specimen, test, coil, plate, pipe, or heat. Repeated tests from one heat or coil can overweight that material and make the distribution and capability indices misleading.

Capability indices also require a stable, meaningful process and an appropriate distributional interpretation. Use them for engineering analysis—not as a substitute for row-level specification compliance.

Governance

Review, approve, override, and preserve the audit trail

Review workflow

Record the workflow status, technical reviewer, approver, final disposition, comments, and controlled next actions such as retest, additional testing, engineering review, customer concession, regrade, rejection, or scrap.

Engineering override or concession

Select the affected requirement, disposition, authorization reference, and reason. The original calculated status remains visible. An override documents an authorized disposition; it does not convert a calculated failure into a mathematical pass.

Approve and lock

Approval requires the appropriate role plus reviewer and approver names. A failed calculated result requires a documented override or rejection disposition. Approval locks the assessment; unlocking requires permission and a recorded reason.

Audit history

The audit records actions, timestamps, actors, and details. Local history is included in exports and reports. Organization mode can store the workspace through authenticated Netlify storage when configured.

Role model: Viewer, Analyst, Engineer, Approver, Standards Administrator, and System Administrator permissions are cumulative. Local mode simulates roles in one browser; organization mode uses authenticated account roles.

Documentation

Save, import, export, and report

Action	Use	Caution
Save current	Stores the current assessment in the browser for later retrieval.	Local saves do not automatically appear on another device or browser.
Load selected	Restores a saved local assessment.	Confirm it is the correct material and revision before editing.
Export assessment	Downloads a JSON record containing the scope, rows, and result.	Treat exported production data according to your organization's information-security rules.
Import assessment	Restores a compatible exported JSON assessment.	Review imported scope, units, requirements, and evidence before relying on it.
Print / Save PDF	Creates a printable record of the manual assessment.	A printed report is only as valid as the controlled sources and evidence entered.
Engineering report	Includes scope, decision, requirement results, derived calculations, review, and disposition.	Use for the technical job file, not as automatic certification.
Screening certificate	Creates a concise compatibility-screening summary.	The certificate explicitly does not certify the material to the target standard.

Practice safely

Use the built-in worked example

Open the checker and select Load worked example.
Review the populated source and target scope before looking at the result.
Open each selected evidence tab and identify the actual value, target rule, units, clause/source, and mandatory setting.
Select Run compliance check.
Trace the overall result back to the controlling row or unresolved evidence.
Review how the evidence-coverage percentage differs from the final decision.
Open the Advanced Workspace Overview to inspect derived calculations and prioritized gaps.
Select Clear assessment before entering production or customer data.

The worked example is for learning the workflow. It is not an approved rule package and must not be reused as a production acceptance basis.

Common issues

Troubleshooting

Issue	Likely cause	Action
Conditional result with no failures	Missing target edition, working/unverified requirement source, missing mandatory evidence, selected section with no rules, or a review item.	Inspect every Missing and Review row and resolve the controlling condition.
Unexpected pass or fail	Actual and requirement units were selected incorrectly, or the wrong property/limit was used.	Verify property identity, units, bounds, orientation, and controlled clause.
No result for a row	Property name, actual, limit, or evidence status is incomplete.	Complete the row or remove it from the applicable scope.
Cannot edit a rule package	The effective role is below Standards Administrator, or the assessment is locked.	Use the correct role and authorized unlock process.
PDF values are missing	The PDF is scanned/image-only, uses an unusual layout, or text extraction did not map the field.	Enter manually or import a verified CSV/Excel export.
Batch results look wrong	Incorrect field mapping, unit, target package, or record granularity.	Review every mapping and sample value before rerunning.
Statistics option has no property	No numeric imported field is mapped to a canonical property.	Correct the mapping and unit, then reopen Statistics.
Saved data is missing on another computer	The assessment was stored in local browser mode.	Export/import the JSON or use configured organization storage.
Approval is blocked	Missing reviewer/approver, insufficient role, or a failed result lacks an authorized disposition.	Complete the review fields and document the required decision.
Report window does not open	The browser blocked a popup.	Allow popups for the site and generate the report again.

Final control

Technical release checklist

Before accepting, regrading, releasing, or representing material as compatible, verify all of the following:

Controlled purchased target standard and exact edition
Correct product form, grade/class, type, category, and PSL
Thickness, diameter, width, and other applicability breakpoints
Manufacturing route and delivery/heat-treatment condition
Base, supplementary, customer, and contract requirements
Heat and material traceability to the MTR and tests
Correct specimen location, orientation, size, and test temperature
Correct units and any permitted conversion or sub-size rule
Clause, table, note, and footnote basis for every entered rule
All failures, missing evidence, review items, and near-limit results resolved
Overrides or concessions independently authorized and referenced
Responsible technical approval and required customer acceptance

Final caution: a favorable screening result means the entered evidence satisfies the entered rules. It does not prove that every applicable requirement was entered or that the material is automatically certified to the target specification.

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