ASABE recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
the Irrigation Association to cooperate on irrigation standards
The ASABE Standards Program is the recognized standards
developer for engineering in agricultural, food, and biological
systems. The Program is accredited by the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) and is the U.S. Technical Advisory Group
(US TAG) Administrator for several ISO technical committees and
subcommittees, and one IEC committee. (see link to ASABE
International Standards Activities on left-hand side of this
page)
"Standards are essential for all human
activity, but most people take them for granted. Only when products
fail to work, or mishaps occur, does the average person think about
standards. Even in business, where money is at stake, standards are
often given a low priority. There is a clear need in the United
States for greater attention to standards.""Global Standards: Building Blocks for the
Future" Congress of the United
States, OfficeofTechnologyAssessment (March
1992)
Standards, Engineering Practices, and Data (hereafter referred
to collectively as standards) are normally generated for one or
more of the following reasons:
- To provide interchangeability between similarly functional
products and systems manufactured by two or more organizations,
thus improving compatibility, safety and performance for
users;
- To reduce the variety of components required to serve an
industry, thus improving availability and economy;
- To improve personal safety during operation of equipment and
application of products and materials;
- To establish performance criteria for products, materials, or
systems;
- To provide a common basis for testing, analyzing, describing,
or informing regarding the performance and characteristics of
products, methods, materials, or systems;
- To provide design data in readily available form;
- To develop a sound basis for codes, education, and legislation;
and to promote uniformity of practice;
- To provide a technical basis for international
standardization;
- To increase efficiency of engineering effort in design,
development, and production.
Standards are engineering requirements (specifications) prepared
to define materials, products, processes, tests, testing procedures
and performance criteria in an effort to achieve certain specified
purposes. They are developed and adopted because of a need
for action on a common problem. Their effectiveness is dependent
upon voluntary compliance with the standards adopted. Standards
must accurately and specifically define the properties required
without unnecessary, restrictive specifications that thwart
originality or progress.
Standards Development Tools
Training and Presentations
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ASABE Committees (all committees)
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