2013 Issue

17 the general public — and that's okay. As engineers do their job, the public is safe with the lat- est technology that improves health, lifestyle and national security. Few wonder if the building is safe as they enter an elevator and are whisked in safety within a few sec- onds to 300 feet to the 40th floor. People don't think if the bridges are safe as they take the I-15 corridor from Brigham City to Salt Lake City. People don't wonder if the airline they strap into will take them safely to 35,000 feet at 600 miles per hour and land them safely at their destination a few hours later 3,000 miles away. People don't ponder if the water they are drinking or chemicals they rou- tinely use are toxic to their family. Our national security is the best in the world because of a strong military having the latest superior technological devices. For my area of expertise, people trust that the Varian state-of-the-art medical equipment is safely operating to give the necessary information doctors need to make an accurate diagnosis to save lives. As a whole, the public has a quiet trust in engineering in where they go, what they do, where they live and the things they use in their daily life. Homes are safe, cars are safe, transportation systems are safe, buildings are safe, equipment is safe, food is safe and electric gadgets are safe— you're welcome! When it comes to public safety, there are codes, regulations, specifications and laws that require a certain level of performance in design. In addition to these given rules, the integrity of the engineer plays an important role in the safety and performance of the projects they are assigned to. Many engineers join an en- gineering professional society to enjoy a fellowship of peers and have available a database of information in their area of expertise. Most engineering societies have a set of performance standards for materials and systems. They also have a code of conduct that governs their behavior. For example, if youwere to visit the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) website, you will find a host of tools and stan- dards to guide engineers in their quest for information. ASME is the leading international developer of codes and standards associated with the art, science, and practice of mechanical engineering. Start- ing with the first issuance of its legendary Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code in 1914, ASME's codes and standards have grown to nearly 600 offerings currently in print. These offerings cover a breadth of topics, including pressure technology, nuclear plants, elevators/ escalators, construction, engineering design, standardization, and performance testing. Developing and revising ASME codes and standards occur year- round. More than 4,700 dedicated volunteers — engineers, scien- tists, government officials, and others — contribute their technical expertise to protect public safety, while reflecting best practices of industry. The results of their efforts are being used in over 100 na- tions; thus setting the standard for code development worldwide. 1 The same is true for electrical engineers. The Institute of Electri- cal and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has tools and standards for anyone designing electrical devices. IEEE is the world's largest Visit us online! www.utahengineerscouncil.org www.utahengineerscouncil. org HOW DO YOU SAY THANKS | continued on page 19