SCC and ANSI Launch Pilot Project for Joint Canada-U.S. Standards on Plumbing, Heating, and Electrotechnology

OTTAWA, July 30, 2013 /CNW/ - The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are pleased to announce the launch of a set of pilot projects that will facilitate the development of joint Canada-U.S. standards in the electrotechnical and plumbing/heating sectors. The pilot projects will focus on new or emerging product areas where neither standards nor regulations currently exist, and where standards development would benefit the greatest number of Canadian and American users.

"As a result of recent stakeholder consultations with Canadian and U.S. industry, SCC and ANSI have agreed to work together to advance Canada-U.S. voluntary standards cooperation and innovation," said John Walter, SCC Chief Executive Officer (CEO). "We are excited to lend our support to this initiative."

Developing joint standards that serve the public health and safety objectives of Canadian and U.S. regulators will help industry in both countries to avoid inefficiencies and to contain potential development costs. Through pursuit of Canada-U.S. collaborations that propel adherence to a joint set of requirements, maximum benefits for users in both countries can be achieved.

"In our role as coordinator of the U.S. standardization system, ANSI is pleased to partner with SCC on this project, which will make it easier for products to cross our shared border," said Joe Bhatia, president and CEO of ANSI. "We look to the U.S. and Canadian standards developing community to share their proposals, and to industry in both countries to actively participate in the development of these voluntary standards."

A selection panel of Canada-U.S. industry representatives, including members of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) and Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and several U.S. organizations that are being identified, will be formed to evaluate project submissions. Two product categories/topics - one focused on plumbing/heating, and one focused on electrotechnology, will be selected as the subjects of the joint standards pilot projects.

SCC will then solicit proposals from accredited standards development organizations (SDOs), and provide funding as-needed to facilitate the development of joint Canada-U.S. voluntary standards. In order to be selected, entities must be accredited to develop national standards in both countries - whether as a single SDO with dual accreditation, or through a partnership of U.S.-Canada SDOs. The selection of proposals will be announced in November 2013. Work on the standards is expected to begin in January 2014.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is made up of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide. The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and is a U.S. representative to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

About SCC

SCC is a Crown corporation and a portfolio of Industry Canada. With the goal of enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness and social well-being, SCC leads and facilitates the development and use of national and international standards. SCC also coordinates Canadian participation in standards development, and identifies strategies to advance Canadian standardization efforts. Accreditation services are provided by SCC to approximately 500 customers, including various product certifiers and testing laboratories. SCC represents Canada at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and oversees the Canadian national committee to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For additional information on the work of the SCC, visit www.scc.ca or email [email protected].

SOURCE: Government of Canada

Media contact(s):

Liz Neiman
Senior Director, Communications and Public Relations, ANSI
212-642-4911
[email protected]

Antonia Kusy
Manager, Corporate Communications and Planning, SCC
613-238-3222 ext. 462
[email protected]