Consumer Product Safety News

Auto Safety  |  Children's Safety  |  Consumer Product Safety - General
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Auto Safety

EC Adopts Action Plan for Intelligent Transport Systems  Dec 16, 2008
The European Commission (EC) took a major step towards the deployment and use of intelligent transport systems (ITS) by adopting an action plan on Dec. 16.

Renesas to Release MCUs with On-Chip Flash Memory, SRAM for Auto Driver-Assist System Control  Nov 17, 2008
Renesas Technology Corp. announced the SH74504 and SH74513, 32 b MCUs with on-chip flash memory for driver-assist system control aimed at achieving active safety in automotive applications.

Book from SAE Int'l Focuses on Road Vehicle Dynamics   Sep 29, 2008
While a vehicle is controlled primarily by its driver, other factors including physical laws and vehicle design determine the vehicle's behavior on the road.

EU to Mandate Daytime Running Lights for New Vehicles  Sep 25, 2008
To increase road safety, the European Commission (EC) plans to introduce dedicated daytime running lights (DRL) on all new types of motor vehicles in the European Union (EU) from the year 2011 onwards.

SAE Int'l Book Investigates Tire Failure  Aug 22, 2008
A new 238-page book from SAE International that investigates the causes of tire failure is aimed at preventing tire-related accidents on the road.

EC Reserves Radio Frequency for Road Safety Use  Aug 6, 2008
On Aug. 5, the European Commission (EC) decided to reserve part of the radio spectrum for smart vehicle communications systems across Europe.

AIM Global Issues Guidelines for Tire RFID  Aug 13, 2008
AIM Global issued the AIM Global radio frequency identification (RFID) Guideline REG 396: RFID chips and transponders - Verification and qualification of design and manufacture - Part I: Tires.

Automotive Safety, Forensic Science Merge in SAE Int'l Book  Aug 1, 2008
An SAE International book examines how automotive safety professionals can use medical records to avoid and lessen injuries on the road.

Frost: Powertrain, Transmission Tech, Safety Demands Promise Growth for Euro Electronic Controllers   Jul 21, 2008
The European market for advanced electronic controllers for powertrain, transmission, comfort, driver assist and transmission systems should grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% from 2007 to 2015, according to Frost & Sullivan, driven mainly by the increasing electronic applications within a vehicle and the need for comfort and convenience.

UN/ECE Agreement on Uniform Technical Prescriptions for Vehicles Celebrates 50th Anniversary   Jul 15, 2008
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP 29) of the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe (U.N./ECE) celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 1958 Agreement on Uniform Technical Prescriptions for Vehicles.

EU Celebrates 50 Years of Automotive Cooperation  Jul 1, 2008
The European Union (EU) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1958 agreement of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) on technical harmonization in the automotive industry by reflecting on some of this agreement's key achievements.

ABI: For Market Success, Driver Assistance Systems Must 'Really' Help  Jun 10, 2008
Automated systems designed to help drivers avoid accidents are starting to become available on a wide range of vehicles, according to ABI Research.

Frost: Legislation, Lower Prices Boost Uptake of Sensor Technology in Auto Applications   Jun 9, 2008
Regulatory compliance and increased affordability drive the adoption of new sensor technology in vehicles, according to Frost & Sullivan.

EC Proposes Car Safety Legislative Package  May 28, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently proposed a package of vehicle safety measures that will replace more than 150 existing directives with a single regulation that is directly applicable in the European Union (EU) and refers to harmonised United Nations standards.

EU Moves to Greener, Safer, Smarter Road Transport System  May 28, 2008
The Transport Research Arena 2008 Conference and Expo began on April 21, bringing together over 1,000 senior executives from the European Union (EU) road transport industries, national and EU administrations, infrastructures operators, public and private R&D organisations and users' associations.

ISO to Develop Management System Standard for Global Road Safety   Feb 22, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved the creation of a new project committee to develop an international standard for road traffic safety management systems.

ABI: Radar Positioned to Lead Active Safety Market  Jan 15, 2008
With passive safety systems in place, the automotive industry is now looking to active safety systems to help reduce driver error on the road, according to ABI Research.

