BFPA Directory 2019

MCE 18 Mechanical Engineering MCE 18/16 BFPA/TC 16 Hydraulic Fluids MCE 18/1 BFPA/TC 1 Accumulators MCE 18/3 BFPA/TC 3 Cylinders MCE 18/6 BFPA/TC 6 Contamination Control MCE 11 BFPA/TC 7 Fluid Seals and their housings MCE 18/8 BFPA/TC 8 Product Testing MCE 18/9 BFPA/TC 9 Systems MCE 18/4 BFPA/TC 4 Connectors MCE 18/5 BFPA/TC 5 Control Components BFPA technical committee structure Technical and Standards Policy Committee Standards 18 www.bfpa.co.uk By Yvonne Pearman, BFPA Standards Project Manager. Standards define good practice As the UK is one of the leading countries in standardisation, we have great influence on how the standards are written, both technically and editorially. The BFPA technical committee members represent the industry at European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and International Standards Organisation (ISO) meetings. During 2018, ISO developed around 22,500 international standards and standards-type documents involving 57 countries and 3400 technical meetings (source: ISO). Continuity and general awareness The BFPA administration of the British Standards Institution (BSI) fluid power committees commenced on 6 January 1997 when we signed the BSI External Secretariat agreement – reviewed every five years – which added a continuity and general awareness of industry requirements. The BSI is the UK’s National Standards Body – the first NSB to be set up anywhere in the world. A Royal Charter company, it was awarded its first Royal Charter in 1929. With more than a hundred years of experience in shaping standards to help improve the quality and safety of products, services and systems, the BSI has published around 40,000 standards, and annually around 2500 new or revised standards (source: BSI). Very significant moment The UK’s influence was assured last November when BSI officials hailed a “very significant moment” for UK businesses when CEN and CENELEC, its electrical engineering counterpart, agreed that the UK can retain its seat at the table after Brexit. Both CEN and CENELEC have committed to changing their statutes by December 2020 so that British membership is not liable to challenge which will enable UK industry and other stakeholders to continue their important work shaping and maintaining best practice standards across Europe and internationally. This also means that UK experts will continue as chairs, convenors, committee members and policy experts to work on maintaining and developing the standards. Over the years, BFPA member satisfaction surveys have repeatedly shown how valuable our members believe the BFPA technical standards development work is to the industry. Have your say We are always looking for more experts and welcome any of our members to attend as a guest, in the first instance, one (or more) of our committees, which gives them an opportunity to meet like-minded people and have their say on the content of any of the five hundred standards under our remit. More information For more information on standards and the BFPA’s influence and how you could become involved, call 01608 647900 or email yvonne@bfpa.co.uk. For additional information regarding the Association, please visit: www.bfpa.co.uk