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ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, announced the approval and availability of a new standard for collecting, packaging, and transporting visible powder samples suspected of being biological agents. ASTM E 2458 ,, Standard Practices for Bulk Sample Collection and Swab Sample Collection of Visible Powders Suspected of Being Biological Agents from Nonporous Surfaces, is the first standard to address the subject. E 2458 incorporates reference guidance to comply with appropriate federal regulations regarding biosafety and biosecurity. The standard is applicable to nonporous surfaces only., Cooperative Interagency and Stakeholder Effort, The development of a sample collection standard was initiated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to address the problems associated with haphazard sample collection and screening. DHS assigned the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to coordinate and lead a task group whose charge was to develop a standard protocol for the collection of powders that are…, ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security, Currently there are over 500 stakeholders in Committee E 54 on Homeland Security, representing diverse groups including first responders, manufacturers, suppliers, trade and professional associations, and federal, state and local government. The committee was first organized in 2003. E 2458 is the third standard issued by Committee E54 on Homeland Security, and the first standard of Subcommittee…, Two-Step Procedure, E 2458 is a two-step procedure that is performed after an initial risk assessment is conducted and a visible powder is deemed a credible biological threat. The first step of the procedure, or Method A, covers the bulk collection and packaging of the suspicious visible powders from solid nonporous surfaces. Bulk samples are collected and transported in a manner that permits public health and…, Sample Collection Procedure Proven to Work, A study was conducted in March 2006 to validate the reliability of the sampling procedure at the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground. The study demonstrated that the sampling procedure can be used by trained Emergency Responders in simulated emergency conditions to consistently recover samples. The study also proved that sufficient number of Bacillus anthracis spores can be detected by Emergency…, after, all bulk samples have been collected. The evaluation study was designed to determine the recovery efficacy on seven environmental surface types that included stainless steel, food-grade painted wood, rubber, tile, concrete, finished wood, and plastic. The study involved six teams that included four National Guard Civil Support Teams (CST), the Navy’s Chemical Biological Incidence Response Force (…, Contacts, ASTM standards are available from Customer Service (610-832-9585); https://www.astm.org/contact/ ) or the ASTM web site store ( www.astm.org ). For further technical information, contact E54.01 Chairman Alim A. Fatah, Program Manager, Chemical Systems & Materials, Office of Law Enforcement Standards, NIST (phone: 301/975-2753; alim.fatah@nist.gov ). The next meeting of Committee E54 is Jan.…
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ASTM Internationalhas joined the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, a national group of fire service members, consumer and disabled rights advocates, medical and public health practitioners and other related organizations. The purpose of the CFSC, which has been coordinated by the National Fire Protection Association, is to save lives and prevent injuries and damage that result from cigarette-…
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Proposed New ASTM International Homeland Security Standard to Provide Preparedness Plans for SchoolsThe mass murder at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., in 1999 brought the subject of school security into the U.S. national spotlight and subsequent events, including other school-related incidents and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have kept it there. A proposed new ASTM International standard will help schools and school districts prepare for and mitigate against both large-scale…
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Robots have a long and storied history in science fiction, but the rapid advance of technology has placed robotics very much within the realm of science fact. A new ASTM International initiative has now been launched that will investigate the role of robots in search and rescue operations. ASTM International has recently been selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a…
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Each year, over 1,000 structures are lost to wildfires in the state of California alone. A new ASTM subcommittee, E05.14 on External Fire Exposure Tests, is now developing standards designed to reduce the structural damage due to wildfires in California and throughout the United States. The new subcommittee is under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards. The scope…
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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…
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After an investigation of three years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released a report on the fires and collapses of New York Citys World Trade Center towers following terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The report, published on June 23, details recommendations made to organizations that develop building and fire safety codes, standards and practices for specific…
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, New ASTM Committee to Develop Standards That Will Facilitate New System Designs and Industry Growth, ASTM International, one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations (SDOs) in the world, today announced the formation of ASTM Committee F41 on Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Systems. This important standards initiative was driven by the cooperative efforts of the United States Navy and UUV industry stakeholders to facilitate new UUV system designs and enable next-generation…, Critical Role in Oceanographic Research, Commercial and Military Applications, UUVs have a notable history dating back to the early 1980s. Early systems built on their manned submersible predecessors and helped transform oceanographic research during the decade. Used by the academic community in notable deep-sea expeditions, such as the discovery and exploration of the wreck of the Titanic, UUVs have played a critical role in ocean surveying, environmental monitoring, and…, UUV Growth and Evolution: ASTM Standards Will Help Lead the Way, Todays UUV industry includes two classes of systems: remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are attached to a mother-ship by a long cable; and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), which operate without a tether. To better meet the challenges of emerging applications, existing UUV systems must evolve with new technology. Specific areas of need include greater interoperability among…, Fast and Efficient Standards Development Through the ASTM Process, Led by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the premier trade association for the unmanned systems industry, UUV stakeholders selected ASTM International as the SDO best suited for the development of new international industry standards. With a proven consensus process and state-of-the-art standards development infrastructure, ASTM International was best positioned…, Public/Private Sector Collaboration under the ASTM Umbrella, ASTM Committee F41 is another example of the long-standing partnership between the public and private sectors in developing consensus standards under the ASTM International process. F41 brings together technical experts from the UUV industry, federal government, trade associations and academia to develop voluntary consensus standards pertaining to UUV design, safety and performance including…
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A longtime need for better standardization and testing of sporicides has led to the approval of a new ASTM International standard, E 2414, Test Method for Quantitative Sporicidal Three-Step Method (TSM) to Determine Sporicidal Efficacy of Liquids and Vapor or Gases on Contaminated Carrier Surfaces. The newly approved test method, under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee E54.03 on Decontamination,…
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At a press briefing today in New York City, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released draft recommendations from its building and fire safety investigation of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The findings resulting from the investigation will be a valuable resource for ASTMs technical committees in identifying future standards development needs. ASTM…, Advisory Group Is Established, Earlier this month, ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards at its biannual standards development meeting established an advisory group to focus specifically on technical findings related to E05 standardization activities arising out of the World Trade Center investigation. Formed within ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards the advisory group will: 1) review the draft…, Analysis Is Commissioned, In addition, ASTM has commissioned an analysis of the NIST report as it relates to ASTMs standards. The analysis will provide timely assistance to ASTM International in studying the NIST report and will suggest standards development initiatives within Committee E05 and other ASTM technical committees. By commissioning this analysis, ASTM International will be able to continue its tradition…, Fire Resistance Task Group Is Formed, Committee E05 also established a new Task Group within Subcommittee E05.11 on Fire Resistance. E05.11 has jurisdiction over significant test methodology regarding fire resistance. The NIST report will provide a unique examination of engineering practices and test method needs., Open Participation, E05 next meets on December 4-7, 2005, in Dallas, Texas. If you would like to attend the meeting and contribute to the enhancement of existing standards or the development of new methods, guides, and practices, ASTM meetings are open to all interested parties. For additional information, please contact Tom OToole, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9739; totoole@astm.org ); or visit the…