ATLANTA (June 12, 2024) – ASHRAE and the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), the standards organization for the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Yemen, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the organizations’ relationship.
The agreement defines ASHRAE’s and GSO’s intent to work cooperatively to promote the implementation and use of global buildings standards to support sustainable building design and operations.
"This collaboration signifies a step towards achieving integration and harmonization in our global standardization activities," expressed Ginger Scoggins, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, the 2023-24 ASHRAE President. "ASHRAE is delighted to partner with GSO in our shared commitment to fostering a more sustainable global built environment and driving technical innovation. By adopting common positions at international levels, we aim to benefit global trade, consumers, and building occupants worldwide."
“This MOU with ASHRAE will support the establishment of cooperative and constructive working relationships between GSO and ASHRAE, as well as improved communication and coordination in many areas of mutual interest, emphasized H.E Eng. Nawaf Al Mana, GSO President. “This MOU will contribute positively to meet the needs of Member States and the GSO’s objectives aiming at advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment, focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and sustainability within the industry.”
The MOU includes, but is not limited to, the following goals:
- Promote communication, cooperation, and exchange of information about standardization and related activities;
- Provide opportunities to participate in and comment on proposed standards, technical regulations, and guidelines;
- Cooperate in organizing seminars, workshops, conferences, joint awareness programs, and symposia on public policy and mutual issues;
- Promote joint research in areas where research results will add to the body of knowledge in fields of mutual interests;
- Harmonizing both parties’ standards related to HVAC, heat pumps between the two regions.
In addition to these goals, ASHRAE’s and GSO’s specific areas of potential collaboration include Standards, Technical Regulations, and Conformity Assessment; Research and Statistics; Capacity Building and Exchange of Information; and Exchange of Experts and Project Teams.
About GSO
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a Regional Standardization Organization (RSO) which was established by the resolution of the GCC Supreme Council, 30-31 December 2001) and assumed its operation in May 2004 with the membership of the GCC Member States and Yemen. GSO aims to unify the various standardization activities and follow up their implementation in cooperation with the National Standardization Bodies in the member states, in a way that contributes to the development of their production and service sectors, the development of intra-trade reducing technical barriers to trade, and consumer protection, environment and public health, in line with the objectives of the GCC Customs Union and the Gulf Common Market.
For more information on GSO, Riyadh, Saudi Arabis, visit https://www.gso.org.sa and to connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube, @GSO2001
About ASHRAE
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and their allied fields. For more information and to stay up-to-date on ASHRAE, visit ashrae.org and connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
For more, contact ASHRAE's Karen Buckley Washington, Senior Public Relations Specialist, [email protected].
