© 2011 Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Adoption of IEC Standards An SDO Perspective Sonya Bird

Why Adopt? 1.International trade and globalization drives harmonization of standards 2.Manufacturers of many products desire one set of requirements to have products accepted everywhere 3.Standards are tools promoting trade of safe products between countries; standards should not be barriers to trade 2

Published IEC-Based UL Standards > 900 UL Standards Exist > 80 IEC-Based UL Standards Examples of IEC-based Standards: (ITE) (Consumer Electronics) (Appliances) (Industrial Control) (Switches) 3

IEC-Based UL Standards In Development 4 UL is working with industry and others to adopt the following IEC Standards (~25 in development) IEC 61730, Photovoltaics IEC 61215, IEC 61646, IEC – Performance standards related to PV Specific Parts in the series Parts within the series

The Adoption Process 1.Identification of relevant IEC standard 2.Definition of proposed project scope 3.Identification of commitment - UL survey of industry/STP 4.Seek permission from ANSI and TAG Administrator to adopt IEC Standard 5.Form International Harmonization Committee (IHC) 5

The Adoption Process 6. IHC Develops Proposal Base IEC Document Identification of National Differences 7. Goal - Minimal National Differences 8. Proposal submitted through UL’s process 9. UL publishes internationally-based standard 10. UL legacy standard withdrawn 6

National Differences 7 Regulatory or Code Component Differences Key Safety Issues for the US Manufacturing Practice

IEC-Based Standard Format -UL incorporates NDs within body of IEC standard (ND immediately follows the clause of the IEC standard being modified). -UL also offers a National Difference document that consists entirely of NDs, with no IEC text 8

Best Practices -Industry Driven efforts are most successful -Minimize National Differences Reduction of National Differences in UL standard Proposals to IEC to Accept US requirements -US interests must be active TAG memberships Participation at IEC TC/SC meetings Establishment of Experts on WGs and MTs -It takes time to be recognized as an authority so participate early! 9

Challenges with IEC Adoption -Legacy standards exist Adoption of IEC standards can result in product redesign Retesting UL legacy standards withdrawn following reasonable transition period -ANSI Sales and Exploitation Policy – Acquiring Permission from USTAG Administrator -Adopting IEC standards takes several years -UL standard lags IEC Standard 10

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