Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 209 / Friday, October 29, 2010 / Notices 66735 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST) is 

soliciting public comment on a 

proposed revision to Voluntary Product 

Standard (PS) 2–04, Performance 

Standard for Wood-Based StructuralUse Panels. This revised standard, PS 2– 

10, was prepared by the Standing 

Committee for PS 2 and establishes 

requirements, for those who choose to 

adhere to the standard, for the structural 

criteria to assess the acceptability of 

wood-based structural-use panels for 

construction sheathing and single-floor 

applications. It also provides a basis for 

common understanding among the 

producers, distributors, and the users of 

these products. Interested parties are 

invited to review the proposed standard 

and submit comments to NIST. 

DATES: Written comments regarding the 

proposed revision, should be submitted 

to the Standards Services Division, 

NIST, no later than November 29, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy (an 

Adobe Acrobat File) of the proposed 

standard, PS 2–10, can be obtained at 

the following Web site: http:// 

gsi.nist.gov/global/index.cfm/L1-5/l2- 

44/A-355. This site also includes an 

electronic copy of PS 2–04 (the existing 

standard) and a summary of significant 

changes. Written comments on the 

proposed revision should be submitted 

to David F. Alderman, Standards 

Services Division, NIST, 100 Bureau 

Drive, Stop 2150, Gaithersburg, MD 

20899–2150. Electronic comments may 

be submitted to 

david.alderman@nist.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David F. Alderman, Standards Services 

Division, National Institute of Standards 

and Technology, telephone (301) 975– 

4019; fax: (301) 975–4715, e-mail: 

david.alderman@nist.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed 

Voluntary Product Standard PS 2–10 

establishes structural criteria for 

assessing the acceptability of woodbased structural-use panels for 

construction sheathing and single-floor 

application, and provides a basis for 

common understanding among the 

producers, distributors, and the users of 

these products. After conducting a 

review of the current standard, PS 2–04, 

the Standing Committee for PS 2 

determined that updates were needed to 

reflect current industry practices, and 

developed this proposal through 

meetings to review the standard and 

propose needed changes. The proposed 

standard does not address nonstructural issues such as resistance to 

biological agents. Applications for 

structural plywood other than 

construction sheathing and single-floor 

sheathing may require additional 

engineering considerations that are not 

covered by this document. 

The proposed revision of the standard 

has been developed and is being 

processed in accordance with 

Department of Commerce provisions in 

Title 15 of the U.S. Code of Federal 

Regulations, part 10, Procedures for the 

Development of Voluntary Product 

Standards, as amended (published June 

20, 1986). The Standing Committee for 

PS 2 is responsible for maintaining, 

revising, and interpreting the standard, 

and is comprised of producers, 

distributors, users, and others with an 

interest in the standard. Committee 

members voted on the revision, which 

was approved unanimously. The 

Committee then submitted a report to 

NIST along with the voting results and 

the draft revised standard. NIST has 

determined that the revised standard 

should be issued for public comment. 

The revision includes the following 

changes: 

• Panel thickness: In order to resolve 

the inconsistency with NIST standards 

used by ‘‘weights and measures’’ 

regulators, PS 2 will require labeling 

with both a ‘‘Performance Category,’’ 

which is a fractional label such as 15/ 

32, and a decimal thickness declaration, 

such as ‘‘THICKNESS 0.438 IN.’’ The 

Performance Category will maintain 

consistency with the panel thickness 

specifications required in the U.S. 

model codes. The Performance Category 

panel labeling will permit the 

abbreviations ‘‘PERF CAT,’’ ‘‘CAT’’ or 

‘‘Category.’’ The decimal thickness 

declaration will help assure that panels 

are compliant with weights and 

measures regulations. 

• Two nonmandatory appendices 

were added to provide guidance on 

NIST Handbook 130 ‘‘Packaging and 

Labeling Regulations,’’ and to provide 

suggested thickness labeling. 

• Nonmandatory appendices on 

attributes related to Green Building and 

Formaldehyde were added. 

• A nonmandatory appendix on the 

history of PS 2 was added. 

• The moisture content specifications 

for the ‘‘dry,’’ ‘‘wet/redry’’ and ‘‘wet’’ test 

conditions were clarified in various 

sections of the standard. 

