Setting the standard: Still time to get involved
September 07th 2010

BCAS has been actively involved over the years in developing Codes of Practice to establish benchmark numbers and recommended procedures and has recently taken the role of Convenor to the international working group on the draft ISO 11011 (or ISO TC118 SC6 WG4 to give it its formal title). Chris Dee, executive director, reports.

Lord Kelvin said in 1883, “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it”. Compressed air systems are considered to be a necessary utility across the whole of industry and are estimated to consume up to 25% of industrial electrical supply.

The Scope of ISO 11011 states: The standard sets requirements for organising and conducting a compressed air system assessment, analysing data from the assessment and reporting and documentation of assessment findings.

The process by which the international members of the working group undertake this work is based on the fact that all parties agree that an energy audit standard is needed – but the process of producing such a standard has become very emotive in that not all agree what the content should be.

The draft standard has already been circulated for is first round of voting and comment in 2008. That resulted in the comments generated more pages than the actual standard. The ISO working group when discussing the comments came to the recognition that a major re-write was required. In addition more source material was identified including a US ASME code being prepared that contained good material. However it took the working group secretariat a year to negotiate the use of that document.

The draft has now been redrafted by BCAS to incorporate the comments from the members of the working group and the relevant sections of the US ASME code. This draft is being circulated to the working group who will send in their comments during the next six months prior to a review meeting scheduled for Milan in early 2011.

The generation of new ISO standards take time in accordance with a timetable set by ISO and with every opportunity for all participating members to submit content. In the UK, members of BCAS have the opportunity to hold review meetings to discuss the revised draft and add their opinions. This is an important opportunity for those in the industry to be actively involved in the process and to shape the standards that will be used.

For information on current and proposed Standards for the compressed air industry please contact BCAS on 020 7935 2464 or email technical@bcas.org.uk

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