Hosting open-air celebrations such as graduations and cultural requires sensitivity to audio standards that ensure high-quality sound and audience safety. Today at the usual hour we examine the standards covering sound system design, noise control, loudness levels, equipment specifications, weather and local environmental considerations.
Surprisingly, there are many even without approaching the not insignificant cabling system standards. We pick three representatives titles which cross reference one another:
World Health Organization recommendations for limiting exposure to leisure noise (e.g., concerts) to a level exceeding 80 dBA for 24 hours or 140 dB peak sound pressure to prevent hearing loss. Recommendations for speech heavy events will defer from musical events.
Height and Angle: Line array speakers are often elevated (e.g., on trusses or poles) and angled to cover the audience while reducing sound spill to non-audience areas.
Distance: Main speakers should be placed to avoid excessive sound pressure near the front (e.g., 95–100 dBA max for audience safety) and ensure clarity at the back.
Acoustical Society of America ASA-2010 Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools. While primarily for schools, this standard’s principles can apply to open-air educational or community events, emphasizing background noise control and speech intelligibility. For open-air audiences at events like outdoor lectures or festivals, speaker placement should minimize interference from environmental noise (e.g., traffic, wind). The standard suggests maintaining a signal-to-noise ratio where speech is at least 15 dB above background noise for clarity.
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“View of the Colosseum” 1747 Giovanni Paolo Panini
Play is the making of civilization—how one plays the game
more to the point than whether the game is won or lost.
The purpose of this standard is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability and safety to life and property relative to the construction, alteration, repair, operation and maintenance of new and existing temporary and permanent bench bleacher, folding and telescopic seating and grandstands. This standard is intended for adoption by government agencies and organizations setting model codes to achieve uniformity in technical design criteria in building codes and other regulations.
This title is on the standing agenda of our Sport, Olahraga (Indonesian), رياضة (Arabic), colloquia. You are welcomed to join us any day at with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
At the April International Code Council Group A Hearings there were three candidate code changes related to the safety standard of care for athletic venues:
These concepts will likely be coordinated with another ICC regulatory product —ICC 300 – Standard on Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and Grandstands — covered here previously. ICC 300 is a separate document but some of the safety concepts track through both.
The ICC Public Comment Hearings on Group A comments in Richmond Virginia ended a few days ago (CLICK HERE). The balloting is being processed by the appropriate committee and will be released soon. For the moment, we are happy to walk through the proposed changes – that will become part of the 2021 International Building Code — any day at 11 AM Eastern time. We will walk through all athletic and recreation enterprise codes and standards on Friday, November 2nd, 11 AM Eastern time. For access to either teleconference, click on the LIVE Link at the upper right corner of our home page.
Issue: [15-283]
Category: Athletics & Recreation, Architectural, Public Safety
Contact: Mike Anthony, Richard Robben, Jack Janveja
The International Code Council has launched a new revision cycle for its consensus document — ICC 300 – Standard on Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and Grandstands. The purpose of the effort is the development of appropriate, reasonable, and enforceable model health and safety provisions for new and existing installations of all types of bleachers and bleacher-type seating, including fixed and folding bleachers for indoor, outdoor, temporary, and permanent installations. Such provisions would serve as a model for adoption and use by enforcement agencies at all levels of government in the interest of national uniformity.
Comments are due December 4th. The document is free. You may obtain an electronic copy from: https://www.iccsafe.org/codes-techsupport/standards/is-ble/. Comments may be sent to Edward Wirtschoreck, (888) 422-7233, ewirtschoreck@iccsafe with copy to psa@ansi.org)
* With some authority, we can claim that without Standards Michigan, many education industry trade associations would not be as involved in asserting the interest of facility managers in global consensus standards development processes. See ABOUT.
May Balls are typically organized by committees of students from the hosting college, who plan and coordinate various aspects of the event, including the theme, decorations, catering, entertainment, and ticket sales.
The proceeds from May Balls go towards charitable causes or to support college funds. The event provides an opportunity for students to celebrate the end of the academic year, socialize with peers, alumni, and guests, and create lasting memories of their time at Cambridge.
The University of Wyoming Extension service provides research and education to farmers and ranchers; funded by federal, state, and local sources:
Agricultural production and management: The Extension service provides information and resources on topics such as crop production, livestock management, and farm business management.
Soil and water management: The Extension service offers expertise on soil fertility, irrigation, water quality, and conservation practices.
Pest management: The Extension service provides resources and support for integrated pest management, including information on insect and disease control, weed management, and pesticide safety.
Youth education: The Extension service offers educational programs and activities for youth interested in agriculture, including 4-H clubs and competitions.
Community development: The Extension service works with local communities to support economic development, tourism, and natural resource conservation.
The Extension service also offers consultations, workshops, field days, and other events to help farmers and ranchers stay up-to-date on the latest research and technologies in agriculture.
