The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) — Most in the electrical industry have heard of it, but do you really know what it does? Take the following short quiz:
The American National Standards Institute is:
(a) A standards developing organization (like UL, IEEE, NFPA, etc.)
(b) A facilitator of standards development
(c) A federal government body (like NIST, DoD, etc.)
(d) The US representative to international standards organizations (ISO, IEC)
(e) All of the above
(f) Both “a” and “b”
(g) Both “b” and “d”
Are you ready with your answer? The correct answer is…. (g). Many of you probably picked (a) “A standards developing organization” as your answer. This is a common misconception. ANSI does not develop standards. Rather, it helps to facilitate the development of standards by establishing the guidelines for consensus, due process and openness. Read on to learn more about this critical element of the US Standards System.
Founded in 1918 by five engineering societies and three government agencies, ANSI remains a private, nonprofit membership organization supported by a diverse constituency of private and public sector organizations. ANSI represents nearly 1400 company, organization, government agency, institutional, and international members.
National Standards Activity
Ask most people about ANSI and the odds are good that you will hear something about developing standards. We all talk about “ANSI Standards” which leads us to believe that ANSI actually develops standards. In fact, ANSI actually accredits many different standards developers, including those familiar to the electrical industry like NFPA, UL, and IEEE. By being an accredited developer and following the procedures outlined by ANSI, the developer is allowed to call their finalized standard an American National Standard (ANS).
Developers are not accredited in a haphazard fashion. Each developer desiring to become ANSI accredited must submit a set of standards development procedures for ANSI review.
These procedures must be in compliance with the basic ANSI principles of openness, consensus and due process. In addition, the developer must undergo an audit of their procedures and processes at least once every five years. The purpose of the Audit Program is to confirm adherence to the criteria for accreditation and to confirm that the developers’ procedures and practices continue to be consistent with their approved procedures and current ANSI requirements.
Why is the designation of an American National Standard important?It is the glue that holds together the private sector based standards system. Without a process in place such as that provided by ANSI, we would likely have more governmental control of the standards system and less acceptability of the standards nationwide. Authorities having jurisdiction (inspectors, building officials, etc.), governmental agencies (Federal, State, local) and users recognize and look for standards that are recognized as ANS. By using standards that have been designated as such, they can be assured that the standard has been processed through an open system, where consensus was achieved, and there was ample opportunity for those affected by the standard to participate and comment.
Standards are presently promulgated as ANS, by any one of three methods: Committee, Organization and Canvass.
The Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Methodis used by developers who chose to form a specific accredited committee to do the standards work. For instance, ASC C2 develops the National Electrical Safety Code. The organization providing the development support is IEEE and they manage the process and the activities of the C2 committee.
The Organization Methodis used by organizations that choose to establish a set of procedures specific to their organizational needs. The procedures must also comply with the ANSI procedures and guidelines, but are typically more extensive in nature. As an example, NFPA develops the National Electrical Code under the organizational method of ANSI.
The Canvass Methodof standards development is used by a wide variety of standards developers. The ANSI procedures outline a specific set of requirements for this method. In this method, a canvass list of interested persons is established and this body provides the review of the standard that is under development. UL, NEMA, ARI, and a host of other developers use this method.
Use of any of the above methods results in a standard that can be designated as an American National Standard. Due process and consensus are the hallmarks of that designation. In all cases, the ANSI process requires a public review period. This allows those who did not directly participate in the development of the standard to still make comments on the technical content of the standard. A single standards developer could have standards produced under one or more of these three methods.
There are some key groups within ANSI that have responsibility for portions of this national standards system. Each of these groups exists to ensure that the ANSI process is maintained, appeals are heard, and procedural issues are addressed. These are in addition to all of the mechanisms that may exist within the standards developer process.
The Board of Standards Review (BSR)– The Board of Standards Review is responsible for the approval and withdrawal of American National Standards. The functions of the Board of Standards Review include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) National Standards and adjudicating questions or conflicts that develop in the standards approval procedure; and
(2) Determining whether standards submitted to ANSI for approval or withdrawal as American National Standards meet the requirements of the ANSI and acting on all requests for approval, reaffirmation, revision and withdrawal of American National Standards.
