New ASABE Standard On Ag Tractor Cab Environment

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated projects to develop two new standards on agricultural tractor cabs. The new documents represent the second and third parts of ASABE S613, Tractors and self-propelled machinery for agriculture: Air quality systems for cabs.

Part 2 will comprise specifications for cab & HVAC design, while part 3 will address filter design. Part 1, ANSI/ASABE S613-1, Terminology and overview, was approved earlier in 2009. The S613 series of standards replaces ASABE’s S525 series, which provided methods to determine and control the air quality within agricultural cab enclosures. Since the initial development and release of the S525 series, which has been withdrawn, new research has indicated a need for updated documents that include information on potentially hazardous environments, such as orchard and vineyard pesticide applications.

The new series will incorporate the latest research and technology available into standard guidelines for the design, development, manufacture, management, maintenance and use of environmental cabs. ASABE welcomes members to the development committee who can contribute to the state-of-the art info on this subject.

For info on this or any other ASABE standard, contact Scott Cedarquist at (269) 932-7031, cedarq@asabe.org. A current listing of all ASABE standards projects can be found at www.asabe.org/standards/proposed.html.org