Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing

BAM
Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung
Abbreviation	BAM
Formation	1871
Type	Standards organization
Legal status	Government agency
Purpose	Chemical and materials safety
Headquarters	Unter den Eichen 87, Steglitz
Location	D-12205 Berlin, Germany;
Region served	Germany
Official language	de, en
Parent organization	Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
Staff	1700
Website	BAM

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (German: Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung), or BAM, is a German research institute in the field of materials science.

History

Its historical origins start in 1871, a year in which Germany was unified, as the Mechanisch-Technische Versuchsanstalt. From 1904–19 there was the Königliches Materialprüfungsamt. From 1920–45 there was the Staatliches Materialprüfungsamt (MPA) and from 1919–45 there was the Chemisch-Technische Reichsanstalt (CTR).

In 1954 the Bundesanstalt für mechanische und chemische Materialprüfung was formed, becoming the Bundesanstalt für Materialprüfung in 1956. In 1969 it became a government agency (Bundesoberbehörde). In 1986 the name changed to Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung.

Function

Within the interconnected fields of materials, chemistry, environment, and safety, the main areas are:

Statutory functions relating to technical safety in the public domain, especially as regards dangerous materials and substances
Collaboration in developing statutory regulations, for example on safety standards and threshold values
Advising the Federal Government and industry on safety aspects of materials and chemical technology
The development and supply of reference materials and methods, in particular for chemical analysis and materials testing
Assisting in the development of standards and technical regulations for the evaluation of substances, materials, structures, and processes with reference to damage prediction and preservation of national economic values.

Structure

It is owned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Its competences are to improve safety in technology and chemistry through research and development, testing, analysis, approvals, advice, and information.

The headquarters in Berlin are near the Berlin Botanischer Garten station.

Departments

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing is subdivided into departments and divisions. The staff sums up to about 1700 members.

Department 1: Analytical chemistry, Reference materials
Department 2: Chemical safety engineering
Department 3: Containment systems for dangerous goods; Energy storage
Department 4: Materials and the environment
Department 5: Materials engineering
Department 6: Materials chemistry
Department 7: Safety of structures
Department 8: Non-destructive testing
Department 9: Component safety
Department S: Quality infrastructure
Department Z: Central services

References

External links

Official website Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing