Four ISO Working Groups Launched; Upcoming Meeting
The voting period has just closed for several new areas of work that were recently proposed for ISO Technical Committee 285, the key body of countries, organizations, and experts working to establish standards for the clean cooking sector. Based on the voting results, the Alliance is establishing four Working Groups that will conduct focused discussions and develop draft standards or guidelines in key areas:
Harmonized Laboratory Protocols – Harmonize existing test protocols by adapting and updating them into a unified approach that will seek to address the needs of countries and other stakeholders; improve the communication of test results.
Conceptual Framework for Testing – Establish a framework for product assessment methods by reviewing the requirements of potential users of product performance ratings.
Field Testing Methods – Develop a guidance document that tabulates and evaluates existing methods, provides guidelines for their suitability, and offers recommendations to further develop methods for field testing.
Social Impact Assessment – Develop guidelines for social impact studies, including quality criteria.
The Working Groups were first proposed and discussed at the ISO Meeting in Nairobi in February 2014, and proposals for new projects were submitted to the full committee for review and voting. While these Working Groups are newly formed, they will continue ongoing work by Alliance partners to evaluate and develop protocols and indicators for stove and fuel testing. The voting process has involved many experts who have submitted comments and recommendations on the future scope of work. All comments submitted by participating countries will be reviewed by the Working Groups. The participating countries and external liaison organizations of TC 285 have also nominated experts to serve on these working groups.
These four Working Groups will be in addition to the two Task Groups that have already formed on Fuels and Communications. Working Groups develop draft standards and guidelines documents, while Task Groups perform other activities related to the goals of the Technical Committee. These groups will work throughout the year via e-mail and teleconferences.
Upcoming Meeting in Antigua, Guatemala
Nominated experts of the Working Groups will meet at the upcoming ISO Task and Working Group Meeting for TC 285, in Antigua, Guatemala from 13 – 16 October 2014. Some travel support is available for experts to participate.
The travel support policy and application can be found at:
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1721612/Travel-Support-Application-for-Task-and-Working-Group-Meetings-for-ISO-TC-285
A logistics packet will be shared through ISO National Member Bodies and external liaison organizations.
More information about Standards and Testing:
https://www.cleancookstoves.org/our-work/standards-and-testing/
More information about how to join the standards process:
https://www.cleancookstoves.org/our-work/standards-and-testing/guidelines-and-standards/guidelines–standards-documents/how-to-participate-in-the-standards-process.pdf