ANSI

Aerospace Welding

2012-01-31T17:04:00.000-05:00

Aerospace welding is simply the application of various welding techniques to materials that will then be used by the aerospace industry. That, however, is where any remaining vestige of simplicity ends. Aerospace welding is a particularly difficult field of welding due to an extremely low margin of error, a factor only exacerbated by the nature of the conditions frequently encountered in aerospace industry operations. Together, aerospace welding is a difficult undertaking with a strong need for reliable, safe, and standardized procedures.

To this end, the American Welding Society (AWS), a nonprofit organization, has published several standards dealing with welding techniques in the context of aerospace applications. Developed through a consensus process involving affected and interested parties, these AWS standards represent agreed upon procedures, guidelines, and requirements for welded aerospace products.

The three relevant AWS standards:
AWS D17.1/D17.1M:2010 - Specification for Fusion Welding for Aerospace Applications
AWS D17.2/D17.2M:2007 - Specification for Resistance Welding for Aerospace Applications
AWS D17.3/D17.3M:2010 - Specification for Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloys for Aerospace Applications

Dealing with both Solid-State and Fusion welding techniques, these three standards collectively cover a wide range of techniques. Additionally, the standards address not only the welding itself but also the design leading up to it, production witness samples, inspections, acceptance criteria, and so forth.

Though they are voluntary, these standards are frequently specifically referred to in production contracts, becoming legally binding as a result. Essentially, these standards guide the welding, and thus the production, of the aerospace industry.

Demand Response

2012-01-30T16:16:00.000-05:00

Demand Response is a collection of mechanisms used to balance supply and demand in the Smart Grid by utilizing the varied capabilities and properties of devices attached to the electrical grid, typically owned by commercial, industrial, and residential entities. Ideally, they pose no inconvenience to their owners and operate in such a way as to not even be noticed, generating a small stream of income as compensation for their use. Other times, they represent minor inconveniences, representing a sacrifice for the continued stability of the grid as a whole. After all, consuming less electricity is better than overloading the grid, causing a blackout, and not being able to consume any electricity, in addition to infrastructural damage and the inherent dangers of a blackout.

Balancing Supply and Demand

Dynamic Demand enabled devices sense the frequency of the electricity grid, a direct representation of the balance of supply and demand in the grid. Then, when demand on the grid outpaces supply, they temporarily reduce their demand. Demand Response mechanisms go further, responding to signals from the Smart Grid and reducing, rescheduling, or increasing their demand for electricity as the situation calls for it. Together, they ease the strain put on electrical grids by both reducing peak levels of demand and mitigating the effects of surges.

Two benefits arise from these mechanisms, an immediate economic benefit and a more nuanced infrastructural benefit that itself carries additional economic benefits. The immediate economic benefit is directly tied to the avoidance of using peaking power plants during periods of peak demand. Additionally, since surges in demand require the use of peaking power plants due to their fast response times, then, if surges can be slowed down, load following power plants can be used instead. The result of a reduction in peaking power plant usage is simple - cheaper production of electricity leads to lower prices for consumers.

Technologies

The simplest example of Demand Response technology is the temporary dimming of fluorescent lighting (PDF link) in stores and offices. Considering the amount of fluorescent lights drawing electricity during the daytime (20% of peak electrical loads in commercial buildings) and the simplicity with which they can be dimmed, even a slight reduction in the current provided to those circuits leads to a significant reduction in demand. Similarly, refrigerators can slightly decrease their cooling, barely raising their internal temperature (e.g., by half a degree) for an hour without negatively affecting the food stored within. Collectively, as the number of refrigerators is enormous, this noticeably decreases the load placed on the grid. The same principle applies to various other temperature control technologies such as air conditioning and heating.

Such mechanisms would only be implemented where slight changes in temperature would be, at best, unnoticeable or otherwise at most a minor inconvenience. Laboratories, computer farms, and other facilities where climate control is a major consideration would obviously not be included in this sort of Demand Response.

Additional significant benefits can be seen by rescheduling the use of various devices. Large water heaters are prime candidates, as they use large amounts of electricity and their load can be moved to off-peak hours relatively easily. It’s frequently better from an economic, environmental, and infrastructural perspective to expend more electricity during off-peak hours than a smaller amount during peak demand.

Other rescheduling options are the recharging of electronic devices, whether as small as phones or as large as plug-in electric vehicles, until later in the night rather than in the evening when many people come home from work.

Demand Response also draws upon electrical storage already present in the grid and encourages its continued development in the future. By presenting an opportunity for arbitrage between low off-peak prices at night and high prices during each day’s peak, the grid effectively combines many distributed independent operators of electrical storage and treats them as a single load balancing network. With the growing popularity of electric vehicles, each of them representing potential energy storage, the capacity of this network is set to expand dramatically.

Lastly, distributed small-scale generation can be called upon to fill the gap between supply and demand, similarly joined together into a virtual power plant by the Smart Grid.

Infrastructure

Such a network can be used to smooth out the variability from intermittent sources of energy, increasing their viability and decreasing the overall cost of electrical production. In fact, many solar power plants already use energy storage methods to smooth out their own electrical output and this is simply applying the same idea in a more distributed manner.

In terms of continuously maintaining the balance of supply and demand, the ability to reduce demand by a certain amount is as useful as the ability to increase supply by that same amount, with the added benefit of not having to build, maintain, and run additional large power plants, leading to both infrastructural and environmental benefits.

While not always the case, decreasing peak demand is frequently advantageous from an economic, environmental, and infrastructural perspective even if doing so increases the overall demand for electricity.

Economics

Demand Response significantly affects the economics of power generation. Taking Ontario as an example (PDF link), the highest demand placed on the grid in 2006 was 27,005 MW. That same year, demand rose over 25,000 MW for only 32 hours, representing less than 0.004% of the entire year. Essentially, 2,000 MW of reserve capacity was invested in, designed, built, maintained, and fueled only to be used for a total of 32 hours over the course of an entire year. Other grids throughout North America experience similar usage profiles, with only 80-100 hours accounting for roughly 8-12 percent of the maximum demand.

If demand during those hours could be lowered even slightly, significant savings would be realized from reduced reserve capacity costs (construction, maintenance) and then again from not actually utilizing that capacity (expensive fuel, low efficiency). In fact, these savings have been calculated (PDF link) to recoup a significant percentage of the initial expense of deploying the necessary technology. In addition, demand response and the infrastructure behind it reduce ongoing operating costs and improve consumer satisfaction, adding further savings to help shift the economics into the feasible range.

Overview

Overall, Demand Response, while initially expensive to implement, offers a wide variety of options to both consumers and providers of electricity. Furthermore, even if one were to ignore all of the benefits with regard to customer satisfaction and grid stability, the savings offered by Demand Response in the long run are sufficient to warrant its implementation.

This is the fourth article in a series about Smart Grids, each of which can be read independently.
The first article is an introduction to the concept of a Smart Grid.
The second article explains the generation of electricity.
The third article covers Smart Grid features and Technology.
Also, a previously published and updated list of standards for Smart Grid Interoperability.

Piracy Online

2012-01-20T12:58:00.004-05:00

Did you listen to the NPR audio interview about the Megaupload indictment and the attack on the Department of Justice's website by the group Anonymous? Let us know what you think.

Find out more about the ANSI IPRPC Intellectual Property Rights Policy Committee and learn how to get involved.

Intellectual Property Rights Policy Committee (IPRPC)

The IPRPC is responsible for broad-based policy and position decisions regarding national, regional and international intellectual property matters, including the global trade and public policy aspects of such matters.

X9 - BTRS Balance and Transaction Reporting Standard

2011-12-12T16:13:00.001-05:00

Developed by X9, an ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization, BTRS, the Balance and Transaction Reporting Standard, aims to replace BAI2 as the unifying guide for balance and transaction reporting in the United States by Q1 2012, promoting consistency, clarity, and interoperability.

Properly formatted, easily manageable and up to date balance and transactional information is critically important to those in charge of running a corporation, providing them with the information necessary to make sound business decisions. However, considering the diversity of formats currently used by different banks, this information requires significant effort and expense to organize, with the use of third party aggregators and/or customized scripts to convert information from several sources into a single format prior to analysis. Especially in today’s global business environment, this becomes a significant issue.

Developed with input from X9 members and a broad, industry-wide survey asking BAI users what in particular they would like to see changed, BTRS is essentially a major update to BAI2, and its goals are, ultimately, to remedy issues with the current system and introduce a process for keeping up with the continued evolution of banking. BAI2, currently the most widely used format, was released in 1987 and has not adequately kept up with the changing financial landscape, leading individual banking institutions to each customize the format to fit their specific needs, in turn leading to growing incompatibilities between banks, defeating the entire purpose of a single format. In fact, BAI is technically not actually a standard, unlike BTRS. Issues with BAI2 include codes that are out of date, simply not used, used inconsistently, overused, used incorrectly, used differently by different banks, used differently for US/foreign transactions, as well as cases where several codes are used for the same sort of transaction.

Given the spread of business relationships across national borders, the development of BTRS has an appropriately strong focus on international transactions, including Unicode UTF-8 support, allowing the format to be used in international transactions with the native language (e.g., Chinese names), interoperability with existing international banking standards (ISO 20022, SWIFT MT code), and requiring a currency code, no longer restricting users to only working in USD. Additionally, BTRS also adds the reporting of individual items within batch deposits.

In short, the publishing of BTRS by X9 is set to drastically increase the interoperability of balance and transaction data in the United States, allow better integration with international business partners, and reduce the costs involved with processing information.

For more information, visit the BTRS Home Page and their Frequently Asked Questions section.

Smart Grid Features

2011-11-23T11:43:00.001-05:00

The Smart Grid is a collection of technologies, all communicating and interacting with each other, grid operators, producers, and consumers. Utilizing the existing infrastructure and adding functionality to it, the overall feature set of Smart Grids is significantly greater than the sum of its component parts as, with every new individual technology integrated into the whole, new synergistic benefits develop. While these benefits are what the Smart Grid actually offers, it is prudent to first look at the major components of Smart Grids before delving into how they interact with one another.

Meters

Metering technology is the foundation upon which Smart Grids function. Smart meters measure and analyze electricity usage, constantly communicate the data they collect to central locations, and, differentiating them from past technologies, are capable of two-way communication with the grid as a whole, influencing and being influenced by other components in the Smart Grid. Advanced Metering Infrastructure, AMI, is the networking of devices and protocols that allows for this two-way communication, representing the collective advances in metering and communications technologies.

One immediate result of this improvement in metering is the potential for a shift away from flat-rate fees for electricity in favor of time-of-use pricing, where the cost of using electricity reflects the cost of producing that electricity at that very moment, financially incentivizing the voluntary shifting of demand away from peak hours, and, due to the nuances of how electricity is generated, making the grid as a whole more efficient and stable as well as lowering the overall cost of electricity for everybody.

Furthermore, the information provided by constant and automated metering is of great value to both customers and utilities. Customers see their electrical usage in more detail than before, as well as the current price of electricity, giving them greater awareness of and control over how, when, and at what price they use electricity. Utilities and grid operators benefit from the constant flow of information from automated metering through reduced operating costs, improved customer service (and therefore satisfaction), immediate identification of trouble spots, more accurate predictions of grid conditions in the future, and more informed planning for further infrastructural improvements. Appropriately, the benefits gained by utilities go on to positively affect customers.

Technologies

Demand Response and Dynamic Demand are a group of technologies reacting to the overall balance of supply and demand in an electrical grid by utilizing the features of individual devices to adjust both supply and demand to a more optimal balance. Reacting to PMUs sensing the grid’s electrical frequency or signals from the grid passed through the AMI, Demand Response technologies alter the functioning of compliant devices to reduce or reschedule demand, increase supply, or even increase demand, depending on the grid’s needs at any given moment, serving to stabilize the grid and reduce the likelihood of service disruptions or equipment damage, as well as both decreasing costs and increasing efficiency.

One example of these technologies is light dimming, with new ballasts capable of automatically reducing the brightness of fluorescent lights by an acceptable percentage in response to either a request from the grid or a financial incentive. While the consumption of each individual light is miniscule, the cumulative demand of lighting systems in a city represents more than enough demand to warrant serious attention. Similarly, the electrical usage of many home appliances can be slightly reduced for short periods without any adverse effects on their functioning, all the while, in unison, representing a significant reduction in demand on the electrical grid. Cooling and heating systems are especially applicable here.

In general, the ability to reduce demand by a certain amount is as useful as the ability to increase supply by that same amount in terms of stability, with the added benefit of reducing costs and infrastructural requirements.

Stability

Smart Grids include a series of features designed to improve stability and mitigate the effects of unavoidable damage. As mentioned, Demand Response seeks to balance demand and supply across the grid. However, what Demand Response addresses is not the only concern of grid operators, as potential problems range from downed trees, unexpected failures at power plants, or even attacks by malevolent parties.

The extensive metering network can identify problematic conditions before any service disruption or equipment damage occurs, act accordingly, and prevent issues that today would need independent resolutions. This ranges from pattern recognition, the nuanced identification of grid conditions that are known to precede problems, combined with preemptive solutions, to immediate damage control, such as the sectioning off of damaged areas to prevent the spread of damage.

While the responses mentioned so far have all been either remote or automatic, not everything can be done remotely, e.g., the Smart Grid can’t remove a fallen tree from a power line. The information provided by the Smart Grid also illuminates those problems that can only be resolved by dispatching repairmen, both reducing the time delay between the occurrence of a problem and when the repairmen know about it and providing them with more information before they arrive at the scene.

This way, whether the problem is a surge in demand, a fallen tree, a power plant failure, or an attack, the Smart Grid can mitigate or even completely eliminate service disruptions or (additional) equipment damage.

Security and Standards

Recognizing that improperly designed Smart Grids are vulnerable security risks, the involved industries have collaborated to assemble a large collection of standards, detailing secure protocols, mechanisms, and procedures for equipment interconnecting distributed resources with electric power systems, communication networks and systems in substations, power system management and the associated information exchange, distributed networks, intelligent electronic devices, advanced metering infrastructure, as well as the integration and upgrading of relevant existing standards, such as those developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) or those for home area networks. Standards also carry the role of promoting interoperability, assuring that not only will Smart Grid components be resistant against unauthorized access, but that they will readily connect with those devices with whom they are supposed to interface with in order to function properly. NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is one of the driving forces behind standards development with its Smart Grid Interoperability Panel. NIST also releases drafts of the NIST Framework 2.0, encouraging public feedback and allowing everybody to contribute to the resulting set of standards.

As one example of collaboration, two standards developing organizations, ASHRAE, the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (both accredited by and members of ANSI, the American National Standards Institute), work together to develop the Facility Smart Grid Information Model, which “define[s] an object-oriented information model to enable appliances and control systems in homes, buildings, and industrial facilities to manage electrical loads and generation sources in response to communication with a “smart” electrical grid and communicate information about those electrical loads to utility and other electrical service providers.”

As one of the biggest obstacles to overcome when developing and installing a Smart Grid is sorting out the standards necessary for security, interoperability, and functionality, the current level of cooperation is an important step in the right direction.

Integration

Another feature of the Smart Grid is its capacity for the integration of a wide variety of technologies that can’t or aren’t being fully utilized at the moment. Largest in apparent scale among these are intermittent energy sources, with the Smart Grid’s ability to influence the demand of electricity within the grid allowing greater penetration of power generation utilizing wind or solar. Distributed, small-scale sources of energy connected to the grid can collectively function as a virtual reserve power plant. Additionally, the use of geographically distributed wind and solar power sources can smooth out the variability that large-scale wind and solar farms are normally subject to. Energy storage can also be drawn from to bolster the virtual reserve provided by small scale electrical generation, drawing electricity during periods of low demand and returning it back to the grid during periods of high demand.

The Smart Grid also cooperates with new and currently emerging technologies. In many cases, the standards guiding the Smart Grid were designed with future upgradeability as a requirement, providing the framework for integration with new technologies. Electric cars are one example of an emerging technology. They, like any other cars, spend a lot of their time parked. However, unlike today’s gasoline-driven cars, electric cars have batteries that can be made to function as a vast distributed network of electrical storage.

