With the technical challenges facing the globe, particularly in energy areas, the value of codes and standards has never been more apparent. The commercialization of new technology is critical to meeting many global challenges, and the role of codes and standards in bringing technology to market is changing.
The traditional approach to standardization has included writing prescriptive standards only after technology is fully established and after commercialization has been completed. It has been observed in recent years that the lack of standards in a particular area can actually create a barrier to commercialization. If standards development can be more anticipatory, then useful rules governing the application of technology become available as soon as they are needed.
The adoption of technically relevant consensus standards helps overcome barriers to commercialization by establishing public confidence, permitting rapid and transportable workforce development, removing impediments to business, and enabling global trade. ASME, which for 125...
