ANSI Nanotechnology Standards
Panel (ANSI-NSP)

Overview

The ANSI Nanotechnology Standards Panel (ANSI-NSP) serves as the cross-sector coordinating body for the purposes of facilitating the development of standards in the area of nanotechnology including, but not limited to, nomenclature/terminology; health, safety and environmental aspects; materials properties; and testing, measurement and characterization procedures.

Nanotechnology, as defined by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers (one-billionth of a meter), where unique phenomena enable novel applications. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale.

ANSI-NSP members also comprise the membership of the ANSI-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical committee 229 on nanotechnologies. A TAG formulates all U.S. positions and proposals with respect to a particular ISO committee’s activities; the TAG also provides the delegates who represent the U.S. at meetings of the ISO committee and its subgroups.
ISO TC 229 was formed in mid-2005 to progress standardization in the field of nanotechnology. Specific tasks to be undertaken by ISO/TC 229 include developing standards for terminology and nomenclature; measurement and instrumentation, including specifications for reference materials; test methodologies; modelling and simulation; and science-based health, safety, and environmental practices.
The TC’s working group on health, safety, and the environment is led by the United States. Any interested parties that would like to participate on the U.S. TAG should contact Heather Benko ([email protected], 212.642.4912) for further information and a TAG membership application.

ANSI-NSP Nanotechnology Standards Database

The purpose of this ANSI-NSP Nanotechnology Standards Database is to capture information about standards and associated documents (standards, best practices, guidelines) that directly relate to nanomaterials and nanotechnology-related processes applications and products.

ANSI-NSP Nanotechnology Standards Database Data Entry Form - Published and Unpublished Documents

The acronym ANSI-NSP in white on an abstract nanotechnoligy image background.

ANSI-NSP Background

Every day, nanotechnology becomes more commercially viable across an expanding range of industry sectors. The properties and functions of novel new structures, devices and systems are directly tied to their nanoscale dimensions.

As progress in nanotechnology processes and the manufacture of nanomaterials continues to accelerate, a growing list of stakeholder needs has arisen. At the top of that list is the fundamental building block for any emerging industry—consistent and globally-accepted nomenclature and terminology. Following closely are specifications and tests needed to support nanoscale measurement and characterization; and methods for evaluating how nanomaterials could potentially impact human health and safety, as well as the environment.

Established by ANSI in August 2004, the ANSI-Nanotechnology Standards Panel (ANSI-NSP) provides the framework within which stakeholders can work cooperatively to promote, accelerate and coordinate the timely development of voluntary consensus standards that are intended to meet identified needs related to nanotechnology research, development, and commercialization.

Objectives

The ANSI-NSP was established to achieve the following:

Coordinate and provide a forum for academia, individual industries, standards developing organizations, and governmental entities to define needs, determine work plans and establish priorities for updating standards or creating new standards.
Solicit participation from nanotechnology-related sectors and academia that have not traditionally participated in the voluntary standards system, and work cooperatively to achieve the mission of the ANSI-NSP.
Facilitate the timely development and adoption of standards responsive to identified needs in the area of nanotechnology in general and nomenclature/terminology specifically.
Facilitate and promote cross-sector collaborative efforts between standards developing organizations to establish work plans and develop joint and/or complementary standards.
Where standards do not exist, obtain agreement from a standard developer to initiate development of the standard in a timely manner.
Establish and maintain liaison with other national, regional and international standards efforts addressing nanotechnology issues so as to create identical or harmonize existing standards.
Establish and maintain a database of nanotechnology standards, accessible from the Internet, and capable of generating updates, notices, and reports.
Identify any impediments preventing the timely adoption of needed American National Standards.
Make widely available the results of the ANSI-NSP’s work.

Read the NSP Newsletter

Participation

Membership in the ANSI-NSP is open to all parties interested in the coordination of standards related to nanotechnology. Organizations that are interested in participating are invited to contact Heather Benko at [email protected] or 212.642.4912.