UNI EN ISO Research Articles

A NEW FOOD CHAIN APPROACH: UNI EN ISO 22005:2008 VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION

This work summarize an experience of auditing according to new UNI EN ISO 22005:2008. This new food chain certification scheme, arisen from two different European schemes of internal and external traceability certification, requires companies to build up their own check plans considering all components in food chain processing. This new approach, also derived from the European legislation, wants to verify if traceability system is under control and to verify if corrective actions to warrant hygienic production standards are built up.

Functionalization of ceramic tile surface by soluble salts addition: Part II. Titanium and silver addition

The aim of this study was to assess surface functionalization of industrial ceramic tiles through the addition of soluble salts to improve mechanical properties (scratch and wear resistance) and conductivity, while preserving the aesthetic aspects of the finished product. This objective was pursued through the application of different solutions of titanium and silver with a potential for transformation into titania and silver nanoparticles during the sintering of the material. The solutions, in different concentrations, were applied (300 g/m 2) to unglazed green tiles by air brushing. The resulting products were polished and characterized in terms of microstructural, surface micromechanical, and technological properties based on the UNI EN ISO reference standards. The electrical conductivity deriving from the presence of titania and silver was also established with specific tests. The results were found to correlate with the results obtained from the addition of zirconium solutions as reported in part I of the paper.

Functionalization of ceramic tile surface by soluble salts addition: Part I

The aim of this investigation was the surface functionalization of industrial ceramic tiles by soluble salts addition to improve mechanical properties (resistance to scratch and wear) preserving the aesthetical aspect of the final product. This objective was pursued through the application of different solution of zirconium capable to be transformed in zirconia nanoparticles during the material sintering. The solutions, in different concentrations, were deposited (300 g/m 2) on unglazed green tiles by air-brushing. The obtained products were polished and characterized in terms of microstructure, surface micromechanical and technological properties based on the UNI EN ISO reference rules. The final aesthetical aspect of the products and the obtained hue variation were evaluated by means of UV–vis spectroscopy and colorimetric analysis.

Adaptive analysis of thermal comfort in university classrooms: Correlation between experimental data and mathematical models

Numerous studies are in progress to support adaptive models in indoor thermal comfort evaluation and to establish quantitative indexes to allow the subject to optimize his/her comfort conditions. A wide experimental campaign was carried out in moderate environments, such as university classrooms, and a multiple choice questionnaire was elaborated, comprehensive of information for the static and adaptive model proposed by UNI EN ISO 10551, in order to find a correlation between experimental data measured by the instruments and subjective responses given by the occupants. The questionnaire was applied in autumn, winter and spring in classrooms of the University of Perugia, Terni and Pavia. During the campaign, all data needed to calculate both Fanger and Wray comfort indices were acquired by instrumental surveys and questionnaire compilation. By means of results' analysis of both questionnaires and measurements, the following couple of parameters (derived from Fanger and Wray) were correlated: Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) versus the difference between the Equivalent Uniform Temperature and the Comfort Uniform Temperature ( T eu − T u) and the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) versus the absolute value of the same difference between temperatures (| T eu − T u|). For the first couple of parameters, a linear correlation was found while for the second one a second-degree polynomial relation was obtained. Better correlation was found for measurement data rather than questionnaire results. Finally values of Operative Temperature T 0 and Equivalent Uniform Temperature T eu, obtained for each single experimental survey, were compared, observing a very good agreement between the two quantities, with differences that exceed 0.1 K only for a few number of values. Questionnaire and experimental PMV data were also correlated to T 0: higher values of questionnaire than instrumental PMV were obtained for the same value of T 0.

ISO quality as a driver of continuous improvement

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe some of the benefits received from a four‐year implementation of a Quality Management System in a small Italian Academic Library.Design/methodology/approachThe Library of the Department of Statistics at University of Bologna, is one of the few Italian academic libraries currently with a Quality Management System accredited to the International UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 standard. This paper examines six knowledge‐based tools developed as part of the QMS, including the student and junior researchers' customer satisfaction survey, the stakeholder Focus Group, and the statistical indicators.FindingsThe paper finds that ISO Quality Management System has proved to be a powerful instrument for improving performance and increasing user satisfaction. By describing in documented procedures how the Library's services should be run, each member of staff effectively shares their personal knowledge with their fellows, and with the staff of the future.Research limitations/implicationsThe Library's statistical environment enabled it to create and develop more sophisticated performance measurement tools and metrics than would have been the case in a different cultural environment.Practical implicationsThis paper provides a useful overview of the implementation of a Quality Management System in an academic context and its positive side effects on human resources development, user satisfaction, and continual service improvement. Other Academic Libraries could gain considerable benefits through adopting a similar quality standard approach.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new outlook on using an international quality standard as a process to improve knowledge and awareness of an existing library system, enabling targeted service improvements. As such it is a valuable innovative tool for academic librarians.

