Tree Care Industry Association Launches New Standard Development Project
The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and the A300 committee have initiated a new standards project to develop the first national standard for integrated pest management of trees, woody shrubs, and vines.
ANSI A300 documents provide standard definitions and tree care management standards for all aspects of tree health management. The new standard, A300 Part 10, will address elements of pest management including program design and specifications, site surveys, monitoring, treatments, and reporting.
TCIA is a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Comments or questions on this project can be directed to Bob Rouse at TCIA ([email protected]).
Participants Sought for U.S. TAG on Steel and Aluminum Structures
The U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 167, Steel and aluminum structures, has been recently established and is now welcoming participation from all interested U.S. stakeholders.
ISO TC 167's scope of work includes standardization in the field of structural use of steel and alloys of aluminum as applied in building, civil engineering, and related structures. Standards developed by the TC address requirements for the design, fabrication, and erection of steel and aluminum structures, together with materials, structural components, and connections.
WG 3, led by U.S. secretariat the American Welding Society (AWS), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, focuses on the execution of steel structures.The U.S. TAG is responsible for advancing U.S. positions regarding standards on the execution of steel structures from ISO. AWS administers the U.S. TAG to TC 167.
For more information on the work of the U.S. TAG or to participate, contact Andrew Davis, managing director, technical services, AWS ([email protected]; 305.443.9353, ext. 466).
ISO Standards Provide Benefits for SMEs Worldwide
A new brochure published by the ISO communicates the top ways that ISO standards promote success and growth in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
10 Good Things for SMEs is a compilation of feedback from business managers from countries across the globe, including Canada, Sweden, Italy, Austria, Singapore, Kenya, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, and New Zealand. According to these managers, ISO standards provide numerous benefits, including opening up export markets for products and services; adding credibility and confidence for customers; providing a competitive edge; and enabling a common "language" to be used across an industry sector.
To read about all of the ways that ISO standards contribute to SME success, read the ISO brochure and accompanying news item.
New DVD Guides Building Safer Communities in Wildfire-Prone Areas
The Firewise Communities Program, an initiative of the National Fire Protection Association, has released a new DVD on cost-effective measures and principles that can be adopted by developers and planners when building communities in wildfire-prone areas.
Safer from the Start: Developing a Firewise Community tells the story of a local developer from Washington who wishes to follow Firewise principles to protect against wildfires. The video demonstrates that as a result of early planning, a community built in a wildfire-prone area can be safer, even while keeping costs to minimum.
Safer from the Start is freely available on NFPA's Online Catalog. It is also available on YouTube. NFPA is an ANSI member and audited designator.
Approval of ANSI Member RIMS as Accredited ASD
ANSI's Executive Standards Council (ExSC) has approved the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), a full ANSI organizational member, as an ANSI accredited standards developer (ASD) under its proposed operating procedures for documenting consensus on proposed American National Standards, effective July 8, 2011.
For additional information, please contact Nathan Bacchus, government affairs manager, Risk & Insurance Management Society (212.655.6215; [email protected]).