National Standards Authority of Ireland launch Annual Report for 2020
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has published its annual report for 2020.
This year's report, titled “Promoting Resilience”, highlights the wide scope of NSAI activities across the areas of standardisation, certification and measurement and demonstrates the valuable role NSAI plays both to businesses and the wider public.
Speaking on the publication NSAI CEO, Geraldine Larkin, focused on the key role that Standards has played in helping businesses to navigate the recent challenges of Covid 19 and Brexit.
NSAI CEO, Geraldine Larkin, commented; “2020 saw the publication of over 1,300 new standards by NSAI. These standards give Irish organisations and businesses the tools to adopt best practice.
“Standards can help Irish organisations in areas such as managing innovation, protecting the environment, and mitigating risk.
“This was particularly important last year when we experienced the double shock to our economy of Covid 19 and Brexit. NSAI adapted to these new circumstances by delivering our knowledge and expertise directly to our stakeholders virtually.
“Particularly noteworthy was the quick delivery of our Covid19 Retail Guides and our Brexit Webinar series which helped Irish firms navigate new post-Brexit regulatory requirements.
“Now as we look forward, we see the vital role of Standards as we look to decarbonise our society. Through getting involved in Standards development, organisations and individual experts in Ireland can contribute their expertise and knowledge to help us build the standards of the future.”
For further information, visit NSAI.ie or follow us on Twitter @NSAI_Standards
The report is available to download at the following link - NSAI_Annual_Report_2020_(WEB).pdf
2020 Report Highlights
1,300 Standards developed
In 2020 more than 1,300 Standards were published by NSAI in areas such as Innovation Management, Universal Design and National Rules for Electrical Installations. Vital work helping to ensure that SMEs and larger companies across Ireland can compete on both a national and international level.
Covid 19 Response
NSAI business recovery documents and protocols have been published and widely used since April 2020. Resources such as the Workplace Protection and Improvement Guide consolidate practical guidance on how to manage business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also addressing risks to workers and the public.
Artificial Intelligence
In 2020, NSAI was appointed to lead out a Government of Ireland Top Team on AI Standards. The team was established to realise opportunities presented by technological changes and the move to a low carbon economy. It forms part of the overall national AI Strategy.
National Metrology Laboratory
National Metrology Laboratory (NML) received the Calibration/Testing Laboratory of the Year Award at the Irish Laboratory Awards in 2020, recognising the importance of NML to the sector. The service also established the first internationally recognised Irish National Timescale [UTC (NSAI)] traceable and contributed to the calculation of International Atomic Time (TAI) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
#NSAICertified
The Medical Devices division was approved for designation to the new EU Medical Device Regulations (MDR). With this approval NSAI became the 11th Notified Body in the world to be designated to the new regulation. During 2020, NSAI remotely audited and certified hundreds of organisations to world-class business Standards.
2020 AT A GLANCE
1,349
NEW STANDARDS PUBLISHED
4,665
MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION
8
NEW IRISH STANDARDS CREATED
13,608
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS INSPECTED IN TRADE
224,762
STANDARDS VIEWED OR DOWNLOADED
188
MEDICAL DEVICE PRODUCT APPROVALS
354
COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD
8,156
MOTOR VEHICLE PRODUCT APPROVALS
4,026
ENGAGEMENT THROUGH ‘YOURSTANDARDS, YOUR SAY’
2,508
PREMISES VISITED BY LEGAL METROLOGY
1,768
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
402
WEBINAR ATTENDEES
1,169
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ADOPTED
2,497
NEW SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
