Excerpt from Report of the 53rd National Conference on Weights and Measures, 1968: Sponsored by the National Bureau of Standards Attended by Officials From the Various States, Counties, and Cities, and Representatives From U. S. Government, Industry, and Consumer Organizations Washington, D. C., June 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 1968

Our Institute for Basic Standards is actively involved in a variety of investigations associated with lasers. Lasers are of great importance in improving our ability to measure length. They are of great import ance in surgery and other medical applications. Here, however, it is important that one have a reliable means of measuring the power out put of lasers. We are now in the process of developing a reliable calibration technique for the power output of lasers.

In addition, we are finding that lasers have significance in identify ing small traces of materials in liquids and for studying in detail surface defects of certain materials.

There has been one development at the National Bureau of Stand ards over the past year that I think would be of great interest to this Conference. It is one which I think is essentially flattery by imitation.

A high degree of uniformity in weights and measures activities, eu forcement techniques, inspection procedures, model laws, and so on, has been brought about among the 50 States in this country through the work of this Conference. There is great need to achieve a similar degree of uniformity in the area of building codes. Many of the problems associated with the introduction of new technology which would reduce costs and increase effectiveness in buildings, particularly low-cost housing, are hampered by the great variety of building codes that are in existence throughout this country.

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