Did You Know?
7/17/2020
Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation of members and partners, highlighting recent accomplishments and new resources related to standardization.
ICC Partners with International Organizations to Enhance Resilience through Codes
The International Code Council (ICC), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has partnered with the Australian Building Codes Board, the National Research Council of Canada, and New Zealand Ministry of Business to address building codes for the changing risks caused by increasingly intense severe weather events.
The global initiative promotes research and information sharing, as well as collaboration amongst the four organizations in developing codes to improve the resilience of buildings and communities against these weather events. On July 2, the organizations released "Findings on Changing Risk and Building Codes," a document that emphasizes the need for these codes to minimize human suffering, loss of life, and economic loss.
"The issuance of this international statement elevates the Code Council's building safety mission and provides a platform for a valuable exchange of resources and best practices with like-minded organizations around the world, as well as for expanding the benefit of the advanced research being conducted by our partners," said Code Council CEO Dominic Sims. "We will continue to engage stakeholders as well as the private sector to achieve maximum impact and contribution to this global resilience initiative."
Read the ICC news release to learn more.
RESNET Launches Webinar Series on HERS Raters and the Rating Industry
The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, offers all interested stakeholders free registration for a series of webinars on HERS (Home Energy Rating System) raters and the rating industry.
The next webinar in the series will take place on July 30, 2020, from 2-3pm EDT. "Residential HVAC Design Basics for HERS Raters with Russell King, CalCERTS" will address HVAC design principles including ACCA Manuals J, S, and D - load calculations, sizing equipment, and designing the duct system. Attendees will learn about the importance of verifying proper design, why certain items need to be checked, and what happens if they are done incorrectly, as well as why oversizing equipment can cause as much discomfort as undersizing.
See RESNET's website to register at no cost.
RIA Highlights User-Friendly Technology for Robot Programming
The Robotic Industries Association (RIA), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, recently published an article detailing how intuitive and user-friendly technologies have made robot programming possible for people new to the field.
In recent years, robot programming systems have evolved to include easy-to-use systems, often resembling smartphone or tablet applications deemed "millennial-compatible" or "millennial-friendly." The likeness to more familiar devices is intentional, making them less intimidating to people with little or no robot programming training. Functional industrial robots can be programmed quickly and easily.
For example, RIA gives an overview of "SRC Controller," which offers users with a tablet-style pendant that understands their position, allowing them to program robots without knowledge of coordinate systems. The controller also includes a joystick that the user holds and moves, and the robot will follow these hand movements exactly. Within an hour, users have been able to write their own programs.
Read about several of the millennial-friendly technologies transforming robot programming in RIA's news item.
RIMS Magazine Offers Tips for Protecting Remote Employees' Data
Risk Management, a magazine published by ANSI member and accredited standards developer the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), recently published an article with three tips for keeping an organization's data safe while some, many, or all employees are working from home.
- Be wary of open WiFi networks. Require employees to use a virtual private network and use multi-factor authentication to ensure that individuals are who they say they are.
- Establish personal device policies, using security protocols like security timeouts and password complexity. Develop a contract between the employer and employee that addresses the company's right to access devices.
- Educate employees on threats, with training sessions and frequent communications to relay information on common types of threats, how to respond to data breaches, and defenses against attacks.
See the Risk Management article to learn more information and guidelines for each of the three tips.
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