Infrastructure

Rather than merely serving as the distribution network between power plants and consumers, Smart Grids transform the electrical grid into an active participant. In terms of developing infrastructure, the Smart Grid’s features reduce the need for the construction and maintenance of additional power plants, transmission lines, etc…, eliminating both the immediate expenses as well as having to find and secure the necessary land. In terms of existing infrastructure, Smart Grids squeeze more functionality out of what already exists. Themselves a collection of advances, Smart Grids provide the framework necessary for further advancement, bringing our infrastructure more in line with what it can potentially be.

This is the third article in a series about Smart Grids, each of which can be read independently.
The first article is an introduction to the concept of a Smart Grid.
The second article explains the generation of electricity.
The fourth article delves into Demand Response and its economic effects.
Also, a previously published and updated list of standards for Smart Grid Interoperability.

Generating Electricity

2011-11-10T16:43:00.001-05:00

Understanding the extent of the benefits offered by Smart Grids requires first understanding the source of the electricity running through the grid. Electricity generating power plants differ in many ways: the forms of energy they harness, rates of efficiency, maximum output capacity, ability to vary their output, byproducts, geographical requirements/restrictions, construction, operating, and maintenance costs, etc…, and, while all of these are important considerations in the overall analysis of an electrical grid’s infrastructure, somewhat limiting the scope of analysis renders the benefits of an extensive Smart Grid readily apparent.

Differentiating between power plants based on rates of efficiency, operating costs, and the ability to vary their output, the major players can be loosely divided into four groups: base load power plants, peaking power plants, load following power plants, and intermittent sources. Frequently, a single source of energy will fall into more than one category as different technologies harness it to generate electricity in varying ways. For example, different designs of hydroelectric power plants fall into all four categories.

Types of Power Generation

Base load power plants are the foundation of most electrical grids. Typically, they are large, able to efficiently harness their fuel of choice, and, relative to the large amounts of electricity they produce, inexpensive to maintain. They run throughout the year, at all times of the day and only have limited, if any, ability to safely and expediently vary their output, providing electricity at a stable rate. Typical examples are nuclear and coal power plants.

Peaking power plants, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. They do not run all the time, nor are they cheap or efficient to operate. However, their ability to increase the supply of electricity at a moment’s notice makes them invaluable for handling either unexpected surges in demand or expected peaks, like the high loads typical of hot summer afternoons. Gas turbines are the principle example of this sort of power plant. Small-scale generators, such as those used as emergency backups, are similar in their properties, chosen primarily for their ability to immediately supply needed electricity.

Load following power plants occupy the middle-ground. They are able to vary their output in response to changes in demand, but not as quickly as peaking power plants. Similarly, their efficiency and operating costs are between those of base load and peaking power plants. Load following power plants are frequently very similar to base load power plants with the added ability of being able to supply additional electricity in times of need, achieved either by curtailing their own output during standard operating modes (reserve capacity) or by storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak demand. For example, many hydroelectric power plants with large reservoirs are able to significantly vary the amount of water they pass through their turbines or even use up electricity during periods of low demand to raise their water level, adding potential energy to their reserve for times of peak demand. In the case of nuclear power plants, some designs allow for curtailing power output, whereas others do not have such capabilities.

Intermittent sources of power are a special but applicable category here; wind and solar, among others, provide electricity without any ongoing fuel costs, so, while efficiency can be measured with regard to how much energy is available and how much electricity is then generated and fed into the grid, this can’t be directly compared to the efficiency of power plants using fuels like gas or coal where the fuel must be continuously purchased. The drawback to these intermittent sources of power is in the constant variability and thus unreliability of the source of their energy. Some designs manage to mitigate the impact of this drawback by utilizing some form of energy storage to smooth variability in output.

While it doesn’t fit neatly into this sort of grouping, decentralized and distributed power generation plays a steadily increasing role in today’s electrical grids. While each individual power source is generally miniscule, their combined capacity is significant and, when fully utilized, presents a viable alternative to the established system of relying solely on large, centralized power plants.

Stability

Stability in an electrical grid is vital, with the supplied electricity needing to match the level of demand as closely as possible at any given moment. Additionally, due to inefficiencies in the transmission of electricity over large distances, it is also important to maintain the balance of supply and demand at every point in the electrical grid. Deviation from this equilibrium is undesirable, with large deviations resulting in instability and, in extreme cases, blackouts. What this translates to is that maintaining grid stability is not accomplished simply by having a maximum capacity exceeding that of peak demand, as that would be easily accomplished with the construction and constant use of a multitude of base load power plants, but rather by having a network of infrastructure capable of quickly changing the amount of supply to match constantly fluctuating levels of consumer demand ranging from the dead of night up to and surpassing expected peak demand, essentially necessitating the frequent use of inefficient peaking power plants.

Fulfilling Demand

When the grid fulfills demand for electricity, there is a specific order to the preferred utilization of suppliers. Base load power plants are used first as they provide the cheapest electricity, though this is somewhat misleading as, generally, they are always operating and therefore always being used. Load following plants then scale their output to match the remaining demand as best as they can. Peaking power plants are used as a last resort to supply additional electricity when demand outpaces supply by too large a margin or too suddenly for load following power plants to keep up. Additionally, peaking power plants are used to compensate for sudden decreases in supply due to the variability of intermittent sources or unexpected failures elsewhere in the grid.

Overall Infrastructure

The use of peaking power plants, while necessary, leads to significant expenses for both grid operators and consumers. Smart Grids come into play by employing various technologies to reduce demand, reschedule (delay) demand, or even increase supply as the situation calls for it. In terms of balancing supply and demand during peak demand conditions in the grid, the reduction of demand by a certain amount is as effective as increasing supply by that same amount, turning the ability of the Smart Grid to reduce demand into a virtual power plant. Addressing the use of peaking power plants to handle surges in demand, the Smart Grid’s ability to automatically and immediately reduce demand counteracts surges, slowing surges down to the point where load following power plants can fulfill the demand. Additionally, the same mechanisms come into play when dealing with sudden, unexpected drops in supply. As a result, fewer costly peaking power plants need to be constructed.

Essentially representing the infrastructure itself, the Smart Grid fundamentally changes the established approach to electrical grids and power generation, ushering in new technologies and allowing methods of power generation that were off limits earlier. As a whole, the Smart Grid’s mechanisms simultaneously make the network of already existing power plants more efficient, involve decentralized power generation in a significant way, and guide the development of further infrastructure.

This is the second article in a series about Smart Grids, each of which can be read independently.
The first article is an introduction to the concept of a Smart Grid.
The third article goes into greater detail about Smart Grid features.
The fourth article delves into Demand Response and its economic effects.
Also, a previously published and updated list of standards for Smart Grid Interoperability

Smart Grid

2011-11-10T13:48:00.001-05:00

While descriptions of Smart Grids vary based upon the exact set of features a particular implementation includes and its scale, the single defining and unifying characteristic of Smart Grids is the ability to constantly monitor changes in both the supply and demand of electricity by individual consumers and/or producers within the electrical grid and immediately respond to those changes in ways far exceeding the capabilities of today’s electrical grids. At a fundamental level, Smart Grids count among their advantages over today’s grids greatly increased efficiency, stability, and the potential for more integration and inclusion of a greater number of devices. More broadly, Smart Grids are at once the framework for and inseparable from various technological advantages that greatly increase our ability to manage electricity, from its generation to its eventual consumption.

Technological Advantages

The application of technological advantages is at the heart of Smart Grid initiatives, seeking to fill the gap between when electric grids were first built and the advances that have since been embraced by modern electronics.

First, an extensive network of automated meters capable of instant and constant communication is required. Such a network provides extraordinary amounts of data, providing both consumers and producers with up-to-date information on their own involvement in the grid as well as information about the grid as a whole. Aside from the intrinsic value of information and the insights gained from its analysis, the wealth of data serves as a prerequisite for other advancements.

Interactivity is a major facet of the Smart Grid as well. While technologies already exist that can be used to respond to changes in the state of electrical grids, they are in many cases hindered by the time delay between when a change occurs and when information about it is dispersed. Other mechanisms aren’t automated and instead rely on human operators, further slowing the process down. Alternatively, some fully automated mechanisms only function locally, cut off from the grid as a whole. Automated mechanisms, when coupled with timely and accurate information furnished by the network of intercommunication intrinsic to a Smart Grid, bring an unprecedented level of to both grid operators and consumers, reacting to changing grid conditions as soon as they occur if not preemptively.

Another major benefit of the Smart Grid is in the increased integration with various power production and storage methods. As the Smart Grid is better able to react to changes in supply and demand, it is therefore also better able to integrate additional sources of supply and demand. Coinciding with the spread of distributed power generation, the use of intermittent energy sources, and increasingly efficient methods of storing energy, the Smart Grid is well equipped to maximize the effectiveness of these rapidly expanding technologies.

Benefits

Together, these three features lead to significant benefits when considering the economics and stability of an electrical grid. Economically, Smart Grids offer savings to both grid operators and consumers by increasing efficiency, decreasing operating costs, reducing the amount of infrastructure necessary to deal with peak demand, utilizing already existing distributed electrical production and energy storage more extensively, and opening the door to better pricing schemes.

Through the level of analysis of and immediate response to grid conditions made possible by a Smart Grid, stability is greatly improved. The amount and frequency of updated data allows problematic areas to be identified quickly, with responses ranging from the triggering of automatic mechanisms that resolve the issue, alerting repairmen to the scene if necessary, or, in extreme cases, sectioning off severely damaged areas to prevent further damage from spreading to surrounding areas. Key among these mechanisms is Demand Response, a collection of technologies capable of adjusting consumer-side supply and demand in response to changes in the grid. Additionally, while generally operating in response to regularly occurring or unintentional issues, the same mechanisms are applicable in mitigating damage in the face of malicious attacks by an outside party.

Obstacles and Resolutions

Nevertheless, the Smart Grid has its obstacles. Primary among these is cost; though plentiful technology already exists, rolling it out over large scales represents a significant initial expense. Currently, Smart Grids, even those of limited scope and scale, have already demonstrated substantial economic benefits, with broader implementations leading to respectively broader savings.

Additionally, as the entire concept of the Smart Grid, many components communicating and interacting with each other, depends on those components actually being able to communicate and interact with each other, the implementation of any large scale Smart Grid requires sufficiently planned out standardization and the rigorous enforcement thereof.

Lastly, there are significant social concerns. As the Smart Grid allows for ever more precise manipulations in electrical supply, the potential for abuse is a point of consideration. More problematically, the Smart Grid produces and utilizes highly personalized information and, unless paired with strong measures assuring the privacy of its users, the Smart Grid’s greatest advantage becomes its greatest disadvantage. Standards and laws addressing this concern should be fleshed out prior to significant financial investments and infrastructural development, leaving customers with the best of both worlds; a technologically advanced Smart Grid and their privacy.

Looking Forward

Smart Grids represent the next step for electric grids, revolutionizing their infrastructure while still keeping and putting to use much of what has already been built. While initially expensive, Smart Grids lead to savings that, over the long term, significantly outweigh the initial investment required, going on to offer a multitude of other, non-economic benefits for everybody involved, as well as setting the stage for further improvements. Though obstacles certainly remain, standardization and policies must be agreed upon and funding must be secured, Smart Grids are a nigh-inevitable fixture of a nation’s development.

This is the first article in a series about Smart Grids, each of which can be read independently.
The second article explains the generation of electricity.
The third article goes into greater detail about Smart Grid features
The fourth article delves into Demand Response and its economic effects.
Also, a previously published and updated list of standards for Smart Grid Interoperability.

Counterfeit Electronics in Pentagon Supply Chain

2011-11-09T10:54:00.000-05:00

A recent Associated Press article describes the national security implications of counterfeit electronic components. The topic was discussed at a recent Senate Armed Services Committee meeting. According to AP, "Sprinkling" ... [counterfeit parts] could deceive a major weapons manufacturer, possibly endanger U.S. troops.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, plans to amend the 2012 defense Authorization Act to require customs inspection of all Chinese made electronic components. Levin testified that Chinese officials told committee investigators that if their findings weren't positive, a report could damage US - Chinese relations, a claim that Levin said was exactly opposite reality. He went on to say that China's refusal to act against brazen counterfeiting is damaging to US - China relations.

The Semiconductor Industry Association estimates that counterfeiting costs $7.5 billion in lost revenue per year along with 11,000 lost US jobs.

Read more:

Officials: Fake weapons parts 'ticking time bomb' By Donna Cassata Associated Press
Levin: Chinese counterfeit chips pose major threat to Pentagon weapons by Bob Brewin Nextgov
Counterfeit Semiconductor Importers Pay High Price of Breaking Public Trust, Endangering Americans Semiconductor Industry Association

Watch the archived Senate Armed Services Committee hearing testimony on the Committee’s investigation into counterfeit electronic parts in the Department of Defense supply chain.

Relevant standards:

SAE AS 5553-2009 (SAE AS5553-2009) Counterfeit Electronic Parts; Avoidance, Detection, Mitigation, and Disposition This document is intended for use in aviation, space, defense, and other high performance/reliability electronic equipment applications.
ASTM F1448-93a(2006) Standard Guide for Selection of Security Technology for Protection Against Counterfeiting, Alteration, Diversion, Duplication, Simulation, and Substitution (CADDSS) of Products or Documents This guide is intended to assist the user in the selection of anticounterfeiting technology
SEMI T20-0710 Specification for Authentication of Semiconductors and Related Products This specification covers structure, behavior, and services for the organizations and entities involved in authentication of semiconductor and related products or objects through the use of secure serialization.
SEMI T20-1108 Specification for System Architecture for Authentication of Semiconductors and Related Products This specification is the basic element of a suite of standards aimed at enabling automated, reliable and secure product authentication for the semiconductor industry.
TB-0003-2009 Counterfeit Parts and Materials Risk Mitigation

Greenhouse Gases

2011-10-24T14:18:00.003-04:00

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are a group of gases that, when in the atmosphere, reflect sunlight back towards the planet, heating it up as a result. Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone are the primary gases that carry this property, varying drastically from gas to gas with respect to the magnitude of their contribution and its duration. Cumulatively, this process, known as the greenhouse effect, plays a major role in determining the surface temperature of Earth.

As a result of concerns raised over the magnitude and significance of the human role in atmospheric GHG levels, GHG reduction efforts have blossomed, ranging in scale from personal initiatives to international laws and agreements that operate on a truly global level. In the past, GHG levels were restrained to some degree by laws aimed at increasing air quality by reducing pollution. Today, initiatives take aim at the reduction of GHG emissions specifically. These initiatives, alongside standards published through a consensus process, laws and agreements enacted at all levels of authority, and the creation of organizations and processes designed to hold others accountable, together function to address concerns over atmospheric GHG levels.

Standards, designed by open consensus-based processes, are voluntary guidelines and procedures that represent industry-wide views on the proper way to go about a specific activity, promoting fair competition, interoperability, reliability, and consistency. Regarding GHG, standards exist to guide basic assessment and measurement of GHG, quantification, monitoring, and reporting of GHG reductions or removals at a project or organizational level, as well as more specific standards, such as one detailing a specific test method for measurement of particulate emissions and heating efficiency of outdoor solid fuel-fired hydronic heating appliances.

Laws and agreements that affect GHG emissions take many forms. Chief among these are enforced mandatory caps or carbon taxes. Additionally, others voluntarily promise to reduce their GHG emissions. In either case, those involved in GHG reduction make assertions about their efforts. In those cases where the amount of GHG emitted is tied to a financial or legal system of incentives and/or repercussions, assertions of GHG emission quantities must be validated/verified by an impartial third-party. GHG emitters must, for example, make assertions based upon GHG emission measurement methods that have been shown to be both accurate and precise, as well as comply with many other prerequisites for trustable and actionable GHG assertions.

