ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices, which produces global safety standards for the amusement industry, will be holding three days of meetings from Oct. 13-15, 2011 at the Valley Ho Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz. Approximately 50 separate meetings will be held, each one focusing on a specific safety element of the amusement industry. Areas that are covered include, but are not limited to, ride design, operations and maintenance. Meetings are open to both members and non-members of ASTM and registration is available on the ASTM F24 Committee site at www.astm.org/COMMIT/F24.htm.
Preregistration for the Scottsdale meeting is at the highest level ever. More than 150 safety experts from all over the world are expected to attend. Jim Seay, chairman of Committee F24 and president of Premier Rides, commented, “The best thing about the ASTM meetings is that there is a wide diversity of attendees ranging from the largest operators to regulatory officials to consumer advocates.” Membership of ASTM is not a prerequisite. The meeting is open to all that have a passion for safety and would like to contribute to the standards.
While a wide array of areas in the park industry will be covered, there will be specific focus on zip lines and inflatables. Mike Teske, chairman of the F24 Zip Line Task Group and director of technical services at Zipline Franchising LLC, noted, “The zip line industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the attraction industry. F24 is fortunate that a significant amount of people involved in that element of the industry are volunteering their time and expertise to gather and discuss both issues within the industry and appropriate safety standards that should be implemented to ensure patron safety at installations throughout the world.”
ABOUT ASTM COMMITTEE F24
ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices was formed in 1978. F24 meets twice a year, usually in February and October, with more than 100 members from around the world attending several days of technical meetings. The committee, with current membership of more than 500 global members, currently has jurisdiction over 17 standards, published in multiple languages in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 15.07. These standards have and continue to play a pre-eminent role in all safety aspects important to amusement rides and devices.
ASTM Committee F24 Next Meeting: Oct. 13-15, 2011, Valley Ho Hotel, Scottsdale, Ariz.
ASTM Staff Contact: Leonard Morrissey, 610-832-9719; lmorriss@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org
Release #8988