ISO celebrates 70 years

2017 is ISO's 70th anniversary! The ISO story began in 1946 when delegates from 25 countries gathered in London to discuss the future of standardization. A year later, on 23 February 1947, ISO officially came into existence. In this post-war era, the founding members saw International Standards as a key to the world's reconstruction efforts.

Back in 1947, the purpose of the fledgling organization was to facilitate the coordination and unification of standards developed by its member bodies, all of which were national standardization entities in their respective countries. The founders decided that the organization would be open to every country wanting to collaborate – with equal rights and equal duties.

These founding principles still hold true today and the ISO family has blossomed to include 163* members from almost every country in the world. Standardization has come a long way and ISO International Standards, which now cover almost all aspects of technology and business, will continue to ensure positive change in an evolving world.

The first steps

Following the creation of the organization, 67 groups of experts (called technical committees) were set up in specific technical fields such as screw threads, marine technology, food, textiles, paints and laboratory equipment with a mandate to develop International Standards. This led to the birth, in 1951, of the first ISO standard (called “Recommendations” at the time) -ISO/R 1:1951, Standard reference temperature for industrial length measurements. Since then, the ISO portfolio has expanded to include over 22 000 standards supporting all the important technological, environmental and social changes that have taken place in the world.

“For 70 years, ISO has made standards that have shaped our history and accompanied the world’s greatest innovations. From the standardization of materials, components and equipment for the aerospace or automotive industry to the measurement of environmental pollutants, from establishing a management system to ensure food safety in the supply chain to creating guidelines for human-robot interaction, the need for international standardization has always evolved with the needs of industry and society,” says ISO President Dr Zhang Xiaogang.

Expanding the community

ISO has worked hard over the years to broaden its circle of stakeholders, bringing different audiences to standardization, such as consumers or developing countries. The 1950s saw a number of new ISO member bodies join the organization from the developing world. To respond to these members’ needs, ISO set up in 1961 the ISO Committee for developing country matters (ISO/DEVCO), which helps them get the most out of standards development work. Today, three-quarters of ISO’s members are from developing countries.

Helping to improve the satisfaction and safety of consumers is another vital role of standards. Integrating their views in standards development is therefore essential because these real-life perspectives help ensure that issues such as safety and quality are adequately addressed. The importance of consumer leverage was endorsed by the creation, in 1978, of a Council Committee on Consumer Policy, now officially known as the ISO Committee on consumer policy (ISO/COPOLCO), to promote and encourage consumer interests in standards.

Effective and wide-reaching stakeholder engagement is essential in maintaining the relevance of International Standards. To ensure a strong relationship between standards and innovation, ISO has built collaborative ties with a network of global and regional organizations, including a partnership with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and has forged links with over 700 international organizations working in fields related to standardization. Furthermore, the contribution of large and small businesses, regulatory authorities and governments throughout the world is fundamental to the proper functioning of ISO.

Challenges for the future

"For the past 70 years, ISO has developed standards that drive industrial progress, promote global commerce and improve health, safety and the environment. But this is just the beginning", says Dr Zhang.

 “Looking to the future, it is clear that our world faces many challenges that cut across national borders. Climate change, water scarcity, cyber security and large-scale migration are just some of the issues we face today that require integrated, international action.”

Many of these challenges have been included in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations as part of their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Launched in 2015, the SDGs set ambitious targets for the next 15 years and will help concentrate international action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.

“The ISO community has many standards that can help organizations and companies address this agenda,” says the ISO President. “We are ready to provide efficient tools to help the different communities worldwide face up to these challenges and shape a better world.” The future of standardization is promising.

New ISO standard for the safe bunkering of LNG-fuelled ships

Some ships in northern Europe have been using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as their fuel source for over a decade, with an extremely good safety record. But as the use of LNG-fuelled vessels spreads to other parts of the world and many more parties become involved, there is a clear need to standardize LNG bunkering operations at the international level. A new ISO standard will ensure LNG-fuelled vessels can bunker in a safe and sustainable way.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering is a particular type of operation where LNG fuel is transferred from a given distribution source to an LNG-fuelled ship. It involves the participation of different stakeholders, from the ship-side, LNG supplier, ports, safety personnel and administrations.

