Voluntary Standards Cover the Spectrum: from Off-Highway Vehicles to Architectural Hardware

In an effort to communicate the vital role that standards play in daily life, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will publish, on an ongoing basis, a series of snapshots of the diverse standards initiatives undertaken in the global and national standards arena, many of which are performed by ANSI members and ANSI-accredited standards developers. Two of the latest selections follow:

Off-Highway Vehicles
Outdoor enthusiasts have enjoyed riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for decades. In recent years, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) - ATVs designed to carry a driver and one or more passengers - have been introduced to the market. Intended primarily for recreational use, ROVs are also sometimes used in the workplace, such as on farms or at construction sites.

In order to protect ROV drivers and passengers, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) recently published ANSI/ROHVA 1-2010, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles, setting a benchmark for vehicle design, configuration, and performance. This voluntary American National Standard (ANS) addresses aspects of ROVs including, but not limited to, requirements for accelerator, clutch, and gearshift controls; engine and fuel cutoff devices; lighting; tires; service and parking brake/mechanism performance; lateral and pitch stability; occupant handholds, roll-over protective structure; occupant restraints; and requirements for labels and owner's manuals. These guidelines aid in preventing avoidable injuries and fatalities that can arise due to operator and passenger error.

ROHVA, an ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer, is a national industry organization that promotes the safe and responsible use of ROVs.

Architectural Hardware
As the summer heats up, so do commercial construction and renovation projects. Ensuring quality and performance in the design, construction, and testing of architectural hardware used in these projects is part of the mission of the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA), an ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer.

Three recently revised ANS from BHMA define test criteria as well as strength, materials, and dimension requirements for various hardware to help safeguard workers and the public:

• ANSI/BHMA A156.5-2010, Cylinders & Input Devices for Locks
• ANSI/BHMA A156.9-2010, Cabinet Hardware
• ANSI/BHMA A156.17-2004 (R2010), Self Closing Hinges & Pivots

In addition to developing and updating safety standards for architectural hardware, BHMA advocates for industry before commerce, trade, and regulatory bodies; sponsors third-party certification of builders hardware products; and offers technical expertise before key building code, fire, and life safety groups.