NIST, EC Partner for Better Measurements, Standards

January 21, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

Under the agreement, JRC and NIST will better coordinate their R&D programs in metrology.

This will include collaborative research on new measurement methods and their quality assurance, including, but not limited to, cooperation in the preparation and value-assignment of certified reference materials (CRMs).

CRMs are artifacts certified as having specific component content or characteristics that are used for calibrating instruments or procedures, for validating the accuracy of measurement methods and as quality control benchmarks for industrial processes.

The JRC and NIST also plan to share resources and harmonize their respective regional and national responsibilities for chemical metrology, biometrology and international measurement standards.

NIST and JRC are establishing a work plan that will detail specific projects and activities, including workshops and conferences. Specific topics already identified for such meetings are:

• Measurement methods and standards for hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, as noted in the EU's Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHs).
• Reference materials for the analysis of potentially dangerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
• New measurement methods, technologies and standards for biofuels, multiplex biological measurements and the health and environmental effects of engineered nanomaterials.

For more information on IRMM, go to http://irmm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/html/homepage.htm.

Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).