This document specifies methods of direct and indirect verification of testing machines used for determining Brinell hardness in accordance with ISO6506‑1 and also specifies when these two types of verification have to be performed.
The direct verification involves checking that individual machine performance parameters fall within specified limits whereas the indirect verification utilizes hardness measurements of reference blocks, calibrated in accordance with ISO6506‑3 , to check the machine’s overall performance.
If a testing machine is also to be used for other methods of hardness testing, it has to be verified independently for each method.
This document is applicable to both fixed location and portable hardness testing machines. For machines that are incapable of satisfying the specified force-time profile, the direct verification of force and testing cycle can be modified by the use of AnnexB.