The impartial third-parties that validate/verify GHG assertions are known as GHG Validation/Verification Bodies (V/VB). The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the national standards organization of the United States of America and its representative internationally, offers accreditation services for V/VBs through the ANSI Accreditation Program for Greenhouse Gas Validation/Verification Bodies. The program essentially does for V/VBs what V/VBs do for those making GHG assertions; it looks for consistency and reliability in the operating procedures of V/VBs, inspiring confidence in the claims they make.

Cap and Trade Programs

Cap and Trade programs, one of the more popular approaches to GHG reduction, seek to reduce GHG emissions by utilizing the free market instead of working against it, consisting of two predictably named parts, an initial cap and subsequent trading. The cap is a mandatory reduction in the total amount of emissions. Trading then serves to incentivize the reduction of GHG emissions by offering a competitive financial motive.

Essentially, everyone involved receives a certain number of allowances (either for free or by auction), translating to an absolute volume of GHG they can each legally emit. If an entity does not utilize all of their allowances, the remainder can be either kept for use at a later date or auctioned off. Conversely, an entity emitting more GHG than they have in allowances would purchase additional allowances at auction. In this manner, the auction price is dictated by supply and demand. As a whole, Cap and Trade programs are cost-effective with respect to their goal of reducing GHG emissions.

The effectiveness of Cap and Trade programs hinges directly upon the accuracy of GHG emissions and reductions data, coupled with rigorous enforcement for instances of fraud or noncompliance. This accuracy is necessary for both the accomplishment of the program’s environmental goals, as well as promoting trust among the companies involved and therefore the market as a whole. ANSI-accredited V/VBs fill this niche, serving as an impartial check upon GHG emitters and assuring that programs like Cap and Trade are achieving their desired goals.

Carbon Tax

A tax on GHG emissions is another method of financially incentivizing GHG reduction efforts. Simple in its workings, a carbon tax appends a cost to every unit of emitted GHG. Lower emissions translate directly to less carbon taxes being paid. However, while carbon taxes do encourage reductions in GHG emissions, they do not put a mandatory limit on GHG emissions, allowing for some to simply pay the tax if doing so is more profitable than reducing emissions or, alternatively, passing the cost directly to the consumer or end-user. Comparing carbon taxes to Cap and Trade programs, both options have their relative advantages and disadvantages and care must be taken to select the appropriate GHG reduction strategy.

Here, as in Cap and Trade programs, accurate GHG assertions are vitally important, creating the same need for V/VBs and the ANSI accreditation process behind them.

Validation/Verification and Accreditation

Validation/Verification, as explained earlier, is crucial to any GHG reduction program. However, while V/VBs look at GHG assertions, V/VBs must themselves be tested for competency, impartiality, and consistency. Filling this role, the ANSI Accreditation Program for Greenhouse Gas Validation/Verification Bodies accredits GHG V/VBs based upon their adherence to the requirements set out in ISO 14065:2007, including, for example, the requirement “that validation bodies and verification bodies establish and maintain a procedure to manage the competence of its personnel,” among others. Another relevant standard is ISO 14064-3:2006, offering “guidance for the validation and verification of greenhouse gas assertions.” Additionally, a relatively recently published standard, ISO 14066:2011, will be introduced into the process in the near future as well.

In this way, ANSI accreditation serves to assure other entities of a V/VB’s competency and adherence to international and widely agreed upon standards. The ANSI GHG V/VB accreditation procedure is itself thorough, lending additional credibility to those organizations that successfully complete the process, earn accreditation, and go on to retain it after ongoing ANSI surveillance and reassessment.

The Entire Process

The entire process, with GHG assertions validated/verified by V/VBs and ANSI accrediting those V/VBs, is an integral part of the foundation of any GHG reduction program. Essentially, the influence of ANSI-accredited V/VBs is always preferable. For some emission reduction programs, such as The Climate Registry, a collaboration spanning across Canada, The United States, and Mexico, validation/verification by an ANSI-accredited V/VB is not only preferable but a prerequisite for participation. As today’s world is increasingly concerned with the level of GHG in the atmosphere and the processes that affect it, this system of validation/verification and accreditation is a critically important fixture.

For further information, consult, alongside others, the following sources:
What are Greenhouse Gases? From the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Cap and Trade. Both are from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Frequently Asked Questions section of the ANSI Accreditation Program for Greenhouse Gas Validation/Verification Bodies website.

Walking Aids and Assistive Products

2011-10-22T09:55:00.005-04:00

In May 2011 the US Census Bureau reported there are 19.4 million people in the US that have difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Many standards help manufacturers of walking aids and assistive products address safety, ergonomics and performance, marking, labelling and information pertaining to walking aids and other assistive products such as wheelchairs, software and other devices. A keyword search of standards for walking aids returned many international standards for requirements, test methods and terminology. A similar search of standards for assistive products gave results for assistive products for walking and for the visually impaired and hearing impaired. For example ISO 23600:2007 specifies requirements for acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights to assist in safe and independent mobility.

A three part article by Marion A. Hersh Dept. of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Glasgow covers the design, evaluation and outcomes of assistive products. In The Design and Evaluation of Assistive Technology Products and Devices Part 1, Hersh notes that assistive products should follow good design practices similar to many consumer products such as, "Compliance with any relevant national and international standards or other regulation. Good design practice generally goes beyond minimal compliance and can lead to commercial advantage if the standards or regulations become stricter due to the greater ease and reduced costs of proactive rather than reactive compliance." In the same article, Hersh cites several resources for further information. The EASTIN database, the European Assistive Technologies Information Network lists information on existing Assistive Technology (AT) products, their availability in the European market, and guidance for their appropriate choice and application.

The University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Laboratories conducts research and development in assistive technology. According to HERL, their testing facility for wheelchairs "is able to conduct a majority of the ISO or ANSI/RESNA testing which is required for FDA approval. Both manual and powered wheelchairs can be tested. All manner of destructive and non-destructive testing is available." [This is not an endorsement by ANSI, just a reference for your information.We'd like to hear more about work in assistive technologies and would welcome your comments to this post.]

IT Security Standards

2011-10-14T13:13:00.002-04:00

IT security standards are guidelines and specifications for various practices within the IT security industry, arrived at through a process culminating in consensus. The use of IT security standards has arisen in response to how reliant the modern world has become on digital information, making it crucial to properly safeguard that information. Additionally, privacy and security concerns necessitate effective security measures. IT security standards accomplish this duty by, for example, promoting widely and thoroughly tested methods for encryption and key management or by setting out basic requirements for new entity authentication systems. IT security standards are also vital for interoperability.

IT security, at its core, is concerned with balancing the necessary tasks of keeping information secure, reliable, and accessible. To illustrate this, take the extreme and diametrically opposed examples of two security systems, one set to irreversibly destroy its data at the first sign of any attempts at unauthorized access and the other left totally accessible to any anonymous user. While both have their niche, neither of the two is widely applicable, with most situations requiring more balanced implementations.

These core requirements of security, reliability, and accessibility expand and interact with each other, meeting at a different optimal balance for every distinct industry and application. Some of the more frequent and well studied roles of IT security are to

Identify authorized users, verify their identity, and
Restrict access to only those authorized users;
Track authorized changes, and
Prevent unauthorized changes, identifying them if they do occur;
Keep from unnecessarily burdening authorized users and
Maximize system uptime.

To achieve this, the IT security industry employs a number of different techniques, ranging from broadly applied digital cryptography to physical biometrics. Since poorly implemented security measures are potentially dangerous and the nature of information technology puts a premium on interoperability, various voluntary consensus standards have emerged in the IT security industry, some trickling down from mandatory IT security standards utilized by the military and various government agencies while others embrace massive volunteer efforts.

Within the scope of IT security, two industries, those of health care and financial services, distinguish themselves by how incredibly sensitive the information they need to function is, prompting the formation of industry specific IT security standards in response. In the medical field, health care providers need information about their patients that in any other situation would be incredibly invasive of the patient’s privacy. For the financial services industry, the ever-present threat of identity theft adequately encapsulates how sensitive the financial industry’s information is. While it becomes clear that medical and financial information must be kept secured, that same information is also legitimately used in different places, requiring ease of access to be carefully balanced against properly restricting access. With that said, progress made in IT security standards for specific industries is frequently applicable in other fields.

IT security standards are in large part responsible for the ongoing stability of our modern world, doing their part to keep our information safe and our privacy secured.

Some packages of IT Security Standards, as well as individual and industry specific ones:

ISO/IEC27001 AND 27002 IT SECURITY TECHNIQUES PACKAGE
ISO/IEC27000 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY TECHNIQUES COLLECTION
ISO9564 - BANKING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PACKAGE
ISO11568 - BANKING KEY MANAGEMENT PACKAGE
X9ENCRYPTION COLLECTION
X9CRYPTOGRAPHIC MESSAGE COLLECTION
Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)

Financial Services Industry

Security Framework
Public key cryptography using irreversible algorithms

Part 1: The digital signature algorithm
Part 2: The secure hash algorithm

Public key cryptography for the Financial Services industry

Wrapping of keys and associated data (symmetric key cryptography)
Financial transaction cards

Personal Identification Number (PIN) management and security

Health Informatics

Security requirements for archiving of electronic health records

Information security management in health using ISO/IEC 27002
Public key infrastructure

Part 1: Overview of digital certificate services
Part 2: Certificate profile
Part 3: Policy management of certification authority

Electronic health record communications

Part 1: Reference model
Part 2: Archetype interchange specifications
Part 3: Reference archetypes and term lists
Part 4: Security
Part 5: Interface specification

Entity Authentication

2011-10-14T13:13:00.001-04:00

Entity authentication in today’s IT security industry is used as one part of a security system to verify that an entity actually is who or what they claim to be prior to allowing them access to secured information or into a secured area. The simplest example of this is when somebody fills out a username and password to log into their account on a website. Their username is a claim to an identity and their password, presumably known only to them, serves to verify their claim. While this appears simple to the user, there is quite a lot going on behind the scenes.

One approach to entity authentication, drawing from the field of cryptography, utilizes complicated algorithms and secret keys (passwords). As the need for entity authentication is present in a wide range of situations, cryptographic solutions exist with differing sets of features, varying, for example, in ease of use and security. Accommodating this variety within the IT security industry, different IT security standards have been published to address different implementations of cryptographic entity authentication.

A second approach, biometric entity authentication, relies on relatively unique physical traits such as a person’s iris or their fingerprints to ascertain their identity. The most widely known example of this is the fingerprinting process. When used as part of a more modern system, IT security standards and protocols, such as the Biometric Application Programming Interface (BioAPI), are utilized extensively for their positive effect on interoperability in addition to serving as guidelines for the design and implementation of new systems.

One major difference between cryptographic and biometric entity authentication is that while cryptographic methods rely on keys provided by individuals, biometric systems rely on information about individuals themselves, raising concerns about privacy and legality. Additionally, as some biometric systems require physical interaction, health, safety, and cultural concerns arise as well. These concerns, among others, must be addressed during the development and deployment of any entity authentication system including biometric components and thus are guided by their own IT security standards.

Entity authentication, whether cryptographic, biometric or otherwise, is a major part of today’s IT security industry. As a result, there is much development in the field, leading simultaneously to both rapid advances and a pronounced need for IT security standards focusing on interoperability and the latest secure mechanisms.

Some packages of IT security standards regarding Entity Authentication, as well as individual ones:

Cryptographic Entity Authentication

Part 1: General
Part 2: Mechanisms using symmetric encipherment algorithms (+corrigendum)
Part 3: Mechanisms using digital signature techniques (+corrigendum and amendment)
Part 4: Mechanisms using a cryptographic check function (+corrigendum)
Part 5: Mechanisms using zero-knowledge techniques
Part 6: Mechanisms using manual data transfer

Cryptography and Key Management

2011-10-14T12:02:00.000-04:00

Cryptography in today’s IT security industry is, at its core, the field of inquiry surrounding the encryption and decryption of information. Cryptographic algorithms are developed, tested and then applied, ideally securing information so that only authorized users have access to it. IT security standards find their place in promoting mechanisms that are reliable and increasing their interoperability, as well as helping to prevent the inadvertent introduction of security weaknesses.

Since the advent of the computer, the complexity of both cryptographic algorithms and cryptanalysis (systematic encryption breaking), as well as sheer processing power have all been steadily increasing, making it so that most encryption methods used today are not perfectly secure but rather so difficult to break as to be practically and realistically unbreakable at the time of their implementation. However, as progress is made in the field of cryptography, earlier algorithms become vulnerable and insecure. Here, IT security standards advocate the use of mechanisms (specific algorithms and their implementations) that are determined to be secure for a given task.

Key management is the direct application of cryptography in the IT security field. Essentially, key management is situated between cryptography and cryptographic entity authentication. As the security of encrypted information depends on the security of the key that decrypts it, IT security standards also address the various environments within which cryptographic keys are established and distributed. In doing so, IT security standards assure that any subsequent information encrypted with keys established and distributed securely will also be secure, increasing the security of the system as a whole.

Today’s cryptographic key management is largely based around symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms. Symmetric algorithms use a single private key for both encryption and decryption of data. Asymmetric algorithms differ in that they encrypt data with a public key and then decrypt it with a private key. The advantage of asymmetric encryption is rooted in the publically known encryption key, allowing anybody to encrypt information in such a way that only the entity holding the private key can decrypt it. In exchange for this advantage, asymmetric key algorithms are significantly more resource intensive and rely upon complicated theorems in mathematics, themselves creating a demand for progress in the field of mathematics.

One underlying aspect of the field of cryptography is the widespread acceptance of Shannon’s Maxim, “The enemy knows the system,” a design philosophy that requires methods of encryption to remain secure even if a malevolent entity knows everything there is to know about the system with the exception of the private key. This allows for cryptographic algorithms and key management mechanisms to be released for wide review prior to widespread use. Combining this with a development process focusing heavily on consensus, IT security standards reflect what the IT industry as a whole considers secure.

Some packages of IT security standards regarding Cryptography and Key Management, as well as individual ones:

DIGITALSIGNATURE/CRYPTOGRAPHY PACKAGE
ISO11568 - BANKING KEY MANAGEMENT PACKAGE
Key management

Part 1: Framework
Part 2: Mechanisms using symmetric techniques (+corrigendum)
Part 3: Mechanisms using asymmetric techniques (+corrigendum)
Part 4: Mechanisms based on weak secrets (+corrigendum)

Cryptography

Prime number generation
Key establishment using Integer Factorization Cryptography
NFC-SEC cryptography standard using ECDH and AES
Cryptographic techniques based on elliptical curves

Hash-functions

Part 1: General
Part 2: Hash-functions using an n-bit block cipher
Part 3: Dedicated hash-functions (+amendment)
Part 4: Hash-functions using modular arithmetic

Digital signatures with appendix

Part 1: General
Part 2: Integer factorization based mechanisms
Part 3: Certificate-based mechanisms (+corrigendum 1, corrigendum 2, and amendment)

California’s Food Handler Card Law

2011-09-16T11:58:00.000-04:00

In California’s food industry, the Food Handler Card certificate – introduced by SB 602 a year ago and refined by SB 303 (chaptered Sep. 6^th, 2011) – allows workers to demonstrate to food facility owners that they are knowledgeable with regard to health and safety regulations on safe and proper food handling. In turn, the same Food Handler Card certificate lets food facility owners inform their customers, patrons, and inspection agents that their employees adhere to proper food handling procedures. Taken as a whole, the newly instituted system should increase confidence, benefiting workers, owners, and consumers alike.

In the food industry, like in any other, training certificates that include an examination help entities identify the capabilities of a particular individual, and that the individual has achieved specific desired learning outcomes as a result of their training. Additionally, since the Food Handler Card certificate is based on an American National Standard and some specific state of California requirements, legislators, facility owners, certificate issuers, and workers can be assured of the quality and integrity of the certificate program requirements. To this end, the American National Standards Institute Certificate Accreditation Program, known as ANSI-CAP, accredits certificate issuers based on their adherence to the requirements set forth in the ASTM International E2659-09 standard, assuring that organizations wanting to become ANSI-accredited Food Handler Card certificate issuers meet the national standard.