The BSR is not involved in the content of standards and does not hear appeals with regard to technical issues. However, the BSR may hear an appeal with regard to whether a technical issue was given due consideration in accordance with the ANSI accredited standards developer’s procedures.
Executive Standards Council (ExSC)– The Executive Standards Council is responsible for the procedures and criteria for national and international standards development activities of ANSI. The functions of the Executive Standards Council include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Developing and promulgating procedures and criteria for the coordination, development, approval and withdrawal of standards as American National Standards;
(2) Developing and promulgating procedures and criteria for the coordination, development and approval of United States positions in the international non-treaty standardization organizations with which the Institute is or may become affiliated;
(3) Establishing and supervising such groups as are needed to plan and coordinate the development of American National Standards and to determine and coordinate United States positions in international standards activities;
(4) Developing and promulgating procedures for auditing the implementation of procedures and operations given in (1), (2) and (3) above;
(5) Hearing and adjudicating appeals pertaining to procedural issues and accreditations; and
(6) Considering and responding to public review comments.
Appeals Board– The Appeals Board considers appeals by directly and materially affected persons (organizations, companies, government agencies, individuals, etc.) who believe they have been, or will be, adversely affected by a decision of ANSI, whether in the form of action or inaction. In recent years, the Appeals Board has primarily considered appeals of appeals decisions issued by the Executive Standards Council (ExSC) or the Board of Standards Review (BSR). However, the Appeals Board may hear appeals with regard to the implementation of additional procedural issues.
The importance of the ANSI process and the auditing program should not be underestimated.
Without this National Standards activity, the US standards system would be open to domination by special interests, have limited acceptance across the country and would negatively impact US competitiveness.
ANSI’s International Role
ANSI is the sole U.S. representative and dues-paying member of the two major non-treaty international standards organizations, the International Organization for Standardization(ISO), and, through the U.S. National Committee (USNC), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Through the ANSI umbrella, US positions on issues in IEC and ISO are conveyed to the international community. This role helps the US in maintaining competitiveness in other markets and provides a forum where concepts in US standards can be promoted into IEC and ISO standards.
It should be recognized that by participating in IEC and ISO activities, ANSI is not committing the US to using those standards on a de facto basis. Standards that are developed through IEC or ISO and are being considered for use in the US are (and should continue to be) processed through the ANSI national standards system. This will ensure that all US interests have an opportunity to “weigh-in” on the standard before it becomes accepted as an American National Standard.
The present ANSI membership falls into three categories; Corporate, Government, and Organization.
Corporate membershipis for a corporation, partnership or other entity that is created under the laws of the United States or any State thereof and that is engaged in industrial or commercial enterprise or professional, educational, research, testing or trade activity.
Corporate members include companies such as Square D Company, Caterpillar, AT&T, Microsoft, etc. Corporate member dues to ANSI are determined based on a fee structure related to annual revenue.
Government membersare departments or agencies of the United States government or of any State, interstate or regional authority or agency, or any local or county subdivision of such entities interested in the work of ANSI. Government members include Broward County Florida, City of Jacksonville, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Metro Dade County Florida, US Department of Defense, etc. Government member dues to ANSI are determined based on a fee structure related to their annual budget.
Organizational membersinclude not-for-profit scientific, technical, professional, labor, consumer, trade or other association or organization that is involved in standards, certification or related activities. Organizational members include Underwriters Laboratories, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, etc. Organizational member dues to ANSI are based on a basic organizational fee along with a national activity assessment based on the number of standards the member develops and submits to ANSI (if a standards developer) and an international activity assessment based on a level of involvement with ISO and IEC (if they sponsor a technical advisory group or a secretariat).
Membership in ANSI helps not only to support the voice of the US interests internationally, but more importantly it supports the US infrastructure for a voluntary, consensus-based standards system.
