Former UFI CEO | Messe Frankfurt Alum | Global Business Events Industry Strategist | Board-Level Advisor to Event Industry Leaders
The global events industry now has a table inside the ISO - International Organization for Standardization. Members voted to establish "Technical Committee 354 - Events", creating a dedicated home for standards and guidance in the sector. The move marks a major milestone in our industry’s effort to be recognised as a stand-alone field, rather than scattered across ISO’s already existing structures. The new committee will consolidate work that was historically split between various groups and channel input from major event associations. UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry said its chief executive, Chris Skeith OBE, has been proposed as the inaugural chair, while the French standards body AFNOR Group will serve as secretariat. Read on here: https://lnkd.in/gGmVFvAT
Milestone moment indeed. Bravo to all who contributed to this new ISO - International Organization for Standardization classification for Events.
Great news to industry. Thanks to all who made this possible.
Well done, Kai, for your courage and for the work that began during your presidency!
I think we should congratulate Fiona Pelham on her dedication to our industry and her work since 2010 on BS9001 and then ISO 20121. This raised the profile for our industry in terms of sustainability.
Kai, I’m confused. I cannot really share your enthusiasm. The official name of the committee is: ISO/TC 354 Events – sustainability management and other aspects. So primarily it’s about Events sustainability. Since 2012 we have ISO 20121 updated in 2024. So how is the committee planning to include this existing standard or are they planning a competitive standard on sustainability?
In 2005, as the past president of EDPA, I led a team of EDPA members to create US Standards for Safety at trade shows. The group was represented by the top experts in the industry that included McCormick Place, Orlando, and Atlanta convention centers. We worked with Underwriters Laboratory to create the industry standards for safety that Underwriters labeled - UL2305. After two long years of research the standard was introduced at the TS2 show in Chicago. The standard was presented to IAEE and was rejected. At that time prices were rising with drayage and show site labor rules. Exhibitors did not want to support more rules and regulations to deal with so the concept died on the vine. UL2305 is still available from Underwriters Laboratory since they also invested much time and internal testing on many issues. The irony was that 80% of the top exhibit companies in the USA were already building to this standard, so no added costs would be needed, except for the 20% (small companies and international) who were not- especially for portables. The effort was not a waste of time since many companies elected to follow the standard if they weren't already. A noble cause was not done in vein.
Former UFI CEO | Messe Frankfurt Alum | Global Business Events Industry Strategist | Board-Level Advisor to Event Industry Leaders
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