The standard provides guidance to certificate issuers for developing and administering quality certificate programs and to stakeholders for determining the quality of certificate programs,” including “requirements for both the entity issuing the certificate and requirements for the specific certificate programs for which it issues certificates.” These requirements are then combined with section 113947.2 of the California Health and Safety Code, which outlines the required elements of knowledge that the Food Handler Card certificate test must assess.

Taken together, the combined effects of the ASTM International E2659-09 standard, the ANSI-CAP accreditation process, and the California Health and Safety Code result in a single, newly formulated approach to food handler training certificates that replaces many similarly intentioned programs, streamlining and simplifying the entire process by placing a unified and consistent set of requirements upon food handlers.

How Does California’s Food Handler Card Law Help Food Handlers?

The most tangible benefit derived from the Food Handler Card certificate by individual food handlers is the assurance it offers to a current employer of their abilities and/or to future employers of their value in relation to other potential applicants.

Food handlers also benefit from the standardization aspect of the new law. Since the examination requirements and content are standardized across California, food handlers, knowing exactly what material they need to learn, are able to better prepare themselves. Lastly, the instructional course, taken prior to the certificate exam, is notably broad in its scope, addressing issues that any particular food handler will encounter over the course of their work.

How Does California’s Food Handler Card Law Help Consumers?

Consumers benefit from the Food Handler Card certificate because it will help to assure safer preparation and handling of their food, leading to less foodborne illness and greater confidence. As the food industry is in large part a service industry, the interests of owners and consumers are closely aligned; a satisfied customer base benefits business owners as it encourages increased use of food facilities, coming around full circle to benefit those working in food facilities.

How Does California’s Food Handler Card Law Help Food Facility Owners?

Owners of food facilities benefit from the Food Handler Card certificate through the assurance that the food served in their establishments is being prepared by workers aware of the nuances of the relevant portions of the California Health and Safety Code. Predominately and most demonstrably, comparable certificate programs in other states have resulted in reduced amounts of foodborne illnesses. A study conducted in Florida showed a 79% decrease in reported cases of foodborne illnesses over the past decade (PDF link) after the enactment of a similar program. The reduction of foodborne illnesses is in and of itself reason enough to embrace the initiative, but more knowledgeable food handling does more than simply prevent the worst-case scenario of food contamination. Owners of food facilities are likely to benefit in other ways, including reduced product spoilage and higher quality end-products.

Furthermore, since the new law amends the California Health and Safety Code, requiring food handlers to perpetually have a certificate issued by an ANSI-accredited organization to remain employed, compliance is now part of inspection criteria, with noncompliance resulting in negative repercussions.

How It All Adds Up

Widespread education for food handlers and the subsequent rigorous process leading to the issuance of Food Handler Card certificates, combined with enforcement, will benefit the food industry as a whole. Consumers visiting restaurants will enjoy a safer experience, and food facility owners and workers will experience improved public perception and increased usage of their services. For more information, consult your local county officials as well as these sources:

ANSI Press Release after SB 303 was signed into law

California Restaurant Association’s County Specific Information page

The Retail Food Code section of the California Health and Safety Code

Full text, amendment history and legislative analysis: SB 602, SB 303

ANSI-accredited organizations that can issue the Food Handler Card certificate in compliance with SB 303:List of ANSI-CAP accredited organizations and applicants

Corrosion Prevention

2011-07-18T12:19:00.010-04:00

Introduction to Corrosion

Corrosion is a naturally occurring process, costing American industries approximately 6% of the entire United States GDP each year (PDF). The chemical interaction between a metal and its surroundings, corrosion degrades metal and leaves it prone to failure. Quite obviously, measures must be taken to manage corrosion so as to avoid failure.

While corrosion is a very broad problem, the solutions used tend to fall into a few common categories. Still, even within this narrowed range of solutions, a great deal of variation exists, requiring that methods and materials be standardized to ensure reliability. To this end, standard-developing organizations have brought together interested and educated parties to form a consensus on how to properly design, manufacture, test, handle and use products that are susceptible to corrosion. Chief among these are ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, and NACE International, formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers.

Methods

Corrosion management comes down to a few key methods, each with their own advantages, disadvantages and variations. Frequently, several methods are used in tandem, leading to a particular blend of advantages and disadvantages that fit the requirements of the task at hand.

Prior to any specific method of corrosion prevention, the bigger picture of engineering design is brought into play. Some design decisions are more prone to corrosion, such as any place where two dissimilar metals are in electrical contact or when the shape of a structure allows liquids to collect. Because it isn’t always possible to avoid these pitfalls, additional care must be taken later to address them. Financial concerns are an issue too, as the simplest solution may simply be too expensive for the proposed application. Standards are especially important in this area as a guard against economic pressures incentivizing unsafe practices.

Leading in from engineering design, the first and most commonly used method of preventing corrosion revolves around the selection of materials. Simply picking a metal that is sufficiently resistant to corrosion is sometimes the easiest and most straightforward solution. Other times, the application requires certain characteristics, such as resistance to stress, that are not found in the metals most resistant to corrosion.

Filling these gaps, new materials, composed of two or more metals (alloys or intermetallics), are tailor made to fit all the performance characteristics required for certain applications, including resistance to corrosion. The most famous of these is stainless steel. A category of materials rather than one specific formulation, many distinct variations of stainless steel are used in a wide range of industries. Still, a single material might not exist that fulfills all the physical requirements at an acceptable price.

The second method involves placing a barrier between the vulnerable metal and the corrosive elements. In some cases, the early stages of corrosion naturally create a thin, protective layer over the material that impedes further damage. This is either allowed to happen naturally or stimulated chemically. Otherwise, the metal is manually covered by a layer of something more resistant to corrosion (metallic or not), such as the coat of rustproof paint on your car. This allows designs to use a material resistant to corrosion for the outer surface and a material with other desirable characteristics (resistance to stress or affordability) for the rest of the structure. One key problem is that if the covering corrodes all the way through at a single point, corrosion will then damage the underlying metal and its effects might be hidden by the rest of the covering.

The third method involves a sacrifice. A vulnerable structure such as a zinc anode is electrically connected to the primary metal, drawing away corrosive factors and corroding instead of the primary metal. One major use of this method is for storage tanks that hold liquids conducive to corrosion. The obvious drawback here is that the sacrificial structure is sacrificed and must be repaired or replaced.

Other methods are plentiful as well. It is sometimes possible to control the metal’s environment, removing corrosives or adding other substances to counteract their effects. Other times, a current can be run through metal to provide anodic protection so that galvanic corrosion is prevented. In some instances, parts can be made so that they are cheap, expendable and easy to replace, thrown out as corrosion overcomes them. Another option is to simply make the outer structure thicker by adding metal, a solution frequently used in situations where the environment is so corrosive that attempting to prevent it is futile and the additional mass and volume is not a problem. Lastly, there are cases where failure due to corrosion is unavoidable and a short useable life span is accepted as a part of the design.

Overview

Corrosion as a force is an ever present threat to our industries and products. Dealing with it is important. Dealing with it properly is even more important. Given the wide variety of corrosive situations, materials involved, possible solutions and the reality of economic pressures affecting decisions, the widespread use of standards is a necessary safeguard for everybody involved.

Corrosion

2011-07-18T12:17:00.009-04:00

Defined generally as the breakdown of matter due to (electro)chemical interactions with its environment, corrosion affects every metal that humanity uses. These chemical interactions can then alter the physical properties of metal, affecting its reliability in a negative way. As a result, corroded metal can fail, potentially catastrophically.

Far from being the avoidable result of a narrow set of conditions, corrosion occurs readily in most environments. The most telling example of this is rust, the result of iron chemically bonding with oxygen in the presence of water. Since both water and oxygen are present in air, rust is possible whenever iron is in contact with air. In fact, most metals ordinarily undergo corrosion in their natural state. The few that do not react strongly in their natural state, such as gold or silver, are prized primarily for that quality. Because of metal’s natural tendency to corrode, it should always be a consideration when dealing with anything metallic.

Understanding Damage from Corrosion

Essentially, corrosion affects metal by modifying its chemical structure and, as a result, its physical properties. In the real world, this takes on many forms. If the products of corrosion remain attached to the metal, they result in added weight and volume, causing additional strain. If the products flake off of the initial piece of metal, then corrosion is free to continue deeper into the metal, slowly eating away at the whole. Other effects sometimes visible to the naked eye are the formation of cracks, pits or crevices that obviously degrade the metal’s structural integrity. Several other forms of corrosion, most notably hydrogen embrittlement, as well as intergranular and dealloying corrosion, attack the internal, molecular structure of metal without any clear external visible effects, weakening it so that ordinarily acceptable stresses can result in unexpected failure.

Preventing Damage from Corrosion

Because the chemical reactions that comprise corrosion are a result of the innate properties of metals, overcoming them is very difficult. Thus, many methods of dealing with corrosion seek to either redirect corrosive forces or to slow them down to an acceptable rate. Popular methods include covering the metal with a material more resistant to corrosion as a protective shield or placing a metal even more vulnerable to corrosion near the vital structure to draw away corrosive factors. Other methods involve the use of special materials, controlled environments or electrical currents.

What Happens When Corrosion is not Prevented

Corrosion damage can be relatively harmless, such as the rust residue left by the bottom of a can of shaving cream on your sink. Other times, corrosion damage leads to catastrophic failures, such as the collapse of the Silver Bridge, where 46 lives were lost and a major highway was closed. Alternatively, corrosion can compound poor design decisions, such as the Guadalajara sewer explosion, which caused over 200 deaths and left over 2,000 injured and 20,000 homeless.

Aside from the dangers of mechanical failures, corrosion also poses direct biological hazards. When pipes carrying drinking water suffer serious corrosion, potentially dangerous substances can leech into our water supply. On the other end of the scale, surgical implants and instruments have to be especially resilient or they risk harming the health of patients.

Corrosion’s Economic Impact

Because of the reliance of construction on metal and how vulnerable it is to corrosion, numerous studies have been carried out to gauge its financial impact. A lengthy nationwide study (PDF) completed in 2001 estimated that the direct cost of corrosion to the United States in 1998 was 279 Billion dollars, 3.2% of the U.S. GDP. Furthermore, the study said that indirect costs, much more difficult to accurately calculate, were likely to have been even higher, raising the total cost of corrosion to around 6% of the GDP. Some of this cost was found to have been avoidable, where existing technologies, materials, and methods were available to prevent the expense. More than half, however, was deemed unavoidable, a staggering expenditure with no known process for mitigation.

Standards, What They Are and Who Makes Them

Responding to the necessity of dealing with corrosion, several industry-wide organizations have gathered experts and interested parties together, publishing voluntary standards to address these concerns. Benefitting everybody, the use of standards promotes fair competition for producers and safe, reliable products for consumers. Key among standard-developing organizations involved in corrosion control are ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, and NACE International, formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers.

ASTM standards include widely applicable corrosion tests, methods of measurement, data analysis, equipment calibration and information management, ensuring that the results of reliability tests are both accurate and precise. NACE standards include more specific applications, ranging from materials selection in H₂S-containing environments in oil and gas productions (parts 2, 3), or cathodic anti-corrosion measures for prestressed concrete cylinder pipelines or steel water storage tanks, to the installation of thin metallic wallpaper lining in air pollution control equipment. It should however be noted that ASTM and NACE both publish standards detailing procedures from the widely applicable to the niche.

Continuing Forth

Accounting for corrosion plays an immense role in industries touching every aspect of our lives and cannot be taken lightly. Standards published by organizations such as ASTM or NACE represent the sum total of human knowledge when it comes to managing corrosion and serve as an indispensible resource. As such, the widespread use of standards promotes increased reliability and safety, translating into a higher quality of life for all.

ISO 50001 Energy Management

2011-06-14T08:37:00.001-04:00

ISO 50001 provides organizations with a recognized framework for integrating energy performance into their management practices. It gives multinational organizations a single, harmonized standard for implementation across the organization with a logical, consistent methodology for identifying and implementing improvements. The standard is intended to accomplish the following:

Assist organizations in making better use of their existing energy-consuming assets
Create transparency and facilitate communication on the management of energy resources
Promote energy management best practices and reinforce good energy management behaviours
Assist facilities in evaluating and prioritizing the implementation of new energy-efficient technologies
Provide a framework for promoting energy efficiency throughout the supply chain
Facilitate energy management improvements for greenhouse gas emission reduction projects
Allow integration with other organizational management systems such as environmental, and health and safety.

Win the Energy Challenge with ISO 50001 is a whitepaper discussing various aspects of the ISO 50001 energy management standard.

ISO 50001 was developed by ISO project committee ISO/PC 242, Energy management. The secretariat of ISO/PC 242 is provided by the partnership of the ISO members for the USA (ANSI) and Brazil (ABNT).
Experts from the national standards bodies of 44 ISO member countries participated within ISO/PC 242 in the development of ISO 50001, with another 14 countries as observers. The standard also benefitted from the participation of development organizations including UNIDO and the World Energy Council (WEC).

ISO 50001 has been able to draw on numerous national or regional energy management standards, specifications and regulations, including ones developed in China, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, the USA and the European Union.

New Global Initiative Codifies Benchmarks for Operations of Private Military and Security Companies

2011-03-30T14:47:00.001-04:00

ASIS International has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop an ANSI standard that provides principles and requirements for a quality assurance management system for private sector security organizations to abide by and demonstrate accountability to internationally recognized norms of civil and human rights while providing quality assurance in the provision of their products and services. The standard will enable private sector security service providers to demonstrate their operations and services are consistent with the principles of the “Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for States related to Operations of Private Military and Security Companies during Armed Conflict” and the “International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers” (ICoC ). ASIS standards are available from ANSI.

“Private security service providers are critical elements for supporting peace and stability efforts in regions where the capacity of societal institutions have been overwhelmed by disruptive events,” says Dr. Marc Siegel, chair of the PSC.1 technical committee and commissioner, ASIS Global Standards Initiative. “This global initiative will codify benchmarks for best practices consistent with the goals of assuring quality of services and respect for human and civil rights.”

The proposed standard, Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations – Requirements with Guidance (ASIS PSC.1) builds off the Montreux Document and ICoC to assure conformity to pertinent legal obligations and best practices related to operations of private military and security companies in conditions where the rule of law has been undermined by conflict or disaster. It provides auditable requirements based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act model for third-party certification.

ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility

2010-11-04T11:12:00.000-04:00

ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility is now available online. Most standards come into the world after considerable debate. But ISO 26000 is so broad, and social responsibility generally so far reaching, that ISO 26000 has attracted a fair share of attention even prior to its release.

ISO 26000 concerns

Consumer issues
Human rights issues
Labour practices
The environment
Fair operating practices
Community involvement and development

In turn, ISO 26000 breaks down the core subjects of social responsibility into 4 -8 issues each. So for example, the Fair Operating Practices subject is further divided into issues on anti-corruption, responsible political involvement, fair competition, promoting social responsibility in the value chain and respect for property rights.

ISO 26000 provides a guideline for companies to accrue many potential benefits. According to ISO 26000, "The perception and reality of an organization's performance on social responsibility can influence, among other things: its competitive advantage; its reputation; its ability to attract and retain workers or members, customers, clients or users; the maintenance of employees' morale, commitment and productivity; the view of investors, owners, donors, sponsors and the financial community; and its relationship with companies, governments, the media, suppliers, peers, customers and the community in which it operates."

Perhaps the most interesting parts of ISO 26000 are the Related Actions and Expectations sections that appear in every topic because they offer specific, common sense advice relating to each area. For example, an organization should ... "offer consumers socially and environmentally beneficial products and services considering the full life cycle, and reduce adverse impacts on society and the environment by... designing products and packaging so that they can be easily used, reused, repaired or recycled and, if possible, offering or suggesting recycling and disposal services"

Taken as a whole, ISO 26000 is a really interesting document to read. Download ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility from ANSI.

How Does HL7 Work?

2010-10-19T15:19:00.005-04:00

A three minute video explaining how HL7 standards work provides an excellent example of how standards help reduce costs. HL7 standards provide a means for disparate computer systems to communicate clinical and administrative data. Before these standards existed, expensive intergration was needed, without which, these systems could not communicate.

HL7 standards are available from ANSI.

