2025 ANSI Innovation Summit: Where standards power progress
89th IEC General Meeting | 15-19 September 2025 | New Delhi, India
Slide decks from 2021 October ANSI Company Member Forum:
ANSI 2021 CMF-Tretler_20211013 International
ANSI WSW 2021 Standards as Digital Data Rupert
ANSI CMF WSW 2021 – Ali slides
ANSI CMF WSW 2021 – Lippert slides RE USNA IEC
Information and communications technology (ICT) is a fast-moving economic space in which a mix of consensus, consortia and open-source standards form the broad contours of leading practice. ICT standards tend to follow international developments — more so than, say, fire safety standards which are more familiar to education facility leadership. All school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems have significant product, system, firmware and labor resources allocated toward ICT.
The Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) is a professional association supporting the advancement of the ICT community in all markets. This community is roughly divided between experts who deal with “outside-plant” systems and “building premise” systems on either side of the ICT demarcation (or Point-of-Presence). BICSI standards cover the wired and wireless spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, project management and audio & video technologies. Its work is divided among several committees as shown in the landing page of its standards setting enterprise, linked below:
BICSI International Standards Program
The stars on the map above indicate where BICSI Standards are currently in use (CLICK ON IMAGE).
Education communities are stewards of significant information and communication technology infrastructure. Accordingly, we track the development of BICSI 009 Data Center Operations and Maintenance Best Practices. This title provides requirements, recommendations, and best practices for the operation and maintenance of data centers including but not limited to standard operating procedures, emergency operating procedures, maintenance, governance, and management. Those comments are now being integrated into a revised standard to be released as soon as the restrictions of the pandemic are eased. For more information you may communicate directly with Jeff Silveira (jSilveira@bicsi.org)
As of this posting, all BICSI best practice titles are stable and current; though our recent communication with its leadership indicates that BICSI standards setting has been slowed by the pandemic.
A fair amount of content in BICSI standards are inspired by movement in safety concepts of the National Electrical Code; particularly on matters involving wiring, grounding and lightning protection. We maintain all BICSI best practice titles on the standing agenda of our Infotech 200 teleconference. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to the public. On this topic we collaborate with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee meets four times monthly in European and American time zones; also open to the public.
Issue: [19-30]
Category: Telecommunications, Infotech
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Michael Hiler
LEARN MORE:
Did you know BICSI offers a complete library of our award winning technical manuals and published standards? Available in print or electronic download, this set is a perfect resource for your company. Learn more: https://t.co/fzBA8hqve9 pic.twitter.com/y9duVe0fCG
— BICSI (@BICSI) December 15, 2018
The bookwheel, also known as a revolving bookcase, was invented by an Italian scholar and polymath named Agostino Ramelli. Ramelli was born in 1531 in Ponte Tresa, a town in present-day Italy, and he lived during the Renaissance period.
Ramelli’s invention, described in his work titled “Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli” (The Various and Ingenious Machines of Captain Agostino Ramelli), was published in 1588. This book showcased a collection of 195 mechanical devices.
Ramelli’s work contributed to the growing interest in mechanical inventions during the Renaissance period. His bookwheel design remains a fascinating example of early engineering and ingenuity, highlighting the desire for knowledge and practical solutions in the pursuit of learning and scholarly endeavors.
2026 NEC Articles 645-646-647 Information Technology Equipment, et. al First Draft Report
2026 NEC Articles 645-646-647 Information Technology Equipment, et. al Second Draft Report
“Bookwheel” Early Data Center
The standard of care for wiring safety for data centers — a continually expanding presence in education communities even before the pandemic — is established in National Electrical Code Articles 645 (Information Technology Equipment), Article 646 (Modular Data Centers) and Article 647 (Sensitive Electronic Equipment). You will notice that these articles cover the topic comprehensively and bear the imprint of competing Producer-Interest groups. There are no User-Interest representatives on Code-Making Panel 12 that represent the final fiduciary in education communities even though education communities are one of the largest markets for information and communication technology systems.
The current version of NFPA 70 is linked below:
Transcripts of technical committee action during the 2026 revision (CMP-16) are linked below because they will inform our recommendations for the 2026 National Electrical Code. Keep in mind that the Technical Correlating Committee is moving content around the Code in order to make the NEC easier to use by experts.
