The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recently announced the recipients of its 2019 Leadership and Service Awards. Bill Lawrence, operations vice president, principal engineer, FM Approvals, will receive the Finegan Standards Medal, which honors an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership in the development and application of voluntary standards. Lawrence was honored, along with other ANSI award recipients, during a ceremony on November 6, held in conjunction with World Standards Week 2019 in Washington, D.C.
The ANSI World Standards Week is a premier annual gathering that brings together ANSI members and diverse private- and public-sector stakeholders from across the standards and conformity assessment communities.
Founded in 1918, ANSI is a private nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., devoted to oversight of the development and use of standards in the United States and the promotion of U.S. standards internationally. Each year, ANSI honors "individuals who contribute to and participate in the U.S. and global voluntary standards-setting and conformity assessment activities."
Lawrence, who has been with FM Approvals for 35 years, is actively involved in the examination and testing of electrical equipment rated for use in hazardous (classified) locations. He has worked on numerous ANSI standards since 1988 and on IEC standards since 1994, and currently serves on more than two dozen committees of the IEC, USNC/IEC, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Canadian Electrical Code.
One of his ongoing projects is helping to shepherd the latest version of IEC 60079-0, Explosive Atmosphere—General Requirements, through the IEC standards development process. The IEC standard specifies the general requirements for construction, testing and marking of Ex Equipment and Ex Components intended for use in explosive atmospheres. Lawrence explains, "After publication of the revised IEC edition, the work will begin in the U.S. to develop the U.S. national differences to account for regulatory differences, which in our case, primarily involves the U.S. National Electrical Code."
He adds, "Of course, it's an honor to be recognized by your peers; I truly appreciate being singled out from so many hardworking members."