U.S. Stakeholders Participation Sought for key ISO activities.
Press Release Summary:
Following updates address active ISO Project Committees and Technical Committees that may interest U.S. stakeholders. Interested participants for U.S. TAGs to these committees are encouraged to contact ANSI for more information. While ISO PC 253 addresses use of treated wastewater to irrigate crops, ISO PC 252 was established to develop standards pertaining to natural gas fueling stations. Other opportunities range from amusement park facilities, biogas, and coloring materials.
Original Press Release:
U.S. Stakeholders Invited to Participate in Key ISO Activities
As the official U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) works to increase U.S. awareness of international standardization issues and facilitates the involvement of all interested stakeholders from the private and public sectors.
The following updates address active ISO Project Committees (PCs) and Technical Committees (TCs) that may be of interest to U.S. stakeholders, including business and industry, standards developing organizations, academia, consumer representatives, and government agencies. Interested participants for U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) to these committees are encouraged to contact ANSI for more information.
Treated Wastewater Re-use for Irrigation
Irrigation is essential to the U.S. and international agricultural economies. However, a decreasing supply of fresh water is leading to competition for water resources, resulting in the use of treated wastewater to irrigate crops. ISO PC 253 has been established to address this treated wastewater re-use for irrigation. The Standards Institution of Israel (SII) has been named the secretariat of this PC.
The committee is being formed as a result of a preliminary meeting on wastewater re-use that took place in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 12-14, 2010, which detailed the scope and purpose of the proposed new standard. The first meeting of the PC will be held in October.
Natural Gas Fueling Stations
Vehicles fueled by natural gas are efficient, environmentally friendly, and often less expensive to refuel than those powered by gasoline. ISO has determined a need for standards to guide fueling stations that provide natural gas, both in liquefied and compressed form. ISO PC 252 was established to develop these standards, which will promote the use of green technology for cars, trucks, and other vehicles. The National Standards Body of the Netherlands (NEN) serves as secretariat.
The PC met for the first time in June 2010, and agreed that the standards will cover station design, construction, operation, equipment, safety devices, and maintenance. The U.S. is now seeking participation from experts and interested stakeholders in a TAG for this PC.
Safety of Attractions
A recently formed ISO committee will focus on the safety of attractions. The TC's secretariat is be held by the National Standards Body of the Russian Federation (GOST R).
The committee aims to increase safety while also eliminating economic barriers to trade in the development of amusement park facilities. It will address the various aspects related to safety of attractions, including the influence of acceleration and psycho-physiological loadings of attractions on the human body (biomechanical risks); safety of machines from the point of view of system interactions; requirements related to structural elements such as fixed foundations; and requirements of the electronic systems.
Biogas
Another ISO committee has been formed to focus on biogas, the combustible mixture of gases produced by microorganisms when manure and other biological wastes are allowed to ferment in the absence of air.
A lack of standards for biogas is slowing the field's development and economic use as a potential source of fuel, according to the proposal for the TC. The committee, led by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), will develop guidelines for biogas facilities of all sizes, related equipment and application, and more.
Pigments and Extenders
Many guidelines are used in the field of coloring materials such as pigments, extenders, and diestuffs, in order to assure consistent color, consistency, effectiveness, and more. This new ISO committee will address standardization in the field of coloring materials, including related terminology, product specifications, and test methods.
DIN, the German national standards body, will serve as this committee's secretariat.
For more information about any of these ISO activities or to express interest in establishing or participating in a U.S. TAG, contact Rachel Howenstine, ANSI program manager, ISO P membership (212.642.4938; isot@ansi.org).