HL7 is an ANSI Accredited Standards Developing Organization. HL7 provides standards for the exchange, management and integration of data that support clinical patient care and the management, delivery and evaluation of healthcare services. A 30 minute course explaining more about HL7 describes why standards are so important, how HL7 standards enable interoperability and how you can get involved.

Wildlife Forensics - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

2010-10-18T14:42:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service operates a forensics lab for crime investigation to support wildlife law enforcement agents at the state, federal and international level. Much like a police forensics lab, the service works to link victim, suspect and physical evidence.

The website has a feather atlas with high resolution scans of the flight feathers of major groups of North American birds. Forensics investigators can use this database to match unknown feathers with the ones identified in the atlas. Where else could you find high resolution scans of the feathers of a Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias?

Take a video tour through the lab to find out more about how the lab employs beetles to clean bones or uses x-rays to examime incoming evidence.

ANSI AGMA 6032 Standard for Marine Gear Units: Rating

2010-07-22T10:33:00.000-04:00

Members of the AGMA Helical Enclosed Drives Marine Units Committee are currently revising ANSI/AGMA 6032-A94 “Standard for Marine Gear Units: Rating and Application for Spur and Helical Gear Teeth”

This committee evaluates the design, rating and application of enclosed drives in which helical gears are the principal form for propulsion and/or ship service generator sets. If you would like to become involved with the valuable work of the AGMA Helical Enclosed Drives Marine Units Technical Committee, email aboutaleb@agma.org or call AGMA Headquarters at (703) 684-0211 for details.

ANSI AGMA 6032-A94 is applicable to marine reduction and reversing gears as follows:

marine propulsion reduction gears driven by internal combustion engines or electric motors from 1500 to 20 000 horsepower (1120 to 14 900kW) per prime mover, when the rotor speeds do not exceed 3600 rpm.
marine propulsion reduction gears driven by steam or gas turbine from 1500 to 30 000 horsepower (1120 to 22 370 kW) per prime mover.
power take--off (PTO) gearing that is integral to the propulsion unit.
auxiliary propulsion gears.
combination of drives listed above.

The fundamental rating formulas are applicable for rating the pitting resistance and bending strength of external spur, helical, or double helical involute gear teeth. The formulas evaluate gear tooth capacity as influenced by the major factors which affect gear tooth pitting and gear tooth fracture.

This standard also addresses bearings, clutches, lubricating oil systems, shafts and certain aspects of vibrations.

HVAC Software -- New Mobile Apps for iPhone

2010-07-09T16:24:00.000-04:00

Carmel Software has developed 12 mobile apps for HVAC calculations that work on the iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices.

HVAC apps for your iPhone

HVAC Quick load takes user input for building type, number of occupants, total area and computes rule of thumb HVAC load requirements for commercial, residential, institutional and industrial buildings. Use the HVAC Duct Sizer application to size an HVAC duct run using the constant friction method. These HVAC apps for your iPhone range in price from $2.99 to $23.99 on the Apple iTunes store.

Textile Standards and the Benefit of an Unmade Bed

2010-07-09T14:45:00.000-04:00

There's a standard for nearly everything. To test this idea, I occasionally use the keyword search function on webstore.ansi.org. The practical importance of the keyword search is to identify standards early when you are researching standards but you don't know exactly what might be available.

Today an article on BBC news entitled Untidy Beds May Keep Us Healthy claims that new research shows that dust mites can't survive long in an unmade bed. So is there a standard dealing with dust mites? JIS L 1920:2007 Testing methods for efficacy against house dust mite of textiles turns up when using a keyword search for "dust mite".

There are 19 standards for "textile testing" from DIN, ISO, BSI, AS, ONORM and the Chinese standards, GB, and nearly 300 international standards for "fabric". There are close to 700 ISO standards for textiles and leather ICS 59 and many hundreds more textile standards from ASTM International.

Two ANSI accredited standards developers cover textile standards. IICRC, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification develops standards in the cleaning, restoration, remediation and inspection industry, primarily involving floor coverings and surfaces of all types, upholstery and fabrics, personal property, and structures. The TCATA, Textile Care Allied Trades Association tackles textile standards development in a related area, safety requirements for commercial laundry and drycleaning equipment.

ASTM International is the administrator of TC38 SC1, SC 24 and SC 20 for ISO activities relating to fabrics and textiles.

Acoustics in Permanent and Modular Classrooms

2010-05-26T08:34:00.005-04:00

Acoustical Society of America announces new national standards for Acoustics in Permanent and Modular Classrooms.

The Acoustical Society of America, headquartered in Melville, NY, announced the publication of a newly revised, two-part standard that addresses classroom acoustics. These documents are also a valuable resource for school boards, school facilities personnel and parents who need to understand the importance of minimizing distracting noise in the classroom and creating an acoustical environment that is conducive to learning.

These standards represent the consensus of opinion among those with a direct expertise and interest in the subject matter. They were drafted by working groups comprised of experts and stakeholders who volunteered their time to the projects. They were approved by ANSI-Accredited Standards Committee S12, Noise, under operating procedures accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a not-for-profit organization that coordinates the development of voluntary consensus standards in the US.

The national standards are now available as a two-part series. The first part, ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010/Part 1, “American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 1: Permanent Schools, is a major revision of ANSI S12.60-2002. The particular issues related to acoustics in relocatable classrooms are addressed in ANSI/ASA S12.60-2009/Part 2, “American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 2: Relocatable Classroom Factors."

Thanks to a unique partnership of industry supporters Armstrong Ceiling Systems, Trane, and Owens Corning, ASA is able to offer both standards for download from the ASA online store at no cost to the user. "Every school official in the country can have these useful resources at hand because cost is not a prohibitive factor," said Dr. Paul D. Schomer, ASA's Standards Director.

These standards and many other national and international standards can be obtained in PDF format from the Acoustical Society of America Online Store . Standards may also be ordered by fax or mail from: Acoustical Society of America, 35 Pinelawn Road, Suite 114E, Melville NY 11747-3177, Phone: 631-390-0215, Fax: 631-390-0217, Email: asastds@aip.org.

ASA offers the full catalog of ISO/TC 108 Mechanical vibration, shock and condition monitoring, ISO/TC 43 Acoustics, ISO/TC 43/SC 1 Noise, and IEC/TC 29 Electroacoustics standards, as well as a wide range of American National Standards on the topics of Acoustics, Mechanical Vibration and Shock, Bioacoustics, and Noise.

The American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI) is the national coordinator of voluntary standards development and the clearinghouse in the USA for information on national and international standards. For more information, visit www.ansi.org.

The Acoustical Society of America is a nonprofit organization founded in 1929. It is the premier international scientific society in acoustics, dedicated to increasing and diffusing the knowledge of acoustics and promoting its practical applications. For more information, visit http://asa.aip.org.

ANSI/ASSE Z117.1 (Confined Spaces)

2010-05-19T09:20:00.002-04:00

The aim of the revised ANSI Z117 standard , Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces, is to provide for the minimum performance requirements necessary in developing and implementing a comprehensive confined space program for the protection of workers. A PDF download comparing versions 1995, 2003 and 2009 is also available in combination with the standard.

The Z117 Standard was developed by ANSI accredited ASSE ASC Z117. According to the Z117 ASC, a review of 200 confined space fatality cases from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) database occurring between 1993 and 2004 confirmed that the distribution of causes had not changed to any significant degree. The committee also noted that approximately 65 percent of incidents with fatalities involved atmospheric contamination and engulfment accounted for less than 10 percent of the identified causes. However, the fatality cases in this sampling do not represent all U.S. confined space incidents resulting in fatalities.

***Scope for ANSI ASSE Z117.1

1.1 Scope. This standard provides minimum safety requirements to be followed while entering, exiting and working in confined spaces at normal atmospheric pressure.

1.2 Exceptions. This standard does not pertain to underground mining, tunneling, caisson work, intentionally inert confined spaces, or other similar tasks that have established national consensus standards.

1.3 Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum requirements and procedures for the safety and health of employees who work in, and in connection with, confined spaces.

Are you working with the latest confined space safety standards?

Additional material for further reading:

ASSE offers safety professionals networking opportunities:

Join Today from jon schwerman on Vimeo.

Free ANSI AIHA Z10 Course for Occupational Health and Safety

2010-02-22T16:16:00.007-05:00

The University of Florida is offering a free course in 11 metro locations that will provide a thorough review of the ANSI AIHA Z10-2005 Standard, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. Depending on the location, courses are from March 2010 through September 2010.

The integration of this standard with international management systems for quality (ISO 9001) and environmental management (ISO 14001) will be addressed. See the ANSI Z10-2005 course agenda for details and locations.

This course has received approval for 1.17 Industrial Hygienist Certification Maintenance Points. Other course approvals are pending.

Download ANSI/AIHA Z10-2005, the American National Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. ANSI AIHA Z10-2005 is a voluntary consensus standard that provides critical management systems requirements and guidelines for improvement of occupational health and safety.

Experts from labor, government, professional organizations and industry formulated this valuable standard after extensive examination of current national and international standards, guidelines and practices.

ANSI Z10 provides the blueprint for widespread benefits in health and safety, as well as in productivity, financial, performance, quality, and other organizational and business objectives.

The seven sections include Management Leadership and Employee Participation, Planning, Implementation and Operation, Evaluation and Corrective Action, Management Review. Appendices address roles and responsibilities, policy statements, assessment and prioritization, audit information, and much more.

Advanced Safety and Health Blog published an article "Is it Time to Revisit ANSI Z10 Occupational Health and Safety System" explaining the standard and claiming that the head of OSHA, David Michaels is an advocate of employers creating a Comprehensive Workplace Safety and Health Program that features management leadership, worker participation, and structure for continual improvement. The author concludes this will rejuvenate interest in ANSI Z10.

Food Labels and Standards

2010-01-14T10:42:00.006-05:00

A previous post on this blog about food standards and Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) discussed a proposed FDA rule for gluten free labeling of food.

Some recent articles by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, CSPI, relate broadly to the topic of food labeling; and in particular, advocate for standardizing food labels in a 158 page draft report, Food Labeling Chaos The Case for Reform.

While not strictly about standards, these other articles from CSPI provide additional background:

CSPI Urges FDA Crackdown on False & Misleading Food Labeling

Nutrition Action Healthletter: What the Label Doesn't Tell You

The ANSI Consumer Interest Forum (CIF) works to facilitate the representation of consumer interests in voluntary standards and conformity assessment activities. Through the CIF, ANSI encourages consumer participation in the development of standards for consumer products and services to identify and meet consumer concerns and needs. Participation in the CIF is open to consumer representatives who are willing to actively participate in its work and who express an interest in membership. Membership in ANSI is not required.

Fall Protection Standards and Construction Safety Standards

2010-01-12T11:33:00.003-05:00

New ANSI Fall Protection Standards: What They Mean to You By Thom Kramer, P.E., CSP, Nolan Miller in OHSonline identifies the ANSI Fall protection standards and gives background information on the development of these important safety standards. You can download individual ASSE ANSI Z359 Fall Protection standards discussed in this article, and a complete collection of Z359 Fall Protection standards which contains all the individual standards in one convenient package.

In addition, ANSI has British Standards for Fall Protection, ASTM, CSA (Canadian), IEEE, DIN, ONORM (Austrian), AS (Australia) and ISO standards for fall safety. The ANSI/ASSE A10 Construction Package is a comprehensive compliation of the individual ANSI/ASSE A10 series of construction safety standards.

The ASSE A10 standards provide the safety requirements for scaffolding, steel erection, safety nets and fall protection. Demolition operation standards address debris net systems, rope-guided and nonguided workers' hoists, commercial explosives and blasting agents, digger derricks, rigging qualifications and hearing loss prevention. The requirements for the safety of the public near construction sites and the health and safety of employees in construction enviroments are also supplied in this package which includes more than 30 construction and demolition standards.

You may also want to read the Analysis of Construction Fatalities - The OSHA Data Base 1985-1989 that analyzes the causes of fatalities. Of the cases that OSHA reviewed in the study, 33% of construction fatalities were from falls from elevation. Fall Protection: Complete OSHA Regulations are available from Amazon in paperback. A representative group of construction safety standards are listed on the ANSI webstore.

Demonstrating the Value of Standards - 2

2010-01-04T11:31:00.001-05:00

A recent article on Concrete Fastening Systems website "Carbide Bits for Concrete Drilling Applications" touches on the value of standards and the confusion in the marketplace arising from non-standard drill bits. According to Michael Pistorino, "Many years ago, different manufacturers of anchors would manufacture anchors and bits to their own tolerances. This meant that carbide bits had to be manufactured and sold by a specific company. Confusion among customers resulted since different anchors were being used with different bits."

A copy of the ANSI B212.15-1994 standard is available free from the CCPA, Cemented Carbide Producers Association, which serves as Technical Advisory Group for ISO/TC 29/SC 9, and is the Secretariat for the American Standards Committee B212. You can learn more about the work of the CCPA technical committees and how to become involved in standards activities.

New American National Standard published: "Quantities and Procedures for Description and Measurement of Underwater Sound from Ships- Part 1: General

2009-12-23T08:14:00.002-05:00

The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) announced the publication of a new, voluntary consensus standard for the measurement of underwater noise from ships. The new standard is known as ANSI/ASA S12.64-2009/Part 1, “American National Standard Quantities and Procedures for Description and Measurement of Underwater Sound from Ships- Part 1: General Requirements”.

It is the first ASC S12 noise standard concerned with underwater sound and it is the first known civilian standard in the world for measuring the underwater sound from ships. The standard details requirements for instrumentation, measurement procedure, and data post-processing necessary to quantify a ship’s underwater radiated noise level referenced to a normalized distance of 1 meter.

S12/Working Group 47 is chaired by Michael Bahtiarian of Noise Control Engineering, Inc., and its membership includes professionals from government, academia and industry from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Australia.

Coeliac Disease and Standards for Determination of Gluten Content

2009-12-22T10:21:00.010-05:00

Proteins in wheat, barley and rye cause an autoimmune response in people with Coeliac Disease.

A. K. Akobeng & A. G. Thomas Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals, Manchester, UK published a study of how much gluten a person with Coeliac Disease can tolerate. The report concluded "The amount of tolerable gluten varies among people with coeliac disease. Although there is no evidence to suggest a single definitive threshold, a daily gluten intake of less than 10 mg is unlikely to cause significant histological abnormalities."

In 1982, the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Nutrition and Food for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) established labeling standards in its Standard for Gluten-Free Foods. These references provide some additional context in the labeling of foods in the US: Proposed Rule: Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods January 23, 2007 Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule January 23, 2007.

Dozens of international standards for the determination of gluten in wheat and wheat flour are available. The International Standards Organization, ISO Technical Committee 34 is responsible for standardization in the field of human and animal foodstuffs. ISO/TC 34 Food Products Subcommittee SC4 is concerned with Cereals and Pulses.

100 Q&A About Celiac Disease and Sprue: A Lahey Clinic Guide (100 Questions & Answers About) paperback available from Amazon.

Long Island Press Gluten Free: Millions Have Celiac, Few Diagnosed The disease that has many sick Americans going against the grain By Jaclyn Gallucci on Apr 15th, 2010s

ANSI/NEMA MW 1000-2008, Revision 1-2009 Magnet Wire

2009-12-17T16:31:00.004-05:00

ANSI/NEMA MW 1000-2008, Revision 1-2009 Magnet Wire. MW 1000, is available from ANSI. NEMA MW 1000 provides general requirements, product specifications, and test procedures for magnet wire. This revision updates MW 1000-2008, which was published in March 2009. According to NEMA the revised publication features significant updates, including:

Substantive changes to several test procedures in order to better define the equipment, materials, or test conditions that these procedures specify.
Amended tests include the bond strength test procedure, the transformer oil resistance and hydrolytic stability test, and the high voltage continuity test
New Appendix E, “General Rules for Rectangular Wire Dimensions”
New definitions
Reorganized table of requirements for bare rectangular wire
Updated requirements and specifications

Feeds of new NEMA standards are an easy way to stay up to date with changes to standards that you rely on.

