May 21, 2009 -- The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) and the NATO Standardisation Agency (NSA) have signed a technical co-operation agreement (TCA) in order to share knowledge of each organization's standards development activities and avoid duplication of technical standards whenever possible.
Under the terms of the TCA, effective for three years, IEEE-SA and NSA will exchange information about ongoing standards development activities in the electrical, electronics, computer, and related fields and determine common-interest working projects. The two organizations also agree to exchange technical data and information regarding standards, standards development and standards revisions in areas related to human health and safety.
In addition, the NSA's responsibility for the transfer, conversion, and maintenance of STANAG 2345, "Evaluation and Control of Personnel Exposure to Radio Frequency Fields - 3kHz to 300 GHz," will be assigned to the IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES).
ICES develops standards for safety levels with respect to human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields through an open consensus process.
Following transfer of STANAG 2345 to the IEEE, the IEEE will update and revise the affected current IEEE standards to include the full frequency spectrum from 0 Hz to 300 GHz. The development of an updated and revised standard will continue to involve input from the world community.
It is proposed that the updated and revised standard will address the normative occupational/workplace specific exposure limits, i.e., limits for exposures in controlled environments.
"We are very excited to enter into this new relationship with the NSA, which will help to broaden the knowledge of IEEE standards-development activities within the community of NATO, and continue expanding the international usage of vital IEEE standards," says Judith Gorman, managing director, IEEE-SA. "The incorporation of STANAG 2345 into the IEEE standards development process will benefit the international community through the use of our proven and trusted development methodology that is open to participation from all corners of the globe."
"I am very glad to establish this new relationship with IEEE, which constitutes the basis for the very first transfer of a NATO STANAG to a civil standards developing organization," adds vice admiral Juan A. Moreno, director NSA. "For the first time in NATO's 60 year-old history, a STANAG will be converted into a civil standard that will meet civil and military requirements. I am sure our STANAG 2345 will be in good hands and I look forward to a fruitful co-operation between the IEEE and the NSA."
On the Web:
www.nato.int/nsa/nsa_home.htm
http://standards.ieee.org
