The development of suitable tests for the determination of material properties of fibre-reinforced polymer composites has continued since their inception. Here we discuss how composite production, sample preparation, and compression testing, has developed from those initially carried out on coupon specimens in the late 80s/early 90s at Imperial College London (formally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, ICTM) and used within the community. The principles of the “Imperial College London Compression Standard” were informative to the production of ASTM International D6641 (Standard test method for compressive properties of polymer matrix composite materials using a combined loading compression (CLC) test fixture), and closely align with other International Standards (ASTM D3410 Standard test method for compressive properties of polymer matrix composite materials with unsupported gage section by shear loading, and International Organization for Standardization ISO 14126 Fibre-reinforced plastic composites - Determination of compressive properties in the in-plane direction, and others for instance) for the compressive properties of fibre
reinforced polymer composites; but with subtle alterations made to improve (i.e. reduce) stress concentrations at the end-tabs and unsupported gauge length region.