A new ASTM International subcommittee, E54.08 on Operational Equipment, is devoted to the development of standards related to operational equipment for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incident response. The subcommittee, which is under the jurisdiction of Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications, defines operational equipment as specialized equipment needed to sustain operations and provide general support during CBRNE incident response or search and rescue operations. Equipment that falls under this definition can include specialized tools, robotics, specialized law enforcement equipment, explosives mitigation and containment equipment, search and rescue equipment, material handling and other similar equipment.

According to Phil Mattson, chair of E54.08, the new subcommittee will identify gaps and provide a mechanism for the development of standards and related documents for requirements that are not otherwise addressed in other E54 subcommittees, other ASTM committees, or through other standards development organizations.

Interested parties are invited to participate in the standards development activities of Subcommittee E54.08.

For further technical information, contact Phil Mattson, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md. (phone: 301/975-3396; pmattson@nist.gov). Committee E54 will meet Feb. 6-8, at the January/February Committee Week in Phoenix, Ariz. For membership or meeting details, contact Pat Picariello, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9720; ppicarie@astm.org).

Release #7228