Apr 24, 2013

Participants Include Gulf Region Standards Executives 

Delegates from four Gulf Region nations gathered at ASTM International headquarters today, beginning a two-day workshop on the increasingly important topic of sustainability in building construction. 

Executives from the national standards bodies (NSBs) of Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) represented the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization at the Workshop on Sustainability in Construction.  The event is an opportunity to share information from a broad range of perspectives on the common goal of green construction.

The information exchange will be further enhanced through the participation of the International Code Council (ICC), the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and UL. Presenters are addressing the codes, standards and certifications affecting the environmental aspects of today’s building construction. 

Speakers from ASTM International include Mary McKiel, Ph.D., standards executive with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and 2013 chairman of the ASTM board of directors, and Ralph Paroli, Ph.D., director, research and development, Measurement Science and Standards Portfolio, at the National Research Council of Canada, also a member of the ASTM board. Presentations from ASTM staff are part of the program as well.

The GCC-GSO and ASTM International entered into a Memorandum of Understanding Agreement in 2006.  ASTM also has MOUs with the national standards bodies of the individual Gulf States in attendance. The ASTM MOU program opens lines of communication with national standards bodies worldwide, facilitates standards development and helps to avoid duplication of effort where possible. ASTM has entered into 80 MOU agreements since the program’s inception in 2001.

ASTM International standards are widely used in the Gulf Region, particularly in major industry areas such as building construction, metals and energy. Further connections with the region involves the participation of technical experts on ASTM technical committees, visiting standards experts spending time at ASTM headquarters, and GSO representation on the ASTM board of directors. More than 170 individuals have taken part in ASTM’s Technical and Professional Training Program in the Gulf, 68 companies have participated in the ASTM Proficiency Testing Program and ASTM has student members in the region.

The numerous standards, technical committees, training and other programs available from ASTM that cover building construction and sustainability can be viewed at ASTM’s online sector gateways in construction (www.astm.org/sn-construction) and sustainability (www.astm.org/sn-environmental).

ASTM Staff Contact: Teresa Cendrowska, Phone: 610-832-9718; tcendrow@astm.org

Release #9355