• The tables containing performance 

requirements were modified to provide 

clarity and references to the sections of 

the standard that provide the test 

methods and pass/fail criteria used 

during the qualification process. 

• The original fastener holding 

requirements for sheathing were based 

on thin plywood panels made with 

Group 4 species. Those panels are not 

representative of current sheathing 

panels. In addition, some U.S. model 

code requirements for wall sheathing 

were made more stringent, such that the 

existing nail holding requirements may 

not justify certain wind load conditions. 

Therefore, a test program to characterize 

the nail holding properties of current 

production was conducted by two 

testing agencies. Based on those test 

results, some requirements for nail 

holding performance of sheathing were 

increased. 

All public comments will be reviewed 

and considered. The Standing 

Committee for PS 2 and NIST will revise 

the standard accordingly. 

Dated: October 22, 2010. 

Harry S. Hertz, 

Director, Baldrige Performance Excellence 

Program. 

[FR Doc. 2010–27433 Filed 10–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology 

National Fire Protection Association 

(NFPA): Request for Comments on 

NFPA’s Codes and Standards 

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards 

and Technology, Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Since 1896, the National Fire 

Protection Association (NFPA) has 

accomplished its mission by advocating 

scientifically based consensus codes 

and standards, research, and education 

for safety related issues. NFPA’s 

National Fire Codes ®, which holds over 

290 documents, are administered by 

more than 238 Technical Committees 

comprised of approximately 7,200 

volunteers and are adopted and used 

throughout the world. NFPA is a 

nonprofit membership organization 

with approximately 80,000 members 

from over 70 nations, all working 

together to fulfill the Association’s 

mission. 

The NFPA process provides ample 

opportunity for public participation in 

the development of its codes and 

standards. All NFPA codes and 

standards are revised and updated every 

three to five years in Revision Cycles 

that begin twice each year and take 

approximately two years to complete. 

Each Revision Cycle proceeds according 

to a published schedule that includes 

final dates for all major events in the 

process. The process contains five basic 

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66736 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 209 / Friday, October 29, 2010 / Notices 

steps that are followed both for 

developing new documents as well as 

revising existing documents. These 

steps are: Calling for Proposals; 

Publishing the Proposals in the Report 

on Proposals; Calling for Comments on 

the Committee’s disposition of the 

Proposals and these Comments are 

published in the Report on Comments; 

having a Technical Report Session at the 

NFPA Conference and Expo; and finally, 

the Standards Council Consideration 

and Issuance of documents. 

Note: Anyone wishing to make Amending 

Motions on the Technical Committee Reports 

(ROP and ROC) must signal his or her 

intention by submitting a Notice of Intent to 

Make a Motion by the Deadline of 5 p.m. 

EST/EDST on or before October 21, 2011. 

Certified motions will be posted by 

November 18, 2011. Documents that receive 

notice of proper Amending Motions 

(Certified Amending Motions) will be 

presented for action at the annual June 2012 

Association Technical Meeting. Documents 

that receive no motions will be forwarded 

directly to the Standards Council for action 

on issuance. 

For more information on these new 

rules and for up-to-date information on 

schedules and deadlines for processing 

NFPA Documents, check the NFPA Web 

site at http://www.nfpa.org, or contact 

the NFPA Codes and Standards 

Administration. 

The purpose of this notice is to 

request comments on the technical 

reports that will be published in the 

NFPA’s 2011 Fall Revision Cycle. The 

publication of this notice by the 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) on behalf of NFPA is 

being undertaken as a public service; 

NIST does not necessarily endorse, 

approve, or recommend any of the 

standards referenced in the notice. 

DATES: Thirty-nine reports are published 

in the 2011 Fall Revision Cycle Report 

on Proposals and will be available on 

December 22, 2010. Comments received 

by 5 p.m. EST/EDST on March 4, 2011 

will be considered by the respective 

NFPA Committees before final action is 

taken on the proposals. 