NIST Measures Performance of Auto Crash Warning  Jan 14, 2008
Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed and tested a laser-based ranging system to assess the performance of automobile collision warning systems.

ABI: Camera-Based Safety Systems to Reduce Vehicle Accidents  Nov 30, 2007
Consumer demand for active safety features is growing and technology is rapidly advancing.

Frost: Safety Needs, Technology Advancements Mold Chassis System Market  Nov 30, 2007
Automakers are looking beyond in-house production, design and development of advanced chassis systems to be in line with customer demands for improved vehicle safety, according to Frost & Sullivan.

ABI: Vehicle Safety Drives Early Deployments of DSRC  Aug 21, 2007
While industry participants continue to fine-tune details of the standard for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), the major players are keen to start rolling out some product to begin getting real world experience.

ASTM Int'l Vehicle-Pavement Standard Focuses on Skid Resistance - ASTM E 2340  July 2, 2007
Airport operators, military pavement maintenance personnel, transportation regulatory agencies and state highway departments will benefit from the approval of an ASTM standard for measuring skid resistance.

EC Promotes Intelligent Vehicle Safety Systems  Jan 2, 2007
The European Commission (EC) has increased efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of intelligent vehicle safety systems, especially after a recent study found that although European motorists say they attach high importance to safety in choosing a car, they lack an understanding of and appreciation for the cost of these safety benefits.

EC Proposes Action Plan for In-Vehicle Emergency Calls  Dec 12, 2006
The European Commission (EC) recently proposed several actions to prompt the rollout of emergency call (eCall) technology for cars in Europe.

Frost: Vehicle Safety Legislation Boosts Demand for Passive Safety Systems  Oct 2, 2006
Growing customer awareness of the need for enhanced safety, the implementation of legislation, the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) and technological advances are crucial factors fueling the installation of emerging passive safety systems in vehicles.

PReVENT Releases Report on Electronic Safety Zone for Vehicles  July 12, 2006
The Integrated Project (IP) PReVENT released Specifications and architecture for PReVENT safety functions. The report was presented at the Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Applications (AMAA) 2006 Conference in Berlin.

Frost: Emissions, Safety Concerns Fuel ASEAN3 Automotive Sensors Market  June 6, 2006
The ASEAN3 (Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia) automotive sensors market is likely to grow as governments tighten environmental laws on fuel emissions, and as consumers become more concerned about vehicle safety, according to Frost & Sullivan.

PReVENT Demonstrates Advanced Intersection Safety Applications  June 5, 2006
The Integrated Project PReVENT's INTERSAFE subproject recently demonstrated numerous intersection safety applications at the Advanced Microsystems for Automotive Applications (AMAA) conference in Berlin.

Frost: New Technology Will Direct Euro Auto Safety Systems Market  June 1, 2006
In trying to achieve technology refinements, cost and reliability are emerging as major challenges for the launch of advanced braking systems in the European market. With respect to stability control systems,

Frost: Japanese Telematics Demand Will Move to Safety Applications in Next Five Years  April 24, 2006
Regarded as the most revolutionary aspect of the automotive industry this past decade, telematics products are enabling drivers to avoid traffic jams, monitor traffic flow and facilitate road and health rescues, as well as transform automobiles into mobile offices and entertainment/information centers.

NHTSA Releases New 2006 Crash Test and Rollover Ratings  March 30, 2006
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new crash test and/or rollover ratings for 42 model year 2006 vehicles - 16 passenger cars, 17 sport utility vehicles, four vans, and five pickups – and two early release model year 2007 sport utility vehicles.

Frost: Legislation Creates Dramatic Uptake for Pedestrian Safety Systems  March 27, 2006
Despite the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) that introduced pedestrian protection tests, vehicles in Europe remained excessively dangerous for pedestrians, according to analysts at Frost & Sullivan.

ISO Offers Standards on 'Intelligent' Crash Test Dummy for Side Impact Testing  Dec 19, 2005
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released a new suite of standards to provide the automotive industry with an advanced human crash test dummy for improving vehicle design and increasing passenger safety.

