Uncategorized Archives - Standards Michigan

Favorite Coffee Shops

“The Big Chill” Morning Coffee

The Common Cup

Cowboy Coffee

Sunday Brunch

Five Best Coffee Shops in Birmingham

Elephant House Coffee

Café hopping…

“Dirty Snowball”

Annenberg Hall

After close of business on Tuesday (February 16) our content management theme — after having provided fairly reliable service for 15 years — will undergo a major upgrade. This upgrade will enable instant updates across all time zones and across all our social media platforms. We will still be on the job, hosting our Daily Colloquia at the usual hour, our topics will remain as posted on our CALENDAR, but content presentation may look a little janky until the transition stabilizes.

Much like hardware in ICT, software must also be maintained.

Evergreen

Water Safety & Sustainability

Commercial Kitchens

I-Code Group B Committee Action Hearings

International Zoning Code

Energy Standard for *Sites* and Buildings

Energy Standard for Sites & Buildings: Lighting

Energy Standard for Data Centers

Gingerbread Cookies

Blue and Gray Education | Standards Illinois

Homepage

Gingerbread Cookies – Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite

University of Michigan Abraham Lincoln Collection

"Lincoln the Railsplitter" 1964 | Norman Rockwellhttps://t.co/gud3D79Zuy @NRockwellMuseum https://t.co/B62jeA4KyJ https://t.co/HjKBblcz8d pic.twitter.com/Tyq3Qzql8w

— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) February 16, 2026

Nourriture Hiver

Western Colorado University Center for Cold Climate Food Security

Today we break down the catalog for food safety in education communities; with primary attention to consultations from private standard developing organizations and federal agencies charged with food safety. We do so with sensitivity to animals and plants and sustainability of the global food supply chain. Many schools are the communal cafeterias for the communities that own and operate them and run at commercial scale.

We prepare responses to public consultations released by standards developing organizations which, in many cases, have significant conformance enterprises.

ANSI Standards Action | Current Weekly Edition

Note the call for public comment on proposed WTO Agriculture, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures (Page 48)

Core titles are published by the ANSI accredited organizations listed below:

3-A Sanitary Standards

Catalog

ASHRAE International

The ASHRAE catalog is the most cross-cutting and fastest moving catalog in the land. If you claim ownership of the United States energy domain you pretty much capture everything related campus safety and sustainability. Best to deal with it on a day-by-day basis as we usually do according to daily topics shown on our CALENDAR.

Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

National Electrical Safety Code (Our particular interest lies in the safety and reliability of off-campus agricultural and research facilities that receive power from regulated utilities)

Kitchen Safety and Security System for Children

TupperwareEarth: Bringing Intelligent User Assistance to the “Internet of Kitchen Things”

Designing an IoT based Kitchen Monitoring and Automation System for Gas and Fire Detection

Re-Inventing the Food Supply Chain with IoT: A Data-Driven Solution to Reduce Food Loss

International Code Council

Commercial Kitchens

International Building Code Assembly Group A-2

International Building Code Group U Section 312 Agricultural Buildings

International Building Code Moderate Hazard Factory Industrial Group F-1 (Food Processing)

Who Gets Rich From School Lunch

National Fire Protection Association

Kitchen Wiring

National Electrical Code Article 210 (Branch Circuits)

National Electrical Code Article 547 (Agricultural Buildings)

Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems

Public Input Report for the 2024 Revision

Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations

Public Input Report for the 2024 Revision

NSF International

Food Equipment

Commercial Warewashing Equipment

Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers

Commercial Cooking, Rethermalization and Powered Hot Food Holding and Transport Equipment

Commercial Powered Food Preparation Equipment

US Federal Government:

US Department of Agriculture

Food & Drug Administration (HACCP)

State Governments:

Lorem ipsum @StandardsState

Global:

International Organization for Standardization

International Electrotechnical Commission

Codex Alimentarius

Food safety and sustainability standards populate are of the largest domains we track so if we need a break0-out session, let’s do it. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Agenda / Farm & Table

More

Standards supporting vertical farming

STANDARDS SUPPORT SOPHISTICATED FARMING METHODS THAT BRING PRODUCE TO YOUR TABLE

US Food & Drug Administration: Food Facility Registration Statistics (as of January 11, 2021)

National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry

The U.S. Land-Grant University System: An Overview

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Standards Development

The origin of the Land grant act of 1862

International Electrotechnical Commission: Keeping food safe from farm to plate

Codex Alimentarius

Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education: Dining Services Programs

Science and Our Food Supply: A Teacher’s Guide for High School Classrooms

Food Code 2022

Floor & Pathway Safety

“Weather is fate”

— Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu

“Road to Versailles at Louveciennes” 1869 Camille Pissarro

Today and its Slip and Fall season everywhere. Accordingly, at the usual hour, we review best practice literature for the safety and sustainability of the surfaces beneath our feet; with special focus on the risk aggregation in educational estates.

Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977)

Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces

Related coverage:

Heat tracing is a process used to maintain or raise the temperature of pipes and vessels in order to prevent freezing, maintain process temperature, or ensure that products remain fluid and flow through the system properly.

