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PLASA Standards News May 2011 Volume 15, Number 9 A Quartet of PLASA Standards in Public Review Four standards are available for public review on the PLASA website at http://tsp.plasa.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php. In numerical order by designation they are: ANSI E1.2 - 2006, Entertainment Technology - Design, Manufacture and Use of Aluminum Trusses and Towers, is being considered for reaffirmation. The standard describes the design, manufacture, and use of aluminum trusses, towers, and associated aluminum structural components, such as head blocks, sleeve blocks, and bases, in the live entertainment industry. It also offers advice on applying and removing coatings and painted finishes. The standard is available for purchase from The ESTA Foundation at http://www.estafoundation.org/pubs.htm. The public review runs through 30 May 2011. The review has ended when the "Review End Date" of 31 May UTC is reached. BSR E1.6-4 - 201x, Portable Control of Fixed-Speed Electric Chain Hoists in the Entertainment Industry, is a part of the BSR E1.6 powered theatrical rigging systems project. This document, BSR E1.6-4, covers portable control systems for single-speed electric chain hoists used in the entertainment industry as part of a performance or in preparation for a performance. The review runs through 27 June 2011; it's finished immediately after midnight UTC when 28 June starts. BSR E1.24 - 201x, Entertainment Technology - Dimensional Requirements for Stage Pin Connectors, is a revised version of the existing ANSI E1.24 – 2006. The standard is being revised to clarify its use as a configuration standard giving the mating requirements for male and female pin connectors, contact set-backs from the front face, and marking requirements. The electrical reliability and flammability requirements for pin connectors would be covered by other standards, such as UL 498, Attachment Plugs and Receptacles. The public review runs through 30 May 2011; it's finished when 31 May starts. BSR E1.41 - 201x, Recommendations for Measuring and Reporting Photometric Performance Data for Entertainment Luminaires Utilizing Solid State Light Sources, offers recommendations for measuring and reporting the output of LED luminaires used in the live entertainment industry, with emphasis on color and color rendering. Current methods for luminaire output measurement assume the use of broad-band emitters, which LEDs are not. The review runs through 20 June 2011; it's finished when 21 June starts. ANSI Closes Audit, Reaccredits PLASA's TSP On May 2 ANSI's Executive Standards Council reaccredited PLASA North America as a developer of American National Standards operating under PLASA's revised operating procedures for documenting consensus. The records and procedures of ANSI-accredited standards developers are audited every five years to ensure that approved standards-development procedures are followed and to recommend possible improvements to them to increase efficiency. The 2010 audit was the third audit that ESTA's—now PLASA's—Technical Standards Program has completed successfully. Volume 15, Number 9 Page 1 The approval of the new set of operating procedures closes the 2010 audit of ESTA's Technical Standards Program. That audit found that minor changes were needed to the operating procedures to bring them fully into line with ANSI's Essential Requirements. Changes also were needed to adapt the procedures to the new structure of the merged ESTA and PLASA trade associations. The revised Policies and Procedures for the Development and Approval of Technical Standards document is available at http://tsp.plasa.org/tsp/documents/procedural_docs.html. Changes to it from the previous version include the adoption of the ANSI patent and commercial terms and conditions policies verbatim or by reference, shortening the minimum balloting periods, simplifying the procedures for reaffirming standards, and shortening the time required for the final adoption of a new or revised standard. PLASA Plugfest Expands The next PLASA Control Protocols Plugfest will take place July 22-24 at the DFW Marriott Solana in Westlake, Texas. The event brings colleagues and competitors together to further the industry by testing the limits of control protocols and working out the bugs they encounter. Everyone is welcome to attend. Plugfest began in January 2009 as part of the ESTA (now PLASA) Technical Standards Program by members of various Control Protocols Task Groups representing a variety of manufacturers. Twice a year, when they are all in the same place at the same time, they bring controllers, lights, analyzers, and various other tools and devices, and connect them all through a network to look for and resolve problems. People attend from all around the world in an effort to improve their products. Plugfest was originally created to support the Remote Device Management protocol (ANSI E1.20 RDM) but now it has expanded to cover all CPWG protocols, including the popular ANSI E1.31 Streaming DMX over ACN protocol. As the scope has grown, so has attendance, and consequently, the space. It began in a small suite but this year Plugfest moved into a large suite with room to grow. Coffee, bagels, and scones serve to fuel the event. Although the schedule runs until 10:00 at night, the group can often be found working into the early morning hours. Most of the members of the E1.20 and E1.31 task groups, who wrote the standards, are there and they are happy to provide their expertise. They will answer your questions and tell you about protocols. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience. Drop in and experience Plugfest. For more information or to register to participate, contact Scott Blair at [email protected]. Registration for Workshop on Small Business Preparedness Closes May 11 On May 25, the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP) will host Achieving Preparedness through Standards Implementation: Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses, a workshop focusing on the needs of small businesses in preparing for unforeseen challenges. More information is available at http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=2875. NFPA Needs Combustible Dust Experts The NFPA Standards Council has voted to establish a Technical Correlating Committee (TCC) on Combustible Dusts and a Technical Committee (TC) on Fundamentals of Combustible Dusts, and is now seeking people who might be interested in participating on the TCC and the TC. The Council also has voted to have the newly formed TC develop a document that will provide the generally applicable requirements for managing the fire and explosion hazards of combustible dusts and combustible particulate solids. This document shall provide the user with general requirements and directs the user to the appropriate industry or commodity-specific standard. More information is available at http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=820&itemID=20937&URL=Codes%20&%20Standards/Code %20development%20process/Technical%20Committees/Call%20for%20Members. Volume 15, Number 9 Page 2 Trolling for Tech Tips The editors of PLASA's Protocol are looking for topics for the "Tech Tips" column. They would appreciate receiving topic ideas for a writer to pursue or original tech tips that could be published in the column. If you have any topics or tips to offer, please contact Beverly Inglesby at [email protected] or Karl G. Ruling at [email protected]. WTO Notifications The U.S. Department of Commerce's web-based e-mail subscription service, Notify U.S., recently has announced a few notifications of WTO Technical Barriers to Trade that may be of interest to Standards News readers. United States of America Notification USA/624 Date issued: 27 April 2011 Agency responsible: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy (OEERE/DOE) National inquiry point: National Center for Standards and Certification Information, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NCSCI/NIST) Products covered: Fluorescent lamp ballasts (HS 8539.31) Title: Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts Description of content: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment, including fluorescent lamp ballasts (ballasts). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine if amended standards for ballasts are technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy, and to determine whether to adopt standards for additional ballasts not already covered by Federal standards. In this NOPR, DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for those ballasts currently subject to standards, and new standards for certain ballasts not currently covered by standards. This NOPR also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analysis and results. Objective and rationale: Protection of environment Relevant documents: 76 Federal Register (FR) 20089, 11 April 2011; 10 CFR Part 430 Proposed date of adoption: Not given by country Proposed date of entry into force: Not given by country Final date for comments: 10 June 2011 Full text: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/2011-7592.htm Taiwan Economy Notification TPKM/101 Date issued: 3 May 2011 Agency responsible: Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs National inquiry point: (same as above) Products covered: Servers, routers, bridges, switches and hubs for ITE or network use Title: Public Notice under the Commodity Inspection Act Description of content: The TPKM will intend to regulate servers, routers, bridges, switches and hubs for ITE or network use as commodities subject to mandatory inspection. As of 1 January 2012, all such products must conform to the safety and EMC inspection requirements when imported into or marketed in the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. All the technical requirements for the aforementioned products are CNS standards that have been harmonized with relevant IEC or CISPR standards.