ANSI shines a spotlight on Standards in action as they support safety, efficiency and well-being in interesting aspects of everyday life.
Leaves are changing colors and falling, leaving trees eerily bare. The days are getting colder, sending a chill down your spine. This can only mean one thing. It’s time to dust off your spookiest decorations, pull out your scariest costumes, and get ready to celebrate Halloween.
Standards Support Halloween Activities
One favorite Halloween tradition is going to the pumpkin patch and picking out that perfect pumpkin to take home and carve. Every pumpkin patch offers its own unique assortments of activities and fall treats, but one thing many have in common is a hayride out to the actual pumpkin patch and other fall fun. Believe it or not, there’s a standard for hayrides! ASTM F3168-20a, Standard Practice For Hayride Attractions, applies to hayride attractions used primarily in amusement, entertainment, recreational, or agritourism applications. It is intended to provide consistent criteria, references, and operational considerations in the specifications, management, and operation of hayride attractions. This standard was developed by ASTM International, an ANSI member and audited designator.
Dressing up for Halloween is also another favorite Halloween tradition. From children dressing up to go trick-or-treating to workplace costume contests, there are many ways to join in on the fun. While some prefer simple, low-effort costumes, others go to the nines. Some costumes require a touch of makeup to complete the look, and even it’s just for one night, the quality of that makeup is an important consideration. ISO 22716:2007, Cosmetics - Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) - Guidelines On Good Manufacturing Practices, gives guidelines for the production, control, storage, and shipment of cosmetic products. The international standard was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 217, Cosmetics. The Personal Care Products Council administers the ANSI-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC 217, carrying U.S. positions forward to the committee.
Additionally, NSF/ANSI 455-3-2019, Good Manufacturing Practices For Cosmetics, defines a standardized approach for auditing to determine the level of compliance of cosmetic products to ISO 22716, and incorporates additional retailer requirements. NSF/ANSI 455-3-2019 was developed by NSF International, an ANSI member and audited designator.
It’s not Halloween without a little bit of the supernatural. For those of us who enjoy a little spook now and then to get our hearts racing, catch your nearest haunted house before it’s gone! A common haunted house feature is artificial fog, intended to give the haunted house that iconic eerie look. ANSI E1.29-2009 (R2018), Product Safety Standard For Theatrical Fog Generators That Create Aerosols Of Water, Aqueous Solutions Of Glycol Or Glycerin, Or Aerosols Of Highly Refined Alkane Mineral Oil, is intended to help guide product safety testing laboratories (e.g., UL, ETL) in evaluating fog-making equipment for design or construction defects that might create unacceptable hazards. This standard was developed by Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), a member and ANSI-accredited standards developer.
Whether you’re out for a family-friendly day at the pumpkin patch or getting a good scare at a haunted house, standards support the safety and quality of your celebration. We hope that you have a safe and fun Halloween.