Heat tracing works by using an electric heating cable or tape that is wrapped around the pipe or vessel, and then insulated to help retain the heat. The heating cable is connected to a power source and temperature control system that maintains the desired temperature by regulating the amount of heat output from the cable. Heat tracing is commonly used in industrial applications where temperature control is critical, such as in chemical plants, refineries, and oil and gas facilities.

There are several types of heat tracing, including electric heat tracing, steam tracing, and hot water tracing, each of which have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The selection of the appropriate type of heat tracing depends on the specific application and the required temperature range, as well as factors such as cost, maintenance, and safety considerations.

The literature for snow and ice management (and enjoyment) produced by these standards-setting organizations:

Accredited Snow Contractors Association

American Society of Civil Engineers

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASTM International

FM Global

Destructive Deep Freeze Strikes Cold and Hot Regions Alike

Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers

Electrical Heat Tracing: International Harmonization — Now and in the Future

Indiana University.

The most beautiful college campus in the country covered in snow. pic.twitter.com/Tp33cQgKuq

— Alex Paul Photo (@alexpaulphoto) January 11, 2025

International Code Council

International Building Code: Chapter 15 Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures

National Electrical Contractors Association

National Fire Protection Association

Winter is Coming: Is Your Facility Protected? (Holly Burgess, November 2022)

National Electrical Code: Articles 426-427

National Floor Safety Institute

Snow and Ice Management Association

Underwriters Laboratories

Manufacturers:

Chromalox Electrical Heat Tracing Systems Design Guide

It is a surprisingly large domain with market-makers in every dimension of safety and sustainability; all of whom are bound by state and federal regulations.

Join us at 16:00 UTC with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Red surely made the most of his snow day! 🛷 ☃️

Who’s team snow on campus? ❄️ pic.twitter.com/F03KX1XyaR

— The Catholic University of America (@CatholicUniv) January 14, 2025

There have been several recent innovations that have made it possible for construction activity to continue through cold winter months. Some of the most notable ones include:

Heated Job Site Trailers: These trailers are equipped with heating systems that keep workers warm and comfortable while they take breaks or work on plans. This helps to keep morale up and prevent cold-related health issues.
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs): ICFs are prefabricated blocks made of foam insulation that are stacked together to form the walls of a building. The foam insulation provides an extra layer of insulation to keep the building warm during cold winter months.
Warm-Mix Asphalt (WMA): WMA is a type of asphalt that is designed to be used in colder temperatures than traditional hot-mix asphalt. This allows road construction crews to work through the winter months without having to worry about the asphalt cooling and becoming unusable.
Pneumatic Heaters: These heaters are used to warm up the ground before concrete is poured. This helps to prevent the concrete from freezing and becoming damaged during the winter months.
Electrically Heated Mats: These mats are placed on the ground to prevent snow and ice from accumulating. This helps to make the job site safer and easier to work on during the winter months.

Overall, these innovations have made it possible for construction crews to work through the winter months more comfortably and safely, which has helped to keep projects on schedule and minimize delays.

Somewhat related:

Why so much slip and fall attorney advertisements after SCOTUS Bates v. State Bar of Arizona (1977)

Capturing snow flakes as the fall out of the sky

[📹 Dmitry Dotsenko / dots_foto]pic.twitter.com/e3rwNUGLmK

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 29, 2025

Beautiful Building Entrances

ICC Means of Egress | NFPA Means of Egress

Classical architects, drawing from ancient Greek and Roman traditions (as codified by Vitruvius), regarded building entrances as the primary expression of venustas (beauty), alongside strength and utility. Entrances served as grand thresholds, symbolizing transition from the profane exterior to the ordered interior.They achieved beauty through harmonious proportion, symmetry, and the golden ratio, ensuring visual delight.

Porticos with elegant columns (Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian), entablatures, and pediments framed doorways, creating majestic first impressions. These elements conveyed prestige, invited reverence, and embodied ideal order, making the entrance the façade’s focal point of timeless elegance and civic or domestic dignity.

We present improvements that are possible on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus. We acknowledge that interior design and functionality may have to change.

Mason Hall South Entrance NOW | University of Michigan

Standards of beauty for building entrances in architecture emphasize creating a welcoming, harmonious, and memorable first impression. Core principles draw from timeless design tenets like proportion, scale, balance, and emphasis, ensuring the entrance feels appropriately sized relative to the overall structure and surroundings—neither overwhelming nor insignificant.

A beautiful entrance often features symmetry or thoughtful asymmetry for visual harmony, grand yet human-scaled elements like arches, columns, porticos, or recessed doorways that add depth and shelter. Materials matter: high-quality doors (glass for transparency, wood for warmth, or metal for modernity) combined with textures that complement the building’s style create tactile and visual appeal.

Ultimately, beauty arises from blending functionality (accessibility, security, weather protection) with emotional impact: an entrance that feels inviting, ordered, and reflective of the building’s purpose or cultural context.

