Commitee practices, code and our future

[FeSE]

Are commitee members paid for their efforts? Should they? How much would this inflate the cost of our codes?

Do the code commitees require a portion of the commitee to be practicing engineers? Should they?

Would you rather photocopy or otherwise illegally copy our overly complicated codes rather than support the academic machine? Just kidding, let me rephrase;

If the codes were more practical would you buy more of them?

 

[271828]

"Are commitee members paid for their efforts?"

No. It's all volunteer work. People do this stuff on their own time.

"Should they?"

I don't think so. I know of a couple of examples of folks being hired to "committee-like" work that turned out to be disasters. Can't go into it beyond that, though.

"Do the code commitees require a portion of the commitee to be practicing engineers? Should they?"

Yes and yes. I'm on one significant committee and it's a few EOR types, a bunch of industry folks, and 20% academics.

"Would you rather photocopy or otherwise illegally copy our overly complicated codes rather than support the academic machine? Just kidding, let me rephrase;

If the codes were more practical would you buy more of them?"

People will complain no matter what happens. Back when wind loads were literally "20 psf on the projected area, period" I'm sure somebody had a problem with that.

 

[concretemasonry]

I serve on several different organizations. Usually, the members are not paid, but often their employers will support there activities. These committes are usually "steered" by one or more national/international associations in addition to the organization the administrates the documents and schedules the meetings. Because of the time required, the persons that are very active are usually strongly supported by their employers or independantly wealthy. - It is not cheap or easy to be actively involved.

Academic people may be supported by the school or programs, especially if research projects are required. Producer members are usually supported by their employers. Users (usually designers, specifiers and buyers, etc.) may be independent or supported by firms. Intersted parties may be "little old ladies" than can really thow in snag in process if they gang up at one time for their cause like the saefy and design of a pet access door that can effect the HVAC of a building.

Committe membership is usually open to all members of the group (ASTM, ACI, ASCE, etc.) establishing the standards/codes. Usually, the dues are minimal (as an example, ASTM is only $75/year with a free volume) and usually personal.

Getting to be a voting member may take time, presence, activity and persistance. Some groups require a "balanced" representation (user, producer and interested parties equally or something similar), so openings only occur when the number of voting members gets below a desired level AND there are applicants on the waiting list in a specific category. It took me over 10 years to be a voting member on one ASTM committee. Most votes are individual and not corporate and the number of voting members from one corporation/entity may be limited.

If you do not have any support, it can be costly, but it is educational and rewarding.

Often, there are annual or two times a year meetings that are usually at locations where the travel and lodging can be very pricey. Much of the work can be handled by E-mail, etc. Some groups do not requre actual attendance, missing meetings means missing much of the real meat and backgound on proposals. There are required minimal voting requirements, so lack of voting can terminate the voting status.

Most of the work on material and design stanards does not have real legal standing in codes until it is adopted by a code, code autority, specifying authority or a specifier. This activity for anyone that expects a quick solution or change in codes or standards.

Dick

 

[DonPhillips]

Some codes and some jurisdictions have their codes on line. In Ohio, the Ohio Building Code and the rest of the referenced I-codes are all available online:

http://ecodes.iccsafe.org/iccf/gateway.dll/?f=templates$fn=default.htm$up=1$3.0$vid=icc:oh

And some are available for reading only:

https://www2.iccsafe.org/states/ohiofire/OH_Fire/fire_frameset.htm

http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/list_of_codes_and_standards.asp?cookie_test=1

If the rest of the codes follow this trend, it would certainly help those of us that only occasionaly need a standard to look something up.



Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[FeSE]

Thanks for your feedback. I would enjoy involvement in committee work on steel design.

 

[271828]

Contact AISC and request to be on a committee. If you have 8-10 years of experience, a license, and some nice steel bldgs on your resume, you should have a good chance. They make appointments near the end of the year, but start talking to them and sending stuff earlier on.