W HEREVER heat is required, the use of gas has constantly been increasing throughout the past century. Today, there are few industries that do not require heat as an absolute necessity. It is used in the home for warmth, for the preparation of food, and in affording many of the other essential conveniences of our present-day methods of living. Many health authorities are now advocating wider use of gas heat to avoid the smoke evil and other inconveniences connected with the utilization of most kinds of solid fuel. Gas companies for many years have maintained appliance testing and research laboratories of their own. Their activities, however, have had for their object the solution only of their local problems. Until recent years noparticular thought or effort was given to the subject of national control. As early as 1915, plans were under way for the preparation of national standards governing the performance and construction of gas appliances and the establishment of some national testing agency to enforce them. Definite action at that time, however, was postponed by the beginning of the World War, and it was not until the year 1924 that this subject was again taken up for serious consideration.