Ford Opens Automotive Safety Certification Facility  Aug 19, 2005
Ford Motor Co. unveiled an automotive safety facility in Dearborn, Mich. capable of conducting comprehensive occupant protection crash-simulation tests.

TechnoMetrica: Auto Safety, Entertainment Behind Telematics Appeal  Mar 21, 2005
The appeal of automobiles equipped with telematics is high enough to generate more than $700 million in sales over the next two quarters, if auto manufacturers are nimble enough to capitalize on growing consumer awareness and demand, according to TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence.

UL Canada Publishes Second Edition of Auto Fire Fighting Standard  Dec 16, 2004
TORONTO—Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada published the second edition of the Nation Standard of Canada CAN/ULC-S515-04 - Automobile Fire Fighting Apparatus.

Children's Safety

PMG Codes Focus on Clean Air, Child Safety, Drinking Fountains  Dec 31, 2008
New features of the 2009 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes (PMG) include revised outdoor air ventilation requirements aimed at improving air quality, requirements for locking caps on air-conditioning units to prevent inhalation of refrigerants and consistency in calculating restroom size in businesses.

EC Signs Toy Safety Agreement with Toy Retailers, Importers  De 19, 2008
As part of the drive by the European Commission (EC) to improve toy safety by engaging all players throughout the toy industry, Meglena Kuneva, EC commissioner for consumer affairs, signed an agreement with representatives of toy retailers and importers on Dec. 18.

European Parliament Adopts EC's New Toy Safety Rules  Dec 19, 2008
On Dec. 18, the European Parliament adopted a proposal by the European Commission (EC) to substantially strengthen rules on toy safety within the European Union (EU).

Ecology Center Tests Find Significant Levels of Toxic Chemicals in 1 in 3 Children's Toys  Dec 8, 2008
Researchers tested more than 1,500 children's toys for lead, cadmium, arsenic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other harmful chemicals for the Ecology Center's second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in toys.

ACLASS to Accredit Testing Labs under CPSC Requirements for Safety of Cribs, Pacifiers  Nov 26, 2008
The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board/ACLASS meets the safety requirements for accrediting testing laboratories under the second phase of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), according to the American National Standards Institute and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board/ACLASS.

NEMA Publishes Communications Systems for Life Safety in Schools - NEMA SB 40-2008   Sep 19, 2008
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA SB 40-2008 - Communications Systems for Life Safety in Schools.

Consumer Product Safety Bill Strengthens Standards for Toys - ASTM F 963-07  Sep 9, 2008
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which was signed into law, includes a provision requiring that toys sold in the U.S. be tested to the ASTM International toy safety standard and enforces the mandatory testing and certification of children's products by accredited third-party conformity assessment bodies.

CSA D270-08 Standard Released for School Children Transportation  Aug 25, 2008
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) released CSA D270-08 - Multi-functional Activity Buses (MFAB), a standard developed to provide voluntary requirements for the new proposed class of vehicle.

Law to Protect Children from Gasoline Burns Conforms to ASTM Int'l Standard - ASTM F 2517  Jul 14, 2008
A law approved by the U.S. Congress will help protect children from gasoline burns by requiring that portable gasoline containers have child-resistant closures that conform to an ASTM International consumer safety standard.

FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed Rule Changes for AWS Spectrum in 1.9, 2.1 GHz Bands  Jul 2, 2008
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a further notice of proposed rulemaking (further notice) that proposes public access to free, nationwide, high-speed wireless broadband Internet services using a portion of the winning bidder’s network in the 2.1 GHz Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum.

EC Releases Report on Safety in Toy Supply Chain  Jun 6, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently released a report by independent experts on toy safety as a follow-up to the EC's product safety stocktaking review last autumn.

FAQ on Safety Measures in Toy Supply Chain  Jun 6, 2008
Answers to frequently asked questions about the toy safety report released by the European Commission (EC) on June 5 are provided below. This report analyzed product safety measures in the toy supply chain.

ANSI Updates New York State Assembly on Hazardous Toys  Dec 11, 2007
Representatives from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) addressed ANSI's involvement in efforts to mitigate toy safety issues during testimony last month before the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection - Subcommittee on Child Product Safety.

