ANSI-HSSP releases tenth plenary report.

Press Release Summary:



Among observations noted in ANSI-HSSP's tenth plenary report, international harmonization on standards and conformity assessment is vital to global security. While public-private-sector partnerships are largely in place to develop standards, more test methods and conformity assessment programs are needed. In conjunction with plenary, ANSI-HSSP hosted Standards for Disaster Resilience for Buildings and Physical Infrastructure Systems workshop to examine areas where standards and codes are needed.



Original Press Release:



ANSI-HSSP Releases Tenth Plenary and Disaster Resilience for Buildings Workshop Reports



In the decade following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the homeland security and emergency preparedness communities have made enormous strides in improving the safety of citizens and critical infrastructure at home and abroad. A continual review of the standards, codes, and conformity assessment activities that contribute to a safer world is paramount to ensuring the security of people and the built environment.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Homeland Security Standards Panel (HSSP) has published two reports detailing findings from its recent Tenth Plenary meeting: Achievements from the Past Decade and Charting the Path Forward, and co-located workshop: Standards for Disaster Resilience for Buildings and Physical Infrastructure Systems.

Since 2003, the ANSI-HSSP has worked to accelerate the development of voluntary standards for homeland security and emergency preparedness in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. At the tenth plenary meeting on November 9, participants examined progress that the homeland security and emergency preparedness communities have made in advancing security since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and set a strategic path for continued work in this area.

Among the observations noted in ANSI-HSSP's tenth plenary report, international harmonization on standards and conformity assessment activities is vital to global security. While public-private-sector partnerships are largely in place to develop standards, more test methods and conformity assessment programs are still needed. Participants agreed that the business case for standards needs to be emphasized to end users in order to engage them in the standards development process. The ANSI-HSSP also identified the need to engage the insurance industry, the small business community, and other stakeholders less represented in the standards development process in order to move forward with the successful development and adoption of standards. View the full report from the ANSI-HSSP Tenth Plenary Meeting.

In conjunction with the plenary, the ANSI-HSSP hosted the November 10 workshop: Standards for Disaster Resilience for Buildings and Physical Infrastructure Systems to examine areas where standards and codes are needed to further support physical infrastructure and building resilience in the United States. This workshop provided an opportunity for all participants - government, standards developers, program developers, and small businesses - to engage in an open dialogue to identify information needed to develop a framework document that will help guide the development of standards and codes for disaster resilience. Workshop participants provided input for the proposed framework in the following key areas: community resilience, water and wastewater, electric power, transportation, and buildings. It was noted that as a multifaceted issue, further insight on disaster resilience is needed in order to develop standards- and conformance- based solutions that can be used nationwide. View the full report from the ANSI-HSSP November 10 workshop.

All of the presentations from the tenth plenary meeting workshop are available here.

ANSI thanks the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for co-sponsoring the ANSI-HSSP tenth plenary meeting and workshop.

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