ASCE’s Standards Development Program Chris Hanson, Standards Director American Society of Civil Engineers 1801 Alexander Bell Drive Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 1801 Alexander Bell Drive Reston, VA Revision by Conrad G. Keyes, Jr., ScD, P.E./P.S., D.WRE, Hon.M.ASCE (Life), F.NSPE (Life) –

General Hierarchy of Documents n Article - 1 person’s opinion n Journal article - reviewed by peers n Manual/Report - committee opinion n Guideline - committee + oversight group n Standard - all of the above plus!

Definition: Standard n A standard is a prescribed set of rules, conditions, or requirements for the purpose of institutionalizing practices and procedures. Only when developed in accordance with definitive rules of procedure and consensus does a standard obtain the necessary stature for regulatory use.

General Types of Standards n Material properties n Test methods n Design methods n Construction practices n Management practices

Fundamental Principles of Standards Development n Open to participation by everyone n Not dominated by any special interest n “Agreement” clearly defined n System accords due process to participants n Includes way for appeals to be heard

n Originated in the late 1800’s n Accredited by ANSI n Over 50 Committees today n About 5000 participants n SEI, G-I, EWRI, CI, COPRI, AEI, T&DI and others (?) ASCE’s Standards Program

Organizational Structure n Codes and Standards Committee (CSC) –Oversees program –Verifies adherence to procedures –Maintains ANSI Accreditation –Comprised of representatives from each standards council within ASCE

Starting a new Activity n Proposal must include: –Need and Rationale for guideline or standard –Potential members –Proposed scope/purpose –Potential chair –Affected parties/organizations

Get the Committee Organized n Forming the Standards Committee –Applications received –Members and non-members of ASCE –First come - first serve –Minimum size: 12 people –Must be balanced and not dominated –Removal for cause or non-participation

Standards Committee n Standards Committee is the “consensus body” n Composition of committees –20 to 40% Producers –20 to 40% Consumers –20 to 40% General Interest n 5 to 15% Regulatory n No more than one person from any one company or representation unless approved by the standards committee

First steps n Draft pre- standard developed –Volunteers –Grant –Contract n Sources of information include: –Research papers –Guidance documents –Articles –Manuals of practice –Individual experience

ASCE’s Process n Committee votes to start balloting n Letter ballot to all committee members n 30 day minimum ballot period n Votes counted and comments compiled

ASCE’s Process n Options: Affirm, Affirm w/ Comment, Negative, or Abstain n Consensus on an item requires: –65% of Committee must return ballot –75% of votes must vote “affirm” or “affirm w/ comment” –Rule: affirm by 50% of members

ASCE’s Process n Resolution of comments: Affirm w/ C –By definition the comments are editorial –Resolution at discretion of Chair –Reject –Accept - Editorial: Committee notified –Accept - Substantive: Letter ballot of Committee.

ASCE’s Process n Resolution of Comments: Negative –Persuasive - Editorial: Committee notified –Persuasive - Substantive: Letter ballot of Cte. –Non-Persuasive - Editorial: Committee notified –Non-Persuasive - Substantive: Letter ballot of Cte. –Withdrawn by voter –Previously considered

ASCE’s Process n Requirements of a Negative Comment –Comments submitted with negative votes must contain both an explanation for the negative vote and a revision to the guideline or standard which will resolve the negative vote. –Comments with negative votes failing to meet this requirement may be declared invalid.

ASCE’s Process n Letter ballots of the committee continues until all comments are resolved. n It is the committee (consensus body) which finds comments not persuasive n Consensus does not equal unanimity

Beyond the Committee! n Report prepared to Executive Committee and CSC demonstrating Rules have been followed. n Public Ballot authorized n Public “ballot” is truly a public comment period - votes are not tabulated n 45 day minimum comment period

Beyond the committee! n Public comment period –Press Releases –Article in ASCE News (139,000 members) –Notification to ANSI n Comments resolved same as committee comments n If substantive change occurs… Another public comment period is held!

Final Steps! n Public voters are notified on resolution of their comments and right to appeal procedure n Oversight group reviews all procedures n Publish the guideline or standard n Move it to general practice typically through its adoption by model codes

START ALL OVER AGAIN! n New Rules (May 2006) require revision or reaffirmation every 5 years n Bring lessons learned from events into the standards and then into practice n Improve clarity of requirements

Significant ASCE Standards for International Use n ASCE 7-05 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures –Wind Loads –Earthquake Loads –Flood Loads –Snow Loads –Load Combinations –Atmospheric Ice Loads

Other ASCE Standards for International Use? n ASCE Flood Resistant Design and Construction n ASCE/SEI Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings n ASCE/CI Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data

Proposed ASCE Guidelines for International Use? n ASCE/EWRI 45 & 46 & 47 – 05 Guidelines for Design, Installation, and Operation of Urban Stormwater Mgt Systems n EPA/WISE Guidelines in 2006 (Draft for Trial Use) – Water and Wastewater Utilities

Other ASCE/EWRI Standard Guidelines & Model Codes n EWRI/ASCE Standard Guidelines for Artificial Recharge of Ground Water n EWRI/ASCE Comprehensive Transboundary International Water Quality Management Agreement n ASCE/EWRI Regulated Riparian Model Water Code

Other Recent EWRI/ASCE Standard Practice documents n EWRI/ASCE Guidelines for Quality Assurance of Installed Fine- Pore Aeration Equipment n EWRI/ASCE Standard Practice for the Design and Operation of Precipitation Enhancement Projects