UL Develops Online Database for Product Sustainability Information
UL, an ANSI member and audited designator, has announced the launch of SPOT, an online product sustainability information tool. With SPOT, users can easily choose credible green products, accessing information on sustainable attributes, MasterFormat product codes, and building rating system credits.
Over 40,000 products are included in SPOT. Users will gain a comprehensive view of the product, including safety data, performance certifications, and claim verifications from credible sources. An add-in will allow users to assign product data directly into their project in AutoDesk Revit. SPOT can be accessed through a desktop computer or a mobile device with the SPOT app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
"SPOT seeks to be the solution for two major challenges facing the building industry— the time required to find necessary product data in multiple locations, and help ensure that the information they find is accurate and can be trusted," said Carlos Correia, president, UL Supply Chain & Sustainability. "We developed a comprehensive search tool that combines multiple product attributes to streamline the selection process for architects and designers, and will transform the way certification data is transferred into BIM (Building Information Modeling) project designs."
Read more in the UL news item.
ASSE Begins "Plumbing Term of the Day" Initiative
ASSE International, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has teamed up with Plumbers Without Borders to launch the "Plumbing Term of the Day" campaign. Each day, a plumbing term and definition will be posted on a new ASSE blog, and shared on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In.
The campaign is designed to assist new students of the profession and experienced plumbing professionals in learning trivia and expanding their knowledge. ASSE is also offering free digital copies of the ASSE International Plumbing Dictionary on their blog.
"Every craft or trade has unique and peculiar terms; knowing their meaning is essential in the plumbing industry," said Richard J. Prospal, ASSE International past president and Plumbers Without Borders Advisory Board member. "For those who don't have time to read through the Plumbing Dictionary every day, the ‘Plumbing Term of the Day' is a great way to have a bit of knowledge and entertainment delivered directly your phone, tablet, or computer every day, for free."
Learn more in the ASSE news item, and visit the ASSE Plumbing Term of the Day blog here.
AHAM Offers Tips on Using a Microwave for "Real Cooking"
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, recently published tips on how to use a microwave for cooking beyond just reheating or defrosting. AHAM interviewed microwave cooking expert Jennipher Marshall-Jenkinson, who provided the following suggestions:
Use a lid, allowing food to cook in its own moisture.
Microwaves vary in size and wattage, so cooking times will vary depending on the unit. Experiment with your own microwave to get to know it better.
Use all of the power settings, not just full power. Follow recipes suggestions or look up what power is best for each kind of dish.
Don't be afraid to try new recipes and cooking techniques - practice makes perfect.
Read more about these tips and see a recipe for microwave mac and cheese cups in the AHAM blog.
AAMI Online Seminar to Discuss "Failure to Rescue" Events in Hospitals
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, is hosting a free patient safety seminar online through the AAMI Foundation. Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids: Initiatives at BJC Healthcare will be held on October 14 from 12 to 1 pm ET, and is recommended for nurses, pharmacists, physicians, respiratory therapists, healthcare technology professionals, patient safety managers, and risk managers.
Opioid-induced respiratory depression often leads to "failure to rescue" events in hospitals, and opioids are involved in almost half of all deaths caused by medication errors. It is important that respiratory depression is recognized as it is happening.
"Failure to rescue resulting from undetected opioid-induced respiratory depression are absolutely ‘never events,' and there are methods hospitals can use to avoid these tragic patient outcomes," said Marilyn Neder Flack, AAMI's senior vice president of patient safety initiatives and executive director of the AAMI Foundation. "This free seminar promises to be a very interesting look at the challenges and benefits healthcare delivery organizations face when trying to implement continuous monitoring in the general care setting."
Learn more and register through the AAMI news item.