U.S.-China Building and Construction Standards In Trade Workshop
27 September - 8 October 1999

Technology Services' Office of Standards Services sponsored a two-week workshop for representatives of the Chinese building and construction sector from September 27 to October 8. The workshop objective was to promote understanding of and confidence in the U.S. approach to relevant standardization and conformity assessment issues. The workshop, coordinated with the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), supported the Presidential U.S.-China Housing Initiative, which is jointly administered by the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The 26 workshop participants came from government and private sector organizations located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. They specialize in fire safety, building materials, research, urban planning, and construction equipment. Participants heard lectures on various aspects of the U.S. system, including a description of U.S. codes and standards, issues regarding building materials, building evaluation and occupancy processes, an overview of the U.S. housing market, and the U.S.-China Housing Initiative. The Chinese participants made presentations on elements of their system. Visits to local sites, such as Kentlands, Asbury Methodist Village, and the Silver Spring Rehabilitation Project, showed practical applications of lecture topics.

Participants resolved to continue the collaborative discussions and efforts begun during the workshop through: the continuation of the U.S.-China Housing Initiative to advance discussions on building and residential codes; collaborative research projects between Chinese research institutes and NIST; future exchanges and workshops in specific areas of the sector, including fire safety and building materials; and continued information exchange on new developments in areas of mutual interest.