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.
ACC Infographics Explain Nanotechnology
The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has published three infographics on nanotechnology that provide some insight into how it has influenced our world:
Nanotechnology 101 provides a general overview of what nanotechnology is and how it works, giving brief descriptions of the benefits of nanotechnology, safety, and its regulation by the government.
Everyday Nanotechnology relates nanoscale to our everyday world, demonstrating how small a nanometer is and explaining where you can find "nano," from the human body to healthcare to building and construction.
What's the Big Deal About Nanotechnology? explains some of the areas where scientific advances are being made thanks to nanotechnology. It also gives statistics on the increase in the nanotechnology workforce and available jobs in the coming years, and provides a timeline of nanotechnology that extends from its early use to its possible trajectory in the future.
Hydraulic Institute Offers Free Flow Modeling Tools for Download
The Hydraulic Institute, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, offers all interested stakeholders access to free educational modeling tools for download. These pump and systems software tools assist in pump system flow modeling, pump selection, pump system analysis, and troubleshooting.
One of the free programs is a prescreening tool that assists in finding pumping issues. Users can identify the highest priority pump improvement opportunities and gather data associated with inefficient energy consumption, high maintenance costs, and other problems.
Another free tool is PSIM 2, an educational program where engineers can build models of pump systems and simulate hydraulic behavior. The program models pump system behavior, demonstrating the impact that operational and design tradeoffs have on system performance and energy usage.
Access these and five additional free tools on the Hydraulic Institute website.
Home Innovation Survey Reveals 2018 Trends in U.S. Homes
Home Innovation Research Labs, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has published the results of its 2018 Builder Practices Survey. Responses point to trends and reversals being seen in interior and exterior building across the country.
Some of the trends noted by Home Innovation include:
- Engineered wood is being used more readily for exterior trim, representing 31% of exterior trim purchased on new homes.
- Fiberglass Batt insulation is rebounding in popularity, likely due to a growing labor shortage (fiberglass insulation is fast and easy to apply) and the growth in demand for modestly-sized homes.
- Simpler kitchen cabinet designs are becoming more popular, with use of painted finishes and less ornate design trending. An increasing share of new home cabinets - about 1/3 - now have frameless, Euro-styled boxes.
Read more about these trends in the Home Innovation article.
GIA Publishes 5-Part Series on Colored Gemstones
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), an ANSI member, has re-released a series on colored gemstones and the quality factors that influence their value.
"Value Factors, Design, and Cut Quality of Colored Gemstones (Non-Diamond)," originally published in 2016, is a 5-part series covering the following topics:
- Colored Gemstone Value Factors
- Gem Cutting Styles - Definitions
- Colored Stone Darkness and Brightness
- Factors in Colored Stones that Interact to Affect Value
- Colored Stone Cut Quality: What to Look For
Read the full series on GIA's website.