STA Secures Position on Standards Australia Committee to Review Shade Cloth Testing Review Panel

Following STA's Fabric Structures Committee petition for Standards Australia to reopen and review the test methods used for shadecloth material, STA has now been invited to take a position on the review panel.

In late June, Standards Australia agreed to reopen the testing methods used for shadecloth. Now, Standards Australia has advised that committee TX-008 Textiles for Horticulture and Agriculture will be reconstituted. As such, all positions will be declared vacant. The current project is to review AS4174:2013 Synthetic shadecloth: Evaluation and classification

STA has been invited to occupy one position on this committee. Council of Management and the Fabric Structures Committee have agreed that this position is to be filled by a member with suitable experience in the field of synthetic shadecloth in order to contribute to the development of the proposed program of work under Australian Standards project TX-008.

The scope of this project is to provide a revision of the test method and to include an ultraviolet protection factor rating and protection categories for shadecloth material used with UVR protective shade structures. The standard needs to be revised to include the diverse types of shade cloth material and their usage not just for the agricultural and horticultural industry but for occupational and personal use of shade material in shade structures.

Three fundamental principles that underpin the Standards development process are consensus, balance and transparency.

Such robust foundations provide Australian Standards with their authority and widespread acceptance for voluntary industry adoption and, in some cases, for reference within legislation for mandatory purpose.

Contribution to the development of Standards and related consensus documents is voluntary and involvement provides technical experts in this field with the opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to the development of a Standard for the betterment of the industry, which ultimately delivers Net Benefit to the wider Australian community.