As demand for LNG-fuelled vessels has increased, so has the demand for practical, cost-effective and efficient LNG bunkering, so there was an urgent need for an International Standard to ensure LNG bunkering operations could be conducted safely. The new ISO 20519, Ships and marine technology – Specification for bunkering of liquefied natural gas fuelled vessels, will help operators select vessel fuel providers that meet defined safety and fuel quality standards.

In recent years, the ships and vessels fuelled with LNG have become larger, transit greater distances and may bunker in a greater number of ports in different countries. As a result, the number of parties involved in LNG bunkering is growing rapidly. Standardizing safety practices had become necessary to ensure that, no matter where the bunkering took place, there would be a common set of requirements that were understood across the board – from LNG provider to ship personnel.

ISO 20519 contains requirements that are not covered by the IGC Code, the prevailing international code for the safe carriage by sea of liquefied gases in bulk. It includes the following items:

.         Hardware: liquid and vapour transfer systems

.         Operational procedures

.         Requirement for the LNG provider to provide an LNG bunker delivery note

.         Training and qualifications of personnel involved

.         Requirements for LNG facilities to meet applicable ISO standards and local codes

“The requirements of ISO 20519 can be incorporated as a management objective into existing management programmes and provide verifiable compliance,” explains Steve O’Malley, Chair of technical committee ISO/TC 8, Ships and marine technology, subcommittee SC 11, Intermodal and short sea shipping, and Convener of TC 8 working group WG 8 that developed the standard. This is important, he says, because “the requirement to comply with ISO standards is often incorporated into business contracts and may also be referenced by local regulations”. Steve also extended his appreciation to ISO technical committee ISO/TC 67 on materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries, which began the work on this subject and provided many of the experts for the TC 8 working group.

The working group that developed ISO 20519 included specialists from the maritime industry, equipment manufacturers, the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), trading companies, class societies, international registries and the US Coast Guard. This sharing of knowledge was important to produce a standard that was both practical and would promote safety during LNG bunkering operations.

The use of LNG as a vessel fuel is relatively new, so the standard will need to be brought up to date periodically to incorporate lessons learned over time and technological changes. To facilitate this, a group has been created to track LNG bunkering incidents and help identify when the standard should be updated.

Specification for the transport of chilled and frozen parcels launched

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a publicly available specification (PAS) related to chilled and/or frozen goods delivery services. PAS 1018:2017 Indirect, temperature-controlled refrigerated delivery services – Land transport of refrigerated parcels with immediate transfer – Specification was sponsored by Yamato Holdings, and provides expert guidance and requirements to those who work in the chilled and/or frozen parcel delivery service.

PAS 1018 was developed in response to increasing global demand for chilled courier services and the expansion of mail-order services. In recent years there has also been an increase in small quantity business-to-business chilled and frozen goods deliveries. Improving convenience for delivery service users is a key goal of PAS 1018, with food, beauty goods or plant products being some of those goods likely to be delivered in accordance to the specification of the PAS.

Richard Taylor, Standards Market Development Director at BSI, said:

“PAS 1018 will help chilled parcel delivery service companies improve the efficiency and quality of their day-to-day operations, with the goal of better meeting the needs of their customers. Organizations which follow the requirements of PAS 1018 will also bolster their reputation in this fast-growing and competitive market by adhering to a comprehensive and quality specification.”

Shigeyuki Takano, Manager for Corporate Strategy at Yamato, said:

“The express parcel delivery service has been rapidly growing globally, backed by buoyant e-commerce demand. PAS 1018 is a global specification which will benefit both the industry and customers of chilled delivery products.”

PAS 1018 covers:

• Transportation of chilled or frozen parcels in temperature-controlled land transportation vehicles via geographical routing systems
• Requirements for resources, equipment, operations and communications to delivery service users
• Refrigerated parcels handling
• Conditions for operation sites, refrigerated vehicles, cold stores and cooling materials
• Work instructions, operational manuals and staff training
• Monitoring and improving the refrigerated delivery service

PAS 1018:2017 was developed using a collaborative consensus-based approach involving organizations from within the supply chain, food handling, environmental, transportation and courier services, amongst others.

