Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation, highlighting the people and initiatives making waves in standardization.
ASSE International and ASPE Sign MoU
ANSI member and accredited standards developer the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) and the ASSE International Chapter of IAPMO, LLC (ASSE International), formerly the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE), a longtime ANSI member and accredited standards developer, have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement formalizes ongoing efforts between the two organizations to make effective use of their respective resources to advance regulations, codes, standards, and other documents related to plumbing systems, among other related concerns.
According to the MoU, ASPE and ASSE International have agreed to carry out periodic joint reviews of model plumbing and mechanical codes, and to jointly develop technical standards and other publications relevant to plumbing. The two groups are also expected to collaborate to bolster enforcement of domestic and international plumbing and mechanical codes and standards, and will hold joint plumbing-related conferences, trade shows, and educational activities.
For more information, please contact Gretchen Pienta ([email protected]), ASPE director of publications and standards, or Scott Hamilton ([email protected]), ASSE International executive director.
ITU and Telefónica Launch ICT Application Concept Contest
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), in conjunction with Spanish telecommunications provider Telefónica, has announced the launch of the ITU Green ICT Application Challenge, which seeks proposals for innovative ICT applications designed to bolster sustainability in cities around the world. The competition - held in honor of World Environment Day 2013, which is scheduled to take place June 5 - is open to adult residents from all ITU Member States and entries are due by noon on Sunday, June 30, 2013.
Applicants are required to submit a detailed concept paper of no more than 6,000 words that outlines a new ICT application for digital devices that effectively addresses environmental and sustainability issues facing contemporary cities. Entries must also include diagrams and screenshots of the application's proposed functions, a development implementation plan, and a written explanation of the benefits that the application would have for urban environmental and sustainability issues.
The challenge's winner will be awarded $5,000 at a September 17 event in Madrid, Spain, during ITU Green Standards Week. To enter the competition, click here. For more information about the contest, check out the official flyer, available here.
ASIS International and SIA Sign MoU
ANSI members and accredited standards developers ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA) recently signed a MoU to bolster collaboration between the two groups, which are both prominent security industry associations. ASIS represents the interests of more than 38,000 security practitioners, while SIA counts more than 450 security providers among its members.
The new agreement is expected to make it easier for the two organizations to coordinate their efforts to promote public safety, safeguard important infrastructure, and encourage the growth of the security industry as a whole. In addition, both groups agreed to increase their information-sharing, promote each other's activities when appropriate, and appoint representatives to program committee activities overseen by the other group.
For more information, please contact Rob Traister ([email protected]; 301-804-4704), SIA manager of communications, or Leigh McGuire ([email protected]; 301-804-4704), ASIS manager of marketing.
RIMS Announces Free Online Risk Management Archive
ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) recently announced the launch of a free online information archive for information related to risk management and related subjects.
The resource, known as Risk Knowledge, contains executive reports, surveys, and numerous other documents relevant to the risk management community. The archive includes effective search capabilities and gives users the ability to easily share content with others in the field. Access to Risk Knowledge is offered free of charge to both RIMS members and nonmembers; users are required to register before making use of the archive.
To access the archive, visit www.RIMS.org/RiskKnowledge.
NCSBN Applies to Become an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer
ANSI organizational member the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has submitted an application to become an ANSI accredited standards developer, and has submitted proposed operating procedures overseeing the documenting of consensus on proposed American National Standards (ANS) sponsored by NCSBN. NCSBN's proposed scope is focused on the development of standards related to nursing competency assessment, practice, and regulation. These standards would seek to establish fundamental terms and definitions, specify performance characteristics, and set down accepted practices, among other functions.
For questions or to offer comments, contact Kathy Apple, NCSBN's CEO, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 312-525-3610. Please submit your comments by Monday, June 17, 2013, to NCSBN, with a copy to [email protected].
NCSBN's proposed operating procedures are available here.