4.2 Trade Associations
I contacted trade associations to determine whether they use performance or composition-based criteria to
set brake pad standards. The RWQCP was also interested to learn whether the associations make
recommendations on composition based on environmental criteria.
I identified two associations that set standards for brake pads: the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
Brake Forum and the Automotive Manufacturers Equipment and Compliance Agency (AMECA). The
Association for Standard Test Methods (ASTM) and the American Automobile Manufacturing Association
(AAMA) were also contacted but do not set standards for brake pads (Barr, 1995 and Edmunds, 1995).
The SAE Brake Forum represents companies involved in the research, development and manufacture of
brake pads. SAE publishes recommended procedures to find specific gravity and friction coefficients of
friction materials in the SAE Handbook. The SAE Brake Forum does not collect any information on
product composition from industry members. However, SAE may make recommendations to industry
members based on upcoming regulations or concerns about worker health. For example, SAE concerns
itself with materials regulated by OSHA which may represent a worker safety hazard. The brake pad
industry has voluntarily limited the use of phosphate fibers, asbestos, and lead because these materials
represent a health hazard to workers who manufacture friction materials (Dougherty, 1995).