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.
ASHRAE, AHRI, and DOE Collaborate for Flammable Refrigerant Research
ASHRAE, an ANSI member and audited designator, and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, are partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to fund research on flammable refrigerants.
The $5.2 million research program will seek a larger fact base about the properties and use of flammable refrigerants. The program will contribute to ongoing global efforts to reduce the use of high-global warming potential refrigerants by identifying appropriate climate-friendly alternatives.
Research results will be delivered to the committees for ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2013, Standard for Refrigeration Systems, and ANSI/ASHRAE 34-2013, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, so that the standards can be updated. ANSI member and accredited standards developer the International Code Council (ICC) stated that the revised standards will be eligible to be fast-tracked into international codes.
To learn more, see the ASHRAE and AHRI news release.
NFPA Webinar to Address Environmental and Economic Assessment Tools for Fire Events
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an ANSI member and audited designator, is sponsoring a free webinar on the development of assessment tools for fire events.
Development of an Environmental and Economic Assessment Tool (Enveco Tool) for Fire Events will be held on June 23 from 12:30-2:00pm EDT. The presentation will introduce attendees to a tool that fire departments can use to estimate the impact of fire events. This information will allow fire departments to communicate the value of their services to their communities. Emergency responders, researchers, engineers, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) may benefit from learning more about this tool.
To read more about the webinar and register to attend, see the NFPA website.
CSA Guides Safe Outdoor Activities for International Children's Day
CSA Group, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has published a list of safety tips for outdoor activities in coordination with International Children's Day, celebrated on the first of June.
Tips are separated by activity, with suggestions for biking, camping, and swimming. They include:
Check that bicycle helmets are well-fitting and adjusted properly. The helmet should sit level on the head and extend to approximately 3 centimeters above the eyebrows, with no movement forward or backward.
Choose brightly colored helmets and reflective strips to improve visibility to surrounding vehicles.
When camping, all fuel-burning equipment should be three meters from the tent. This includes stoves, lanterns, and outdoor cookers. Carefully inspect all parts before use for leaks, blockages, or damage.
Keep lifejackets and safety flotation devices close to the pool so that they are always available.
Surround pools with a fence to prevent young children from accessing the area without proper supervision.
See the CSA news item for all outdoor activity safety tips.
SES-The Society for Standards Professionals Releases Recommended Practice Guide for Joint Standards Development
ANSI member and accredited standards developer, SES- The Society for Standards Professionals has published SES 3: 2016, Recommended Practice for Joint Standards Development, a guide for Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), which outlines the key components of a Joint Standards Agreement and a recommended process for managing the development of Joint Standards.
Joint standards can include industrial, commercial, or consumer applications and may be used on national, regional, or international levels. The components of a Joint Standards Agreement include scope and purpose, policies, process, dispute resolution, branding and publication, marketing and distribution, and maintenance.
SES 3:2016 complements SES 2:2011, Model Procedure for the Development of Standards, which addresses all of the essential due process requirements for standards development. The latest guide is available for $25 for SES members and $35 for non-members through the SES website.
ISO Publishes Q&A with Graziella Siciliano, Coordinator of the EMWG at the Clean Energy Ministerial
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published an interview with Graziella Siciliano, coordinator of the Energy Management Working Group (EMWG) at the Clean Energy Ministerial, in which she details efforts being made to accelerate broad use of ISO 50001 and the benefits of its wide adoption around the world.
ISO 50001 is an internationally recognized framework that provides organizations of all sizes a way to efficiently manage and improve their energy performance. Roland Risser of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) currently serves as chair of the ANSI-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO Technical Committee (TC) 242, Energy Management, the committee responsible for ISO 50001. ANSI holds the Secretariat of ISO TC 242 and the twinned Secretariat with Brazil.
ISO TC 242 is being merged with ISO TC 257 into a new ISO TC 301 committee and ANSI is twinning with China on the leadership of the new committee.
The interview is available on ISO's news section.
Public Review: Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals (ATSIP) Application for ASD Accreditation
The Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals (ATSIP) has submitted an application for accreditation as an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) and proposed operating procedures for documenting ATSIP-sponsored American National Standards. ATSIP's proposed scope of standards activity is as follows:
Standards related to Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Classification, which involves the completion of law enforcement reports of crashes involving motor vehicles and/or pedestrians, fixed objects or non-collisions, such as roll-overs or "run off the road" incidents. The standard to be developed will cover the definition of terms related to crashes and crash reporting and provide instructions for classification
A copy of ATSIP's application and proposed operating procedures for comment , can be accessed via Ms. Joan L. Vecchi, NHTSA Contractor, Traffic Safety Analysis, Systems & Services, Inc., 1213 Stringtown Road, Grove City, OH 43123-8910; phone: 614.539.4100; Email: [email protected].
Comments to ATSIP are due by July 5, 2016, with a copy to the ExSC Recording Secretary in ANSI's New York Office (E-mail: [email protected]). The he public review period is 30 days. View or download a copy of ATSIP's proposed operating procedures from ANSI Online during the public review period at the following URL: www.ansi.org/accredPR.