Demonstrating the Value of Standards

2009-12-17T15:34:00.001-05:00

There were two articles in the news recently that illustrate the value of standards. Being standards people and consumers we understand the issue of compatability when our wall chargers are for 110 volt outlets and we are traveling outside the US or when we have a closet full of phone chargers and power supplies with different output voltages and a bewildering assortment of plugs and connectors.

One article shows how important standards are in assuring consumer satisfaction and the other shows that a proprietary standard led to a costly retrofit and a cybersecurity breach. One other point raised by the first article is that without standards, and voluntary compliance, the government can and does step in and occasionally makes laws when an industry doesn't govern its own behavior.

So for your reading enjoyment: US Moves to Ban Excessively Noisy TV Advertisements; and a matter of far more than inconvenience, Insurgents Hack US Drones pointing out that encrypting the video feeds was more difficult because [the drones'] "communications technology is proprietary, so widely used encryption systems aren't readily compatible, said people familiar with the matter."

Proposed TAG to ISO/TC 227 Springs

2009-11-11T13:15:00.002-05:00

The Spring Manufacturing Institute (SMI), a new full ANSI Organizational Member, has submitted an Application for Accreditation for a proposed U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO/TC 227, Springs, and a request for approval as TAG Administrator. The proposed TAG intends to operate using the Model Operating Procedures for U.S. Technical Advisory Groups to ANSI for ISO Activities as contained in Annex A of the ANSI International Procedures.

For additional information, or to offer comments, please contact: Ms. Lynne A. Carr, General Manager, Spring Manufacturing Institute, 2001 Midwest Road #106, Oak Brook, IL 60523; phone: 630.495.8588; fax: 630.495.8595; Email: lynne@smihq.org (please copy PSA@ANSI.org). Comment Deadline: December 14, 2009

ECCMA Offers Free Data Quality White Paper Downloads

2009-10-27T11:06:00.005-04:00

ECCMA is offering two free white papers addressing data quality and the ISO / TC 8000 master data quality standards.

Download Data Portability, The Antidote to Data Lock-In and There is No Transparency Without Data.

I've also gathered some books you may need from Amazon about data quality.

ISO 8000-110:2008 MQDM Certification Course

2009-10-27T10:45:00.004-04:00

Did you register for ISO 8000-110:2008 MQDM Certification Course ? Peter Benson, Executive Director and Chief Technical Officer of the Electronic Commerce Code Management Association (ECCMA) will present the course Tues. October 27, 2009 10:00am - 3:00pm in Bethlehem, PA

Who Should Attend?

Data Quality managers responsible for the quality of SAP, Oracle or other ERP vendor, item or service masters to include the development of short and long descriptions
Maintenance planners and plant managers as well as their commodity managers· Purchasing personnel responsible for sourcing and contracts
Content managers responsible for developing buy or sell side catalogs
Designers managing parts standardization programs· IT managers responsible for data integration and data portability
IT managers responsible for data warehousing and long term data preservation

Download ISO/TS 8000 Master Data Quality standards from ANSI.

ANSI ASSE Fall Protection Standards

2009-09-17T10:33:00.007-04:00

Three new ANSI ASSE fall protection standards are available along with additional information

Download ANSI/ASSE Z359.6-2009 “Specification and Design Requirements for Active Fall Protection Systems"

Download ANSI/ASSE Z359.12-2009“Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest Systems”

Download ANSI/ASSE Z359.13-2009 “Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards”

ANSI/ASSE Z359 ASC (Accredited Standards Committee) for Fall Arrest/Protection is also working on 10 additional Z359 standards projects aimed at protecting workers from falls. The link to the committee provides additional information and resources on fall protection. Participating on the Z359 Committee is a great way to get involved in standards.

Amazon offers a wide range of books, articles and OSHA regulations about fall protection.

ANSI Guide to PDF Standards - Standards for Portable Document Format

2009-09-16T11:33:00.007-04:00

I found an interesting article about the history of PDF and the AIIM PDF Standards Wiki then did some further research on the standards that pertain to the PDF format and looked up the Adobe Acrobat Developer site so that people working in this area could have a good resource.

ANSI CGATS/ISO 15930-1-2004

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange - Use of PDF - Part 1:
Complete exchange using CMYK data (PDF/X-1 and PDF/X-1a)

This part of CGATS/ISO 15930 specifies the methods for the use of the
Portable Document Format (PDF) for the dissemination of compound CMYK digital data, in a single exchange, that is complete and ready for final print reproduction.

ANSI CGATS/ISO 15930-3-2004 (R2007)

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange - Use of PDF - Part 3:
Complete exchange suitable for colormanaged workflows (PPF/X-3)

This part of CGATS/ISO 15930 specifies the use of the Portable Document
Format (PDF) for the dissemination of complete digital data, in a single
exchange, that contains all elements necessary for final print reproduction.
These exchanges will support both colour-managed workflows and traditional CMYK workflows.

ANSI CGATS/ISO 15930-5-2004

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 5:
Partial exchange of printing data using PDF 1.4 (PDF/X-2)

This part of ISO 15930 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format
(PDF) Version 1.4 for the dissemination of digital data, where all elements
necessary for final print reproduction are either included or provision is made
for unique identification. Colour-managed, CMYK, and spot colour data are
supported in any combination.

ANSI/CGATS/ISO 15930-7-2008

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 7:
Complete exchange of printing data (PDF/X-4) and partial exchange of printing data with external profile reference (PDF/X-4p) using PDF 1.6

This part of ISO 15930 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format
(PDF) Version 1.6 for the dissemination of digital data intended for print
reproduction. PDF/X-4 files contain all elements necessary for final print
reproduction; PDF/X-4p files provide for unambiguous identification of an
externally supplied ICC profile for the characterized printing condition for
which they are prepared.

ANSI/CGATS/ISO 15930-8-2008

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 8:
Partial exchange of printing data using PDF 1.6 (PDF/X-5)

This part of ISO 15930 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format
(PDF) Version 1.6 for the dissemination of digital data intended for print,
where all elements necessary for final print reproduction are either included or
provision is made for unique identification of externally supplied graphical
content or n-colorant ICC profiles.

CGATS/ISO 15930-4:2004 (R2009) (Identical to ISO 15930-4:2003)

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 4:
Complete exchange of CMYK and spot colour printing data using PDF 1.4 (PDF/X-1a)

Specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF) Version 1.4 for the
dissemination of complete digital data, in a single exchange, that contains all
elements ready for final print reproduction. CMYK and spot-colour data are
supported in any combination.

CGATS/ISO 15930-6:2004 (R2009) (Identical to ISO 15930-6:2003)

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 6:
Complete exchange printing data suitable for colour-manage workflows using PDF 1.4 (PDF/X-3)

Specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF) Version 1.4 for the
dissemination of complete digital data, in a single exchange, that contains all
elements ready for final print reproduction. Colour-managed, CMYK, gray, RGB or spot colour data are supported.

ISO 15930-1:2001

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange - Use of PDF - Part 1:
Complete exchange using CMYK data (PDF/X-1 and PDF/X-1a)

This part of ISO 15930 specifies the methods for the use of the Portable
Document Format (PDF) for the dissemination of compound CMYK digital data, in a single exchange, that is complete and ready for final print reproduction.

ISO 15930-3:2002

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange - Use of PDF - Part 3:
Complete exchange suitable for colour-managed workflows (PDF/X-3)

ISO 15930-3:2002 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF) for
the dissemination of complete digital data, in a single exchange, that contains
all elements necessary for final print reproduction. These exchanges will
support both colour-managed workflows and traditional CMYK workflows.

ISO 15930-4:2003

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 4:
Complete exchange of CMYK and spot colour printing data using PDF 1.4 (PDF/X-1a)

ISO 15930-4:2003 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF)
Version 1.4 for the dissemination of complete digital data, in a single exchange
that contains all elements ready for final print reproduction. CMYK and spot-colour data are supported in any combination.

ISO 15930-5:2003

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 5:
Partial exchange of printing data using PDF 1.4 (PDF/X-2)

ISO 15930-5:2003 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF)
Version 1.4 for the dissemination of digital data, where all elements necessary
for final print reproduction are either included or provision is made for unique
identification. Colour-managed, CMYK, and spot colour data are supported in any combination.

ISO 15930-6:2003

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 6:
Complete exchange of printing data suitable for colour-managed workflows using PDF 1.4 (PDF/X-3)

ISO 15930-6:2003 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF)
Version 1.4 for the dissemination of complete digital data, in a single exchange
that contains all elements necessary for final print reproduction. Colour-managed, CMYK, Gray, RGB or spot colour data are supported.

ISO 15930-7:2008

ISO 15930-7:2008 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF)
Version 1.6 for the dissemination of digital data intended for print
reproduction. Where all elements necessary for final print reproduction are
contained within the file it is designated as PDF/X-4. If a required ICC profile
is externally supplied and unambiguously identified, it is designated as
PDF/X-4p.

Colour-managed, CMYK, gray, RGB or spot colour data are supported, as are PDF transparency and optional content. Files can be prepared for use with gray, RGB and CMYK printing characterizations.

ISO 15930-8:2008

Graphic technology - Prepress digital data exchange using PDF - Part 8: Partial
exchange of printing data using PDF 1.6 (PDF/X-5)

ISO 15930-8:2008 specifies the use of the portable document format (PDF)
version 1.6 for the dissemination of digital data intended for print, where all
elements necessary for final print reproduction are either included or provision
is made for unique identification of externally supplied graphical content or
n-colorant ICC profiles.

Colour-managed, CMYK, gray, RGB or spot colour data are supported in any
combination; as are PDF transparency and optional content. Files can be prepared for use with gray, RGB, CMYK and n-colorant printing characterizations.

ISO 19005-1/Cor1:2007

Corrigendum

ISO 19005-1:2005

Document management - Electronic document file format for long-term preservation - Part 1: Use of PDF 1.4 (PDF/A-1)

ISO 19005-1:2005 specifies how to use the Portable Document Format (PDF) 1.4 for long-term preservation of electronic documents. It is applicable to documents containing combinations of character, raster and vector data.

ISO 24517-1:2008

Document management - Engineering document format using PDF - Part 1: Use of PDF 1.6 (PDF/E-1)

ISO 24517-:2008 specifies the use of the Portable Document Format (PDF) Version 1.6 for the creation of documents used in engineering workflows. ISO 24517-:2008 does not define the following:

method of electronic distribution;
method of creation or conversion from paper or electronic documents to the PDF/E format;
specific technical design, user interface, or implementation;
required computer hardware and/operating systems; or
methods for validating the conformance of PDF/E files or readers.

ISO 32000-1:2008

Document management -- Portable document format -- Part 1: PDF 1.7

ISO 32000-1:2008 specifies a digital form for representing electronic documents to enable users to exchange and view electronic documents independent of the environment in which they were created or the environment in which they are viewed or printed. It is intended for the developer of software that creates PDF files (conforming writers), software that reads existing PDF files and interprets their contents for display and interaction (conforming readers) and PDF products that read and/or write PDF files for a variety of other purposes (conforming products).

ISO 32000-1:2008 does not specify the following: specific processes for
converting paper or electronic documents to the PDF format; specific technical
design, user interface or implementation or operational details of rendering;
specific physical methods of storing these documents such as media and storage conditions; methods for validating the conformance of PDF files or readers; required computer hardware and/or operating system.

Participate in Data Quality Standards Development

2009-08-18T10:23:00.007-04:00

ISO TC 184/SC 4, the ISO committee responsible for the development of ISO 8000 data quality has started the review of a new part of the standard that deals specifically with master data quality governance and it is vital that there is input from US domain experts. I would like to encourage you to join the US Technical Advisors Group (US TAG) and to participate in the development of this important new international standard.

The full ISO TC 184/SC 4 committee meets in-person twice a year for a week traditionally once in the US and once overseas (the next meeting is in Rotterdam from November 8 -13 2009). The ISO working group for ISO 8000 also has weekly telephone conferences on Tuesdays from 8:00 am EST to 9:00 am EST led by the editor Dr. Gerry Radack. Members of the US TAG have member access to the SC4 on-line web site which contains the repository of the committee’s work products and reference documents as well as a special wiki devoted to ISO 8000. As a member you should also consider subscribing to the ISO 8000 and WG13 email exploders. Members of the US TAG are encouraged to participate in the twice a year in-person SC4 meetings as members of the US delegation, to participate in the ISO 8000 working group weekly conference calls and to participate in the ballot process.

As in all standards development there is a lot of reading with short bursts of activity and it pays to keep at least one eye on the ball. You do not need to attend all in- person meetings or all telephone conferences or even read all the emails but participation in international standards development does require some level of personal commitment and support from your organization. The benefits are an in depth understanding of the standard and the ability to influence its development. Typically participants are from organizations that expect to benefit from the standard or expect to be impacted by the standard, either way they expect early awareness and depth of knowledge to yield a competitive advantage.

There is a membership fee of $1,000 per year per organization to be a member of the US technical Advisory Group (TAG) however as the renewal is in January, I believe that membership may be prorated.

I do hope you will join the US TAG and participate in the development of this important work and if not you then please feel forward this post to others that you believe have a direct interest in the US position on standards for data quality (we need to ensure the healthcare community gets involved). There is a Korean committee draft out for comment that needs urgent review by the US TAG.

Contributed by Peter R. Benson
Executive Director and Chief Technical Officer
Electronic Commerce Code Management Association (ECCMA)
Project leader for ISO 22745 (technical dictionaries) and ISO 8000 (data quality)

For further information on ISO TC 184/SC4 Industrial data

TAG Administrator: Electronic Commerce Code Management Association
Sheron Koshy
2980 Linden St., Suite E2
Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: 610-861-5990
Fax: 610-861-5992
E-Mail: koshy@eccma.org

ANSI Staff Contact: Henrietta Scully
Phone: 212.642.4946
E-Mail: hscully@ansi.org

ISO/TC 238 Solid Biofuels Committee Convenes Oct 14-16, 2009

2009-08-18T09:32:00.005-04:00

Immediately following BIOENERGY ENGINEERING 2009, ISO Technical Committee 238, Solid Biofuels, will hold its second international plenary meeting and associated working group meetings at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bellevue, Washington. The committee will convene October 14-16. ISO/TC 238 develops international standards that will guide international trade in solid biofuels and currently comprises representation from nearly 30 countries. Presently the committee is evaluating available national and regional standards as the basis documents for future international standards projects. The EU alone has developed 27 biofuels standards that will be considered at the meetings. The ISO working group sessions and plenary meeting are open to all persons having an interest in the biofuels industry.

Further information on ISO TC 238 Solid Biofuels

TAG Administrator: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Scott Cedarquist
2950 Niles Road
St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659
Phone: 269-429-0300 Ext 331
Fax: 269-429-3852
E-Mail: cedarq@asabe.org

ANSI Staff Contact: Henrietta Scully
Phone: 212.642.4946
E-Mail: hscully@ansi.org

Assistive Device Standards for Wheelchairs

2009-08-12T10:43:00.003-04:00

Today I discovered RESNA, Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America. RESNA members promote the exchange of ideas and information for the advancement of assistive technology.

RESNA develops standards for assistive devices in the following areas: wheelchairs (including scooters), wheelchairs and transportation, wheelchair seating, support surfaces, vision and hearing impairments, adaptive sports equipment. A long list of standards covering these technologies is on the RESNA website. That list is reproduced here but ammended with descriptions and links to download the standards.

ISO 7176-1:1999 Wheelchairs -- Part 1: Determination of static stability
This part of ISO 7176 specifies the test methods for determining the static tipping stability of wheelchairs, including scooters. This part of ISO 7176 is applicable to wheelchairs and vehicles that are included in the 12.21 series described in ISO 9999 and are intended to provide indoor and outdoor mobility for people with disabilities whose mass does not exceed the maximum mass of the test dummy given in ISO 7176-11.

ISO 7176-2:2001 Wheelchairs -- Part 2: Determination of dynamic stability of electric wheelchairs
This part of ISO 7176 specifies test methods for determining the dynamic stability of electrically powered wheelchairs.
This part of ISO 7176 is applicable to electrically powered wheelchairs including scooters with a maximum nominal speed not exceeding 15 km/h, intended to carry one person.

