Impact rules

A PMS should include impact rules for treatment selection. 

An impact rule dictates how much an increase in pavement condition can be expected from the application of a certain treatment and how this treatment will perform with time. A treatment to be applied may restore pavement s condition to excellent, which can last for a number of years. Others may simply delay deterioration for a certain period. The duration or life expectancy for each treatment is critical and is best determined from past experience. 

Consideration of the impact rules must be made in the cost analysis to assist in decision making. 

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To support the analysis and prior optimisation, some parameters must be established. The most common ones are the pavement performance models, the treatment rules, the impact rules and cost information. 

The Energy PoHcy Act of 1992 (H.R. 776) has Hberalized the rules concerning biofuels and provides tax incentives for increased usage. Many states also have gasohol fuel tax exemptions in place, and some have enacted legislation that requites use of oxygenated fuels under certain conditions. Most of these laws impact favorably on biofuels usage. 

Furthermore, increased governmental scmtiny of chemical substances will make it more difficult to bring a new product to market. The choice of comonomers and copolymers maybe based pardy on EPA, EDA, OSHA, and TSCA rulings. In addition to these regulations, the thmst toward recycling polymers is expected to impact copolymer production. The abiUty to recover and reprocess these materials will be a key factor for economic success. 

Within the rules are some significant requirements that impact the way auditors will plan, conduct, and report their audits. These are covered in more detail in Part 1 Chapter 6. 

The environmental impact of SOj emissions has gained much attention over the past ten years. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) went into effect in 1989. The ruling covers new, modified, and reconstructed FCC units since January 1994. It should be noted that the Southern California Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) board has established a limit of 60 kilograms of SO per 1,000 barrels of feed for the existing FCC units. 

In Fig. 2.9 the theory is compared with some experimental data. In these coordinates the Hubbard relation corresponds to a horizontal straight line with intercept 1/6, but for any finite xj deviations from 1/6 are observed. The angle formed by the straight lines with y=0 and y= defines the acceptable range of slopes. If experimental points are within the angle, the impact description may turn out to be acceptable. The above method for testing experimental data is considerably different from the conventional one. As a rule, the Hubbard relation is checked... 

Fundamental tothis strategy isaprocedurefordassificationofdevicesintooneoffour categories classes I, Ila, I Ib or 111. Manufacturers must classify their devices according to criteria and rules set out in Annex IX to the directive, as amended. As a first step, the manufacturermustclearlydefinetheintendeduseofthedeviceintermsof (i) degree of invasiveness (ii) mode of action, whether active or passive device (iii) the duration of contact with the patient and (iv) impact on the body, local versus systemic effect. 

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