In summary, ANSI plays an irreplaceable role in the US standards system. Each participant in the electrical industry (inspector, installer, manufacturer, designer, etc.) must endeavor to understand the role ANSI plays and support that role by actively participating in the standards system and in setting the direction ANSI takes in the future.
One of the key ANSI publications is Standards Action. This document is produced biweekly and indicates what standards are under development and out for public review. Standards Action is available on the ANSI web site. This is required reading for anyone involved in the US codes and standards system.
More information about ANSI and ANSI membership can be found on its web site at www.ansi.org.
Taasisi ya Taifa ya Kiwango ya Marekani (ANSI) <unk> Wengi katika sekta ya umeme wamesikia juu yake, lakini je, kweli unajua nini inafanya? "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""American National Standards Institute"" ni shirika la kimataifa linaloendeleza viwango vya kimataifa kama vile UL, IEEE, NFPA, na vinginevyo." (b) Msaidizi wa maendeleo ya viwango (c) Shirika la serikali ya shirikisho (kama NIST, DoD, nk) (a) Mwakilishi wa Marekani kwa mashirika ya kimataifa ya viwango (ISO, IEC) (e) Yote ya hapo juu (f) Wote <unk>a<unk> na <unk>b<unk> (g) Wote <unk>b<unk> na <unk>d<unk> Je, uko tayari na jibu lako? Jibu sahihi ni.... (g) Wengi wenu pengine alichagua (a) <unk> A viwango vya maendeleo ya shirika <unk> kama jibu lako. Hilo ni wazo lisilo la kweli la kawaida. ANSI haibuni viwango. Badala yake, inasaidia kuwezesha maendeleo ya viwango kwa kuanzisha miongozo kwa ajili ya makubaliano, utaratibu sahihi na uwazi. Soma zaidi juu ya kujifunza zaidi kuhusu kipengele hiki muhimu cha Mfumo wa Viwango vya Marekani. Ilianzishwa mnamo 1918 na vyama vitano vya uhandisi na mashirika matatu ya serikali, ANSI bado ni shirika la kibinafsi, lisilo la faida linaloungwa mkono na wajumbe mbalimbali wa mashirika ya sekta binafsi na ya umma. ANSI inawakilisha karibu kampuni 1400, mashirika, mashirika ya serikali, taasisi, na wanachama wa kimataifa. Kwa mfano, kama unauliza watu wengi kuhusu ANSI, kuna uwezekano mkubwa kwamba utasikia kitu kuhusu kuendeleza viwango. Sisi wote majadiliano kuhusu <unk>ANSI Viwango<unk> ambayo inaongoza sisi kuamini kwamba ANSI kweli maendeleo ya viwango. ANSI pia inatoa vyeti kwa watengenezaji wa viwango mbalimbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na wale wanaojulikana kwa sekta ya umeme kama vile NFPA, UL, na IEEE. Kwa kuwa msanidi programu aliyehitimu na kufuata taratibu zilizoelezwa na ANSI, msanidi programu anaruhusiwa kuita kiwango chake cha mwisho cha Kiwango cha Kitaifa cha Amerika (ANS). Watengenezaji si accredited katika mtindo random. Kila msanidi programu anayetaka kuwa ANSI accredited lazima kuwasilisha seti ya taratibu za maendeleo ya viwango kwa ajili ya ANSI mapitio. Utaratibu huu lazima ufuate kanuni za msingi za ANSI za uwazi, makubaliano na utaratibu sahihi. Kwa kuongezea, msanidi programu lazima afanyiwe ukaguzi