Search
Advanced search
Filter by category
Filter by committee
Search results
-
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.…
-
ASTM Subcommittee E06.77 on High-Rise Building External Evacuation Devices is seeking interested persons to participate in standards activity that is focused on egress in emergency situations occurring in multi-story buildings, as well as on the ability of emergency personnel to respond effectively and access fires or other emergencies on higher floors. Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings…
-
An important new ASTM International standard recently approved by Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings is the first of its kind to focus on determining the resistance of annealed architectural glass to thermally induced stresses caused by exposure to sun and shadows. The standard, E 2431 , Practice for Determining the Resistance of Single Glazed Annealed Architectural Flat Glass to Thermal…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
Firestop systems have become essential components in saving lives and minimizing property damage during a fire. Because the installation of a firestop system is a very exacting, zero-tolerance process, it is imperative that the post-installation inspection of a firestop system also be exacting. Two ASTM International standards developed by ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings are now…
-
The new, 42nd edition of ASTM Standards in Building Codes , now available for purchase from ASTM International, provides the tools to design and construct buildings that satisfy international code requirements established by the International Code Council (ICC). ICC is comprised of the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), the Southern Building Code Congress…, Special offer: buy the online version and receive the print or CD at 50 percent off., For the online subscriptions to ASTM Standards in Building Codes , online basic users have access only to active ASTM standards documents; online plus users have access to all available ASTM standards documents, including active, redline, historical and withdrawn standards. The online basic subscription for an individual is $1,150 (stock # BLDGSVC); for 2-5 users (single site) $3,050 (stock #…
-
ASTM International Subcommittee E54.05 on Building and Infrastructure Protection has reorganized itself to better reflect the needs of industry. The subcommittee is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications. "The reorganization focuses the efforts of the subcommittee more along the lines of various disciplines and areas of interest seen in industry," says Curt…