Certifying the Certifiers

Loading
loading...

Certifying the Certifiers

January 27, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
No Comments

Accreditation and certification are relatively modern concepts that have evolved over time as formalized methods of establishing and maintaining standards in various fields. The concept of accreditation or certification, as it is understood today, may not have existed in the same form in the distant past. However, there were likely individuals or groups who played roles similar to that of accreditation or certification specialists in history, although the formalized systems of accreditation or certification that exist today were not present.

For example, in ancient times, there were guilds and associations in various professions that set standards for their members, oversaw training and apprenticeship programs, and ensured the quality of their work. These guilds and associations, which existed in various civilizations such as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, could be seen as early forms of accreditation or certification bodies.

Similarly, in religious contexts, there were individuals who held authority to certify or accredit others. For instance, in medieval Europe, there were religious orders, such as the Knights Templar, who were known for their specialized skills and were often called upon to certify the expertise of others in their areas of knowledge, such as architecture or finance.

In the field of education, ancient universities and centers of learning, such as the ancient Indian Nalanda University or the Islamic madrasas, could also be seen as early forms of accreditation or certification bodies, where scholars were recognized and certified based on their knowledge and expertise.

However, it’s important to note that the formalized systems of accreditation or certification that we are familiar with today, with standardized processes, documentation, and oversight, have developed over time and are relatively modern phenomena. The history of accreditation or certification is complex and multifaceted, with various practices and traditions that have evolved and influenced the modern systems we have today.

“Dirty Snowball”

January 27, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
No Comments

 

“The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence
of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, 1858)

Michigan Upper Peninsula

Northern Michigan University Net Position 2023: $313,965,331

Thinking about how that groundhog lied to us 🤨🤨🤨 pic.twitter.com/ZQOzzteCzs— Penny Kmitt (@pennylikeacoin) April 4, 2024The non-alcoholic version of the Dirty Snowball:Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Peppermint syrup 
  • 1 oz Chocolate syrup
  • 4 oz Milk or a milk alternative (such as almond milk or oat milk)
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

  • Fill a glass with ice cubes.
  • Pour the peppermint syrup and chocolate syrup over the ice.
  • Add the milk or milk alternative to the glass.
  • Stir.

The Decline of Men on Campus

Five-Year Facilities Master Plan

 

Related:

February 16, 2024: NMU Board Agrees to Proceed on Capital Projects

One Hundred Days of School

January 27, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
No Comments

"What are you afraid of losing, when nothing in the world actually belongs to you." -- Marcus Aurelius

Security 400.  Advanced Topics

January 26, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
No Comments

This content is accessible to paid subscribers. To view it please enter your password below or send mike@standardsmichigan.com a request for subscription details.

Mushroom Coffee

January 25, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

No Comments

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/simply-nutritious-quick-and-delicious/2024-02-02-whats-deal-mushroom-coffee

Australian Building Code & National Construction Code

January 25, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

No Comments

This content is accessible to paid subscribers. To view it please enter your password below or send mike@standardsmichigan.com a request for subscription details.

Pathways 100

January 23, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
No Comments

Today we break down the literature for exterior and interior pathways in education communities.   We limit the term “pathway” to refer to human pathways (as in egress and ingress paths); not wiring or piping pathways.   Maximum distance of travel from within a building and along an egress path toward safety is a core topic in building safety literature.  Starting 2023 we will break down coverage of subject catalogs and bibliographies:

Pathways 100: Survey of all titles for both the exterior and interior environments

Pathways 200: Review of codes, standards and guidelines for building interiors

Related recent research:

Hallways and stairways lighting system cost reduction

The research on circadian rhythm parameters testing of lighting quality in classrooms

Research and discussion on classroom blackboard lighting

Pathways 300: Review of codes, standards and guidelines campus environment outside the buildings; all seasons

Pathways 500: Review of noteworthy litigation.   Campus pathways are rich in possibilities for legal actions so we will refresh our understanding of the landmark decisions.

This breakdown is “somewhat” inspired by recent action by ASHRAE International to expand the scope of ASHRAE 90.1 to heating and cooling environments outside buildings.   The new title of ASHRAE 901. includes the word “Site”, which is another way of saying “the world” outside buildings.   Standards Michigan commented on the consequences of doing this in the proposal stages in 2020-2021.


The topic involves titles from many standards setting organizations; among them:

American National Standards Institute

C136-series for street lighting

International Code Council (accessible and useable ingress and egress entrances, paths and exits)

International Building Code: Chapter 10 Means of Egress

ICC A117 Accessibility Meeting Agenda December 15 2022 (Pathways)

ICC A117.1 2023 Meeting Calendar Accessible and Useable Buildings

Modifications for A117.1 12-1-2022 meeting

A117.1 11-17-2022 Agenda 20

A117.1 7-28-2022 Minutes 12

IFC §909.21.6 Proposal FS118-21 Pressurization systems for elevator pathways (now being discussed during the ICC Group A Committee Action Hearings in September)

American Society of Civil Engineers (roads, sidewalks)

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME A17.1-2019: Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators

Elevators & Lifts

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (wayfinding along unofficial footpaths using the internet of small things)

Education & Healthcare Facility Electrotechnology

A BIM-Based Coordination Support System for Emergency Response

Computer Vision Method in Means of Egress Obstruction Detection

Recommended Practice for the Design of Power Systems Supplying Lighting Systems in Commercial and Industrial Facilities

Wayfinding: Current Research

 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

National Fire Protection Association (fire protection for interior premises, fire truck routes, electric signage, security)

2021 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code

Chapter 3 Means of Egress

Chapter 12-13 Assembly Occupancies

Chapter 14-15 Educational Occupancies

Chapter 18-19 Health Care Occupancies

2022 Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems

Chapter 5 – Emergency Power Supply: Energy Sources, Converters and Accessories

ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates

Standard Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates

…And about 20 others.

We might venture onto the minefield of sensitivities about signage: too much, too many, too big, too small?  There are signs everywhere in academia.

Many titles in the foregoing list are inspired by legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act administered by the US Department of Justice

As usual, we’ll only have time to identify the titles and concepts in motion and set up a separate markup session.   Open to everyone; use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Texas Tech


MORE:

International Building Code §3104 Pedestrian Walkways and Tunnels 

2023 National Electrical Code Article 420 — Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lamps

2023 National Electrical Code Article 600 – Electric Signs and Outline Lighting

2023 National Electrical Code Article 620 — Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, Moving Walks, Lifts and Chairlifts

Bibliography

Shaping the Sidewalk Experience

The 8 Principles of Sidewalks

Federal Highway Administration University Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

“The Via Appia: A Case Study in the Political Geography of Imperialism” Hannah Friedman.  This article, published in the Journal of Historical Geography in 2011, examines the Appian Way as a product of Roman imperialism and a reflection of Roman attitudes toward the landscape and its inhabitants. The author draws on both textual and archaeological evidence to explore the road’s impact on the regions it passed through.

“The Appian Way: The Road that Built the Roman Empire” by Richard Talbert – Cambridge University Press 2012.  A a comprehensive study of the Appian Way and its significance to the Roman Empire. The author draws on a wide range of archaeological and historical evidence to explore the road’s construction, use, and legacy.

 

 

Layout mode
Predefined Skins
Custom Colors
Choose your skin color
Patterns Background
Images Background
error: Content is protected !!
Skip to content