- Author
- Gross, J. G.
- Title
- Harmonization of Standards and Regulations: Problems and Opportunities for the United States.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Building Standards, 32-35, March/April 1990
- Keywords
- standards | regulations | construction materials | certification
- Identifiers
- European Single Internal Market (EC92); metrication
- Abstract
- A global market for construction products and services is becoming a reality. The unification of the European market by 1992, the increased international trade in the Pacific Rim, the interest in purchasing Western technology by the eastern European countries and the growing Third World market provide opportunities, but each has built-in constraints to United States participation. Standards are the primary means by which purchasers, vendors and regulators communicate. National and regional engineering standards typically favor the countries or groups of countries that generate them. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is widely recognized for international standards leadership. Compliance with its standards is a strong argument for product acceptance in international trade. However, current participation international standards activities by the United States construction community is limited and often ineffective. This problem must be addressed to open international markets to the United States construction community and broaden that market's receptivity to current and future United States technology, construction products and professional services. The United States cannot afford to stay out of the world market. International trade agreements require that the United States be open to foreign products and services. The issue is whether the United States will influence the international standards which are becoming the basis for acceptance of products and services for much of the world's trade.