Work is now underway on the first stage in the process to establish ict active as a British Standards Institute (BSI) standard. Buildings in the region that are already ict active accredited will gain the additional benefit of being the first in the country to have achieved a new national standard.
The ict active team is working with the BSI and an independent Steering Group to create a Publicly Available Specification (PAS). A PAS is a sponsored, fast-track, consensus-based informal standard. The PAS development process follows the BSI model and provides a way to formalise ict active and make it available on a national basis.
The PAS process seeks to ensure a highly credible standard through rigorous content development, involvement of suitable expertise and wide stakeholder consultation. This process is managed by BSI to ensure independent consultation and build the required consensus around the subject.
Since ict active was introduced in South Yorkshire in October 2007, the market demand for the certification has been well established. As we report in this newsletter, nearly 50 properties in the region have achieved the accreditation, ranging from a refurbished community centre to a newly-built “live and work” development, to advanced manufacturing premises.
The ict active PAS is being sponsored by Yorkshire Forward. The PAS is expected to be completed in Spring 2009, formally acknowledging ict active as a UK first and a nationally relevant best practice guide.