ISO 7176-3:2003 Wheelchairs - Part 3: Determination of effectiveness of brakes
ISO 7176-3:2003 specifies test methods and disclosure requirements for the effectiveness of brakes of manual wheelchairs and electrically powered wheelchairs, including scooters, intended to carry one person, with a maximum speed not exceeding 15 km/h.

ISO 7176-4:2008 Wheelchairs - Part 4: Energy consumption of electric wheelchairs and scooters for determination of theoretical distance range
ISO 7176-4:2008 specifies methods for determining theoretical distance range of electrically powered wheelchairs, including scooters, using measurements of energy consumed while driving and the nominal energy capacity of the wheelchair's battery set. It is applicable to electrically powered wheelchairs with a maximum nominal speed no greater than 15 km/h, intended to provide indoor and/or outdoor mobility for one disabled person whose mass is within the range represented by ISO 7176-11. ISO 7176-4:2008 also includes requirements for test reports and information disclosure.

ISO 7176-5:2008 Wheelchairs - Part 5: Determination of dimensions, mass and manoeuvring space
ISO 7176-5:2007 specifies methods for the determination of wheelchair dimensions and mass.
This includes specific methods for the determination of outside dimensions when the wheelchair is occupied by a reference occupant and the required manoeuvring space needed for wheelchair manoeuvres commonly carried out in daily life.
ISO 7176-5:2007 specifies requirements for the disclosure of the dimensions and masses and contains five informative annexes.
Annex A specifies methods for the determination of technical dimensions that can be important to the performance of the wheelchair.
Annex B provides detailed information about pivot width and reversing width.
Annex C provides detailed information about the turning diameter.
Annex D provides details on determining the wheelchair longitudinal axis and wheelchair centre-point.
Annex E provides technical guidelines and interpretation for many of the measurements specified to facilitate improved understanding, design and construction of wheelchairs.
ISO 7176-5:2007 is applicable to manual wheelchairs and electrically powered wheelchairs (including scooters).

ISO 7176-6:2001 Wheelchairs - Part 6: Determination of maximum speed, acceleration and deceleration of electric wheelchairs
This part of ISO 7176 specifies test methods for determining the maximum speed, acceleration and deceleration of electrically powered wheelchairs, including scooters, intended to carry one person, with a maximum nominal speed not exceeding 15 km/h (4,167 m/s).

ISO 7176-7:1998 Wheelchairs -- Part 7: Measurement of seating and wheel dimensions
This part of ISO 7176 specifies a method for measuring the seating and wheel dimensions of wheelchairs.
It is applicable to wheelchairs and vehicles intended to provide indoor and outdoor mobility at speed up to 15 km/h for people with disabilities whose mass does not exceed 120 kg, including the following classifications from ISO 9999:1992:

Electric motor-driven wheelchairs with manual steering 12 21 24
Electric motor-driven wheelchairs with power steering 12 21 27
Powered attendant-controlled wheelchairs 12 21 21
Manual attendant-controlled wheelchairs 12 21 03
Bimanual rear-wheel-driven wheelchairs 12 21 06
Bimanual front-wheel-driven wheelchairs 12 21 09
Bimanual lever-driven wheelchairs 12 21 12
Single-side-driven nonpowered wheelchairs driven by one arm or one leg 12 21 15
Foot-propelled wheelchairs 12 21 18

It does not apply to wheelchairs with a seat width of less than 212 mm.
This part of ISO 7176 does not specify nominal seating and wheel dimensions for wheelchairs.

ISO 7176-8:1998 Wheelchairs -- Part 8: Requirements and test methods for static, impact and fatigue strengths
This part of ISO 7176 specifies requirements for static, impact and fatigue strength of wheelchairs including scooters intended for users whose mass does not exceed 100 kg. It specifies the test methods for determining whether the requirements have been met. It also specifies requirements for disclosure of the test results.
The test methods may also be used to verify manufacturers' claims that a product exceeds the minimum requirements of this part of ISO 7176.
A reference configuration is specified for adjustable wheelchairs and scooters to enable test results to be used for the comparison of performance.
It applies to occupant- and attendant-propelled manual wheelchairs and electrically powered wheelchairs intended to provide indoor and outdoor mobility for people with disabilities. For electrically powered wheelchairs, it applies to those with a maximum speed of not more than 15 km/h where not more than two wheels are driven and which have three or more wheels located on two parallel, transverse axes.
The application of this part of ISO 7176 is limited to wheelchairs with a maximum occupant mass of 100 kg because this is the maximum mass of test dummy available in ISO 7176-11. Further work is needed to investigate the effects of the lifestyle of people with larger body masses.

ISO 7176-9:2001 Wheelchairs - Part 9: Climatic tests for electric wheelchairs
This part of ISO 7176 specifies requirements and test methods to determine the effects of rain and condensation and the effects of changes of temperature on the basic functioning of electrically powered wheelchairs, including scooters, intended to carry one person, with a maximum speed not exceeding 15 km/h.
This part of ISO 7176 does not include requirements for resistance to corrosion.

ISO 7176-10:2008 Wheelchairs - Part 10: Determination of obstacle-climbing ability of electrically powered wheelchairs
ISO 7176-10:2008 specifies test methods for determining the ability to climb and descend obstacles of electrically powered wheelchairs, including scooters, intended to carry one person, with a maximum nominal speed not exceeding 15 km/h.

ISO 7176-11:1992 Wheelchairs -- Part 11: Test dummies
Specifies the construction of test dummies with nominal masses of 25 kg, 50 kg, 75 kg and 100 kg, intended for use as specified in other parts of ISO 7176. The test dummies are so designed that their centres of gravity with respect to a wheelchair under test are located at approximately the same positions as those of an average human being of the same mass seated in the wheelchair.

ISO 7176-13:1989 Wheelchairs -- Part 13: Determination of coefficient of friction of test surfaces
The test method consists in drawing a given block with definite speed over the test surface of in general rough structure. The bottom side of the block is covered with a layer of standard rubber to get comparable results.

ISO 7176-14:2008 Wheelchairs - Part 14: Power and control systems for electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters - Requirements and test methods
ISO 7176-14:2008 specifies requirements and associated test methods for the power and control systems of electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters. It sets safety and performance requirements that apply during normal use and some conditions of abuse and failure. It also specifies methods of measurement of the forces necessary to operate controls and sets limits on the forces needed for some operations.
ISO 7176-14:2008 is applicable to electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters with a maximum speed no greater than 15 km/h intended to provide indoor and/or outdoor mobility for one disabled person whose mass lies in the range specified in ISO 7176-11.

ISO 7176-15:1996 Wheelchairs -- Part 15: Requirements for information disclosure, documentation and labelling
Specifies the information, documentation and labelling to be provided with a wheelchair at the supply by the manufacturer.

ISO 7176-16:1997 Wheelchairs - Part 16: Resistance to ignition of upholstered parts - Requirements and test methods
This part of ISO 7176 specifies requirements and methods of test to assess the resistance to ignition by cigarette and match of the materials used in wheelchair upholstered parts.
The tests measure only the resistance to ignition by cigarette and match of the materials tested and not the ignitability of the finished wheelchair. They give an indication of, but cannot guarantee, the ignition behaviour of the finished wheelchair.

ISO 7176-19:2008 Wheelchairs - Part 19: Wheeled mobility devices for use as seats in motor vehicles
ISO 7176-19:2008 applies to all manual and powered wheelchairs, including scooters, which, in addition to their primary function as wheeled mobility devices, are also likely to be used as forward-facing seats in motor vehicles by children and adults with a body mass equal to or greater than 22 kg. ISO 7176-19:2008 specifies wheelchair design requirements, performance requirements and associated test methods, and requirements for wheelchair labelling, presale literature, user instructions and user warnings. It applies to complete wheelchairs, including a base frame and seating system, as well as to wheelchairs equipped with add-on adaptive components designed to facilitate compliance with one or more of the requirements.

ISO 7176-21:2009 Wheelchairs - Part 21: Requirements and test methods for electromagnetic compatibility of electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters, and battery chargers
ISO 7176-21:2009 specifies requirements and test methods for electromagnetic emissions and for electromagnetic immunity of electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters with a maximum speed of not more than 15 km/h intended for indoor and/or outdoor use by people with disabilities. It is also applicable to manual wheelchairs with an add-on power kit. It is not applicable to vehicles designed to carry more than one person.
ISO 7176-21:2009 also specifies requirements and test methods for the electromagnetic compatibility of battery chargers intended for use with electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters.

ISO 7176-22:2000 Wheelchairs -- Part 22: Set-up procedures
This part of ISO 7176 specifies a set-up procedure to be used in the preparation of adjustable wheelchairs for testing in accordance with the ISO 7176 series. This procedure gives methods to be used where there are no manufacturers' instructions for setting the wheelchair adjustments.
This part of ISO 7176 is applicable to manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs (including scooters) intended to provide indoor and/or outdoor mobility.
Other parts of ISO 7176 may give specific requirements for the adjustment of the wheelchair. In such cases, that individual part of ISO 7176 takes precedence over this part of ISO 7176.

ISO 7176-23:2002 Wheelchairs - Part 23: Requirements and test methods for attendant-operated stair-climbing devices
This part of ISO 7176 specifies requirements and test methods for electrically propelled stair-climbing devices and stair-climbing wheelchair carriers operated by an attendant. It also includes ergonomic, safety labelling and disclosure requirements.
This part of ISO 7176 is applicable to stair-climbing devices for which the attendant walks directly behind the device and where the device is driven backwards when ascending stairs.

ISO 7176-24:2004 Wheelchairs - Part 24: Requirements and test methods for user-operated stair-climbing devices
ISO 7176-24:2004 is applicable to user-operated stair-climbing chairs and user-operated stair-climbing wheelchair carriers where the stair-climbing device climbs backwards up the stairs, with the user facing downstairs, and climbs down the stairs in a forward position with the user facing downstairs.
ISO 7176-24:2004 specifies requirements and test methods for electrically powered stair-climbing devices that are user-operated. It also includes ergonomic, labelling and disclosure requirements.
ISO 7176-24:2004 specifies tests to demonstrate the stair-climbing device's ability to perform safely on stairs with a pitch of 35°, or higher if claimed by the manufacturer.

ISO 7176-26:2007 Wheelchairs - Part 26: Vocabulary
ISO 7176-26:2007 specifies a vocabulary consisting of terms and definitions used in the field of manual and electrically powered wheelchairs (including scooters) and associated seating systems.
ISO 7176-26:2007 includes, but is not limited to, the preferred terms used in two or more ISO standards of the ISO 7176, ISO 10542 and ISO 16840 series, but does not include terms considered to be adequately defined in everyday English.

ISO 16840-1:2006 Wheelchair seating - Part 1: Vocabulary, reference axis convention and measures for body segments, posture and postural support surfaces
ISO 16840-1:2006 applies to seating intended to provide postural support within a wheelchair. It specifies:

a global coordinate system that permits the determination and recording of a person's posture while seated in a wheelchair;
the standard terms and definitions for use in describing both the posture and the anthropometrics of a person seated in a wheelchair;
the terms and definitions for describing the dimensions, location and orientation of seating support surfaces, which together comprise the body support system.

ISO 16840-1:2006 does not specify any methods for use in measuring a person's seated posture, nor does it define terms for dynamic physiological movements (such as flexion or extension).
ISO 16840-1:2006 might be applicable to seating other than that intended to be used within a wheelchair.

ISO 16840-2:2007 Wheelchair seating - Part 2: Determination of physical and mechanical characteristics of devices intended to manage tissue integrity - Seat cushions
ISO 16840-2:2007 specifies apparatus, test methods and disclosure requirements for wheelchair seat cushions intended to maintain tissue integrity and prevent tissue trauma. It does not include test methods or requirements for determining the fire resistance of cushions and addresses neither the interface pressure distributing characteristics of seat cushions nor the heat and water vapour dissipation characteristics of seat cushions.
ISO 16840-2:2007 can also be applicable to tissue integrity management devices used as other support systems, as well as to cushions used in situations other than a wheelchair.

ISO 16840-3:2006 Wheelchair seating - Part 3: Determination of static, impact and repetitive load strengths for postural support devices
ISO 16840-3:2006 specifies test methods for the determination of static, impact and repetitive load strengths as well as disclosure requirements for postural support devices (PSD) with associated attachment hardware intended for use with wheelchairs.
ISO 16840-3:2006 does not test the transportability and the use of the PSD in a motor vehicle.
NOTE At the present time there are no minimum or maximum strength requirements specified in the test procedures for testing for PSDs. In the future, minimum or maximum loads for testing might be specified for testing on a pass/fail basis. The maximum displacement, the maximum force achieved before failure and the type of failure that occurs is disclosed for comparison purposes.

ISO 16840-4:2009 Wheelchair seating - Part 4: Seating systems for use in motor vehicles
ISO 16840-4:2009 specifies test methods and requirements for design and performance, for instructions and warnings and for product marking and labelling of seating systems intended to be used as a forward-facing seat in a motor vehicle when fitted to a manual or powered wheelchair. It evaluates the frontal crashworthiness performance of complete seating systems for occupancy by adults or children of mass equal to or greater than 22 kg.
ISO 16840-4:2009 only applies to complete wheelchair seating systems including attachment hardware, designed to be used with a wheelchair base tested as part of a wheelchair system that conforms to ISO 7176-19 performance requirements and that has securement points for use with four-point, strap-type tiedowns.
ISO 16840-4:2009 applies to seating systems designed to be used with occupant restraints that anchor either to the vehicle, the tiedown system, the seating system or the wheelchair base.

ISO 10542-1:2001 Technical systems and aids for disabled or handicapped persons - Wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems - Part 1: Requirements and test methods for all systems
This part of ISO 10542 specifies test methods and requirements for design and performance, for instructions and warnings to installers and users, and for product marking and labelling for wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems (WTORS). It applies to all WTORS that use belt-type occupant restraints that are intended for adult-occupied wheelchairs used as forward-facing seats by passengers and drivers of motor vehicles.
This part of ISO 10542 applies primarily to complete WTORS, but other parts of ISO 10542 can also be applied to components and subassemblies sold separately and for replacement parts.
This part of ISO 10542 applies to WTORS intended for use with all types of manual and powered wheelchairs intended for use by adults, including three- and four-wheeled scooters.

ISO 10542-2:2001 Technical systems and aids for disabled or handicapped persons - Wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems - Part 2: Four-point strap-type tiedown systems
This part of ISO 10542 specifies test methods and requirements for design and performance, for instructions and warnings to installers and users, and for product marking and labelling for wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems (WTORS).
It applies only to WTORS that use belt-type occupant restraints and four-point strap-type wheelchair tiedowns that are intended for adult-occupied wheelchairs used as forward-facing seats by passengers and drivers of motor vehicles.
This part of ISO 10542 applies primarily to complete WTORS, but other parts of ISO 10542 can also be applied to components and subassemblies sold separately and as replacement parts.
This part of ISO 10542 applies to WTORS intended for use with all types of manual and powered wheelchairs intended for use by adults, including three- and four-wheeled scooters.

ISO 10542-3:2005 Technical systems and aids for disabled or handicapped persons - Wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems - Part 3: Docking-type tiedown systems
ISO 10542-3:2005 specifies design and performance requirements and recommendations, instructions and warnings for both installers and users, and product marking and labelling, for wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems (WTORS) that use a docking-type wheelchair tiedown. It specifies the universal docking interface geometry (UDIG) and a method of testing wheelchair movement. It is applicable to docking-type wheelchair tiedown devices intended for securing all types of manual and powered forward-facing wheelchairs, including scooters with three or more wheels, used by adult passengers and drivers of motor vehicles. Although ISO 10542-3 has been conceived primarily for use with complete WTORS, certain of its aspects can also be applied to components and subassemblies sold separately and for replacement parts.

