Agricultural Equipment Symbols Standard to Be Updated

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) announces the approval by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) of five ISO New Work Item proposals to update and improve standards used to define requirements for symbols used in tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, and powered lawn and garden equipment. I

SO 3767-1, -2, -3, -4, and -5, Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden equipment - Symbols for operator controls and displays - Parts 1 through 5, specify requirements for common symbols and displays; manuals; lawn and garden equipment; forestry machinery; and manual, portable forestry equipment. T

he documents will be reviewed and updated by volunteers from a dozen or more countries who will begin their work with more than 24 pages of comments currently on file for the current versions. A project meeting is scheduled for February 22-23 in Paris, France, where a team of volunteers will work to enhance, update, clarify, and include additional symbols not currently included in the current edition of the standard.

The team will be led by Richard Gast Deere & Co., Moline, Illinois, who serves as chair of the international committee responsible for ISO 3767. Oversight of the work will also be provided by International Secretariat Sally Seitz from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

ASABE is the accredited administrator for the US technical advisory group to the ISO committee on Tractors and Machinery for Agriculture and Forestry (TC23), and seven of its subcommittees. Committee membership is open and typically comprises individuals with an academic or commercial interest in the subject matter. Participation in standards development benefits commerce as well as the public by ensuring issues such as consumer safety and evolving technology are addressed in a thorough and timely manner and by reducing trade barriers that can occur in the absence of standardization. For information on this new standard project or other ASABE activities in International Standards, contact Ted Tees at ASABE, 269 932-7005, ted@asabe.org.

ASABE is recognized worldwide as a standards developing organization for food, agricultural, and biological systems, with more than 225 standards of its own currently in publication. Conformance to ASABE standards is voluntary, except where required by state, provincial, or other governmental requirements. Standards documents are developed by consensus in accordance with procedures approved by the American National Standards Institute. For information on ASABE standards activities, contact Scott Cedarquist at ASABE, 269-932-7031, cedarq@asabe.org. A current listing of all ASABE standards projects can be found on the ASABE web site at .www.asabe.org/standards.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers is an educational and scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in St Joseph, Michigan, ASABE comprises nearly 10,000 members from more than 100 countries. For further information about the Society, or for an electronic copy of this news release, contact Dolores Landeck at ASABE, 269-932-7039..