Voluntary Standards Cover the Spectrum: from Home Coffee Makers to Electrical Fuses

In an effort to communicate the vital role that standards play in daily life, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will publish, on an ongoing basis, a series of snapshots of the diverse standards initiatives undertaken in the global and national standards arena, many of which are performed by ANSI members and ANSI-accredited standards developers. Two of the latest selections follow:

Coffee Makers
Although the price of coffee has increased exponentially in the last ten years, coffee consumption is on the rise. In order to save money, more and more Americans are making coffee at home and taking it with them in their favorite travel mug. In an effort to increase the safety of one of the most common small home appliances, ANSI organizational member and accredited standards developer the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) recently released ANSI/AHAM CM-1-2007, Method for Measuring Performance of Household Coffee Makers.

A revision of a standard published in 2005, this updated document establishes a uniform, repeatable procedure for measuring specified product characteristics of household electric coffee makers. The standard provides a means to compare and evaluate different brands and models of household electric coffee makers, making it easier for consumers to select the appliance that is best suited for their needs.

AHAM is a membership based trade association serving the home appliance industry through standards development, government relations, and product certification, ensuring home appliance products are suitable for consumer use.

Electric Fuses
Fuses, in use since Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, are an essential part of a power distribution system. When too much electrical current flows through a wire, it can overheat and start a fire. By acting as a gatekeeper, a fuse manages the level of electrical current. If a circuit shorts, is overloaded, or is otherwise compromised, the fuse quickly interrupts the current and prevents further damage.

ANSI-accredited standards developer and organizational member the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) recently published ANSI/NECA 420-2007, Standard for Fuse Applications, in order to ensure the proper application and installation practices and procedures for low-voltage and high-voltage fuses. The new standard includes details about application data for fuses, sizing and selection, design considerations, installation, inspection and maintenance.

ANSI/NECA 420-2007 applies to all classifications of fuses used for overcurrent (when the normal load of a circuit is exceeded), distribution, and control equipment. The document is intended for use for power, heating and lighting loads for commercial, institutional, and industrial use in non-hazardous indoor and outdoor locations.

The standard also covers periodic routine maintenance and troubleshooting procedures for fuses, and special procedures used after adverse operating conditions such as overcurrents, ground-faults, or exposure to water or other liquids.