OPPORTUNITY SPOTLIGHT: ONE PARTICIPANT'S STORY
Read Joan C. Smith, Potomac Grange member’s story about working on an ASTM committee:
Securing Safety in the Sand: How I Contributed to Standards for Beach Umbrellas
UL 2272: Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices
The use of personal electronic mobility (e-mobility or micromobility) devices such as e-skateboards, hoverboards, and e-scooters has soared in recent years. Although these forms of transportation have many advantages, such as their versatility and zero-emission travel, they can present some risks. Aside from physical hazards like falling or crashing, e-mobility devices can present the risk of electrical shock and fire due to the demanding conditions their electrical systems and lithium-ion batteries are subjected to during use.
In response to the alarming safety concerns with personal e-mobility devices, UL Standards & Engagement published the first edition of UL 2272, the Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices, in November 2016. The STP remains active in updating UL 2272. If you are interested in helping to improve safety in this or other areas, please take a moment to learn how you can get involved.
UL 2849: Electrical Systems for Bikes
Electric bicycles, or e-Bikes, have gained significant popularity in recent years, offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly transportation option. However, the design of these devices and the conditions in which they operate present a unique set of safety risks. Electric bikes are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries due to their low weight and high capacity for energy storage. When subjected to certain conditions such as impact, vibration, or overcharging; or if the batteries have design or manufacturing flaws or are simply reaching the end of their life cycle due to aging, they may enter thermal runaway, which could cause them to catch fire and even explode.
To address the potential hazards due to the electrical system of e-Bikes powered by a lithium-based, rechargeable battery, and other safety concerns, UL Standards & Engagement convened a standards technical panel (STP) of experts to develop and publish the first edition, binational ANSI/CAN/UL 2849, Standard for Safety for Electrical Systems for e-Bikes in 2020. The STP remains active in updating UL 2849. The STP includes representatives from various interest groups, such as producers, supply chain, government, consumers, and testing and standards organizations.
If you are interested in helping to improve safety in this or other areas, please take a moment to learn how you can get involved.
Standards are everywhere if you look for them - from toys to household gadgets to AI to environmental technologies. Innovation is shaped and guided by standards. Thousands of people around the world - academics, consumers, manufacturers, to name a few - are working to build consensus in committees to ensure the products, processes and systems we rely on every day are safe, efficient and work well together.
Consumers play an important role on standards committees. You need not be a technical expert - your unique contribution will be your experience as a user. Your opinions will be taken seriously, although they may not prevail on every issue. You will see the consensus process in operation. And, you will have the opportunity to help develop a safety standard that will improve products and services, reducing risks.
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