by Eric Lanke
NFPA CEO
Utilizing a new process for determining positions of public advocacy for standardization initiatives (see this NFPA News post), the NFPA Board of Directors recently adopted the following position:
“The fluid power industry needs a standardized way to measure the energy consumption and efficiency of fluid power components and systems. As energy efficiency increasingly becomes a driver in fluid power’s core customer markets, such standards would provide an objective method for determining the efficiency contributions of fluid power products and for bringing new technologies more quickly to market.”
Work in this important area has been going on for some time in the various committees and task forces that produce international fluid power standards. Since November 2013, for example, an ad hoc group of the U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 131 for Fluid Power Systems led by John Berninger, TC 131 past chairperson and Parker Hannifin retiree, has met both at the national and international level to suggest proposals for adding component power loss measurement to current standards.
As a result of these activities, there are currently five active proposals being pursued for addressing energy consumption and efficiency in fluid power components—one each in the areas of hydraulic filters, hydraulic valves, pneumatic valves, hydraulic cylinders, and hydraulic pumps. A sixth area, pneumatic cylinders, in also starting to gain some traction.
NFPA will continue to look for ways to advance these activities forward. In our interactions with public policy professionals and wider industry networks, we will be speaking out about the need for these standards and, where appropriate, convening forums where interested parties—in and out of the ISO structure—can explore ways to advance the initiative.
Comments and feedback from NFPA members on this advocacy position are welcome. Please direct your comments to Eric Lanke at elanke@nfpa.com.
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