The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has approved the second in a series of standards for the air quality systems of agricultural cabs.

The new standard is designated ANSI/ASABE S613-2, Tractors and self-propelled machinery for agriculture—Air quality systems for cabs - Part 2:  Cab and HVAC design, comprises specifications for cab & HVAC design. It joins a previously approved companion document, ANSI/ASABE S613-1, Tractors and self-propelled machinery for agriculture—Air quality systems for cabs - Part 1: Terminology and overview, which was approved in February of 2009.  Part 3 of the series, Filter Design, is expected to be completed in 2011.

The S613 standards series replaces ASABE’s S525 series, which provided methods to determine and control the air quality within agricultural cab enclosures.  Since the initial development and release of that series, new research indicated a need for updated documents that included information on potentially hazardous environments, such as orchard and vineyard pesticide applications.  The new series incorporates the latest research and technology available into standard guidelines for the design, development, manufacture, management, maintenance, and use of environmental cabs. 

A copy of the new document can be ordered by contacting ASABE headquarters directly at: martin@asabe.org. ASABE members and those with site-license privileges to the ASABE online Technical Library, can view an electronic copy of the standard in about 6 weeks.

ASABE is recognized worldwide as a standards developing organization for food, agricultural, and biological systems, with more than 225 standards currently in publication. Conformance to ASABE standards is voluntary, except where required by state, provincial, or other governmental requirements, and the documents are developed by consensus in accordance with procedures approved by the American National Standards Institute.