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 Webinar to Discuss the Future American Fire Fighter
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an ANSI member and audited designator, will be livestreaming a forum on the "Future Firefighter."
The future of firefighting will include new technology and smart firefighting opportunities that can reduce the loss of civilian and first responder lives. Technologies will include cyber-physical systems, innovative building controls, smart apparatuses, and intuitive fire-fighting equipment. Webinar listeners will learn how these innovations will improve firefighter occupational health and safety while enhancing fire prevention efficiency.
The forum will be held on November 7 from 10:15 to 11:15 am EST. Contributors will include Casey Grant of the Fire Protection Research Foundation, representatives of 13 fire organizations, industry leaders, subject matter experts, and NFPA staff. To register for the free webinar, click here.
UL Campaign Urges Americans to Close Doors to Prevent Fire Deaths
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an ANSI member and audited designator, is launching a new fire safety campaign and promoting an important public safety message. The "Close Your Door" pledge aims to inform Americans of the importance of closing the bedroom door every evening.
UL's Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) has found that closing your bedroom door makes a life-saving difference in case of a fire. With an open door, a room can reach temperatures of over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (F), while closed door rooms reach 100 degrees F. Conditions in closed-door rooms are also survivable for longer.
To learn more about this message and UL's campaign, see the UL news item and visit www.CloseYourDoor.org.
SASB Posts Climate Risk Technical Bulletin
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has developed a document to help investors understand, measure, and manage exposure to climate-related risks.
The "Climate Risk Technical Bulletin" suggests that climate risk is ubiquitous, and investors can't just diversify away from it. Rather, they need to learn to manage it in all its forms. Research published in the bulletin finds that climate change affects 72 out of 79 industries, but has different impacts on each industry.
The guide includes a forward from former Secretaries of the Treasury Robert Rubin and Hank Paulson. "If investors are to effectively evaluate climate risk, they need a far better understanding of granular, industry-specific climate impacts, with industry-specific standards by which to evaluate corporate performance on these issues," they wrote. "By adopting a set of industry-based market standards for disclosure, especially in SEC filings, investors will be able to accurately compare and contrast companies."
To download the guide, visit the SASB website.
SAE Video Outlines the Challenges for Self-Driving Car Technology
SAE International, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has posted a video of its "SAE Eye on Engineering" podcast outlining the technology needed for autonomous cars to move forward.
The clip features Automotive Engineering magazine's editor-in-chief Lindsay Brooke examining a technology called "machine learning" and discussing the strides it will need to make before self-driving cars are safe for public roads.
"Machine learning would allow a vehicle to see a tire explode on a truck in front of you, and steer your car around the flying debris, and around other vehicles crisscrossing around you," explained Mr. Brooke.
"SAE Eye of Engineering" airs Monday mornings on WJR 760 AM Detroit's Paul W. Smith Show. Listeners can access archived episodes on SAE's website.