Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment
Is an extension cord that’s been left out in the rain safe to use? What about transformers or outlets damaged in a flood? Users of electrical products, whether commercial or consumer, are largely uninformed about how to handle water damaged electrical equipment, which can often be dangerous. American National Standards Institute member and accredited standards developer the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published a new version of its brochure, Guidelines for Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment.
This document provides advice on the safe handling of electrical equipment that has been exposed to water through flooding, fire fighting activities, hurricanes, and other water related events. It is designed for use by suppliers, installers, inspectors, and users of electrical products. The brochure outlines which items will require complete replacement or can be reconditioned by a trained professional. Equipment covered includes electrical distribution equipment, motor circuits, power equipment, transformers, wire, cable and flexible cords, wiring devices, GFCIs and surge protectors, lighting fixtures and ballasts, motors, electronic products including signaling, protection, communication systems, industrial controls, and cable trays.
Motorcycle Sound Levels
Any motorcycle aficionado will tell you that the unmistakable roar of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is no mistake at all. Decades of engineering go into creating just the right thundering growl. In fact, the world-famous “hog” maker sought to trademark the sound of a Harley in 1994 (other company’s trademarked sounds include the three musical notes of television broadcasting company NBC, the MGM lion roar, and the spoken letters "AT&T"). Although the Harley trademark application was disputed for years until it was ultimately withdrawn, motorcycles of all makes and models are still keenly tuned to the exact sound specifications of their manufacturers. Standards from ANSI member SAE International help them to achieve these distinctive sounds.
The Motorcycle Technical Committee of SAE International recently reissued SAE Recommended Practice J47, Maximum Sound Level Potential for Motorcycles, which establishes the test procedure, environment, and instrumentation for determining the maximum sound level potential for motorcycles under wide open throttle acceleration and closed throttle deceleration. SAE J1287, Measurement of Exhaust Sound Levels of Stationary Motorcycles, establishes the test procedure, environment, and instrumentation for determining the sound levels of motorcycles under stationary conditions. This test will measure primarily exhaust noise and does not represent the optimum procedure for evaluating total vehicle noise, as achieved by J47.
This "standards snapshot" was made possible by the steady stream of press information disseminated by standards developing organizations to keep the ANSI Federation abreast of their achievements. As the Institute receives news of published voluntary standards and voluntary standards initiatives with broad appeal and impact, similar articles will be posted to the ANSI Online News page. Please continue to forward your updates to the Communications and Public Relations department at (f) 212.398.0023 or (e) [email protected]. For additional information on the wide array of standards applications, see the Media Tips and Case Studies section of the Institute's website.