wa taratibu na michakato yake angalau mara moja kila baada ya miaka mitano. Lengo la Programu ya ukaguzi ni kuthibitisha kufuata vigezo vya kibali na kuthibitisha kwamba taratibu na mazoea ya watengenezaji yanaendelea kuwa sawa na taratibu zao zilizokubaliwa na mahitaji ya sasa ya ANSI. Kwa nini ni muhimu kwa ajili ya utambulisho wa Marekani National Standard?Ni gundi kwamba anaendelea pamoja sekta binafsi msingi viwango mfumo. Bila mchakato wa mahali kama ule unaotolewa na ANSI, tunaweza kuwa na udhibiti zaidi wa serikali wa mfumo wa viwango na kukubalika kidogo kwa viwango nchini kote. Mamlaka yenye mamlaka (wakaguzi, maafisa wa ujenzi, nk. Serikali, taasisi za serikali (Mataifa, ya Jimbo, ya Mitaa) na watumiaji kutambua na kuangalia kwa ajili ya viwango ambayo ni kutambuliwa kama ANS. Kwa kutumia viwango vilivyowekwa kama hivyo, wanaweza kuwa na uhakika kwamba kiwango hicho kimetengenezwa kupitia mfumo wa wazi, ambapo makubaliano yalipatikana, na kulikuwa na fursa kubwa kwa wale walioathiriwa na kiwango hicho kushiriki na kutoa maoni. Kwa sasa, viwango vinatangazwa kama ANS, kwa njia yoyote ya tatu: Kamati, Shirika na Canvass. "Akweli ya ""Akweli ya Maadili ya Utaratibu"" (ASC) ni mbinu inayotumiwa na watengenezaji ambao wamechagua kuunda kamati maalum ya kuidhinishwa kufanya kazi ya viwango." Kwa mfano, ASC C2 hutengeneza Kanuni ya Kitaifa ya Usalama wa Umeme. Mfumo wa Uendelezaji wa C2 unaoongoza mchakato wa maendeleo na utendaji wa C2 Mbinu ya Shirika hutumiwa na mashirika ambayo huchagua kuanzisha seti ya taratibu maalum kwa mahitaji yao ya shirika. Utaratibu huu pia lazima ufuate taratibu na miongozo ya ANSI, lakini kwa kawaida ni ya kina zaidi. Kwa mfano, NFPA inaendeleza Kanuni ya Kitaifa ya Umeme chini ya njia ya shirika la ANSI. Mbinu ya Canvass ya maendeleo ya viwango hutumiwa na aina mbalimbali za watengenezaji wa viwango. ANSI taratibu kuelezea seti maalum ya mahitaji kwa ajili ya njia hii. Katika njia hii, orodha ya canvass ya watu wanaopendezwa imewekwa na chombo hiki hutoa ukaguzi wa kiwango ambacho kinaendelea. UL, NEMA, ARI, na majeshi ya watengenezaji wengine kutumia njia hii. Matumizi ya yoyote ya mbinu za juu matokeo katika kiwango ambacho inaweza kuteuliwa kama American National Standard. Utaratibu unaofaa na makubaliano ni sifa za uteuzi huo. Katika kesi zote, mchakato wa ANSI unahitaji kipindi cha ukaguzi wa umma. Hii inaruhusu wale ambao hawakushiriki moja kwa moja katika maendeleo ya kiwango cha bado kutoa maoni juu ya maudhui ya kiufundi ya kiwango. Msanidi programu mmoja anaweza kuwa na viwango zinazozalishwa chini ya moja au zaidi ya mbinu hizi tatu. Kuna baadhi ya makundi muhimu ndani ya ANSI kwamba kuwa na jukumu kwa sehemu ya mfumo huu wa viwango vya kitaifa. Kila moja ya makundi haya ipo ili kuhakikisha kwamba mchakato wa ANSI unadumishwa, rufaa zinasikilizwa, na masuala ya utaratibu yanashughulikiwa. Hizi ni pamoja na utaratibu wote ambao unaweza kuwepo ndani ya mchakato wa maendeleo ya viwango. Bodi ya Maelezo ya Viwango (BSR) ni mamlaka ya Marekani ya kuidhinisha