CMP-16 First Draft Report | Public Input with Committee Response
The transcripts of technical committee action during the 2023 revision are linked below because they will inform our recommendations for the 2026 National Electrical Code.
Code‐Making Panel 12 Public Input Report
Code-Making Panel 12 Public Comment Report
We will use these in our exploration of what we might propose for improvements in the 2026 revision. Public comment on the First Draft of the 2026 Edition will be received until August 28th.
The issues that have been in play in these articles of the NEC are familiar to veterans of the “food fight” – occupancy classification, cable specifications, fire protection, ventilation, energy consumption, surge protection, licensing of engineers. etc. We look for market-making excesses by opposing stakeholders that seek to limit their risk while raising the (financial) risk to education communities.
We encourage our colleagues to participate in the NFPA code development process directly. We also encourage stakeholders in education communities — students, faculty and staff to join us during any of the teleconferences we co-host with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee 4 times monthly in both European and American time zones. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.
NFPA 75: Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment
2024 International Building Code: Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and Use
2024 International Building Code: Section 304.1 Business Group B
The RELLIS Data and Research Center will be a public – private development with Texas A&M University. The data center will be built on the new RELLIS Campus located in College Station, Texas. It will offer cloud storage and outstanding managed services. The RELLIS Academy and Research Lab offers the ability for Texas A&M University to give real world data center experience to both students and faculty.
Financial Presentations & Webcasts
Here we shift our perspective 120 degrees to understand the point of view of the Producer interest in the American national standards system (See ANSI Essential Requirements). The title of this post draws from the location of US and European headquarters. We list proposals by a successful electrical manufacturer for discussion during today’s colloquium:
2026 National Electrical Code
CMP-1: short circuit current ratings, connections with copper cladded aluminum conductors, maintenance to be provided by OEM, field markings
CMP-2: reconditioned equipment, receptacles in accessory buildings, GFCI & AFCI protection, outlet placement generally, outlets for outdoor HVAC equipment(1)
(1) Here we would argue that if a pad mount HVAC unit needs service with tools that need AC power once every 5-10 years then the dedicated branch circuit is not needed. Many campuses have on-site, full-time staff that can service outdoor pad mounted HVAC equipment without needing a nearby outlet. One crew — two electricians — will run about $2500 per day to do anything on campus.
CMP-3: No proposals
CMP-4: solar voltaic systems (1)
(1) Seems reasonable – spillover outdoor night time lighting effect upon solar panel charging should be identified.
CMP-5: Administrative changes only
CMP-6: No proposals
CMP-7: Distinction between “repair” and “servicing”
CMP-8: Reconditioned equipment
CMP-9: Reconditioned equipment
CMP-10: Short circuit ratings, service disconnect, disconnect for meters, transformer secondary conductor, secondary conductor taps, surge protective devices, disconnecting means generally, spliced and tap conductors, more metering safety, 1200 ampere threshold for arc reduction technology, reconditioned surge equipment shall not be permitted, switchboard short circuit ratings
CMP-11: Lorem
CMP-12: Lorem
CMP-13: Lorem
Lorem ipsum
International Building Code Chapter 23: Wood
“Arbor Day” 1932 | Grant Wood
Building schoolhouses with wood in the United States had significant practical and cultural implications, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Wood was the most readily available and cost-effective material in many parts of the country. Abundant forests provided a plentiful supply, making it the logical choice for construction. The use of wood allowed communities to quickly and efficiently build schoolhouses, which were often the first public buildings erected in a new settlement.
Wooden schoolhouses were emblematic of the pioneering spirit and the value placed on education in early American society. These structures were often simple, reflecting the modest means of rural communities, but they were also durable and could be expanded or repaired as needed. The ease of construction meant that even remote and sparsely populated areas could establish schools, thereby fostering literacy and learning across the nation.
Moreover, wooden schoolhouses became cultural icons, representing the humble beginnings of the American educational system. They were often the center of community life, hosting social and civic events in addition to serving educational purposes. Today, preserved wooden schoolhouses stand as historical landmarks, offering a glimpse into the educational practices and community life of early America. Their construction reflects the resourcefulness and priorities of the early settlers who valued education as a cornerstone of their communities.
