Updates to Useful Methods

Effective March 1, 2011, the set of TAPPI Useful Methods will only contain those methods which have been reviewed and issued in accordance with the new Useful Method guidelines as established in October 2010 by the Quality and Standards Management Committee. 

The purpose of this web page is to provide information on TAPPI Useful Methods. The last revision to the TAPPI Useful Methods was completed in 2025, see below for information on available UMs.

This page will provide you with information on available UMs so that you may purchase individual copies if you wish. Please bookmark this page and return to it periodically to see if updates have occurred.

What is the BEST way to keep current on TAPPI Standards, Technical Information Papers, and Useful Methods?
The best way to always have the most current set of TAPPI Standards, Technical Information Papers, and Useful Methods is by accessing them online via either the Company License or the Individual License. Details are on the pages for the Individual License and the Company License.

Published UMs  

March 16, 2015:

• UM 596 - Water absorbency of nonbibulous paperboard

March 19, 2015:

• UM 573 - Water vapor permeability of sheet materials at -18°C (0°F)
• UM 590 - Creasing (using steel rules) of paperboard for water vapor transmission (WVTR) testing

March 30, 2015:

• UM 240 - Shive content of mechanical pulp (laboratory flat screen)
• UM 242 - Shive content of mechanical pulp (Somerville fractionator)

April 1, 2015:

• UM 3 - Determination of useful fiber in bagasse
• UM 23 - Bulk density of wood chips
• UM 203 - Freeness of pulp (Williams tester)
• UM 221 - Laboratory processing of pulp (plate refiner)
• UM 253 - Laboratory processing of pulp (ball or pebble-mill method)
• UM 258 - Laboratory processing of pulp (Kollergang method)

May 6, 2015:

• UM 542 - Amount of coating on mineral-coated paper
• UM 554 - Polystyrene in paper products
• UM 658 Color strength and shade of dye

July 1, 2015:

• UM 256 - Water retention value (WRV)
• UM 555 - Testing of grease-repellant treated paper

January 31, 2025:

• UM 251 - Permanganate number of pulp

March 31, 2025:

• UM 823 - Testing adhesives used in glued lap joints of corrugated fiberboard containers

June 30, 2025:

• UM 240 - Shive content of mechanical pulp (laboratory flat screen)
• UM 242 - Shive content of mechanical pulp (Somerville fractionator)

July 31, 2025:

• UM 411 - Approximate Opacity of paper using 45°/0° geometry reflectometer
• UM 566 - Wetting shipping sack paper for testing
• UM 822 - Green Peel Bond Procedure at the Corrugator