ISO 10542-4:2004 Technical systems and aids for disabled or handicapped persons - Wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems - Part 4: Clamp-type tiedown systems
ISO 10542-4:2004 specifies test methods and requirements for design and performance, instructions to installers and users, and product marking and labelling of wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems (WTORS).
It is applicable only to WTORS that use clamp-type tiedown to secure wheelchairs when used as a forward-facing seat by an adult passenger or driver of a motor vehicle.
ISO 10542-4:2004 is applicable primarily to complete WTORS, but a portion of ISO 10542-4:2004 can also be applied to components and sub-assemblies sold separately and for replacement parts.
ISO 10542-4:2004 is applicable to WTORS intended for use with all types of manual and powered wheelchairs, including scooters with three or more wheels.

ISO 10542-5:2004 Technical systems and aids for disabled or handicapped persons - Wheelchair tiedown and occupant-restraint systems - Part 5: Systems for specific wheelchairs
ISO 10542-5:2004 specifies test methods as well as requirements for design and performance, for instructions and warnings to installers and users, and for product marking and labelling of wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint systems (WTORS).
It applies only to WTORS that are intended to be used with particular makes and models of wheelchairs when used as a forward-facing seat by a passenger or a driver of a motor vehicle.
ISO 10542-5:2004 applies to WTORS intended for use with manual or powered wheelchairs, including scooters with three or more wheels, intended for use by children or adults of mass equal to or greater than 22 kg.
ISO 10542-5:2004 applies primarily to complete WTORS, but parts of this International Standard can also be applied to components and sub-assemblies sold separately and for replacement parts.

ISO 23600:2007 Assistive products for persons with vision impairments and persons with vision and hearing impairments - Acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights
ISO 23600:2007 specifies requirements for acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights to assist in safe and independent mobility of persons with vision impairments and persons with vision and hearing impairments.
It is applicable to design, installation and operation of acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights.

Related: Walking Aids and Assistive Products

Listen to NEMA Podcasts

2009-08-07T14:11:00.002-04:00

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AGMA Software Calculates Gear Tolerances

2009-08-03T10:19:00.004-04:00

Download software from AGMA for calculating ANSI/AGMA ISO 17485-A08 gear tolerances. Download ANSI/AGMA ISO 17485-A08 Bevel Gears ISO System of Accuracy standard from ANSI.

The AGMA software uses basic gear geometry as inputs and displays all the tolerances based on gear geometry and grade.

An International Wind Turbine Gearbox Standard

2009-07-30T10:04:00.003-04:00

Gear Technology published "An International Wind Turbine Gearbox Standard" in the July issue which is interesting from the perspective of how the international standards process works to improve reliability. I talked this morning with the author, Bill Bradley, former Vice President of the AGMA Technical Division. He currently serves as a technical editor for Gear Technology and as a consultant.

Bill examines the role of standards in specifying and evaluating products in the purchasing process and mentions the importance of standards in helping manufacturers penetrate or protect markets. The article is about the development of ANSI / AGMA / AWEA 6006-A03 Standard for Design and Specification of Gearboxes for Wind Turbines, described in part as "a tool whereby wind turbine and gearbox manufacturers can communicate and understand each other's needs in developing a gearbox specification for wind turbine applications."

The history of AGMA standards development is discussed, along with the ANSI, ISO and IEC roles in standards development.

Software to Calculate Gas or Liquid Flow & Pressure Drop

2009-07-16T09:33:00.005-04:00

Today I came across software on CNET that will size orifice plates for given design conditions, compute pressure drop for a given flow, or flow for a given pressure drop. This software is designed for gas or liquid orifices. You can download the ISO-5167 2003 6.5 application from CNET and evaluate it for yourself.

Download ISO standards, ISO 5167 for measurement of fluid flow or AGA Standards from ANSI.

There's no connection between ANSI, ISO or AGA and NorCraft Software (this is not an endorsement of the software or the company).

NEMA ANSI C12 Smart Grid Meter Standards

2009-07-14T17:42:00.006-04:00

A new collection of NEMA ANSI C12 standards for Smart Grid Metering was added to the ANSI standards store.

The NEMA ANSI C12 Smart Grid Meter Package provides all parts of the NEMA ANSI C12 standards. These define requirements for electricity metering, watt hour meter sockets, device data tables, meter interfacing to data communication networks and type 2 optical ports. Included are performance criteria for thermal demand meters, mechanical demand registers and phase shifting devices used in metering. Test methods for transformer-rated meters and self contained "A" base watt hour meter are included in this package as well as a watt hour safety standard.

How to Get Involved w/ Standards Development

2009-06-29T10:43:00.002-04:00

(This post is excerpted from the ANSI Group Discussion Forum on LinkedIn at http://bit.ly/AYtWX.)

I think it is worth mentioning generally how a person goes about identifying a group to work with on standards development; how for example would we figure out who is currently working on standards for doors or hardware? And what is generally the procedure when someone wants to volunteer to contribute to a standards activity? I posed these questions to my colleagues at ANSI.

In response, to find out whether a developer works within a particular area, the public can search the pdf file we post of ANSI-Accredited Standards Developers and their scopes: http://www.ansi.org/asd. The lists include contact information at the standards developer along with the scope of activity.

Similarly, people can search for individual standards based on keywords at http://www.NSSN.org. Contact information (including usually a website and a person) from the posted list of developers can be used to connect to a developer/specific standards activity.

Hope this helps!

I wanted to test this process out for myself. So here's what I found: There are 5 groups working on door standards. BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association); DASMA (Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association); NAAMM (National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers); SDI ASC A250 (Steel Door Institute); WDMA (Window and Door Manufacturers Association). And all their contact information is shown at the link http://www.ansi.org/asd.

Emergency Notification System Call Volume Testing Procedure Now Available Free

2009-06-23T16:45:00.004-04:00

A testing process related to Emergency Notification System (ENS) Call Volume over wireline networks was released by ATIS, Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. This best practices document addresses the issues associated with increased traffic volumes during times of crisis and is the first in a larger suite of guidelines.

The testing procedure according to ATIS, "will assist in the facilitation of efficient delivery during emergency mass notifications over the public switched telephone network." Best Practices for Emergency Notification System (ENS) Call Volume Testing Procedure: Wireline is available for free.

Smart Grid Interoperability Standards

2009-06-09T07:15:00.009-04:00

Smart Grid Interoperability Standards are available online. ANSI added links to download all the documents on the list shown below of recognized standards published in NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Framework: Release 1.0. Additional related information follows after the list of Smart Grid Interoperability Standards.

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and Smart Grid end-to-end security
AMI-SEC System Security Requirements

Revenue metering information model
ANSI C12.19/MC1219 American National Standard For Utility Industry End Device Data Tables

Building automation
BACnet ANSI ASHRAE 135.1-2009 Method of Test for Conformance to BACnet
ISO 16484-5 Building automation and Control Systems

Inter-control center communications
IEC 60870-6 / TASE.2 Telecontrol equipment and systems - Telecontrol protocols
IEC 60870 Telecontrol equipment and systems.

Substation automation and protection
IEC 61850 Communications Networks and Systems in Substations

Application level energy management system interfaces
IEC 61968 Application Integration at Electrical Utilities
IEC 61970 Energy Management System Application Program Interface EMS-API

Information security for power system control operations
IEC/TS 62351 Power systems management and associated information exchange - Data and communications security

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) communications
IEEE C37.118 IEEE Standard for Synchrophasors for Power Systems

Physical and electrical interconnections between utility and distributed generation (DG)
IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems

Security for intelligent electronic devices (IEDs)
IEEE 1686-2007 IEEE Standard for Substation Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) Cyber Security Capabilities

NERC CIP 002-009 Cyber security standards for the bulk power system
CIP-001-1 Sabotage Reporting
CIP-002-1 Critical Cyber Asset Identification
CIP-002-2 Cyber Security - Critical Cyber Asset Identification
CIP-003-1 Security Management Controls
CIP-003-2 Cyber Security - Security Management Controls
CIP-004-1 Personnel & Training
CIP-004-2 Cyber Security - Personnel & Training
CIP-005-1 Electronic Security Perimeter(s)
CIP-005-2 Cyber Security - Electronic Security Perimeter(s)
CIP-006-1 Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets
CIP-006-1a Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets
CIP-006-2 Cyber Security - Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets
CIP-007-1 Systems Security Management
CIP-007-2 Cyber Security - Systems Security Management
CIP-008-1 Incident Reporting and Response Planning
CIP-008-2 Cyber Security - Incident Reporting and Response Planning
CIP-009-1 Recovery Plans for Critical Cyber Assets
CIP-009-2 Cyber Security - Recovery Plans for Critical Cyber Assets

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Standards

Cyber security standards and guidelines for federal information systems, including those for the bulk power system
NIST Computer Security Resource Center NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-53, NIST SP 800-82

Price responsive and reliability DR event information
Open Automated Demand Response (Open ADR) Communication Specification
OpenADR Specification Documents
http://openadr.lbl.gov/

Home Area Network device communication, measurement, and control
OpenHAN
Framework for Security Technologies for Home Network

Home Area Network (HAN) Device Communications and Information Model
ZigBe Alliance
Zigbe HomePlug Smart Energy Profile Technical Documents

There are additional standards and organizations related to the Smart Grid:
ISO Building Automation and Control Systems Standards
NIST Wiki on Smart Grid
AMI-SEC Task Force Overview develops security guidelines, recommendations, and best practices for AMI Advanced Metering Infrastructure Security
DNP Forum for Distributed Network Protocol

SGIP (Smart Grid Interoperability Panel) Catalog of Standards

•IETF RFC6272: Internet Protocol Standards for Smart Grid
•NAESB REQ18/WEQ19: Energy Usage Information
•SAE J 1772-2010: Electric Vehicle and Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler
•SAE J 2836/1-2010: Use Cases for Communication Between Plug-in Vehicles and the Utility Grid
•NEMA SG-AMI 1-2009: Requirements for Smart Meter Upgradeability
•NISTIR 7761L Guidelines for Assessing Wireless Standards for Smart Grid

A new series of articles about Smart Grids has just been posted on this blog, going into the technologies, features, and economics behind the development of Smart Grids.

Energy Efficiency for Telecommunicaton Equipment

2009-05-12T11:34:00.001-04:00

Three new standards provide the methodology to be used by vendors and third party test laboratories in the formation of Telecommunications Energy Efficiency Ratio (TEER). The first document is the base standard for determining telecommunications energy efficiency. A related standard defines how to measure the Telecommunications Energy Efficiency Ratio (TEER) of a server or server blade. The standard will also provide requirements for how equipment vendors shall respond to a TEER request based on a specific application description by making use of relevant data from internal and independent test reports. A third new standard specifies the definition of Transport products and systems as well as a methodology to calculate the Telecommunication Energy Efficiency Ratio (TEER) of a transport system or network configuration. Download these green standards for telecommunications, Energy Efficiency for Telecommunication Equipment.

There will be funding for projects improving energy efficiency involving these standards. In Stimulus Bill Funding for Data Center and Telecom Technology Energy Efficiency, Smart Grid, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, and More according to Stoel Rives LLP, "On March 5th, DOE’s EERE Industrial Technologies Program (“ITP”) released a Notice of Intent to issue funding for technologies that increase the energy efficiency of server-based information and communication technology (“ICT”) systems housed in data centers and telecommunications central offices."

The standards were developed by ATIS NIPP Telecommunications Energy Efficiency (TEE) subcommittee which develops and recommends standards and technical reports related to the energy efficiency of telecommunication equipment.

Registration of Organization Names in the U.S.

2009-05-01T19:24:00.000-04:00

Did you know The Procedures for Registration of Organization Names in the United States of America (document ISSB 989) require that alphanumeric organization names be subject to a 90-day Public Review period prior to registration? Alphanumeric organization names that have been submitted to ANSI for registration are listed in the weekly publication, Standards Action.

Nanotechnology Energy Workshop

2009-03-28T11:37:00.000-04:00

Obstacles to Nanotech Energy Technologies workshop will be held April 26-28, 2009, at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) University of Albany in New York.

Mark M. Little, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Director of GE Global Research will deliver the keynote, Overview of Technology & Business Climate.

Sessions will scope out and prioritize measurement challenges in solar photovoltaics, energy generation and storage, solid-state lighting, and other areas. Speakers will be nanotechnology and energy experts from government, academia, and industry, including FEI, First Solar, General Electric, and General Motors.

Transparency - ECCMA Whitepaper

2009-03-25T10:28:00.000-04:00

Transparency
It is about the data - the quality of the data

Mr. Peter R. Benson, project leader for ISO 8000 (reprinted w/ permission)

Background:
We live in a data centric environment where the real world is increasingly viewed not first hand but through the data that represents it. Very few of us actually touch, or even see the tangible objects, or participate in the events we report on, instead we rely on the data and we contribute to its quality. Today, more than ever before, our access to data, the ability of our computer applications to use it and the ultimate accuracy of the data determines how we see and interact with the world we live and work in.

On the one hand, complexity and detail can be measured by the quantity of data; a good example of this is where an image comes into focus, or a web page is completed, as more and more data arrives. On the other, the accuracy with which we see the real world can be measured by the quality of the data.

Data is intrinsically simple and can be divided into data that identifies and describes things, master data, and data that describes events, transaction data.

Master data describes and identifies both tangible and intangible things, such as individuals, organizations, locations, tangible goods and intangible services but also processes, laws, rules and regulations. Typically we use identifiers to reference master data as in an airport code, a tax id, a passport number, a vehicle license number, a part number, a serial number and a credit card number; these are references to master data.

Transaction data, describes an event such as the completion of a process, a credit card transaction, a purchase, a sale or a transfer. The ability to resolve the references to master data contained in transaction data is an important aspect of the quality of transaction data.

Transparency requires that:
1. Transaction data accurately identifies who, what, where and when and
2. Master data accurately describes who, what and where

Understanding data quality
Data is defined as the “symbolic representation of something that depends, in part, on its metadata for its meaning,” it follows therefore that the quality of the metadata must play an important part in determining data quality. Metadata gives data meaning for example “50-02-01” is a meaningless string of characters but apply the metadata “Date of Birth” and it becomes meaningful data. To make it unambiguous we need to have a syntax such as CCYY-MM-DD and the associated value upgraded to 1950-02-01.

Good quality metadata comes from a metadata registry or an open technical dictionary. This will contain a definition of the concept, for example, the concept: “Date of birth” has a concept definition of: “Year, month and day in which a person or an animal is born”. Even better, an open technical dictionary will assign a language independent public domain concept identifier, as for example 0161-1#02-065175#1 in the ECCMA open technical dictionary (eOTD). This allows the data 0161-1#02-065175#1:1950-02-01 to be rendered as either Date of Birth: February 2, 1950 or Date de naissance: 2 Février 1950.

Using quality metadata from an open technical dictionary creates not only quality data in the sense that it is unambiguous, but it also creates portable data, data that can be easily moved from one application to another and preserved over time independently of software. Finally using pubic domain concept identifiers as metadata protects the intellectual property in the data.

Implementing ISO 8000 the international standard for data quality
ISO 8000 is concerned with the principles of data quality, the characteristics of data that determine its quality, and the processes to ensure data quality. The standard is in several parts that allow it to be implemented for a specific type of data as well as incrementally within the type.

ISO 8000-110:2008 is the foundation standard for master data quality. Master data that is compliant with the standard is portable data that is formatted according to a published syntax and where the metadata is explicit, either included with the data or by reference to an open technical dictionary.

Requesting or requiring that master data is provided in ISO 8000-110:2008 compliant format is not a burden to the data provider. The requirements of ISO 8000-110:2008 are simple; they require no specialized technology or the purchase of any product or service and are within the capability of all companies regardless of their size. ISO 8000-110:2008 is available from the ANSI eStandards store.

ISO 8000-120:2009 is a supplement to ISO 8000-110:2008 that covers master data provenance. The standard is designed to assist in tracking the extraction of data elements through to their original source. Implementation of this standard requires knowledge of database management.

ISO 8000-130:2009 is a supplement to ISO 8000-120:2008 that covers master data accuracy. The standard is designed to assist in tracking claims to accuracy of data elements. Implementation of this standard requires knowledge of database management.