Author Archives: mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Standards for American Prosperity

 

Crucial Role of Standards for American Prosperity Highlighted in CSIS Roundtable Session with S. Joe Bhatia

 

Here are some of the ways in which government regulations impede economic growth:

  1. Increased costs: Regulations can impose additional costs on businesses, which can affect their ability to operate efficiently and compete in the marketplace. For example, regulations can require businesses to invest in new technologies or processes to comply with environmental or safety standards, which can increase their expenses.
  2. Reduced innovation: Some people believe that regulations can stifle innovation and entrepreneurship, as businesses may be hesitant to invest in new products or technologies that could be subject to strict regulations. This can limit the potential for new businesses to emerge and grow.
  3. Slowed job growth: Regulations can increase the cost of doing business, which can lead to reduced hiring and slower job growth. This can be particularly challenging for small businesses that may not have the resources to comply with regulatory requirements.
  4. Reduced competition: Regulations can sometimes create barriers to entry for new businesses, which can reduce competition and limit economic growth. This can be particularly true in industries that are heavily regulated, such as healthcare and finance.
  5. Reduced trade: Regulations can make it more difficult for businesses to operate in international markets, as they may face additional regulatory requirements and trade barriers. This can limit economic growth and reduce opportunities for businesses to expand their operations.

It is important to note that regulations can also have benefits, such as protecting consumers and the environment, promoting fair competition, and fostering innovation. It’s essential to strike a balance between regulatory requirements and economic growth to ensure that businesses can thrive while also protecting public health and safety. 

The U.S. Standards System effectively provides a “shadow government” that runs parallel to the elected government so that a balance of informed voices are present in formulating what Montesquieu called the “necessary laws”.   See our ABOUT.

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NIST: Procedures for the Development of American National Standards

ANSI Essential Requirements: Due process requirements for American National Standards

Office of Management & Budget Circulars in Numerical Sequence

MIT Chapel,1954

Eero Saarinen‘s MIT Chapel is widely regarded as a masterpiece of modernist architecture and has been praised by architectural critics for its innovative design and spiritual atmosphere. Here are some examples of what critics have written about the chapel:

Ada Louise Huxtable, writing in The New York Times in 1955, described the chapel as a “sacred space of rare and exceptional quality” and praised its “dramatic contrasts of light and dark, scale and detail, intensity and serenity.”

Vincent Scully, writing in Architectural Forum in 1956, called the chapel “a consummate work of art” and praised Saarinen’s use of light and form to create a “subtle and mysterious” atmosphere.

Reyner Banham, writing in New Society in 1964, described the chapel as “an object of timeless quality” and praised its “radiant luminescence” and “clear and quiet” spatial qualities.

Paul Goldberger, writing in The New York Times in 2003, called the chapel “one of the great architectural treasures of the 20th century” and praised its “perfectly balanced” combination of light, color, and texture.

Overall, critics have praised the MIT Chapel for its innovative design, its spiritual atmosphere, and its skillful use of light and form. The chapel is considered one of Saarinen’s most important works and a landmark of modernist architecture.

MIT Visual Arts Center

Our Short Documentary: Meral Ekincioglu, Ph.D

Interview: David Adjaye at MIT

Reconstructing the MIT Chapel

Standards Massachusetts

International Existing Building Code

Encourages the use and reuse of existing buildings. This code covers repair, alteration, addition and change of occupancy for existing buildings. and historic buildings, while achieving appropriate levels of safety without requiring full compliance with the new construction requirements contained in the other I-Codes. Key changes in the 2021 IEBC® include:

