Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/255499
50 | january/february 2014 | Facilities Manager code talkers W hen I was hired at the University of Alabama at Birmingham back in 1979, I went to work for Phillip Mann, a great man who was a philosopher as well as an engineer and manager. His method of teaching was often with parables or word pictures that made his point in a way that made it stick in your mind. One day he and I were having a con- versation, the subject of which I do not recall, but I clearly recall the "word picture" which he used to help me understand I may not be as important as I thought. Phil said in his slow, Ala- bama drawl: "Brooks, for most people, employment is like sticking your hand in a bucket of water. When you pull your hand out, there is no sign it was ever there." Phil accomplished his goal and motivated me to think about things with the goal of long-term, positive impact. Not just "same old – same old." LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY In every organization, there are indi- viduals who excel at keeping things on an even keel, and the status quo. Then there are those with a vision of some- thing bigger. We are fortunate to have a number of APPA members and partners who have seen the value of taking on a challenge which is very different from, although significantly impacting, our profession. They have chosen to add the role of professionals to their rep- ertoire, thus shaping the very fabric of our industry. And as a result, will leave a longer lasting legacy. Those people comprise the APPA Standards and Codes Council (ASCC). This team of individuals works behind the scenes with colleagues across the country, and also internationally, to shape the standards and codes that regulate the construction and ongoing operations of our educa- tional facilities. The APPA Codes Advocacy Initia- tive started about a decade ago, and has played a significant role in shaping standards and codes since that time. Several APPA members have been heav- ily involved for decades in standards and codes, because they and their institu- tions understood the huge financial and operational impact of those regulations on their institutions. The mission of the council as ap- proved by the APPA Board in 2012 is to: • EDUCATE APPA member institu- tions; • Determine the IMPACT of existing and proposed standards and codes; • INFLUENCE standards and code development processes and establish educational facilities standards; • Display APPA's LEADERSHIP on standards and codes; and • Identify broad CONSENSUS among APPA's institutional members, and seek appropriate representation in standards bodies at local, state, national, and international levels. HOW IT WORKS The ASCC is made up of at least one member from each APPA Region, a chair and other ad hoc members as needed. The members currently serving on the Council are: Brooks Baker, Chair Michael Anthony, University of Michigan Richard Davis, Evergreen State University David Handwork, Arkansas State University Clint Lord, Arizona State University Dana Peterson, University of New Hampshire Alan Sactor, University of Maryland, College Park Theodore Weidner, Facility Asset Consulting John Bernhards, APPA Associate Vice President The Council has frequent telecon- ferences to determine priorities and to develop action plans to make code modifications favorable to higher edu- cation, or assuring unfavorable changes are not approved. There are many code actions each week which are triaged and evaluated for a need to pursue ac- tion on APPA's behalf. The successes of the council are significant and some examples of recent standards and code "wins" follow: • NFPA 70: Arc-Flash is now an OSHA hazard rather than NEC Getting Involved with Standards and Codes By Brooks Baker code talkers code talkers "There are those who go through life content to be a spectator on the sideline, just going to work every day doing the 'same old – same old.' Others look on each day as an opportunity to make a difference."