More than 230 members of the standards and conformity assessment community gathered in Washington, DC, on October 3 for the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day 2014. The exhibition, reception, and dinner marking the occasion focused on the theme Standards Level the Playing Field. The event is co-chaired each year by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) served as the 2014 administrating organization.
The evening's festivities included the presentation of the prestigious Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award to Jimmy W. Sealy, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), who was honored for his important, long-standing contributions to the development of the nation's building codes and related standards.
Celebrated annually each fall, World Standards Day pays tribute to the thousands of volunteers around the world who participate in standardization activities and helps to raise awareness of the role that standards play in addressing national and global priorities. The global celebration is coordinated by the principal international standards organizations: the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
"World Standards Day celebrations like ours take place all over the world, and the U.S. Celebration is made possible through the efforts of many organizations," said S. Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO. "It is a partnership between those who develop standards and compliance systems, and those who use them. I am proud to be a part of a standards community that is diverse, dedicated, and motivated to find solutions and create a better tomorrow."
More information about the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day 2014 is available at www.wsd-us.org. Photos from the event may be viewed online.