Welcome to my April update for Touchstone.
Transformation news
Can you deliver standards content through new products or services?
Standards New Zealand has released a request for information (RFI). We are seeking information from developers, tech firms and industry organisations on ways that standards content might be delivered through new ‘value-add’ products or services.
We’d like to better understand who the interested parties working in digital technologies might be, how they operate and what they would require from Standards New Zealand to offer innovative new ways of accessing standards content … more
Publications
Standards New Zealand partner with IANZ to adopt new laboratories testing standard
Standards New Zealand has piloted a faster streamlined approach to adopt and publish the new laboratories testing standard, NZS ISO/IEC 17025:2018 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories … more
Public comment sought on revision to ambulance and paramedical services standard
Standards New Zealand and the P8156 committee are seeking feedback on the draft revision to NZS 8156:2008 Ambulance and paramedical services … more
Energy efficiency lighting in large buildings – Amendment to standard released
Amendment No. 1 to NZS 4243.2:2007 will help the lighting industry to improve energy efficiency lighting in large buildings … more
AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules – Coming soon
The new edition of the Wiring Rules is expected to be published in the next few months and will be more flexible, user-friendly and easier to read … more
Improving workplace safety and preventing injuries – ISO 45001
ISO 45001 provides requirements and guidance for an effective occupational health and safety management system. The standard requires health and safety aspects to be part of an overall management system and no longer just an added extra … more
New ‘man overboard’ guidelines improve cruising safety
Cruising never ceases to grow in popularity. Yet what few like to consider is the small but real number of holidaymakers who fall overboard. New international guidelines from ISO aim to provide a boost to the technology that detects such incidents and helps them get back on board … more
ISO new work and new field proposals
ISO new work item proposal – Glass clarity – Classification and test method
Standards New Zealand is seeking feedback from relevant stakeholders on the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) proposal for the development of a new standard, ‘Tableware, giftware, jewellery, luminaries — Glass clarity — Classification and test method’ … more
ISO new field of technical activity proposal – Transaction assurance in e-commerce
Standards New Zealand is seeking feedback from relevant stakeholders on the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) proposal for the development of a new field of technical activity, 'Transaction assurance in e‑commerce' … more
Industry news
First company accredited by IANZ to test meth-contaminated properties
Hawke's Bay company Drug Smart has become the first in New Zealand to gain IANZ accreditation to test for methamphetamine contamination. In 2017, Standards New Zealand published a new standard NZS 8510:2017 Testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties, which required rigorous validation of sampling kits and proof of appropriately trained samplers. Drug Smart is the first company to be IANZ accredited under NZS 8510:2017 ... more
Loop-bar warning from MBIE
MBIE has issued a warning about the use of loop-bar details in flange-hung double-tee precast concrete floor units, and published an amendment to Verification Method B1/VM1. The warning and amendment are part of MBIE’s response to the investigation into the performance of Statistics House and the Canterbury earthquakes ... more
Seismic design for suspended ceilings
Suspended ceilings fared poorly in recent earthquakes. In response, the relevant standard was revised, and there are stringent design and installation requirements to prevent collapse in a 1-in-500-year event … more
Asbestos management plans and safety management systems
Read WorkSafe’s article to find out how to manage any place of work where asbestos has been identified. This article also describes how licensed asbestos-removal businesses must have a certified safety management system (SMS) by 4 April 2018, as part of the new asbestos regulations … more
International news
Australia leads ISO committee for new water efficiency standard
An Australian-led committee will facilitate the development of a new ISO standard on Water Efficiency Labelling, using as a base the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 6400 Water efficient products – Rating and labelling … more