Innovations and introduction of new products are introduced at different stages nearly every second. Some are still in drawing stage, some in laboratory, in beta testing, and final end user samples. Depending on the industry, the product cannot be used or implemented based on rules and regulations governing that industry.
In recent years, the construction industry consolidated many code bodies into one unified code, namely, International Code Council. This body governs nearly all of the states that have officially adopted, and several other countries. This code permits local authorities to alter depending on topography, climatic, or geological conditions of that jurisdictions. In addition, jurisdictions can only use these codes as minimum level of acceptance, which permits the jurisdictions to become more stringent in their compliance requirements.
For example in California, due to nature of the seismic activities, the governing bodies administering the hospitals and schools mandate mush tougher regulations that standard office or residential facilities.
The index of standards is at the end chapters of International Code Councils documentations. These include ISO, ANSI, ACI, ASME, and so on. The irony is that these standard committees are no longer scientific unbiased engineers and practitioners. The committee members are retired practitioners representing one interest or the other. The meetings are scattered around the country. It is very difficult for any practitioner to spend time away from their income, family, and with financial burdens to attend a meeting on creating a standard for a newly developed product. Therefore, politically savvy manufacturers pack these meetings with favorable individuals where during the voting process; the skewed results favor the appropriate groups. Like in any political assembly, even if in paper the process seems to be impartial, the manipulation of the process makes it impossible to be fully scientific. Especially, when an individual representing a manufacturer is the longest member of the group. By default, this individual will receive higher position in the committee and control of the group. The rest of the story can be predicted.
The above procedures, namely, compliance of a product by a test procedure of standards organization and processing this through the ICC for certification, provides a position for a new innovative product in the construction industry.
If the approved product is then focused on the most stringent local codes, i.e. State Hospitals and public Schools, then the acceptability of the product for the rest of the industry is far easier. In case of hospitals, the building must be stronger, since the patients are immobile. In the case of schools, the pupils are priceless commodity.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.