A laboratory fume hood is a specialized ventilated enclosure designed to safely contain and remove hazardous chemical fumes, vapors, dust, and aerosols generated during experiments. It consists of a cabinet-like structure with a movable sash window at the front, internal baffles, and a powerful exhaust fan that continuously draws air inward at a controlled velocity (typically 0.3–0.5 m/s). Contaminated air is ducted outside or passed through filters before release, while clean air flows in to create a protective barrier between the user and the hazardous materials.
Today at the usual hour we refresh our understanding of the best practice literature. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
School Educational Laboratories. In secondary and undergraduate teaching labs, fume hoods enable safe demonstration of core experiments involving acids, bases, or organic reactions. They protect students—who often have limited experience—from accidental exposure while building practical skills. They also reduce odors and airborne contaminants, creating a healthier learning environment and allowing more complex experiments to be included in curricula. In resource-limited schools, even basic fume hoods dramatically lower accident risks and support compliance with safety regulations.
University Research. In advanced research settings, fume hoods are critical for handling toxic, flammable, corrosive, or volatile substances (e.g., organic solvents, carcinogens, or reactive gases). They protect researchers from inhalation exposure, prevent laboratory fires or explosions, and maintain experiment integrity by minimizing cross-contamination. Regulatory standards like OSHA and ASHRAE require their use for many procedures. Without fume hoods, high-level chemical synthesis, nanomaterials research, or analytical chemistry would pose unacceptable health and safety risks, halting scientific progress.
These documents emphasize common themes like checking airflow before use, keeping work ≥6 inches inside the sash, minimizing clutter, proper sash positioning, and never using a malfunctioning hood.
A significant amount of research in the United States is conducted in research universities — over $70 billion annually, according to the National Science Foundation (LEARN MORE HERE). Unlike private industry, where facilities can be located away from population centers, many campus laboratories are located in dense populated areas because researchers enjoy their work in a lively campus setting. Keeping these facilities safe and sustainable is challenging anywhere but especially so in a setting where education and research takes place in close proximity.
One of the core documents for leading practice is ASHRAE 110 — Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods. Keep in mind that in the emergent #SmartCampus a fume hood is part of an integrated system that not only includes environmental air systems but electrical, telecommunication, and fire safety systems.
ASHRAE 110 provides a starting point for assessing a wide variety of factors that influence the performance of laboratory fume hoods. The ability of a laboratory hood to provide protection for the user at the face of the hood is strongly influenced by the aerodynamic design of the hood, the method of operation of the hood, the stability of the exhaust ventilation system, the supply ventilation of the laboratory room, the work practices of the user, and other features of the laboratory in which it is installed. Therefore, there is a need for a test method that can be used to evaluate the performance including the influences of the laboratory arrangement and its ventilation system.
From the project prospectus:
Purpose. This standard specifies a quantitative and qualitative test method for evaluating fume containment of laboratory fume hoods.
Scope: his method of testing applies to conventional, bypass, auxiliary-air, and VAV laboratory fume hoods. (2) This method of testing is intended primarily for laboratory and factory testing but may also be used as an aid in evaluating installed performance.
The 2016 revision is the current version; made the following improvements to the 1995 edition:
• The test procedures now require digital collection of data rather than allowing manual data collection.
• Some modifications have been made to the test procedure. These modifications were made based on the experience of the committee members or to clarify statements in the 1995 edition of the standard.
• Informative Appendix A, which provides explanatory information, has been expanded.
• Informative Appendix B, a new nonmandatory section, provides guidance to anyone using the standard as a diagnostic tool in investigating the cause of poor hood performance.
ASHRAE has recently upgraded its public participation platform; available in the link below:
ASHRAE 110 is not a continuous maintenance document (that can change in 30 to 90 day intervals). We encourage our colleagues involved in university-affiliated research enterprises who have an idea, data and/or anecdotes to key in their idea, data or anecdote — particularly faculty and students. While we recognize that conformance professionals (i.e. “inspectors”) have a very informed point of view about safety; they may not place ideas for lower costs at the top of their agenda. It is a fine line we must hew in the education industry — respecting the experience and priorities of risk managers while at the same coming up with ideas that make laboratories safer, simpler, lower-cost and longer-lasting that may reduce their billable hours.
We find that environmental air safety goals often compete with fire safety goals and both compete with sustainability goals. Conversations about the optimal approach to converting to variable volume fume hood systems from constant flow are common:
As an ANSI accredited continuous-maintenance standards developer ASHRAE technical committees receive public comment at any time; though action on revising the standard must follow the accredited process. State level adaptations — with respect to technical specifics or compliance paths or both — are always possible. As explained elsewhere, Standards Michigan generally advocates for scalable, site specific solutions to laboratory safety system operation and maintenance, though we understand that enforcement and compliance interests prefer bright-line, single-point solutions that are easy to enforce.
All ASHRAE standards are on the agenda of our Mechanical Engineering teleconference. See our CALENDAR for our next conversation on this subject; open to everyone.
