In an effort to communicate the vital role that standards play in daily life, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publishes 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:
Commercial Coffee Brewers
The average American spends more than $1,092 a year on coffee, much of it on-the-go from specialty shops, convenience stores, and restaurants. The U.S. coffee industry generates over $36 billion annually in retail and foodservice sales. To aid in the evaluation of energy use and performance and ensure consumers' morning cups of joe are brewed safely and efficiently, ASTM International has published an American National Standard (ANS).
An ANS recently released by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) provides the requirements for conductors, insulation, protective coverings, and general constructional and dimensional details common to most standard shielded types of wires and cables. ANSI/NEMA WC 74/ICEA S-93-639-2012, 5-46kV Shielded Power Cable for Use in the Transmission and Distribution of Electric Energy, applies to materials, constructions, and testing of 5,000 V to 46,000 V shielded crosslinked polyethylene and ethylene propylene rubber insulated wires and cables used for the transmission and distribution of electrical energy for normal conditions of installation and service.
NEMA, an ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer, is a membership organization of manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission, distribution, control, and end-use of electricity used in utility, medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional and residential applications. NEMA promotes the competitiveness of the U.S. electrical product industry through the development of standards, advocacy in federal and state legislatures and executive agencies, and the collection and analysis of economic data.