Standardization News

ASTM International and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO) jointly sponsored the 3rd Annual Quality Assurance for Sustainable Construction Materials Conference and Workshop on Dec. 15-16, 2015, in Dubai. The conference was held under the patronage of the Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Central Laboratory.

The conference brings together local and regional government legislators, construction professionals, manufacturers, independent laboratories and researchers.

The 2015 conference focused on the role of quality building materials in achieving higher standards for sustainability and safety in buildings and infrastructure. The main objective was to obtain a better understanding of the overarching policies and future strategies within the GCC and their practical implementation in the design, construction and maintenance processes.

The event highlights the international and regional approach to testing and quality controls as well as the importance of specifications/standards. It serves as a platform for sharing experiences between the public and private sectors.

ASTM member John Runkle, of Architectural Testing-Intertek, presented a keynote address, "Guiding Principles for QA/QC of Sustainable Construction Materials," on the first day of the conference. On the second day, Runkle participated in a workshop on guiding principles for testing and certification of green materials and systems.