Global organizations involved in the development of PAS 1018 include:

BSI Consumer & Public Interest Network; Cambridge Refrigeration Technology; Cold Chain Logistics Committee of China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing; Dearman; Food Storage & Distribution Federation; Hitotsubashi University; Ideaspeak International; Japan Direct Marketing Association; Japan Association for Logistics and Transport; Japan Sagawa Express Co., Ltd; London South Bank University, Centre for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Research; National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology; Nichirei Logistics Group Inc.; Ocado; Paneltex Ltd.; Post Co. Ltd; President Transnet Corporation; The  Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association; The Japan Frozen Food Association; The Japan Institute of Logistics Systems; Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.

Specification for trampoline parks launched to address safety concerns

BSI, the British standards company, has launched PAS 5000:2017 Specification for the construction and operation of a fixed indoor trampoline park. Developed in conjunction with the International Association of Trampoline Parks, the PAS provides requirements on the design, construction, risk assessment and day-to-day operation of a trampoline park.

Whilst trampoline parks have to meet general health and safety legislation and legal obligations – such as adherence to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (2013) – there are no current regulations specifically aimed at trampoline parks. In response to growing industry and public concern over accidents at trampoline parks, development of PAS 5000 brought together experts from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), British Gymnastics, and other industry bodies.

Specifically, the PAS outlines requirements for the construction of an indoor trampoline park made up of interconnected trampolines used for non-competitive activities. The PAS includes requirements that the designer and operator of the trampoline park construct a layout that reduces the risk to users and undertake a design risk assessment of the trampoline park before opening to the public.

PAS 5000 specifies requirements for the height of a trampoline to be a specific distance from the floor. Requirements are also provided with regards to the framework padding, and details for calculating capacity and how an operator can adequately ascertain when a trampoline park has reached peak capacity.

The PAS covers emergency scenarios, including a dedicated section to an Emergency Action Plan and an emergency evacuation plan that covers how to clear the trampolines and evacuate the building if necessary.

Anne Hayes, Head of Governance and Resilience at BSI, says: “The primary objective of PAS 5000 is to minimize the risk of trampoline park users – many of whom are children – to ensure they have a safe and enjoyable experience. Trampoline parks have rapidly grown in popularity in recent years for users of all ages. In developing PAS 5000, BSI brought together experts from diverse organizations to provide requirements for any operator who wishes to set up and maintain a trampoline park.”

PAS 5000 was sponsored by the International Association of Trampoline Parks (IATP), and the following organizations were involved in the development of the PAS: A&S Inman (Designs) Ltd; Air Hop; Air Space; BALPPA; British Gymnastics; Continental Sports Ltd; Freedome UK Ltd; Fun Spot Manufacturing; Gravity; Health and Safety Executive; International Association of Trampoline Parks; Independents (chartered insurance brokers); Luna Trampoline Ltd; Midlothian Council Environmental Health; and RoSPA.

As well as trampoline park operators and trampoline park designers, PAS 5000 will be of benefit to the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA); health and safety officers; environmental health officers; RoSPA; and third party auditors.

PAS 5000 does not cover building regulations; fire regulations; planning regulations; water testing; food and drink provision; Disability Discrimination Act compliance; testing procedures; and non-trampoline activities. 

Water quality in the loop of European Standardization

Can we say ‘Happy World Water Day’ thanks to European Standardization? We can surely be optimistic; standardization intends to make this day a happy one. This year’s World Water Day theme is wastewater as a valuable resource and the contribution of standardization to the use of this resource is on the way!

“An important part of our activities at CEN is to encourage, via focused networking among the scientific community, industry, policy-makers,…a more rapid uptake of the latest technological improvements delivered by research, into the future standards supporting the environmental policies and regulation. In line with this, we have adopted a series of recommendations concerning standardization needs in the water field to support phosphorus recycling from wastewater.” Valeria Dulio, Chairman of the ENV Team from the CEN Strategic Advisory Body on Environment (SABE).

Why improve phosphorus use for cleaner waters?

Emissions of phosphorus raise major environmental issues, as phosphorus (together with nitrogen) is one of the principal substances contributing to eutrophication and surface water quality failure (the excessive richness of nutrients leads to overgrowth of algae resulting the oxygen depletion of the water body that will eventually cause the death of fish). At the same time phosphorus is a non-renewable resource, essential and non-substitutable for fertilizers and animal feeds, and so for food production. Almost all phosphorus raw material used in Europe is imported.

