Standards & Compliance Briefing: Building Automation, ISO 140001 Changes, BPA and Prop.65

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, has published ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 135-2012, BACnet – A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks, which the organization describes as the only open, consensus-developed standard in the building controls industry. ASHRAE says the new standard has been published ahead of schedule and includes significant improvements to alarm handling.

A member of the ISO technical committee overseeing revisions to guidance for ISO 14001, the environmental management system (EMS) standard, has urged manufacturers to prepare for changes now, The Manufacturer reports. Greg Roberts says the revised standard, due in early 2015, will consider the impact of the environment on companies along with the influence of broad political and economic factors on EMS effectiveness.

The American Chemistry Council has filed a complaint in a California court against the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s proposal to list bisphenol A (BPA) as a reproductive toxicant under Prop. 65, according to Mark Anstoetter and Madeleine McDonough of law firm Shook Hardy & Bacon, writing on Lexology.com. The ACC argues that the state has insufficient evidence of reproductive toxicity, and that the listing would have serious adverse effects on industry and the public. 

The new Receiving and Distribution Center at San Diego International Airport has won LEED Gold certification, according to Airports International. The 23,000 sq ft facility, which opened in December, includes a solar hot water system and water-efficient plumping. It has also reduced delivery truck traffic by between 50 and 75 trips per day, and powers trucks with biodiesel.

Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company has received re-certification under ISO 14001, according to AMEinfo.com. The certification follows an external audit by Lloyd Register.

Invopak, a manufacturer of rigid packaging containers, has secured ISO 14001 accreditation, Packaging Europe reports. ISO Quality Services evaluated Invopak’s environmental management system on behalf of Audit Services. The accreditation applies to purchase, stocking and distribution.

The University of Iowa‘s $15.3 million, 33,754 sq ft Dental Science Building addition has earned LEED gold certification, Iowa Now reports. The addition, completed in September 2011, earned points in five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environment. All of its indoor paint, adhesive, sealant and coating products meet volatile organic compound standards, and 81 percent of the wood-based materials used come from forests certified under the Forest Stewardship Council.