NSF Internationaldevelops a standard for one of the centerpiece safety technologies for a large revenue driver in research universities. The landing page for its biosafety cabinetry product, installation, operation and maintenance standard is linked below:
This Standard applies to Class II (laminar flow) biosafety cabinetry designed to minimize hazards inherent in work with agents assigned to biosafety levels 1, 2, 3, or 4. It also defines the tests that shall be passed by such cabinetry to meet this standard. NSF 49 includes basic requirements for the design, construction, and performance of biosafety cabinets that are intended to provide personnel, product, and environmental protection; reliable operation; durability and structural stability; cleanability; limitations on noise level; illumination; vibration; and motor/blower performance.
This equipment class is the centerpiece of many research laboratories and is a multidimensional risk aggregation so NSF 49 needs to move swiftly and is listed as an ANSI Continuous Maintenance product. You can track the action at the link below:
We maintain all NSF International titles on the agenda of our Laboratory and Risk teleconferences and, because NSF runs its standards suite continuously, most of its titles are on our Nota Bene teleconferences. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone
Issue: [13-118]
Category: Risk Management, Occupational Health and Safety
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Richard Robben, Alan Rose, Mark Schaufele
After architectural trades, the mechanical technologies occupy the largest part of building construction:
HVAC:
Heating Systems: Technologies include furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and radiant heating systems.
Ventilation Systems: Incorporating technologies like air handlers, fans, and ductwork to ensure proper air circulation.
Air Conditioning Systems: Including central air conditioning units, split systems, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems.
Plumbing:
Water Supply Systems: Involving technologies for water distribution, pumps, and pressure regulation.
Sanitary Systems: Including drainage, sewage systems, and waste disposal technologies.
Fixtures and Faucets: Incorporating technologies for sinks, toilets, showers, and other plumbing fixtures.
Fire Protection:
Fire Sprinkler Systems: Employing technologies like sprinkler heads, pipes, pumps, and water tanks.
Fire Suppression Systems: Including technologies such as gas-based or foam-based suppression systems.
Energy Efficiency Technologies:
Energy Management Systems (EMS): Utilizing sensors, controllers, and software to optimize energy consumption in HVAC systems.
Energy Recovery Systems: Incorporating technologies like heat exchangers to recover and reuse energy from exhaust air.
Building Automation (BAS):
Control Systems: Using sensors, actuators, and controllers to manage and automate various mechanical systems for optimal performance and energy efficiency.
Smart Building Technologies: Integrating with other building systems for centralized control and monitoring.
Materials and Construction Techniques:
Piping Materials: Selecting appropriate materials for pipes and fittings based on the application.
Prefab and Modular Construction: Leveraging off-site fabrication and assembly for mechanical components.
Our examination of the movement in best practice in the mechanical disciplines usually requires an understanding of first principles that appear in the International Building Code
We are waiting for the link to the Complete Monograph for the Group A cycle in which one of our proposals (Chapter 27 Electrical) will be heard at the April 2023 Committee Action Hearings in Orlando.
Superceded:
Because of the larger, disruptive concepts usually require more than one revision cycle — i.e. 3 to 9 years — it is wise to track those ideas in the transcripts of public hearings on the revisions. For example, the ICC Group A Committee Action Hearings were completed (virtually) in May 2021. The complete monograph of proposals is linked below:
Proposals for the 2024 IMC revision will be accepted until January 7, 2024. We maintain this title among our core titles during our periodic Mechanical teleconferences. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
A conversation with Bjorn Lomborg, a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, the president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, and one of the foremost climate experts in the world today. His new book — “False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet” — is an argument for treating climate as a serious problem but not an extinction-level event requiring such severe and drastic steps as rewiring a large part of the culture and the economy.
The alarmist reddening of weather maps is a perfect visualisation of how 5th generational warfare works. We’re dealing with an information war and the battlefield is our mind. @RWMaloneMDpic.twitter.com/nTBv5yhYbS
Water standards make up a large catalog and it will take most of 2023 to untangle the titles, the topics, proposals, rebuttals and resolutions. When you read our claim that since 1993 we have created a new academic discipline we would present the best practice literature of the world’s most abundance as an example.
The Water 100 session takes an aerial view of relevant standards developers, their catalogs and revision schedules.
The Water 200 session we examine the literature for best practice inside buildings; premise water supply for food preparation, sanitation and energy systems.
The Water 300 session we examine water management standards in selected nations with specific interest in educational settlements with proximity to oceans.
The Water 330 session we examine water management standards for swimming pools, hot tubs and spas in hospitals and athletic departments.
The Water 400 session will run through best practice catalogs of water management outside buildings, including interaction with regional water management systems.
The Water 500 session is a study of case histories, disasters, legal action related to non-conformance. Innovation.
Water safety and sustainability standards have been on the Standards Michigan agenda since the early 2000’s. Some of the concepts we have tracked over the years; and contributed data, comments and proposals to technical committees, are listed below:
Send bella@standardsmichigan.com an email to request a more detailed advance agenda. To join the conversation use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
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/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
![How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and [how] hard it is to undo that work again! - Mark Twain](https://www.azquotes.com/vangogh-image-quotes/48/62/Quotation-Mark-Twain-It-s-easier-to-fool-people-than-to-convince-them-48-62-03.jpg)
