(ANSI: New York) -- The Japanese Industrial Standards Committee recently submitted a proposal to the International Organization for Standardization for a new field of technical activity on industrial furnaces and associated thermal processing equipment.

This type of thermal equipment is used widely in many manufacturing sectors. Fundamentally different from domestic or commercial heating equipment, industrial furnaces are operated by trained professionals with materials that can be toxic, explosive, or flammable. International standardization of this type of equipment will help ensure safety, product quality, and energy efficiency.

According to the proposal, the intended technical committee (TC) would address wide-ranging aspects, such as terminology, safety requirements, and testing methods, as well as equipment-specific components, such as furnaces, burners, fuel supply systems, and safeguards.

If approved, the new ISO TC would liaise internally with TC 109—“Oil and gas burners,” and with TC 161—“Control and protective devices for gas and oil burners and gas and oil burning appliances.” In addition, the new TC would work with International Electrotechnical Commission TC 27—“Industrial electroheating equipment;” the European Committee of Industrial Furnace Manufacturers and Heating Equipment Associations; the Industrial Heating Equipment Manufacturers Association; and the Japanese Industrial Furnace Manufacturers Association.

As the official U.S. member of ISO, the American National Standards Institute is seeking comments on the JISC proposal from all U.S. stakeholders. All input will be used to develop a recommended position with possible comments that will be presented to the ANSI ISO Council for approval.

For more information, visit http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=1698.