A94 Introduction to International Electrotechnical Standards

Introduction

Standards are the distilled wisdom of people with expertise in their subject matter and who know the needs of the organizations they represent. These experts include manufacturers, sellers, buyers, customers, trade associations, users, and regulators.

Electrotechnical standards are fundamental in ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of electrical and electronic systems and components worldwide. These standards facilitate international trade, support regulatory compliance, and foster innovation by providing universally recognized guidelines and specifications. The development and publication of these standards are primarily managed by international organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

International Standards and the end of 'TECHNICAL NATIONALISM’

Olle Sturen, the ISO Secretary General, remarked on January 1, 1969, "Political Nationalism will most probably prevail for as long as we live. Economic Nationalism is about to disappear and Technical Nationalism has disappeared." ??

International Standard Organizations related to Power Systems Equipment

Here are key organizations related to this field:

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

The IEC is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies. These standards serve as a basis for national standardization and as references when drafting international tenders and contracts.

Through its members, known as National Committees (NCs), the IEC promotes international cooperation on all questions of electrotechnical standardization and related matters, such as the assessment of conformity to standards, in the fields of electricity, electronics, and related technologies.

The IEC's charter embraces all electrotechnologies, including electronics, magnetics and electromagnetics, electroacoustics, multimedia, telecommunication, and energy production and distribution. It also covers associated general disciplines such as terminology and symbols, electromagnetic compatibility, measurement and performance, dependability, design and development, safety, and the environment.

Some of the prominent IEC standards for power systems equipment include the following:

IEC 60060 Series: High-voltage test techniques

IEC 60071 Series: Insulation co-ordination

IEC 60076 Series: Power transformers.

IEC 60099 Series: Surge arrester

IEC 60214 Series: Tap-changers

IEC 60479 Series: Effects of current on human beings and livestock

IEC 60502 Series: Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories

IEC 60947 Series: Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear

IEC 61869 Series: Instrument transformers

IEC 62271 Series: High-voltage switchgear and controlgear

IEC 61439 Series: Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies

IEC 60529: Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

IEEE is an American professional association for electronics engineering, electrical engineering, and related disciplines. It is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology and a leading developer of international standards that underpin many of today's telecommunications, information technology, and power-generation products and services. It has over 460,000 members in more than 190 countries, with more than 66 percent from outside the United States. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities.

IEEE claims to produce over 30% of the world's literature in the electrical, electronics, and computer engineering fields, publishing approximately 200 peer-reviewed journals and magazines. IEEE also publishes more than 1,200 conference proceedings every year.

In addition to being a professional association, IEEE develops standards for power systems equipment. Its standards cover a wide range of topics, including electrical safety, power generation, transmission, and distribution.

Prominent IEEE Standards

IEEE C37 Series: Standards for power switchgear

IEEE C37.35: IEEE Guide for the Application, Installation, Operation, and Maintenance of High-Voltage Air Disconnecting and Interrupter Switches

IEEE C57 Series: Standards for power transformer

IEEE 4: IEEE Standard for High-Voltage Testing Techniques

IEEE 1247: IEEE Standard for Interrupter Switches for Alternating Current, Rated Above 1000 Volts

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from more than 160 countries, each representing one member country. As one of the oldest non-governmental international organizations, ISO has facilitated trade and cooperation between people and companies globally since 1946. Its mission is to promote the development of standardization and related activities worldwide to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services and to foster cooperation in intellectual, scientific, technological, and economic fields.

ISO's work results in international agreements published as International Standards and other types of ISO deliverables. These International Standards aim to make lives easier, safer, and better. The rules governing the procedures of ISO and the IEC are formally laid down in a set of ISO/IEC Directives, which ensure that all interested stakeholders have a voice through their national standards body member of ISO.

The most popular ISO standards are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. ISO 9001 provides criteria for quality management systems, ISO 14001 provides criteria for environmental management systems, and ISO 45001 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, offering a framework for organizations to manage risks and improve OH&S performance.

International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE)

Established in 1921 in Paris, France, CIGRE is a global community dedicated to the collaborative development and sharing of comprehensive power system expertise. This community includes thousands of professionals from over 90 countries and 1,250 member organizations, featuring some of the world’s leading experts. At its core are CIGRE’s 61 National Committees, providing diverse technical perspectives and expertise from every corner of the globe.

CIGRE operates the world’s foremost knowledge program, spanning 16 domains of work that cover all core areas of the power system. Across these domains, over 250 Working Groups leverage practical expertise to address current and future challenges facing the power system.

Over the last 100 years, CIGRE’s work has contributed many key technical foundations of the modern power system. CIGRE’s renowned publications, developed through the collaborative sharing of real-world experiences, often serve as authoritative sources of reference information.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI):

ANSI is a private, non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. Founded in 1918, the Institute works closely with stakeholders from industry and government to identify and develop standards and conformance-based solutions to national and global priorities.

Standards and technical regulations impact up to 93% of global trade. Globally relevant standards and the conformance measures that ensure their effective use help increase efficiency, open markets, boost consumer confidence, and reduce costs. These organizations work together to develop and maintain standards that facilitate the safe and efficient operation of power systems worldwide. Their efforts help harmonize technical specifications, promote innovation, and ensure the compatibility of power systems equipment on a global scale.

References

[1] https://www.iec.ch

[2] https://www.ieee.org

[3] https://www.iso.org

[4] https://www.cigre.org

[5] https://www.ansi.org