ISO: Standard Reduces Risk of Children's Head Injuries - ISO 16850  Nov 14, 2007
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released ISO 16850:2007 - Road vehicles - Pedestrian protection - Child head impact ...

ASTM Int'l Issues Standard for Safety of Children's Folding Chairs - ASTM F 2613  Aug 7, 2007
Responding to incident data presented by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and recent recalls, ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer ...

ASTM Int'l Develops Infant Bath Tub Safety Standard  Dec 4, 2006
ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products invited manufacturers of infant bath tubs to attend and participate in meetings to continue ...

Consumer Product Safety - General

Frost: Flexible Packaging More Advantageous Than Traditional Packaging  Dec 5, 2008
As the benefits of flexible packaging - ease of handling, smaller storage space - become increasingly appreciated, traditional rigid packaging will take a backseat.

EC Proposes Law to Limit Harmful Vapor Emissions from Service Stations  Dec 5, 2008
The European Commission (EC) proposed new legislation to ensure that harmful gasoline vapors that escape during the refueling of cars at service stations are captured and recycled.

ISO: Report Delivers Delivers Tech, Ergonomic Design Data for Elderly, Disabled Population - ISO TR 22411:2008  Nov 21, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released a report it says will make products, services and environments more accessible to older persons and those with disabilities.

FAQ on EU's Product Safety Efforts  Nov 18, 2008
The first high-level trilateral summit on product safety was held on Nov. 17 with representatives of the European Union (EU), China and the U.S. The meeting coincided with EU's International Product Safety Week. This document answers frequently asked questions about recent EU's product safety work.

First High-Level EU-China-U.S. Product Safety Summit Held   Nov 18, 2008
Representatives of the European Union (EU), U.S. and China met in Brussels on Nov. 17 for the first high-level trilateral summit on product safety, intended to step up cooperation among the three parties.

Joint Press Statement from EU-China-U.S. Product Safety Summit  Nov 18, 2008
Representatives of the European Union (EU), U.S. and China, who met in Brussels on Nov. 17 for the first high-level trilateral summit on product safety, issued a joint press statement.

UPMC: Arsenic May Increase Risks for Cardiovascular Disease at Current EPA-Regulated Drinking Water Standards  Nov 17, 2008
When mice are exposed to arsenic at federally approved levels for drinking water, pores in liver blood vessels close, potentially leading to cardiovascular disease, according to University of Pittsburgh researchers in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

NSF Int'l Seeks Comments on Draft Standard for Organic Personal Care Products - NSF 305  Nov 11, 2008
NSF International is seeking public comment on NSF Draft Standard 305 - Organic Personal Care Products, which defines organic labeling and marketing requirements for organic personal care products.

ASTM Int'l Includes Cautionary Labeling of Inflatable Air Mattresses in Proposed Standard - ASTM WK20641  Oct 14, 2008
ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products is developing a proposed standard on inflatable air mattresses at the request of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

ASTM Int'l Declarable Substances Committee Approves First Test Method - ASTM F 2617  Oct 3, 2008
ASTM International Committee F40 on Declarable Substances in Materials approved its first test method, ASTM F 2617 - Test Method for Identification and Quantification of Chromium, Bromine, Cadmium, Mercury and Lead in Polymeric Material Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry.

DIN Publishes New Safety Standard for Railway Vehicles  Sep 16, 2008
The Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN) published in July a new European standard that will make rail travel safer: DIN EN 15227, Railway applications - Crashworthiness requirements for railway vehicle bodies.

FAQ on EU-China Product Safety Measures  Jun 6, 2008
Meglena Kuneva, European Commission (EC) commissioner for consumers, will visit the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong on June 9-13, primarily to assess progress on the commitments to strengthen product safety controls between China and the European Union (EU) that were made during her visit in July 2007.

ISO Standard Project Aimed at Facilitating Recall of Unsafe Products   Mar 31, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established a project committee (PC) to prepare a standard on product recall.

