Standardization News

ASTM International, the International Code Council, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration are partnering with the Standardization Organization for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSO) to host a two-day conference that supports the use of globally accepted codes and standards in the Gulf.

Presenters will discuss regulations, testing, laboratories, sustainability, inspections, enforcement, and more. Some presenters will specifically focus on areas such as facades, cool roofs, and thermal insulation.

The Dubai conference (October 30-31) comes after ICC and GSO signed an agreement in December to develop the Gulf Building Code. The code will help harmonize building practices, enhance safety, promote sustainability, drive innovation, and support commerce in the region.

Those interested in the event, “Implementing and Enforcing the Code and the Use of Globally Accepted Standards,” can register here.

Over the past three years, ASTM International and ICC have hosted about 15 workshops, delegation visits, and other events focused on sharing technical knowledge and understanding among hundreds of government and industry leaders. The work, supported in part by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, promotes sustainable construction, including areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and materials management.

In addition, immediately prior to the conference (October 29) ASTM International will conduct a training event on cool roofing practices at the Central Testing Lab of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council. Future events supported by ASTM International include a Kuwait conference on safety design in buildings (December 6) anddelegation visits to ICC Code Hearings next year in the U.S.