    • For storm shelters, the required occupant capacity is now limited to the total occupant load of the classrooms, vocational rooms and offices in the school while the maximum distance of travel was deleted.
    • When significant portions of a building’s exterior wall coverings or exterior wall envelope are added or replaced, they must comply with the requirements of Chapters 14 and 26 of the IBC.
    • Snow loads must be addressed during repair of substantial structural damage regardless of whether the damage was a result of snow.
    • Additions, Level 3 alterations and Changes of occupancy in Educational occupancies are now required to meet the enhanced classroom acoustic requirements of Section 808 of ICC A117.1.
    • Additional equipment may be added to a roof without a full structural analysis when the equipment weighs less than 400 pounds and is less than 10 percent of the total roof dead load.
    • With a change of occupancy, a seismic analysis is required for a Group S or Group U occupancy changing to a new occupancy.
    • Furniture, such as office cubicles, reception desks or smaller bookcases, are exempt from a permit and not intended to be a Level 2 alteration.
    • Sprinkler requirements for Level 2 and Level 3 alterations are revised for higher hazard areas.

Sacred Spaces

Graduation, Dating, Engagements, Weddings, Births & Obituaries

Weddings

 

 

Nine years later and first day as husband and wife they got to finally sneak a kiss in one of the first places they ever passed notes

Hun School Of Princeton

“…I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” –W.B. Yeats | ‘He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven’

“Nature’s Masterpiece”

Several colleges and universities have “kissing benches” or similar traditions tied to romance on campus.

Michigan State University Beaumont Tower: Nick and Myra Kanillopoulos

Syracuse University. Kissing Bench: This bench on the Quad is steeped in tradition. Legend has it that if a couple kisses on the bench, they will eventually marry. Conversely, if a single person sits there alone, they risk staying single forever.

University of Idaho.  Hello Walk and Kissing Rock: While not a bench, this area on campus features a large rock where students have historically kissed. It’s a romantic tradition for couples at the university.

Florida State University Kissing Bench

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Clemson University Lover’s Lane

Illinois State University

University of Cambridge: St. John’s College Bridge of Sighs

University of Oxford: The Bridge of Sighs

University of Bath Somerset County: Sham Castle

Weddings

Sport News

Sport Standards

 

 

Mixed Gender Sport by Design

Engineering in Sport



 

Winter Sport

Timon of Athens

The Oxford Union Debating Society, founded in 1823, is one of the world’s most prestigious debating societies, affiliated with the University of Oxford. It has hosted numerous influential speakers and debates, including historical figures like Winston Churchill and Malcolm X. Over the years, it has played a vital role in shaping public discourse and fostering critical thinking among students. The society’s iconic debating chamber and rich tradition of lively debates have made it an enduring institution in the world of debate and public speaking.

“In an era of cancellation and defenestration we sometimes forget that we both cannot go on like this and that we have been here before. We know this because our greatest writers and artists have addressed this question in their own times.

When Roger [Scrouton] was going through his own battle with the shallows I often thought of Shakespeare’s rarely performed but great play Timon of Athens. Timon has the whole world before him. He is surrounded by friends and admirers. He is generous to all. Yet he falls on hard times and when he does absolutely everybody deserts him. He is left with nothing and nobody, and risks being filled with despair and rage. It does not help that he is shadowed by the cynical philosopher Apemantus, who has warned him that just such a desertion might occur.”

— Douglas Murray

Summer Sport

“No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training…

what a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing

the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”

— (Plato, Republic 403d)

Athena with Hermes, God of Sport

Today we slice horizontally through the multitude of technical and policy silos applicable to seasonal recreational and competitive sport activity.  We limit our examination to the conformance catalogs of ANSI. ASHRAE. ASTM, AWWA, ICC, IEEE, IES, NFPA, NSF International, and UL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2028_Summer_Olympics

Relevant changes proposed for the next revision of the International Building Code:

Sprinkler coverage over bleachers or sport spectator seating (p. 665)

Lightning Protection Systems (p. 751)

Spectator live loading on bleachers (p. 1098)

Permitting of outdoor luminaires per zoning codes (p. 2587-2593)

Last year we examined the standards that applies to the 2024 Paris Olympics; worth a second look this year and in anticipation of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

Beach Volleyball

Equestrian

Rowing

Sailing

Swimming & Diving

Track & Field

We deal with the catalogs of CSA, DNV GL  ISO, IEC, SGS, TIC and TÜV in a separate, international session.