Building schoolhouses with wood presents several technical challenges, including durability, fire risk, maintenance, and structural limitations. Here are the key challenges in detail:
Despite these challenges, wooden schoolhouses were popular in the past due to the availability of materials and ease of construction. Addressing these technical challenges requires careful planning, use of modern materials and techniques, and regular maintenance to ensure the longevity and safety of wooden schoolhouses.
Related:
Eurocode 5 (EN 1995): Design of timber structures
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures
“The Country School” 1871 Winslow Homer
The 2024 National Design Specification for Wood Construction was developed by AWC’s Wood Design Standards Committee and approved as a standard by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) on October 16, 2023. The 2024 NDS is referenced in the 2024 International Building Code.
International Code Council Mass Timber: Outcomes of the ICC Tall Wood Ad Hoc Committee
The Old Schoolhouse | Flint Creek Oklahoma
Related:
International Building Code Chapter 23: Wood
“Office in a Small City” 1953 Edward Hopper
Chapter 8 of the International Building Code contains the performance requirements for controlling fire growth and smoke propagation within buildings by restricting interior finish and decorative materials. A great deal of interior square footage presents fire hazard; even bulletin boards and decorations; as a simple web search will reveal. We are respectful of the competing requirements of safety and ambience and try to assist in a reconciliation of these two objectives.
Free access to the current edition of the relevant section is linked below:
The public input period of the Group A Codes — which includes the International Fire Code; which contains parent requirements for this chapter — closed in July 2nd. Search on the word “interior”, or “school” or “classroom “in the document linked below for a sample of the ideas in play.
Update to the 2024 Group A – Consolidated Monograph Updates 3/18/2024
2021 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ACTION HEARINGS ON THE 2021 EDITIONS OF THE GROUP A INTERNATIONAL CODES
Development of Group A proceeds in the calendar linked below:
Current Code Development Cycle 2024-2026
Most of the ICC bibliography lies at the foundation of the safety and sustainability agenda of education communities everywhere so we follow development continuously; setting priorities according to our resources. We keep the issues in this chapter on the standing agenda of our Interiors colloquium. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Mass Timber Primed for Wider Use? ( November 19, 2024). This article from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business explores the expanding use of mass timber in construction, including a planned mass timber building on the University of Florida’s Gainesville campus. It highlights CLT development and regional advantages in the Pacific Northwest, with examples from University of Oregon research.
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) (August 13, 2024). From Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, this piece details the college’s involvement in mass timber research and construction through the university’s Mass Timber Collaborative. It emphasizes CLT’s growth in the Southeast US using southern pine, with multidisciplinary efforts in forestry, architecture, and engineering for campus and regional projects.
The Meteoric Rise of Cross-Laminated Timber Construction: 50 Projects that Use Engineered-Wood Architecture (November 18, 2024) Published by ArchDaily, this overview of CLT projects worldwide includes US examples like the Albina Yard in Portland (a pioneering CLT building), and discusses its application in sustainable campus and institutional structures, promoting domestic wood use in educational settings.
Almost time to celebrate our Terps! 💛 #UMDGrad🎓
Find the ceremony live stream and more info: https://t.co/O253YinItK pic.twitter.com/dz2MxK94Eb
— Univ. of Maryland (@UofMaryland) May 22, 2025
Construction Technology Careers: Carpentry, HVAC, Plumbing
One study, published in the Journal Social Forces in 2012, found that women’s educational preferences for a potential partner have been changing over time. The study found that in the 1960s and 1970s, women were more likely to prefer men with higher levels of education than themselves, while in the 1990s and 2000s, women were more likely to prefer partners with similar levels of education. The study also found that women’s educational preferences were influenced by their own educational attainment and the gender ratio of their college campus.
Another study, published in the journal Demography in 2015, found that women’s educational preferences for a potential partner varied depending on their own educational background and the gender ratio of their local area. The study found that women with higher levels of education were more likely to prefer men with similar levels of education, while women with lower levels of education were more likely to prefer men with higher levels of education. The study also found that women in areas with a higher ratio of men to women were more likely to prefer men with higher levels of education.
While these studies suggest that young women’s preferences for college-educated men as marriage partners may be influenced by a variety of factors, it is important to recognize that individual preferences and behaviors can vary widely and are influenced by a wide range of factors. Additionally, any generalizations about the preferences of “young women” or any other group should be approached with caution, as these preferences can vary widely depending on factors such as age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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