ANSI Joint Member Forum Examines Consumer Product Safety Concerns  Nov 14, 2007
The Joint Member Forum (JMF) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) discussed consumer product safety issues at a recent October ...

BSI Participates in China Launch of Consumer Products Standard  May 2, 2007
BSI Management Systems participated in the China launch of the new British Retail Consortium (BRC) global standard - Consumer Products. ...

OSHA Seeks Comments on Product Safety Self-approval Proposal  Dec 9, 2005
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will accept public comments until February 13, 2006 to help it determine the best way ...

Electrical & Electronics Safety

Xilinx Receives OHSAS 18001 Certification for Conformance to Health, Safety Management Procedures   Dec 15, 2008
Xilinx Inc. was certified to have met Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS) 18001, an international specification for occupational health and safety procedures and systems.

FAQ on Revised Directive on Waste Electrical, Electronic Equipment   
Answers to frequently asked questions about Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), which the European Commission (EC) proposed on Dec. 3 to revise, are provided below.

FAQ on Revised Directive on Restrictions on Dangerous Substances in Electrical, Electronic Equipment  Dec 5, 2008
Answers to frequently asked questions about Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment, which the European Commission (EC) proposed on Dec. 3 to revise, are provided below.

EC Proposes Revising Environmental Laws on Electrical, Electronic Equipment   Dec 5, 2008
On Dec. 3, the European Commission (EC) proposed revising Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (the "WEEE Directive") and Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (the "RoHS Directive").

EPA Issues Guidelines for Electronic Recycling  Nov 26, 208
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of a group of recycling stakeholders, developed the Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for Use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers.

OSHA Seeks Comments on EC Proposal for Workplace Electrical Product Safety  Nov 26, 2008
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) seeks comments on a proposal submitted by the European Commission (EC).

NEMA Provides Guidance on Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment  Sep 30, 2008
According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), electrical equipment exposed to water can be extremely hazardous if reenergized without proper reconditioning or replacement.

NEMA Publishes Paper on Best Practices for Metal Halide Lighting Systems - NEMA LSD25-2008  Sep 19, 2008
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA LSD25-2008 - Best Practices for Metal Halide Lighting Systems, Plus Questions and Answers About Lamp Ruptures in Metal Halide Lighting Systems.

NEMA Publishes Communications Systems for Life Safety in Schools - NEMA SB 40-2008   Sep 19, 2008
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA SB 40-2008 - Communications Systems for Life Safety in Schools.

NEMA Publishes Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide - NEMA SB 50-2008   Sep 19, 2008
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA SB 50-2008 - Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide.

FTC to Host Workshop to Explore Consumer Protection, Privacy Implications of RFID Applications  Sep 12, 2008
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a radio frequency identification (RFID) workshop on consumer privacy and data security to explore emerging applications of RFID technology and their implications for consumer protection policy.

IEEE Approves Amendment to Standard for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations - IEEE P1584b  Aug 29, 2008
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) will amend its guide for performing arc flash hazard calculations.

Nortel Awarded GSM-R Contract for Algerian Wireless Railway Communications   Jul 22, 2008
Nortel was selected to provide wireless communications with its Global System for Mobile Communications - Railway (GSM-R) technology for two new railway lines in Algeria.

NEMA Launched ANSI Z535 Safety Standards Web Site During National Safety Month   Jul 3, 2008
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) launched a web site dedicated to the NEMA ANSI Z535 series of safety standards and guidelines to coincide with the observation of National Safety Month.

NEMA Offers Guidance on Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment  Jul 3, 2008
According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), electrical equipment exposed to water can be extremely hazardous if reenergized without proper reconditioning or replacement.

Market Surveillance of Electrical Appliances Improves Safety for European Consumers  May 23, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently received the final reports from market surveillance projects aimed at enhancing the safety of two types of consumer electrical products: portable household lights and cord extension sets.

AAMI Finalizes Major Update to Electrical Safety Equipment Standard  May 1, 2006
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) revised and released American National Standard (ANSI)/AAMI ES60601-1:2005 ...

FCC Revises 700 MHz Rules for Public Safety Communications, Wireless Broadband  Aug 6, 2007
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules to promote the creation of a nationwide interoperable ...