na kuondoa viwango vya kitaifa. Kazi za Bodi ya Mapitio ya Viwango ni pamoja na, lakini si mdogo kwa, zifuatazo: (1) Viwango vya Kitaifa na kuamua maswali au migogoro ambayo huibuka katika utaratibu wa idhini ya viwango; (2) Kuamua ikiwa viwango vilivyopendekezwa kwa ANSI kwa idhini au kuondolewa kama Viwango vya Kitaifa vya Amerika vinakidhi mahitaji ya ANSI na kuchukua hatua juu ya maombi yote ya idhini, uthibitisho, marekebisho na kuondolewa kwa Viwango vya Kitaifa vya Amerika. BSR haishiriki katika maudhui ya viwango na haisikii rufaa kuhusiana na masuala ya kiufundi. Hata hivyo, BSR inaweza kusikia rufaa kuhusu kama suala la kiufundi lilitolewa kwa kuzingatia kwa mujibu wa taratibu za ANSI accredited standards developer. Mtendaji Standards Baraza (ExSC) <unk> Mtendaji Standards Baraza ni wajibu kwa ajili ya taratibu na vigezo kwa ajili ya shughuli za kitaifa na kimataifa viwango vya maendeleo ya ANSI. Kazi za Baraza la Viwango la Utekelezaji ni pamoja na, lakini si mdogo kwa, zifuatazo: (1) Kuendeleza na kutangaza taratibu na vigezo kwa ajili ya kuratibu, maendeleo, idhini na kuondoa viwango kama viwango vya kitaifa vya Marekani; (2) Kuendeleza na kutangaza taratibu na vigezo kwa ajili ya kuratibu, idhini na idhini ya viwango vya Marekani katika mashirika ya kimataifa ya viwango vya kimataifa; (3) Kusikiliza na kuamua rufaa zinazohusiana na masuala ya utaratibu na accreditations; na (6) Kuamua na kujibu maoni ya umma. Bodi ya Rufaa <unk> Bodi ya Rufaa inachunguza rufaa kutoka kwa watu walioathiriwa moja kwa moja na kiuchumi ( mashirika, makampuni, mashirika ya serikali, watu binafsi, nk.) Wanachama wanaohusika na uamuzi wa ANSI, iwe ni kwa njia ya hatua au kutofanya kazi, wanaweza kuathiriwa vibaya. Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, Bodi ya Rufaa imekuwa ikizingatia rufaa za maamuzi ya rufaa yaliyotolewa na Baraza la Viwango vya Utekelezaji (ExEC) au Bodi ya Mapitio ya Viwango (BSR). Hata hivyo, Bodi ya Rufaa inaweza kusikia rufaa kuhusiana na utekelezaji wa masuala ya ziada ya utaratibu. Umuhimu wa mchakato wa ANSI na mpango wa ukaguzi haupaswi kupuuzwa. Bila shughuli hii ya viwango vya kitaifa, mfumo wa viwango vya Marekani ungekuwa wazi kwa kutawala kwa maslahi maalum, kuwa na kukubalika kidogo nchini kote na kuathiri vibaya ushindani wa Marekani. ANSI ni mwakilishi pekee wa Marekani na mwanachama wa kulipa ada ya mashirika mawili makubwa yasiyo ya mkataba wa kimataifa, Shirika la Kimataifa la Standardization (ISO) na, kupitia Kamati ya Kitaifa ya Marekani (USNC), Tume ya Kimataifa ya Electrotechnical (IEC). Kwa njia ya ANSI, msimamo wa Marekani juu ya masuala katika IEC na ISO ni alitangaza kwa jamii ya kimataifa. Utaratibu huu husaidia Marekani kudumisha ushindani katika masoko mengine na hutoa jukwaa ambapo dhana katika viwango vya Marekani inaweza kukuza katika viwango vya IEC na ISO. Ni muhimu kutambua kwamba kwa kushiriki katika shughuli za IEC na ISO, ANSI haikubali Marekani kutumia viwango hivyo kwa msingi wa kweli. Viwango vilivyotengenezwa kupitia IEC au ISO na