March 8, 2024
IES RP-46 Committee Investigation: No Serious Wrongdoing
Allegations of bullying or unprofessional behavior fell short of violating the IES Policy
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recently underwent a meticulous investigation by its Ethics Committee, examining the processes and interactions within the Light and Human Health Committee.
This investigation followed allegations concerning the development of the ANSI/IES RP-46-23 standard, which were highlighted by an EdisonReport article in August 2023. The media site bluntly criticized the Light and Human Health Committee, stating, "bad management, secrecy, turf fights, and politics have turned the RP into a convoluted mess, likely only meaningful to the consultants who will earn tens of thousands interpreting its intent."
Examination Findings
The IES reported that the Ethics Committee's investigation concentrated on professional conduct, transparency of processes, and the handling of potential conflicts of interest. Despite intense debates among committee members, the Ethics Committee concluded that these discussions did not breach the IES Policy of Ethics and Standard of Professional Conduct.
Concerns about the transparency of the ANSI consensus procedures were acknowledged, yet no evidence was found to suggest that these issues led to unethical behavior or compromised the integrity of ANSI/IES RP-46-23.
The review also addressed the timing and impact of conflict of interest disclosures. While timely disclosures are essential, the Ethics Committee found no evidence that conflicts of interest affected the committee's ultimate decisions or the quality of the standard developed.
Above: Excerpt from IES official statement
Recommendations for Future Improvement
In response to its findings, the Ethics Committee offered several suggestions to the IES Board of Directors. These include providing consistent training on ANSI procedures, expanding committee membership to include a wider array of perspectives, particularly in emerging research areas, and conducting annual evaluations of potential conflicts of interest among committee members.
The IES emphasized its dedication to ethical practices in the development of lighting standards. Despite the public criticisms, the investigation found that the technical content and consensus process of the Light and Human Health Committee remained robust and credible. Moving forward, the IES aims to enhance the clarity and inclusiveness of its standard development processes, ensuring they are accessible and understandable to all industry stakeholders.