ADDRESSES: The 2011 Fall Revision 

Cycle Report on Proposals is available 

and downloadable from NFPA’s Web 

site—http://www/nfpa.org or by 

requesting a copy from the NFPA, 

Fulfillment Center, 11 Tracy Drive, 

Avon, Massachusetts 02322. Comments 

on the report should be submitted to 

Secretary, Standards Council, NFPA, 1 

Batterymarch Park, Quincy, 

Massachusetts 02169–7471. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Beasley Cronin, Secretary, 

Standards Council, NFPA, 1 

Batterymarch Park, Quincy, 

Massachusetts 02169–7471, (617) 770– 

3000. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The National Fire Protection 

Association (NFPA) develops building, 

fire, and electrical safety codes and 

standards. Federal agencies frequently 

use these codes and standards as the 

basis for developing Federal regulations 

concerning safety. Often, the Office of 

the Federal Register approves the 

incorporation by reference of these 

standards under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 

CFR part 51. 

Request for Comments 

Interested persons may participate in 

these revisions by submitting written 

data, views, or arguments to Amy 

Beasley Cronin, Secretary, Standards 

Council, NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, 

Quincy, Massachusetts 02169–7471. 

Commenters may use the forms 

provided for comments in the Reports 

on Proposals. Each person submitting a 

comment should include his or her 

name and address, identify the notice, 

and give reasons for any 

recommendations. Comments received 

by 5 p.m. EST/EDST on March 4, 2011 

for the 2011 Fall Revision Cycle Report 

on Proposals will be considered by the 

NFPA before final action is taken on the 

proposals. 

Copies of all written comments 

received and the disposition of those 

comments by the NFPA committees will 

be published as the 2011 Fall Revision 

Cycle Report on Comments by August 

26, 2011. A copy of the Report on 

Comments will be sent automatically to 

each commenter. 

2011 FALL REVISION CYCLE REPORT ON PROPOSALS

NFPA 59A ....................... Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) .............................. P 

NFPA 75 .......................... Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment ............................................................ P 

NFPA 76 .......................... Standard for the Fire Protection of Telecommunications Facilities ............................................................ P 

NFPA 115 ........................ Standard for Laser Fire Protection .............................................................................................................. P 

NFPA 150 ........................ Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities .................................................................. P 

NFPA 170 ........................ Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols ..................................................................................... P 

NFPA 252 ........................ Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies ................................................................................. P 

NFPA 257 ........................ Standard on Fire Test for Window and Glass Block Assemblies ............................................................... P 

NFPA 268 ........................ Standard Test Method for Determining Ignitibility of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source.P 

NFPA 269 ........................ Standard Test Method for Developing Toxic Potency Data for Use in Fire Hazard Modeling ................... P 

NFPA 271 ........................ Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using 

an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter.

P 

NFPA 275 ........................ Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of Thermal Barriers Used Over Foam Plastic Insulation.P 

NFPA 285 ........................ Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-LoadBearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components.P 

NFPA 287 ........................ Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of Materials In Cleanrooms Using a Fire 

Propagation Apparatus (FPA).

P 

NFPA 288 ........................ Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Floor Fire Door Assemblies Installed Horizontally in Fire Resistance-Rated Floor Systems.P 

NFPA 385 ........................ Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids ........................................................ P 

NFPA 497 ........................ Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas.P 

NFPA 499 ........................ Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas.P 

NFPA 550 ........................ Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree ..................................................................................................... P 

NFPA 557 ........................ Standard for Determination of Fire Load for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design .............................. N 

NFPA 560 ........................ Standard for the Storage, Handling, and Use of Ethylene Oxide for Sterilization and Fumigation ........... W 

NFPA 655 ........................ Standard for Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions ............................................................................. P 

NFPA 1005 ...................... Standard for Professional Qualifications for Marine Fire Fighting for Land-Based Fire Fighters ............... P 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 209 / Friday, October 29, 2010 / Notices 66737 

2011 FALL REVISION CYCLE REPORT ON PROPOSALS—Continued 

NFPA 1037 ...................... Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Marshal .......................................................................... P 

NFPA 1041 ...................... Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications ................................................................ P 

NFPA 1051 ...................... Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications .................................................................. P 

NFPA 1061 ...................... Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicator ........................................... P 

NFPA 1401 ...................... Recommended Practice for Fire Service Training Reports and Records ................................................... P 

NFPA 1402 ...................... Guide to Building Fire Service Training Centers ......................................................................................... P 

NFPA 1403 ...................... Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions .................................................................................................. C 

NFPA 1906 ...................... Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus ......................................................................................................... C 

NFPA 1911 ...................... Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus.P 

NFPA 1951 ...................... Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents .......................................................... P 

NFPA 1961 ...................... Standard on Fire Hose ................................................................................................................................ P 

NFPA 1971 ...................... Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting ..................... P 

NFPA 1983 ...................... Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services .................................................... P 

NFPA 1991 ...................... Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies .................................... P 

NFPA 1992 ...................... Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies .. P 

NFPA 1994 ...................... Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents ........................... P 

P = Partial revision; W = Withdrawal; R = Reconfirmation; N = New; C = Complete Revision. 