Swimming Pool Dimensions and Construction

Engineering in Sport

Readings / Sport, Culture & Society

National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security

Maths and Sport

A novel smart energy management system in sports stadiums

Athletic Equipment Safety Standards

More:

Category: Recreation and Sport Facilities

Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code

water

“The Bathing Pool” / Hubert Robert (French, 1733–1808) / Gift of J.P. Morgan

2024 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code

READ-ONLY ACCESS

The IAPMO code development process is one of the best in the land.  Its Read-Only Access — needed for light research — is also the best in the land; unlike other ANSI accredited standards developers (who shall be un-named).   The current edition is dated 2024, with the 2027 revision accepted public input until March 3, 2025 according the schedule linked below:

2027 USPSHTC Code Development Calendar

Related:

What are Plumbing Codes?

Uniform Plumbing Code

Coronavirus in Plumbing Systems

Schenkingen

“The secret of great fortunes without apparent cause

is a crime forgotten, for it was properly done.”

Honoré de Balzac’

Are they hedge funds with a side hustle in teaching, research and building construction? Are they tricked out memorial gardens for philanthropists? In either case leaders of educational settlements are expected to act in the best interests of both their institution and their donors, and to maintain high standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct when accepting charitable gifts.

University endowments are comprised of money or other financial assets that are donated to academic institutions. Charitable donations are the primary source of funds for endowments. Endowment funds support the teaching, research, and public service missions of colleges and universities.

In the case of endowment funds for academic institutions, the income generated is intended to finance a portion of the operating or capital requirements of the institution. In addition to a general university endowment fund, institutions may also maintain a number of restricted endowments that are intended to fund specific areas within the institution, including professorships, scholarships, and fellowships.

More

Council on Foundations

2021 NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments

University of Michigan: Policy Guidelines for Naming of Facilities, Spaces and Streets

University of Buffalo: Naming University Properties, Facilities, and Academic and Non-Academic Programs

Northern Arizona University: Naming of Facilities, Programmatic Units, or Fund for Individuals or Organizations

Dematerialization

Digital Campus

Dartmouth University Endowment Report 2023

https://www.dartmouth.edu/investments/docs/dartmouthendowmentreport2023.pdf

 

The largest philanthropic gift ever given to a United States college or university is the donation of $9.6 billion made by MacKenzie Scott to various organizations, including several universities, in 2020. Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, made the donation as part of her commitment to give away the majority of her wealth to charitable causes. The universities that received donations from Scott include historically black colleges and universities, community colleges, and research universities such as the University of California, San Diego, and Johns Hopkins University. The donation was considered significant not only for its size but also for its focus on supporting organizations that serve underrepresented and marginalized communities.

There are several standards and best practices that are generally followed by universities and colleges when accepting charitable gifts. These standards are designed to ensure that the gift is used effectively and that the interests of both the donor and the institution are protected. Some of the key standards include:

  1. Transparency and accountability: Universities and colleges are expected to be transparent about how gifts are used and to provide regular reports to donors on the impact of their gifts.
  2. Due diligence: Universities and colleges are expected to conduct due diligence on potential donors to ensure that their gifts do not create conflicts of interest or ethical concerns.
  3. Gift acceptance policies: Many universities and colleges have established gift acceptance policies that outline the types of gifts that will be accepted and the procedures for accepting them.
  4. Donor recognition: Universities and colleges are expected to recognize donors in an appropriate and meaningful way, while avoiding actions that could be seen as an endorsement of the donor’s business or political interests.
  5. Ethical fundraising: Universities and colleges are expected to follow ethical fundraising practices, including avoiding pressure tactics or misleading information, and ensuring that donors are aware of any tax implications of their gifts.

Overall, universities and colleges are expected to act in the best interests of both their institution and their donors, and to maintain high standards of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct when accepting charitable gifts.

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