Global efforts to address urban heat islands are getting a major boost from an internationally recognized nonprofit that is writing a guidebook for reducing exposure to potentially lethal extreme temperatures.
ASTM International, which writes widely followed safety guidelines for everything from gasoline ingredients to amusement rides, is aiming to encourage local officials to take their own steps to address the pockets of extreme heat that endanger urban areas.
“The goal is that if we put guidance out, those entities that want to address these challenges don’t have to reinvent the wheel, they can use this as a road map,” said Paul Sonnenfeld, vice chair of the ASTM subcommittee developing the standard over the next year.
ASTM’s guidelines, developed methodically by experts, are considered state-of-the art and often adopted by industries and municipalities around the globe. Some are incorporated into federal regulations, but many serve more as voluntary guides.