An acoustical survey about the Sanctuary of Altavilla Milicia (Palermo)

This study aims at using science and technique, known nowadays, at service of Liturgy and of holy architecture. In addition to this, its second goal is to investigate completely, on some general acoustic aspects that can be founded inside liturgical rooms, without overlooking historical-architectural aspects regarding difference kinds of manufactures and materials in relation to specific liturgical needs. According to this, an interesting simulation of sound diffusion inside Sanctuario of Altavilla Milicia, defined by Cardinal S. De Giorgi the first and most notorious Marian place of veneration belonging to Church of Palermo, was performed. By means of this simulation, acoustic parameters of ecclesial room were taken, in compliance to standards UNI EN ISO 3382/1997 (Measurements of enclosed environments Reverberation Time with reference to other acoustic parameters).

Estimation of Acoustical Performance of Floating Floors from Dynamic Stiffness of Resilient Layers

This paper describes a procedure for evaluating the reduction in impact sound pressure level of floating floors by measuring the apparent dynamic stiffness of the resilient layer, according to International Standard EN 29052-1. The impact sound pressure level experimental data, obtained according to International Standard UNI EN ISO 140-8, was compared with estimates obtained from dynamic stiffness measurements. Results confirm the effectiveness of the empirical model. Two questions are addressed. The first concerns the decrease in layer thickness over time. The second concerns the relationship between damping ratio and performance.

Residue analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in animal matrices by dual column capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen–phosphorus detection

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) were determined in matrices of animal origin by dual column capillary gas chromatography using nitrogen–phosphorus detection (NPD). This method was tested on cow milk and on liver and muscle of wild boar. The isolation of these pesticides was performed by liquid partition followed by cleanup with solid phase cartridge (SPE C18), after extraction from the matrix. The analytes identification was obtained by comparing the retention times in two columns with different polarity. The quantification of each OPP was obtained using parathion-ethyl as internal standard. The method was developed in a UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 certified laboratory. The recovery, investigated by analyzing samples spiked at 5, 10 and 50 ppb, ranged from 59 to 117% in milk, from 60 to 81% in liver and from 68 to 76% in muscle. The limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were, respectively, 5 and 1 ppb for each compound and allowed quantifying the residues below the legal limits.

Biological evaluation of a polyvinyl siloxane impression material

The aim of this study was to determine the irritant properties of a new polyvinyl siloxane impression material (Ghenesil, Lascod-Italy) after single application to intact skin of the rabbit. The material was evaluated for primary skin irritation according to the UNI EN ISO 10993-10:1996 using three healthy male New Zealand White rabbits. The back of the animals was clipped free of fur and divided into four sites with the same area 24 h before application of the sample. The material was applied to only two sites; the other two were used as controls. All the sites were covered by gauze and the back of the rabbit was wrapped with a non-occlusive bandage. After 4 h, the bandage and the test material were removed; 1h later the sites were examined for skin irritation and the observation was repeated after 24, 48 and 72 h. The Score of Primary Irritation (SPI) was calculated for each animal and the Primary Irritation Index (PII) was calculated as the arithmetical mean of SPI values. The PII of the test material resulted 0.06. Based on present results, it can be concluded that the primary skin irritation of the polyvinyl siloxane impression material tested can be considered negligible.

Corrosion resistance in different environments and structural features of dental casting alloys for resin bonding

en

Welding fabrication and the environment

Summary An initial attempt, from a management point of view, to correlate welding fabrication with environmental issues. Following a brief outline of standard UNI EN ISO 14001, the principal operational phases which may be involved in welded structures and/or fabrications are considered, in conjunction with their relationship with the environment.

Certification of an emergency department according to UNI EN ISO 9002 criteria.

Over the past decade, the philosophy of total quality has appeared in all fields of industry in Japan and the USA. This philosophy is now present all over Europe as well, Italy included. In 1993 the Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova of Reggio Emilia, a town in Northern Italy, began to apply the total quality management philosophy, thus embarking on a course of continuous quality improvement. The present article describes the main steps which led to an external accredited team granting the emergency department of this hospital a quality system certificate in 1997 according to the international quality system requirements UNI EN ISO 9002. The importance of this work lies in the fact than an industrial quality standardization system, whose requirements have little in common with a traditional view of medical practice, can nevertheless be applied to a public health care department.