Standards Spotlight

We are just one week away from Memorial Day, which marks the official start of summer, and after a cold, long winter, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Last summer may have felt like a missed opportunity, as the pandemic forced a lot of our favorite summer activities to close, but this summer has a more hopeful outlook as vaccinations continue to progress and cities start to reopen more fully. There is nothing like the bright summer sun and sweltering heat that brings out the inner child in all of us. If you’ve forgotten how great summer can be and what to do during the best season of the year, here’s a reminder of your favorite summer activities and the standards that help support them.

Theme parks are an iconic, family-friendly summer activity. There is just something so nostalgic about standing in lines for rides, eating cotton candy and popcorn, and then getting sick on the scariest new roller coaster. ASTM F770-19, Standard Practice For Ownership, Operation, Maintenance, And Inspection Of Amusement Rides And Devices, provides guidelines for operations, maintenance, and inspection procedures for amusement rides and devices to be performed by the owner or operator. ASTM International, an ANSI audited designator, developed this standard.

For a safe theme park experience, there is the international standard, ISO 17842-1:2015, Safety Of Amusement Rides And Amusement Devices - Part 1: Design And Manufacture. This standard specifies the minimum requirements necessary to ensure the safe design, calculation, manufacture, and installation of the following: mobile, temporary, or permanently installed machinery and structures, such as roundabouts, swings, boats, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, chutes, grandstands, booths, stages, side shows, and structures for artistic aerial displays. The International Organization for Standardization, ISO Technical Committee (TC) 254, Safety of amusement rides and amusement devices developed the standard. ANSI is the U.S. member body to ISO.

What would summer be without a trip to the pool? Lounging on pool floats sipping piña coladas and eating watermelon is the perfect way to relax and stave off the summer heat. Last summer, a huge number of Americans built their own pools as many public pools closed due to pandemic. According to CNBC, the search for pool and spa professionals last year was three times what it was the year before. Every in-ground pool needs a way to filter out dirty water and pump clean water back in. CSA C840-2012 (R2017), C840-12 - Performance Of Pool Pumps, specifies energy performance calculations, marking, and reporting requirements for centrifugal pump units used for circulating and filtering water in permanently installed residential swimming pools. These performance measurements are intended to facilitate the selection of the most efficient models for performing the combined functions of filtration and pool cleaning. This standard was developed by CSA Group, an ANSI-accredited standards developer.

Summer is also the best time to visit your favorite ice cream shop in town. Nothing beats a local ice cream shop that makes their ice cream in-house with a variety of different flavors you might not find anywhere else. While ice cream can be hand-churned and then frozen, hand-churning is not ideal for large batches. Luckily, ice cream machines are here to save the day. IEC 60335-2-118 Ed. 1.0 b:2020, Household And Similar Electrical Appliances - Safety - Part 2-118: Particular Requirements For Professional Ice-Cream Makers, deals with the safety of appliances for making ice cream and artisan gelato. This standard applies to mixers to make ice cream and similar pastry products in which, for the preparation of the product, a heating process is made within the appliance before the cooling process, as well as to appliances for storing whipping cream mix in a refrigerated tank and for whipping the cream for the delivery process. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) developed the standard. The U.S. National Committee (USNC) is the U.S. member body to IEC, and the USNC is a totally integrated committee of ANSI.

While summer is a great time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, not everyone loves summer or is a fan of the hot weather. For some of us, lounging around indoors with the air conditioner blasting is the only comfortable way to beat the heat. ANSI/AHRI 390-2003, Performance Rating Of Single Package Vertical Air-Conditioners And Heat Pumps, applies to factory-assembled commercial or industrial single package vertical air-conditioner and heat pump equipment as defined. This standard establishes definitions, classifications, test requirements, rating requirements, minimum data requirements for published ratings, operating requirements, marking and nameplate data, and conformance conditions. The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), an ANSI-accredited standards developer, published the standard.

Hopefully this summer is filled with sunshine, warm weather, and relaxation. Whether you’re lounging in a pool, cooling off in the comfort of your air-conditioned home, or taking a trip to your favorite theme park, standards put the fun in a fun summer. ANSI wishes you and your families a happy Memorial Day weekend!