IEC Releases Standard for Safety of Electrical Equipment Used in Explosive Atmospheres - IEC 60079-1  Jun 8, 2007
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) developed IEC 60079-1 ed. 6 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 1: Equipment protection by flameproof ...

Recall Spurs Assessment of Battery Safety Standards  Dec 12, 2006
A widespread recall of laptop batteries in 2006 affected nearly 10 million products from five major manufacturers, when it was found that some ...

Fire Safety

IFC Provides Exit Lighting, Emergency Communication Requirements  Dec 31, 2008
New requirements in the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC) provide added protection to building occupants and emergency responders, including two safety features resulting from Sept. 11.

ISO 11612:2008 Aims to Ensure Performance of Protective Clothing against Heat, Flame  Dec 8, 2008
A revised ISO standard seeks to increase the safety of persons risking contact with heat or flame.

NIST Releases Final WTC 7 Investigation Report  Dec 3, 2008
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released its final report on the Sept. 11, 2001 collapse of the 47-story World Trade Center building 7 (WTC 7) in New York City.

ICC Final Action Hearings Address Code Change Proposals for Structural, Fire Safety; Sustainable Building  Oct 15, 2008
International Code Council (ICC) members debated and voted on code change proposals concerning building safety and fire prevention during the organization's recent final action hearings.

NIST: WTC Investigation Leads to Code Changes for Safer Buildings   Oct 13, 2008
Based on recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), nearly two dozen building and fire code changes were approved by the International Code Council (ICC), including codes to increase structural resistance to building collapse, ensure effective communications for emergency first responders and utilize more robust elevators for emergency personnel.

ICC to Offer Disaster Response Training   Oct 11, 2008
The International Code Council (ICC) will present the When Disaster Strikes Institute, Oct. 28-29, in Birmingham, Ala., to train building officials, building and residential inspectors, plans examiners, architects and engineers to identify hazards and evaluate sites in the aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires and earthquakes.

Building Code Grant Legislation Passes U.S. House  Aug 1, 2008
The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation aimed at helping communities across the country adopt and administer building codes to save lives and protect property.

UNIT, ICC Sign Agreement to Promote Building Safety in Uruguay  Jul 15, 2008
An agreement between the International Code Council (ICC) and the Instituto Uruguayo de Normas Tecnicas (UNIT) seeks to promote the health, safety and welfare of the Uruguayan people through the creation and maintenance of safer buildings.

NIST Releases 'Positive Pressure Ventilation' DVD  Jul 8, 2008
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) engineers recently released "Positive Pressure Ventilation Research: Videos & Reports" by Stephen Kerber and Daniel Madrzykowski, a free, two-disk DVD set that demonstrates how positive pressure ventilation (PPV), a technique in which powerful fans force smoke and heat from corridors and stairwells, can increase the effectiveness of firefighters and survivability of occupants in high-rise structures.

CBCAG Measure for Training Building, Fire Safety Officials Awaits Congressional Consideration  Jul 1, 2008
According to International Code Council (ICC), Congress is set to consider the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007 (CBCAG), providing funds for building and safety code compliance training for building and fire safety officials.

New York City, State of Maine Adopt Int'l Fire Code  Jun 24, 2008
New York City joined the list of cities and jurisdictions across the country using the International Fire Code to improve safety for residents, visitors and emergency personnel, the International Code Council (ICC) announced.

ICC Annual Conference Features Code Development, Disaster Response, Green Building  Jun 18, 2008
Residential fire sprinklers and improved energy efficiency are a few of the code change proposals expected to draw debate during the International Code Council (ICC) final action hearings at the ICC 2008 annual conference.

Frost: Euro Fire Suppression Systems Market Shows Resilient Growth  May 23, 2008
The European fire suppression systems market continues to expand, with sound underlying drivers ensuring its healthy growth well into the long term.

NIST: Web Site Offers Easy Access to Lifesaving Fire Service Research  Mar 28, 2008
A new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) web site offers easy access to reports of NIST fire investigations, summaries of research projects and videos of NIST fire research experiments and tests.