Improving phosphorus use, reducing releases to surface waters and developing recycling can deliver improvements in water quality and reduce European dependency on phosphate imports. There are, however, significant challenges to phosphorus-recycling known as P-recycling, including the absence of a harmonized European legislative framework, and the fact that materials derived from sewage sludge and compost are legally considered as waste.

Recommendations for standardization work on wastewater

CEN adopted a series of recommendations for standardization in the short term. This includes firstly a mapping and analysis of:

.         existing standards,

.         public and private certification schemes relevant to phosphorus-recovery,

.         and an inventory of legislative processes where integration of phosphorus-recovery into standards is needed such as the Circular Economy Package, the EU Fertilizers Regulation, the Industrial Emissions Directive (BAT for waste treatment, water treatment, incineration, etc.).

Moreover, areas have been identified where standardization work is needed in the medium/long term. Standards are needed to:

.         evaluate the bioavailability of phosphorous,

.         define the technical characteristics and water content of recycled products,

.         assess the contaminant levels from the input materials to the recycled nutrient materials and soils.

Future standardization work for water quality: continuous water monitoring

Further topics are in the pipeline in order to better anticipate future standardization work. For example, CEN is currently studying the standardization needs in continuous water quality monitoring.

The added-value of continuous water quality monitoring devices is that they provide information on the evolution of water quality in a continuous way, thus allowing enhanced decision-making.

However, this leads to the need to ensure control of the information chain, from validation of raw data, retrieval, transmission, to processing in order to have coherent and reliable information.

A position paper with recommendations on strategic standardization needs in the area of continuous water monitoring will be delivered by the end of 2017.

Stronger harmonization in standardization activities benefits the creation of a more consistent and efficient implementation of European legislation.  Moreover, a closer exchange with the research community, industry and end-users proves to be an effective way to understand the demands of those needing to fulfil environmental requirements. At the same time, it encourages a more rapid uptake of improvements, such as better methods, new technologies, and innovative monitoring strategies, flowing from research into the standards.

Water quality in the loop of European Standardization

Can we say ‘Happy World Water Day’ thanks to European Standardization? We can surely be optimistic; standardization intends to make this day a happy one. This year’s World Water Day theme is wastewater as a valuable resource and the contribution of standardization to the use of this resource is on the way!

“An important part of our activities at CEN is to encourage, via focused networking among the scientific community, industry, policy-makers,…a more rapid uptake of the latest technological improvements delivered by research, into the future standards supporting the environmental policies and regulation. In line with this, we have adopted a series of recommendations concerning standardization needs in the water field to support phosphorus recycling from wastewater.” Valeria Dulio, Chairman of the ENV Team from the CEN Strategic Advisory Body on Environment (SABE).

Why improve phosphorus use for cleaner waters?

Emissions of phosphorus raise major environmental issues, as phosphorus (together with nitrogen) is one of the principal substances contributing to eutrophication and surface water quality failure (the excessive richness of nutrients leads to overgrowth of algae resulting the oxygen depletion of the water body that will eventually cause the death of fish). At the same time phosphorus is a non-renewable resource, essential and non-substitutable for fertilizers and animal feeds, and so for food production. Almost all phosphorus raw material used in Europe is imported.

Improving phosphorus use, reducing releases to surface waters and developing recycling can deliver improvements in water quality and reduce European dependency on phosphate imports. There are, however, significant challenges to phosphorus-recycling known as P-recycling, including the absence of a harmonized European legislative framework, and the fact that materials derived from sewage sludge and compost are legally considered as waste.

Recommendations for standardization work on wastewater

CEN adopted a series of recommendations for standardization in the short term. This includes firstly a mapping and analysis of:

.         existing standards,

.         public and private certification schemes relevant to phosphorus-recovery,

.         and an inventory of legislative processes where integration of phosphorus-recovery into standards is needed such as the Circular Economy Package, the EU Fertilizers Regulation, the Industrial Emissions Directive (BAT for waste treatment, water treatment, incineration, etc.).

Moreover, areas have been identified where standardization work is needed in the medium/long term. Standards are needed to:

.         evaluate the bioavailability of phosphorous,

.         define the technical characteristics and water content of recycled products,

.         assess the contaminant levels from the input materials to the recycled nutrient materials and soils.

Future standardization work for water quality: continuous water monitoring

Further topics are in the pipeline in order to better anticipate future standardization work. For example, CEN is currently studying the standardization needs in continuous water quality monitoring.