vinavyofikiriwa kwa matumizi nchini Marekani ni (na vinapaswa kuendelea) kusindika kupitia mfumo wa viwango vya kitaifa vya ANSI. Hii itahakikisha kwamba maslahi yote ya Marekani kuwa na nafasi ya <unk>weigh-katika<unk> juu ya kiwango kabla ya kuwa kukubaliwa kama Kiwango cha Taifa cha Marekani. Uanachama wa sasa wa ANSI unagawanywa katika makundi matatu; Kampuni, Serikali, na Shirika. Uanachama wa Kampuni ni kwa ajili ya kampuni, ushirika au chombo kingine ambacho ni kuundwa chini ya sheria za Marekani au jimbo lolote la Marekani na kwamba ni kushiriki katika viwanda au biashara ya biashara au kitaaluma, elimu, utafiti, majaribio au biashara shughuli. Kampuni za ndani ni pamoja na Square D, Caterpillar, AT&T, Microsoft, na wengineo. Mshahara wa wanachama wa ushirika kwa ANSI huamuliwa kulingana na muundo wa ada inayohusiana na mapato ya kila mwaka. Washiriki wa Serikali ni idara au mashirika ya Serikali ya Marekani au ya serikali yoyote, mamlaka ya kati ya jimbo au kikanda au shirika, au mgawanyiko wowote wa mitaa au kaunti ya vyombo hivyo vinavyopendezwa na kazi ya ANSI. Miongoni mwao ni Wilaya ya Broward, Wilaya ya Jacksonville, Taasisi ya Taifa ya Viwango na Teknolojia, Wilaya ya Metro Dade, na Idara ya Ulinzi ya Marekani. Mshahara wa wanachama wa serikali kwa ANSI huamuliwa kulingana na muundo wa ada inayohusiana na bajeti yao ya kila mwaka. Washiriki wa shirika ni pamoja na yasiyo ya faida ya kisayansi, kiufundi, kitaaluma, kazi, watumiaji, biashara au chama kingine au shirika linalohusika katika viwango, vyeti au shughuli zinazohusiana. Washiriki wa shirika ni pamoja na Underwriters Laboratories, Chama cha Kimataifa cha Wakaguzi wa Umeme, Chama cha Taifa cha Watengenezaji wa Umeme, nk. Mshahara wa wanachama wa shirika kwa ANSI unategemea ada ya msingi ya shirika pamoja na tathmini ya shughuli za kitaifa kulingana na idadi ya viwango vya wanachama wanavyotengeneza na kuwasilisha kwa ANSI (kama msanidi programu) na tathmini ya shughuli za kimataifa kulingana na kiwango cha ushiriki na ISO na IEC (kama wanashirikiana na kikundi cha ushauri wa kiufundi au katibu). Uanachama katika ANSI husaidia sio tu kuunga mkono sauti ya maslahi ya Marekani kimataifa, lakini muhimu zaidi inasaidia miundombinu ya Marekani kwa ajili ya mfumo wa viwango wa hiari, wa makubaliano. Kwa muhtasari, ANSI ina jukumu lisiloweza kubadilishwa katika mfumo wa viwango vya Marekani. Kila mshiriki katika sekta ya umeme (mchunguzi, installer, mtengenezaji, mbuni, nk) Ni muhimu kutambua na kuunga mkono jukumu la ANSI kwa kushiriki kikamilifu katika mfumo wa viwango na kuamua mwelekeo wa ANSI katika siku zijazo. Moja ya machapisho muhimu ya ANSI ni Standards Action. Hati hii hutolewa kila baada ya wiki mbili na inaonyesha ni viwango gani vinavyotengenezwa na kutolewa kwa ukaguzi wa umma. Maagizo ya Utaratibu yanapatikana kwenye tovuti ya ANSI. Hii ni lazima kusoma kwa mtu yeyote kushiriki katika kanuni za Marekani na mfumo wa viwango. Maelezo zaidi kuhusu ANSI na ushirika wa ANSI yanaweza kupatikana kwenye tovuti yake kwenye www.ansi.org.