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's NEC Challenge App Tests Your NEC IQ
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an ANSI member and audited designator, is challenging stakeholders to test their knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) through its NEC Challenge App.
The app, part of the NEC Connect online resource, provides an interactive game where players can test their code knowledge, play individually or compete against peers, and progress through levels to earn a spot on the NEC Challenge leaderboard. Players can try a free demo of the game, which is based on the 2014 NEC. 2017 NEC questions will be available next year. The game is available on Google Play and iTunes, and the full version is $4.99.
Learn more on the NEC Connect website.
AHAM Campaign Raises Awareness of Counterfeit Water Filters
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has launched a campaign to inform consumers of the growing risk of accidentally purchasing counterfeit water filters for refrigerators.
The Filter It Out campaign, developed by AHAM in partnership with 17 refrigerator brands, provides consumers with resources that help them avoid counterfeit or deceptively labeled replacement water filters. Drinking water in the United States contains contaminants like lead and pesticides, and consumers should take care in their purchasing choices when replacing refrigerator filters.
"Counterfeit and deceptively labeled filters are sold every day through various online channels," said AHAM president and CEO Joseph M. McGuire. "In many cases, the filters appear identical to brand-name products, but do not meet the safety and structural standards that consumers, manufacturers, and regulators expect."
Learn more about counterfeit water filters, choosing replacement filters wisely, and the Filter It Out campaign in AHAM's news item.
NEMA White Paper Discusses Reduced Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has released a free white paper that reviews new requirements to help reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings. These requirements mandate that at least half of all receptacles in designated spaces be controllable (automatically able to turn on and off as needed).
Automatic Receptacle Control to Meet ASHRAE 90.1-2010 and California (CA) Title 24 gives stakeholders information on the controlled receptacle requirement that is now in non-residential energy codes, as well as an overview of typical application settings. The white paper covers commercial buildings that are new construction or renovation/remodeling work that requires building permits and subsequent certificates of occupancy.
To read more and access the free white paper, see the NEMA news item.
NCSBN Offers Free Substance Use Disorder Courses for Nurses and Nursing Students
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has announced that it will make two courses on substance use disorder free for all nurses and nursing students: "Understanding Substance Use Disorder in Nursing" and "Nurse Manager Guidelines for Substance Use Disorder."
"The chronic and complex disease of substance use disorder (SUD) is an issue of importance to U.S. boards of nursing because of the potential harm to patient welfare," said Katherine Thomas, president of the NCSBN Board of Directors. "Cognizant of the opioid crisis and substance use disorder's societal impact, NCSBN is responding to the American Public Health Association's call to action to implement evidence-based provider training programs in substance use disorder."
Nurses and aspiring nurses who take the courses will learn to identify the warning signs of substance abuse disorder in patients, nurses, and the general public. The courses also provide guidelines for prevention, education, and intervention.
Access the free courses through the NCSBN news item here.