NIST Evaluates Firefighting Tactics in High-Rise Test  Mar 28, 2008
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) fire protection engineers turned an abandoned New York City brick high-rise into a seven-story fire laboratory to better understand the fast-moving spread of wind-driven flames, smoke and toxic gases through corridors and stairways of burning buildings.

NIST Building Safety Efforts Mark Fifth Anniversary of Nightclub Fire  Feb 26, 2008
A nightclub fire killing 100 people in Rhode Island five years ago prompted a two-year investigation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to understand exactly what happened and to make recommendations for change based on those findings.

ICC: Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas Codes Protect Communities  Dec 29, 2008
Public safety benefits as more states and communities adopt the International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes (PMG), according to the International Code Council (ICC).

Building Safety, Fire Prevention Codes to Be Debated at ICC Meeting  Dec 29, 2008
Building safety will be front and center when code officials, architects, engineers and other building industry professionals meet to debate more than 2,200 proposed changes to the International Codes at the 2008 International Code Council (ICC) Codes Forum.

NIST: Elevators May Have High-Rise Fire Evacuation Role  Dec 13, 2008
Experts are reconsidering tall building evacuation strategies and earlier this year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommended code changes to increase elevator use in high-rise emergencies in the report of its three-year investigation of the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) collapses.

ASTM Int'l Proposes Standard to Protect Decks from Fire - ASTM WK17025  Dec 10, 2008
ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards is developing a test protocol for assessing fire performance of decks and other horizontal exterior structures where combustibles beneath the structure can ignite.

ASTM Int'l Approves Standard for Safe Handling of Fire Extinguishing Agents - ASTM D 7327  Oct 18, 2007
Providing users with an assurance of quality and ensuring the safe handling, transport and storage of fire extinguishing agents are the purposes ...

ASTM Int'l Approves Standard for Candle Accessories - ASTM F 2601  Oct 18, 2007
ASTM International published ASTM F 2601 - Specification for Fire Safety for Candle Accessories ...

NIST SRM Aids in Reduced Cigarette Fire Risk  Feb 27, 2006
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1082 for testing laboratories and manufacturers ...

Food Safety

ASTM Int'l Forms Subcommittee for Life Cycle Costs of Food Service Equipment  Dec 30, 2008
ASTM International formed F26.05 on Life Cycle Cost, a subcommittee of ASTM International Committee F26 on Food Service Equipment, in response to industry requests to develop a standard practice for determining the total cost of ownership for commercial food service equipment.

Int'l Food Experts Set 'Tolerable' Level for Melamine Intake at WHO-Sponsored Meeting  Dec 17, 2008
International food experts established a "tolerable" daily intake (TDI) for melamine, the chemical found in contaminated milk products, at a meeting organized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

ISO Aims Standards at Meeting World Food Day 2008 Challenges of Climate Change, Impacts on Food Security  Oct 15, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) said its international standards on food-related issues and standards targeted at quantifying and mitigating climate change are poised to address World Food Day 2008 challenges of climate change and its impact on food security.

Frost: Technological Innovations Expand Capabilities of Mass Spectrometers  Sep 30, 2008
The acceptance of mass spectrometric techniques in research institutions across Europe is being driven by their inherent advantages, according to Frost & Sullivan, such as increased accuracy and higher throughput ratio.

New EU Rules on Pesticide Residues in Food Become Effective   Sep 3, 208
A revised food safety regulation from the European Commission (EC) on allowable pesticide residues entered into force on September 1.

NSF Int'l Creates Food Safety Certification Program for Rhode Island Restaurants  Nov 27, 2007
NSF International partnered with the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) to create a food safety audit and certification program that ...

ISO: Standard Strengthens Food Safety Measures - ISO 7218  Oct 29, 2007
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released ISO 7218:2007 - Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - General requirements ...

ANSI Recognizes NSF Int'l as a Safe Quality Food Certification Body  Apr 7,2006
NSF International (NSF) has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to offer Safe Quality Food (SQF) 1000 and 2000 ...

NSF Int'l Offers Food Safety Certification to ISO 22000:2005  Dec 15, 2005
NSF International (NSF) now offers food safety certification to ISO 22000 - Requirements for a Food Safety Management System. The food safety ...

