The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) is proposing to reaffirm two industry standards for gas and vapor monitoring equipment. ANSI/ISEA 102-1990 (R2009) American National Standard for Gas Detector Tube Units—Short Term Type for Toxic Gases and Vapors in Working Environments established the performance requirements for gas detector tube units and components, which detect flammable, combustible, oxygen depleting and toxic gases. Gas detection tube units are commonly used in refineries, hazardous waste sites and waste water treatment facilities.

ANSI/ISEA 104-1998 (R2009) American National Standard for Air Sampling Devices--Diffusive Type for Gases and Vapors in Working Environments provides manufacturers and end users with guidance concerning the tests to be used in evaluating samplers for various air sampling applications. These devices, sometimes referred to as passive or personal monitoring badges, are used to monitor employee exposure to organic vapors, including formaldehyde or ethylene oxide, and are used for a variety of workplaces such as fiberglass and painting, applications, pulp and paper processing and healthcare settings.

As part of the development process, standards prepared by ISEA product groups become American National Standards through a consensus process that involves reviewers outside the association. These reviewers submit comments and vote on the approval of the standard. They serve as the final authority in determining whether a standard is submitted to ANSI for acceptance as an American National Standard.

ISEA maintains a list of participants, balanced by interest category, for each standard. A reviewer may fall into one of four categories:

Producer:  A manufacturer of the product covered by the standard or components thereof.

User:  An organization that uses, specifies or purchases the product covered by the standard.

Government:  An agency or department that has regulatory authority or other interest in the product. (NOTE:  Government agencies that use the product fall under the User category.)

General Interest:  An organization that has a special interest in the standard due to safety, technical or other requirements or an individual expert with knowledge in the area(s) covered by the standard, but who neither produces nor uses the products.

Consensus review of the proposed update is expected to begin in December 2014. If you are interested in serving as a consensus panel member for this document, please contact Cristine Z. Fargo, ISEA director of member and technical services, at cfargo@safetyequipment.org for details by November 30, 2014.