ASABE Develops, Revises, Adopts Standards

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has released information about several standards.

ASABE has revised the standard that identifies the requirements and applications for the slow-moving vehicle emblem.

ANSI/ASAE S276.8 APR2016, Slow-Moving Vehicle Identification Emblem (SMV), was revised to clarify the requirement for the use of the SMV emblem on towed agricultural implements and equipment and clarify the center triangle color as nonreflective red-orange fluorescent throughout the document.

This widely used emblem provides a means of identifying and communicating that a vehicle moves slowly.

ASABE members with standards access and those with site-license privileges can access the full-text of ANSI/ASAE S276.8 APR2016 via electronic download on the ASABE online Technical Library at elibrary.asabe.org. Others can obtain a copy for a fee directly from the library or by contacting ASABE headquarters at OrderStandard@asabe.org.

The Society also has initiated a standard project for a pintle hitching system.

Current hitching systems (drawbar, ball hitch, etc.) are not always suitable for towing implements and bulk carrier equipment. As the lead implement is raised and lowered during field work, the mechanical connection to the towed implement is also being raised and lowered. In some situations, this may cause the drawbar connection to exceed design limits. Additional connection flexibility can be achieved by the use of pintle hooks and tow rings. The proposed ASABE standard specifies the requirements for pintle hitch components.

The Society has published its 49th adoption of ISO standard ANSI/ASABE AD3600:2015, Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden equipment—Operator’s manual—Content and format. An identically titled ASABE standard, ANSI/ASAE EP363.2, was used as the basis for the recently revised ISO document and was replaced with the adoption. This standard soon can be accessed by ASABE members at elibrary.asabe.org.

Finally, ASABE has nationally adopted an international standard for the testing and performance of tractor structures designed to provide protection against falling objects.

The adoption, ASABE/ISO 27850:2013, Tractors for agriculture and forestry—Falling object protective structures—Test procedures and performance requirements, further harmonizes national and international standardization. U.S. experts were key participants in the development of the international standard, ISO 27850, a document that advances the state-of-the-art in applications where overhead protection of agricultural tractors is necessary.

For information on these standards, contact Scott Cedarquist at (269) 932-7031, or cedarq@asabe.org. Find a list of ASABE standards projects at asabe.org/projects. S