WESF plays a role in promoting standardization and eliminating global trade barriers.
Members of the broader U.S. standardization community came together last night for the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day, attending an exhibition and reception at the National Housing Center to recognize the tremendous impact that voluntary codes and standards have on society’s public health, safety, and security.
Each year, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) co-chair the event; the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) served as the 2024 administrating organization.
The 2024 U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day centered on the theme Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for the Changing Climate. Collaboration is the key to achieving shared goals, and the U.S. standardization system has the greatest impact when all stakeholders work together. Particularly as our climate continues to change, the standards community and the whole of the built environment must be resilient and ready to face the challenges ahead. The evening highlighted how working together can counter the negative impacts of climate change for a better, more resilient, and more equitable world for the next generation.
“Today’s theme resonates deeply with our collective responsibility to mobilize our experts to develop solutions that will cool our warming planet, build a resilient infrastructure, and create an environment that will sustain our children’s grandchildren,” said Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO, in his opening remarks. “Our rapid evolution from standards for screw threads and railroad tracks to smart homes and AI represent our shared commitment to a better, safer, technology-enabled, and sustainable world. Standards, codes, and conformance programs have been—and continue to be—the building blocks for our future.”
The event included the presentation of the 2024 Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award to Dominic Sims, CEO of the International Code Council. Sims was recognized for his accomplishments and service in improving the nation’s built environment, promoting building safety through codes and standards, and advancing the use of safety standards to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and eliminate global barriers to trade. He is also noted as a supporter of and advocate for the guidance provided by the United States Standards Strategy, U.S. Conformity Assessment Principles, and OMB Circular A-119.
The event also included the announcement of the 2024 World Standards Day Paper Competition winner: Joe Bocchiaro, principal consultant at NV5, for his entry, “From Ideas to Laws: Standards Driving the Sustainable Buildings Movement.”
World Standards Day was initially launched in 1970, and is now celebrated by nations around the globe. U.S. activities are organized annually by a planning committee consisting of representatives from across the standards and conformity assessment community. IAPMO will serve as the administrating organization for the 2025 U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day.