ISO Issues Food Safety Management Guidance   Nov 28, 2005
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published implementation guidance for ISO 22000 - Food safety management systems, in ...

Health, Medical & Sports Safety

ASTM Int'l Seeks Participants for Tissue Engineered Medical Products Task Group  Dec 30, 2008
ASTM International seeks participation in a task group that is developing a proposed standard for manufacturers of vascular graft tissue engineered medical products (TEMPs).

EPA Seeks Comment on Proposal to Add Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste to Universal Waste Rule   Dec 24, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed adding hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule (UWR).

ASTM Int'l Issues Safety, Performance Requirements Standard for Tracheal Tube Fixation Devices  Dec 16, 2008
ASTM International issued ASTM F2726 - Specification for Fixation Devices for Tracheal Tubes and Other Airway Devices, which covers safety and performance requirements for fixation devices for tracheal tubes.

ASTM Int'l Forms Standard Development Task Group for Antimicrobial Medical Gloves   Dec 16, 2008
ASTM International Committee D11 on Rubber created a task group on antimicrobial medical gloves to help address the growing number and severity of health care association infections.

Frost: Detection Technology Advances Drive Euro Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market  Dec 5, 2008
The European autoimmune disease diagnostics market demonstrated sustained growth due to advances in detection technology and automation, according to Frost & Sullivan.

WHO Research Agenda to Address Climate Change, Public Health  Oct 21, 2008
A meeting of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Madrid set a research agenda to develop an evidence-based framework for action on the human health implications of climate change.

EPA Seeks Comment on Preliminary Perchlorate Drinking Water Decision  Oct 21, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks comments on its preliminary determination not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water at a national level after it found that in more than 99% of public drinking water systems, perchlorate was not at levels of public health concern.

AIM Global to Develop Health Care Test Protocols  Oct 21, 2008
AIM Global's radio frequency identification (RFID) Experts Group (REG) will develop a set of test protocols for testing of RF emitters to ensure a benign effect in a health care setting.

AWWA Applauds Signing of Total Coliform Rule Agreement in Principle  Oct 13, 2008
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) applauded the recent signing of the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) Agreement in Principle (AIP).

ISO TS 27687 Seeks to Define Nanotechnologies  Oct 2, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO Technical Specification (TS) 27687:2008, which provides terms and definitions related to particles in the field of nanotechnologies.

DIN Updates Standard on Medical Device Labeling  Aug 29, 2008
The Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN) published a revised edition of standard DIN EN 980, Symbols for use in the labeling of medical devices.

ISO 20712 Standard Targets Beach Safety Flags, Water Safety Signs   Aug 11, 2008
ISO 20712, a new standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), seeks to standardize an international system for providing safety information related to aquatic activity that relies as little as possible on the use of words to achieve understanding.

ASTM Int'l Releases Pharmaceutical Verification Standard - ASTM E 2537   Apr 3, 2008
ASTM International Committee E55 on Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Products approved ASTM E 2537 - Guide for Application of Continuous Quality Verification to Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing.

OSHA Seeks Comments on VVP Information Collection Procedures  Mar 28, 2008
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting public comment on proposed information collection requirements for the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP).

EC Calls for Improved Safety of Medical Devices  Mar 29, 2007
The European Parliament is expected to adopt a new proposal by the European Commission (EC) that would significantly improve the safety of medical ...

ASTM Int'l Releases Snow Safety Publication - ASTM STP 1464  Dec 18, 2006
ASTM International released ASTM STP 1464 - Skiing Trauma and Safety, 15th volume. ASTM STP 1464 provides the latest information on snow sport ...

EC Takes Action Against U.K. Food Safety Violations  Oct 16, 2006
The European Commission (EC) initiated infringement proceedings against the U.K. government due to its lack of response to identified food safety problems ...

NHS Connecting for Health to Pilot IT Specification for Blood Safety  Sep 22, 2006
NHS Connecting for Health, supported by the National Patient Safety Agency, is looking to work with one or more acute trusts in England to pilot ...