NACF Standards committee

May 26th 2017
 
Suffield, OH --The North American Crossbow Federation (NACF) today announced the formation of a standards committee to develop an American National Standard (ANS) on criteria for evaluation of crossbow designs under conditions of reasonably foreseeable use and abuse by users.  The development of the standard will follow consensus procedures authored by NACF and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 
 
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates, facilitates, and promotes the development of voluntary consensus standards that are relied upon by industry, government agencies, and consumers across the United States and around the world. ANSI also accredits organizations, such as NACF, to develop standards under procedures meeting ANSI Essential Requirements.
 
According to Merle Shepard of the NACF, the NACF achieved accreditation from ANSI as a standards developer “in order to pursue the development of voluntary standards that provide the crossbow designer and manufacturer with recommendations for test procedures to evaluate the safety and performance of crossbows.”  He further said, “this is the first standard NACF will develop under its new procedures.  We are all looking forward to working as an industry to improve crossbow function and safety.”
 
The standards committee (SC) will consist of individuals or representatives of organizations having an identified interest in the crossbow industry.  Members of the SC will be selected from applicants from the following interest areas:
 
1 – Producers – companies who manufacture crossbows or components of crossbows
2 – Users/consumer – those who use crossbows
3 – Retailers/dealers/distributors – companies or persons who sell crossbows directly to users/consumers
4 – Regulators/advisors to regulators – government entities having a regulatory interest in crossbows or those who advise or volunteer to regulators about user education programs
5 – Organizations – associations or other entities whose members’ products could be affected by NACF standards (such as fire arm safety organizations)
 
Meetings, whether face-to-face or via webinar, will be conducted in strict accordance with the approved standards development procedures.  
 
A copy of the operating procedures for the Committee can be downloaded or reviewed at this http://www.northamericancrossbowfederation.com/ . Merle emphasized, “Applicants should review these procedures carefully, especially section 4.0 which the duties and function of the Standards Committee.”
 
Application for Standards Committee membership can be made by clicking “HERE”  and filling out the form.  “We expect the development of SC membership to be completed in about sixty days,” said Merle.
 
The North American Crossbow Federation (NACF) is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the safe use of crossbows for recreation and as a legal hunting tool for any licensed hunter during all seasons in which archery equipment is permitted.

If you have any questions please contact either Merle Shepard at SCISHEP@aol.com or      Lee Zimmerman at lhz.nacf@gamil.com