CSA STANDARDS ANNOUNCES 2010 AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

CLEVELAND, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ - CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, announces the recipients of its 2010 Awards for Outstanding Achievement. This is the fourth year for the CSA Standards Awards (formerly the CSA America Awards), which are presented to individuals, committees and organizations for exceptional service and achievement in the area of standards development. The ceremonies were hosted by Bonnie Rose, President, CSA Standards, and the awards were presented by Richard Papa, Vice President, CSA Standards, at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Florida yesterday evening.

"In our ongoing effort to create a better, safer, and more sustainable world, it is my deepest honor to personally thank all the winners of the CSA Standards' 2010 Awards for Outstanding Achievement," said Rose. "The recipients in each category are owed a vast debt of gratitude for their selfless efforts. Without their extensive commitment, leadership and devotion to standards development, many of the standards that impact our daily lives, contribute to the betterment of society, and advance the security of our community would not exist."

Personal Awards of Distinction, CSA Standards' most prestigious award honoring remarkable leadership within CSA's standards program over the tenure of an individual's service, through technical, administrative, or special standards activities, were awarded to the following individuals:

    -   Ronnie Frazier has been a keen participant in CSA standards
        development activities since 1991, and has brought invaluable
        expertise and an essential viewpoint to CSA Technical Advisory Group
        (TAG) and Committee work. As a member of a select few gas utility
        participants in the standards program, Frazier's working knowledge of
        gas standards and codes has been an enormous asset. Ronnie currently
        chairs the LC1 Unvented Heaters and the Vented Heaters TAGs. He is
        also a voting member on the LC4 Z21/83 Technical Committee (TC) on
        Performance and Installation of Gas Burning Appliances and Related
        Accessories and the Gas Advisory Council. His strong leadership
        skills and thoughtful guidance have informed standards' content
        during a period of unprecedented change in product technologies and
        usage. Along with other industry experts, he has advocated for the
        continued use of unvented heaters as viable consumer products.
        Frazier is a Standards and Codes Specialist with Atmos Energy and
        applies gas fuel standards and codes on a daily basis.

    -   Kelvin Hecht is the recognized expert on fuel cell codes and
        standards and chairs the CSA Standards committee responsible for the
        U.S. National Standard for Stationary Fuel Cell Power Plants (FC1 and
        FC3). He is also the Technical Advisor to the U.S. TAG to the
        International Electrotechnical Commission TC105 and chairs TC105's
        working groups on Terminology and Stationary Power Plants. Since
        1979, Hecht has been active in almost all fuel cell standards
        committees. He edits the website FuelCellStandards.com which tracks
        the worldwide development of fuel cell and hydrogen infrastructure
        standards. Before retiring from United Technologies Corporation, he
        was manager of Product Assurance at UTC's Fuel Cell Operation. He
        also had responsibilities as Manager, Environmental Compliance, and
        as Manager, Industrial Health and Safety. During his 35-year career,
        Hecht was responsible for the reliability and safety of fuel cells in
        the Apollo and Shuttle space missions, as well as the third-party
        safety certification of commercial 200 kW power plants.

    -   Spence Grieco has been an enormous influence on standards and
        standards programs for more than 20 years. Under his leadership,
        delivery times on gas certification projects were cut dramatically
        and people working directly in product testing - those with the best
        technical expertise - were assigned to work in an advisory capacity
        on CSA Standards TAGs and TCs. This restructuring of long-standing
        procedures resulted in vast improvements in customer service and
        standards' application. To harmonize U.S. and Canadian certification
        programs, Grieco established a new joint venture called International
        Approval Services (IAS), between the then AGA Laboratories and the
        Canadian Gas Association Laboratories. Between 1990 and 1996, some
        100 U.S. and Canadian standards were harmonized, including the
        natural gas vehicles standards and the first fuel cell standard. When
        he became Vice President, Standards, CSA America, Grieco worked to
        grow the Standards division, address funding issues, develop a role
        in China, determine the role of the Standards Development
        Organization going forward, vitalize participation, and develop staff
        to meet changing business needs.

The CSA Standards Division Medal award was presented to the following group for outstanding work by a TAG or TC in protecting consumer safety through the advancement of safety technology or practices consistent with sound engineering:

    -   The Outdoor Cooking Gas Appliances & Gas-Fired Illuminating
        Appliances TAG has made a number of important changes in the relevant
        standards and safety considerations in the design and use of
        appliances, such as barbecue grills, outdoor kitchens and turkey
        fryers. At the center of this movement has been the Z21/CSA Joint
        Technical Advisory Group on Standards for Outdoor Cooking Gas
        Appliances and Gas-Fired Illuminating Appliances. This group has
        worked hard to align safety requirements to the latest technologies
        and consumer and regulatory needs. The Outdoor Cooking TAG has
        updated cylinder labels to address federal government requirements.
        When specialty gas appliances were more commonly used as turkey
        fryers instead of outdoor cookers, additional safety specifications
        were added to help protect users. With the advent of the outdoor
        kitchen concept, the TAG has provided standards coverage for larger,
        heavier gas-fired grills and grill combinations to address
        manufacturer and consumer needs.

Corporate Awards of Merit were presented to the following organizations for outstanding achievement by a participating company or organization based on a high level of involvement in the CSA Standards programs:

    -   Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) is an international
        not-for-profit trade association that has been involved with the
        Z21/83 Committee and TAGs for the past 22 years. HPBA has worked
        diligently to promote the CSA Standards Participation Program and
        encourages involvement by its members. The association has also
        supported the development of new standards to enhance the use of
        natural gas and propane, such as the American National Standard for
        Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliances. In its advocacy role, HPBA has
        worked to encourage unvented heaters from being prohibited in the
        International Fuel Gas Code, and has met with the U.S. Department of
        Energy to advocate that decorative gas fireplaces be exempt from a
        new requirement limiting capacity to 9,000 BTU/hr. HPBA regularly
        informs members about CSA standards and the standards program through
        its website, magazine and annual Expo.

    -   National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) has been involved with the
        Z21/83 Committee and TAGs for the past 85 years. With a membership of
        more than 3,200 companies in 50 states, 38 affiliated state or
        regional associations, and members in 19 countries, NPGA represents
        almost every segment of the propane industry. A long-time supporter
        of CSA's standards development process, NPGA continues to promote the
        CSA Standards Participation Program by encouraging its members'
        involvement. NPGA routinely provides lead notice on issues that may
        have an impact on standards and the standards process. Through its
        education and research wing, NPGA has advanced the prestige and
        interest in CSA standards programs, with the result that CSA
        Standards was awarded funding to develop industry standards. NPGA
        also provides invaluable information and support regarding liquefied
        petroleum gases to TAG members, committee members and CSA Standards.

CSA Standards Service Awards were also presented to 25 individuals in appreciation for commitment to CSA Standards programs as active members of one or more TAGs or TCs for at least five years and with an 80 percent participation level.

About CSA Standards

CSA Standards is a leading standards-based solutions organization serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in North America and the global marketplace. Focusing on standards and codes development, application products, training, advisory and personnel certification services, the organization aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. CSA Standards is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information visit www.csa.ca

SOURCE CSA Standards