The added-value of continuous water quality monitoring devices is that they provide information on the evolution of water quality in a continuous way, thus allowing enhanced decision-making.

However, this leads to the need to ensure control of the information chain, from validation of raw data, retrieval, transmission, to processing in order to have coherent and reliable information.

A position paper with recommendations on strategic standardization needs in the area of continuous water monitoring will be delivered by the end of 2017.

Stronger harmonization in standardization activities benefits the creation of a more consistent and efficient implementation of European legislation.  Moreover, a closer exchange with the research community, industry and end-users proves to be an effective way to understand the demands of those needing to fulfil environmental requirements. At the same time, it encourages a more rapid uptake of improvements, such as better methods, new technologies, and innovative monitoring strategies, flowing from research into the standards.

•与全部利益相关者（包括休会人员）保持良好联系；
•取消当前项目，并在澳大利亚标准协会提交并批准用于标准制定的新项目提案时重新开始工作。;
•重组MB-010 通用合同条件技术委员会，扩大利益相关者的代表权。

         一些利益相关者积极参与AS 11000标准草案的实施工作，并为其付出许多努力，对此澳大利亚标准协会表示认可。该协会接受该项目成果，致力于与利益相关者进一步磋商探讨AS 11000标准的未来制订工作。

         MB-010的工作将为未来AS 11000的制定工作提供宝贵意见。澳大利亚标准协会承认，MB-010关于制定分包合同和争议解决的标准制定工作为利益相关方提供了有力的文件支持 。

Update on AS 11000, General Conditions of Contract

The Standards Development and Accreditation Committee (SDAC), a committee of the Standards Australia Board of Directors recently considered and delivered its decision on the development of AS 11000, General conditions of contract.

The Standards Australia Technical Committee MB-010, General Conditions of Contract, completed their work on AS 11000. This involved extensive development and consultation with all stakeholders.

Despite the Technical Committee’s best efforts and commitment to the draft, the document was not supported by the full spectrum of interests.

SDAC discussed the available options, including the publication of AS 11000 as an Interim Standard or as an Australian Technical Specification. These options were not supported at this stage.

The SDAC members noted the consultations undertaken to date by Standards Australia to enable an open and transparent process and the excellent effort of MB-010 members on the draft.

However, the members of SDAC resolved the implementation of a number of actions in relation to the future of AS 11000. As a result, Standards Australia will:

• Engage with all stakeholders out-of-session;

• Cancel the current project and recommence work when a new project proposal is submitted and approved for development by Standards Australia; and

• Reconstitute MB-010, General Conditions of Contract, to broaden stakeholder representation.

Standards Australia recognises the participation and contributions of a range of stakeholders in their efforts to progress the AS 11000 draft. Standards Australia accepts the outcome of the project and is committed to engaging in further consultation with all stakeholders to determine the future of AS 11000.

The work of MB-010 will provide valuable input into the future project for the development of AS 11000. Standards Australia also acknowledges that the work of MB-010 on the development of standards for subcontract and dispute resolution offers an extensive collection of documents for stakeholders.

Information on Australian Standards AS 1891.4:2009 and AS/NZS 5532:2013

Standards Australia has received a number of enquiries regarding the application of certain Australian Standard® standards as they relate to anchor point devices and fall arrest systems.

Standards Australia published AS 1891.4:2009, Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices Part 4: Selection, use and maintenance in 2009 and AS/NZS 5532:2013, Manufacturing requirements for single point anchor devices used for harness-based work at height in 2013.

It is important to note that Standards Australia is not part of government. We do not make acts or regulations and Australian Standard® standards are, of themselves, considered to be voluntary documents. However, compliance with an Australian Standard® may become mandatory where (and to the extent that) compliance with its terms is mandated, for example, by way of legislation.

SafeWork NSW has previously issued a fact sheet providing information on AS 1891.4:2009 and AS/NZS 5532:2013 under Work Health and Safety legislation. For more information please visit SafeWork’s website.

Australian Standard® standards are reviewed regularly by corresponding Standards Australia technical committees to ensure they remain relevant and technically current.

Standards Australia technical committee SF-015, Industrial Height Safety Equipment is currently working on a project to review AS/NZS 5532:2013, including in relation to testing for multiple anchor types.

The scope of the approved project and the constitution of the Technical Committee SF-015 responsible for the development of the drafts are attached to this Statement.