Paul A. Hough, manager, global product fire and seismic performance, Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa., has been elected chairman of ASTM International Committee C16 on Thermal Insulation.

Committee C16 oversees approximately 160 ASTM International standards related to thermal insulation materials, products, systems and associated coatings and coverings, excluding insulating refractories. The C16 membership includes 444 experts who work on 15 technical subcommittees.

A member of ASTM International since 1994, Hough is an active member of several other committees in addition to C16. This includes Committee E05 on Fire Standards, where he is fifth vice chairman on the main committee and chairs Subcommittees E05.21 on Smoke and Combustion Products and E05.43 on Fire Threat to People and the Environment. He also serves on Committees E33 on Building and Environmental Acoustics, chairing the group on Application of Acoustical Materials and Systems (E33.04), as well as F06 on Resilient Floor Coverings and F25 on Ships and Marine Technology. Hough has received several Awards of Recognition from E05 and an Award of Appreciation and the Honors Award from C16.

Hough joined Armstrong World Industries in 1977 after earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa. He started as a chemist and received several promotions over the years, including manager of quality assurance; manager of process engineering; and technical manager – product fire safety, before assuming his current title in 2006. In this position, he is responsible for all fire testing, seismic testing and building code related activities at Armstrong.

Outside ASTM International, Hough is a member of the American Chemical Society, ASHRAE and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and is a regular participant in code development processes at the International Code Council (ICC).

ASTM PR Contact: Erin Brennan, Phone: 610-832-960; ebrennan@astm.org

Release #9614