Dated: October 22, 2010. 

Harry Hertz, 

Director, Baldrige Performance Excellence 

Program. 

[FR Doc. 2010–27431 Filed 10–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology 

[Docket Number: 101015516–0516–02] 

Technology Innovation Program (TIP) 

Seeks Comments on White Papers 

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards 

and Technology (NIST), Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Institute of 

Standards and Technology’s (NIST) 

Technology Innovation Program (TIP) 

announces that it is seeking comments 

on white papers prepared by TIP staff 

from any interested party, including 

academia; Federal, State, and local 

governments; industry; national 

laboratories; and professional 

organizations/societies; and others. 

Comments will assist in the further 

refinement of areas of critical national 

need and the associated technical 

challenges that could be addressed in 

future TIP competitions. 

DATES: The dates for submission of 

comments on white papers are: October 

29, 2010 through September 30, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: The white papers are 

available on TIP’s Web site at http:// 

www.nist.gov/tip/wp/index.cfm. 

Comments on white papers may be 

submitted using the comment button 

found on the first and last page of each 

white paper found on TIP’s Web site at 

http://www.nist.gov/tip/wp/index.cfm. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas Wiggins at 301–975–5416 or by 

e-mail at thomas.wiggins@nist.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background Information: The 

Technology Innovation Program (TIP) at 

the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) was established for 

the purpose of assisting U.S. businesses 

and institutions of higher education or 

other organizations, such as national 

laboratories and nonprofit research 

institutions, to support, promote, and 

accelerate innovation in the United 

States through high-risk, high-reward 

research in areas of critical national 

need. The TIP statutory authority is 

Section 3012 of the America Creating 

Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote 

Excellence in Technology, Education, 

and Science (COMPETES) Act, Public 

Law 110–69 (August 9, 2007), codified 

at 15 U.S.C. 278n. The TIP 

implementing regulations are published 

at 15 CFR Part 296. TIP holds 

competitions for funding based on 

addressing areas of critical national 

need. TIP identifies and selects topics 

for areas of critical national need based 

on input from within NIST, the TIP 

Advisory Board, the science and 

technology communities, and from the 

public. TIP is interested in receiving 

input on the identification and 

definition of problems that are 

sufficiently large in magnitude that they 

have the potential to inhibit the growth 

and well-being of our nation today. 

This announcement explains the 

process for submitting comments on TIP 

white papers. Comments on white 

papers from experts in other Federal 

agencies are also valued and welcome, 

and will enable TIP to complement the 

efforts of other mission agencies and 

avoid duplication of their efforts, 

thereby leveraging resources to benefit 

the nation. The key concepts 

enumerated below are the foundation of 

TIP and should assist all commenters in 

providing input that will help TIP 

develop and refine an effective white 

paper: 

a. An area of critical national need 

means an area that justifies government 

attention because the magnitude of the 

problem is large and the associated 

societal challenges that need to be 

overcome are not being addressed, but 

could be addressed through high-risk, 

high-reward research. 

b. A societal challenge is a problem or 

issue confronted by society that when 

not addressed could negatively affect 

the overall function and quality of life 

of the nation, and as such, justifies 

government attention. A societal 

challenge is associated with barriers 

preventing the successful development 

of solutions to the area of critical 

national need. TIP’s purpose is to 

provide funding that will enable U.S. 

businesses and institutions of higher 

education or other organizations, such 

as national laboratories and nonprofit 

research institutions, to tackle technical 

issues that can be addressed through 

high-risk, high-reward research. The 

results of the high-risk, high-reward 

research should have the potential for 

transformational results. 

c. A transformational result is a 

potential project outcome that enables 

disruptive changes over and above 

current methods and strategies. 

Transformational results have the 

potential to radically improve our 

understanding of systems and 

technologies, challenging the status quo 

of research approaches and 

applications. 

For an understanding of how these 

white papers were developed, and for 

detailed instructions on how to prepare 

and submit your own white papers to 

TIP, refer to A Guide for Preparing and 

WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES