Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation of members and partners, highlighting recent accomplishments and new resources related to standardization.
NFPA Report Evaluates Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults
The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), an ANSI member and audited designator, has recently published a report evaluating the efficiency of its "Remembering When" program.
"Remembering When" is a fire and fall prevention program for older adults that helps them live safely at home for as long as possible. The program is used by members of the fire service in their local communities, allowing professionals and volunteers to deliver informative group presentations and home visits to assist this population. NFPA partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop the program.
The Fire Protection Research Foundation implemented the program in five communities in Iowa in order to evaluate its efficiency and determine any gaps or areas for improvement. "Pilot Evaluation of the Remembering When™ Program in Five Communities in Iowa," a report summarizing the findings of this evaluation, is available for free download on the NFPA site.
IAPMO India and WQA India to Collaborate on Drinking Water Treatment System Certification Program
IAPMO India and Water Quality India Association (WQA India) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the administration of a new certification program: the Certification Scheme for Drinking Water Treatment Systems That Make Microbiological Reduction Claims.
The program is based on a standard developed by WQA India to evaluate water treatment devices that claim to remove microbiological impurities. IAPMO India will undertake the certification of products that can be listed to the standard. Products evaluated will be used in households to minimize numerous potential contaminants such as bacteria and viruses that can introduce health risks.
IAPMO is an ANSI audited designator and accredited standards developer, and WQA is an ANSI member and accredited standards developer.
Read more in the IAPMO news item.
CSA Group Guides Consumers in Recognizing Counterfeit Products for Fraud Prevention Month
The CSA Group, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has published a list of tips that help consumers to recognize counterfeit products.
The list, published for March's International Fraud and Prevention Month, includes the following tips for savvy shoppers:
Be wary of an unbelievable deal.
Avoid electrical products that don't have a mark from a recognized certification organization.
Check packaging for missing brand names, return addresses, company contact information, or similar details.
Evaluate the "look and feel" of goods: if it's flimsy, too light, packaged poorly, or includes misspellings, it may be counterfeit.
Buy products from reputable stores and established online retailers.
"We are seeing counterfeit products in everything from prescription pill bottles to construction materials and car parts and the trend is growing," says Terry Hunter, manager of anti-counterfeiting at CSA Group. "Since fakes are not certified by an accredited organization, they may be missing safety features, use toxic or inappropriate materials, and can cause serious risk to the user. It's important for consumers to be aware and take the necessary steps to spot counterfeit goods."
To learn more detailed information about each of these tips, see the CSA news item.
USGBC Report Indicates Growth Potential in Green Building for the Hospitality Industry
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released a report demonstrating the tremendous growth of green building in the hospitality industry, as well as the potential for an increasing presence in the coming years.
"LEED in Motion: Hospitality" states that nearly 134 million square feet of space in nearly 400 hotels is LEED-certified, and more than 2,070 hotels participate in LEED. There is an increasing consumer demand for sustainable practices across industries, and the hospitality sector is no exception.
Read more and access the full report in the USGBC news item.
ABMSP Becomes ANSI Accredited Standards Developer
ANSI's Executive Standards Council (ExSC) has approved ANSI member the American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry (ABMSP) as an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer under its proposed operating procedures for documenting consensus on ABMSP-sponsored American National Standards, effective February 23, 2016. For additional information, please contact Stephen B. Permison, MD, ABMSP acting director, at 301.537.7019 or [email protected].