Industry Updates

CVSA

The TTMA Engineering Committee meeting in January of this year addressed a rub rail issue. From the minutes of that meeting:

The Engineering Committee has decided not to change RP No. 47-03 at the request of CVSA, they had asked that we reconsider our RP No. 47 in an effort to help the roadside inspectors during cargo securement issues. We have pointed out that the federal government does not require labels and also that the TTMA RP No. 47 points out that the rub rail is not a cargo securement device. There is no practical way for the Association to give a default rating to existing rub rails and cannot develop an industry wide default table. Most manufacturers on the call stated they would design, rate, and label a rub rail based on a specific customer’s request.

ASME B30.9 

The 2006 ASME B30.9 Sling Subcommittee has recommended to the ASME Main Committee that ultraviolet light be included as an important environmental consideration in ASME B30-9-2006, Chapters 5 and 6.

Currently in Sections 9-5.8 and 9-6.8, temperature and environmental considerations are listed. New information on ultraviolet degradation and a specific reference to the Summary Report of the Ultra Violet (sic) (UV) Degradation Testing Program for Synthetic Web Slings (WSTDA-UV-Sling-2003) was submitted in the form of a ballot to the ASME Main Committee.

ASME B30.9 Subcommittee members, Charles Lucas, Mark Kowalick and Mike Gelskey urged the subcommittee for the recommendation to the Main Committee. 

It was rationalized that since the usage pin diameters for web (WS-1) and round slings (RS-1), webbing (WS-3) and thread standards (TH-1) are presently referenced, it would make good sense to include the reference to the UV study for the benefit, well being and safety of sling users.

The subcommittee has made the recommendation and will address responses to numerous ballots from the Main Committee in the next subcommittee meeting in Orlando, Florida on March 21 and 22.