Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation, highlighting the people and initiatives making waves in standardization.
ATIS and TIA to Collaborate on 9-1-1 Texting Solution
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, and ANSI member the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) have announced that they will work together to develop standards that will allow short message service (SMS) subscribers to send SMS text messages to 9-1-1, a capability that does not currently exist in the U.S. Through their collaboration, TIA and ATIS intend to set down a common approach to 9-1-1 text messages that will enable users and public safety workers to effectively communicate by text message and will inform users if texting 9-1-1 is not possible in their current location. Majors U.S. carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint Nextel, are expected to allow texting to 9-1-1 by May 2014.
NFPA Partners with USFA on Holiday Fire Prevention Campaign
ANSI member and audited designator the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have announced the continuation of their joint safety campaign, "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires," which seeks to reduce the risk of holiday fires. The increased use of fireplaces, stoves, and space heaters during the winter months, together with the popularity of holiday decorations and Christmas trees, makes home fires more prevalent in winter than during any other season. Between 2006 and 2010, about 160 home fires each year were triggered by holiday lights and other decorative lighting, killing an average of nine people a year. For essential holiday fire safety and prevention tips, including advice on the use of electrical light strings and Christmas tree maintenance, visit the Put a Freeze on Winter Fires website.
REES Scholarship to Launch Programs with HVACR Instructors, Veterans
The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation - established in 2003 by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer - has announced the creation of two new scholarship programs: the Returning Veterans Program, which provides financial support to military veterans enrolled at a heating, ventilation, air condition, and refrigeration (HVACR) training program at an institutionally accredited school; and the HVACR and Water Heating Training Instructors Program, which assists instructors with the cost of tools and instructional materials, as well as travel expenses associated with AHRI's HVACR & Mechanical Conference for Education Professionals. The Rees Scholarship foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarship funds to date. For more information, visit http://www.reesscholarship.org.
SASB Accreditation as an ANSI ASD Approved
ANSI's Executive Standards Council (ExSC) has officially approved the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), an ANSI organizational member, as an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) under its proposed operating procedures for documenting consensus on proposed American National Standards. The approval became effective on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. For additional information, please contact Andre Collins, SASB's technical research analyst ([email protected]; 415-830-9220, extension 110).