Mason Hall South Entrance IMPROVED | University of Michigan

Means of egress rules, primarily from the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101, dictate the number and sizes of exit doors to ensure safe evacuation.

Number of exits: Most spaces require at least two exits when the occupant load exceeds 49 (for many occupancies like assembly, business, or mercantile). Loads of 501–1,000 need three exits, and over 1,000 require four or more. Single exits are allowed for low-occupant areas (often ≤49 people) with limited travel distances.

Sizes: Exit doors must provide a minimum clear opening width of 32 inches (813 mm). Required total egress width is calculated from occupant load (typically 0.2 inches per person for nonsprinklered buildings or 0.15 inches for sprinklered), distributed across exits. Doors swing in the egress direction for loads over 50 and must remain operable without keys or special effort.

These ensure adequate capacity and redundancy during emergencies. We treat security standards separately. See our CALENDAR

Existing Southeast corner of Wyly Hall

Improved Southeast corner of Wyly Hall

What is a standard?

A standard is a common solution to a recurring problem. The purpose of standards is to create uniform and transparent procedures that we can agree on. It is in everyone’s interest to increase quality, avoid misunderstandings and avoid reinventing the wheel every time.

Standards pave the way for more efficient and resource-efficient production. They also make it easier to procure and sign contracts, as they ensure that buyers and suppliers speak the same language.

Advantages of using standards:

Creates cost-effective processes
Establishes a high minimum level
Increases safety and quality
Ensures compatibility
Provides credibility both locally and globally
Facilitates procurement
Promotes trade and exports.

Om SIS

Security and Resilience

Geomatics

Spontaneous Volunteer Mangagment

Bättre förpackningar för miljön

Illumination 400

IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee

NEC Section 226.6 Conductor Size and Support (B) Festoon Lighting

EC&M Article 225: Outside Branch Circuits

Electrical Time: Definition of Festoon Lighting

“Starry Night Over the Rhône” 1888 Vincent van Gogh

Today we refresh our understanding of the moment in illumination technologies for outdoor lighting systems— related but different from our exploration of building interior illumination systems in Illumination 200. Later in 2024 we will roll out Illumination 400 (Holiday illumination) and Illumination 500 which explores litigation related to public illumination technology. As cities-within-cities the shared perimeter of a campus with the host municipality has proven rich in legal controversy and action.

Illumination technology was the original inspiration for the electric utility industry; providing night-time security and transforming every sector of every economy on earth. Lighting load remains the largest component of any building’s electric load — about 35 percent– making it a large target for energy regulations.

Our inquiry begins with selections from the following documents…

International Electrotechnical Commission TC 34 Lighting

IEC 60364 Electrical Installations in Buildings

2023 National Electrical Safety Code

IEEE P3001.9 – Recommended Practice for the Design of Power Systems Supplying Lighting Systems in Commercial and Industrial Facilities

Institution of Engineering and Technology: Recommendations for Energy-efficient Exterior Lighting Systems

2023 National Electrical Code: Article 410 (While the bulk of the NEC concerns indoor wiring fire hazards, there are passages that inform outdoor lighting wiring safety)

2019 ASHRAE 90.1: Chapter 9 Lighting

Illumination Engineering Society: Various titles

ISO/TC 274 Light and lighting

Salt Water River Project: Outdoor Lighting Standards

US DOE-EERE Building Energy Codes Program

…and about 20 other accredited, consortia or ad hoc standards developers and publishers aligned principally with vertical incumbents. Illumination was the original inspiration (i.e. the first “killer app”) for the electrical power industry in every nation. Its best practice literature reflects a fast-moving, shape-changing domain.

Click in today with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Upper Wharfedale Primary Federation School District Yorkshire Dales

McGill University: Before electricity, streets were filled with gas lights

Outdoor lighting systems can be owned and maintained by different entities depending on the context and location. Here are some examples of ownership regimes for outdoor lighting systems:

Public ownership: In this case, outdoor lighting systems are owned and maintained by the local government or municipal authority. The lighting may be installed in public spaces such as parks, streets, and other outdoor areas for the safety and convenience of the public.
Private ownership: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned by private individuals or organizations. For example, a business owner may install outdoor lighting for security or aesthetic reasons, or a homeowner may install outdoor lighting in their garden or yard.
Co-owned: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned jointly by multiple entities. For example, a residential community may jointly own and maintain outdoor lighting in their shared spaces such as parking areas, community parks, or recreational facilities.
Utility ownership: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned and maintained by utility companies such as electric or energy companies. These companies may install and maintain street lights or other lighting systems for the public good.
Third-party ownership: In some cases, a third-party entity may own and maintain outdoor lighting systems on behalf of a public or private entity. For example, a lighting contractor may install and maintain lighting in a public park on behalf of a local government.

The ownership regime of an outdoor lighting system can have implications for issues such as installation, maintenance, and cost-sharing. It is important to consider ownership when designing and implementing outdoor lighting systems to ensure their long-term effectiveness and sustainability.

More

International Commission on Illumination

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

National Electrical Contractors Association