Reviews&Previews

PGC Holds D.C. Legislative Retreat

The Protective Glazing Council (PGC) International held its PGC Legislative Retreat May 10-11 at the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The meeting involved key officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and NIBS.

Included on the program was a presentation by Richard Paradis of NIBS who discussed the NIBS Security Information & Technologies Exchange (SITE) database. Paradis previewed the product database, explaining that it allows visitors to www.sitexchange.org to view product listings, which also include the standards that each product meets.

According to Paradis, the database, which is currently still in the building phase, “helps users find the most appropriate technology that best fits the potential security threats of a specific facility.” A target date for the website to go live has not yet been set (manufacturers may submit products via the SITE website).

Philip Mattson, vice chair of ASTM International and program manager for the DHS S&T Standards Branch, discussed the importance of having an integrated standard, rather than a number of different government standards.

“The benefit of having an integrated standard is that is can enhance interoperability. Having metrics on how to measure a product allows you to develop a product that people can use and will buy,” Mattson said.

Dr. Christopher White from NIST closed out the event with his presentation on the durability of protective glazing products. Plans for a protective glazing study with NIST are underway and the logistics of that study are to be discussed in later meetings.
www.protectiveglazing.org


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