EoW July 2013

Technical article

July 2013

www.read-eurowire.com

Benefits of standards for

wire and cable products

By Lawrence B Ingram, Alcan Cable, a General Cable company

Abstract

Standards have a significant effect on the

marketplace. These many benefits are

realised by the suppliers, manufacturers

and customers as a result of cable,

properly

developed,

meeting

good

standards. Lack of participation in

standards development by a company

places it at a competitive disadvantage.

This paper discusses the basis and value

realised through participation in standards

development. Standards aid new product

development

decision-making.

They

bring value and benefits to you and the

company. They provide a benchmark for

the new product. They can specify the

temperature rating, fire performance,

conductor and insulation resistance,

physical and chemical properties of the

cable product, for example.

Standards provide the opportunity for

marketing and sales to decide whether

to develop a product that is limited

in capability or one that meets more

stringent performance criteria.

Participation

manufacturers,

suppliers and Standards Development

Organizations (SDO) are all a critical part of

this process. The benefits of participating

in standards development are established.

1 Introduction

The wire and cable industry and standards

are inextricably linked. Electrical fires

have resulted in thousands of essentially

unnecessary deaths during the past 100

years. For example, in 2009 there were

802 civilian deaths, 2,500 injuries and

$2.53 billion in property damages as a

result of 65,800 electrical fires in homes

(1)

The fire causes were electrical failure/

malfunction, and electrical distribution

or lighting equipment in the home.

Amazingly, the number of electrical

fires was actually down by about

one-third based upon the 1980 to

1998 reporting period of the report

issued in January of this year. This is

part of the reason the National Electric

Code (NEC) and Standards bodies have

issued and revised the many Wire &

Cable Standards we manufacture cable

to today.

2 Basis for Standards

Standards have three basic objectives:

1 They must function effectively

2 They must satisfy a legitimate

objective

3 They must be relevant

Standards help to provide safe products.

The products are sustainable and bring

benefits to people around the globe.

Voluntary consensus standards are the

foundation of the US, North American

and global economy. They are the

building blocks for innovation and

competitiveness

(2)

The World Trade Organization (WTO)

recognises that international standards

have a legitimate and significant impact on

industrial efficiency and expansion of world

trade. Standards are essential to strengthen

the world economy and maintain product

integrity and competitiveness around

the globe

(3)

. Standards developed by

ASTM International and Underwriters

Laboratories (UL) are widely accepted

internationally. More than 150 countries

signed the agreement on Technical

Barriers to Trade (TBT), obligating them

to take part in the development of

international standards through the

International Standards Organization (ISO)

and the International Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC). Unfortunately, strong

harmonised standards are not always the

practical result.

The

International

Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC) tries for one solution. The

WTO states that “international standards

should not give preference to characteristics

or requirements of specific countries or

regions where different needs or interests

exist in other countries or regions”

(3)

Technical

committees

develop

the

standards. They must recognise that good

IEC standards require an international

solution where the developed standard

reflects the needs of the global market.

Failure to reach true consensus only

sustains market barriers and impedes the

development of a truly global market

(3)

Some North American proposals to the IEC

have been blocked from implementation

even though billions of units are

installed and used safely worldwide

(3)

Implementation of one solution through

ISO/IEC cannot force the global market to

create a limiting standard when there are

two or more safe approaches to the same

result.

This result is anti-competitive, leading to

entry barriers in a particular market. Your

participation in ASTM or other standards

development activities can strengthen

and improve these building blocks for

innovation and competitiveness.

2.1 Goal of Standards: Safety

2.1.1 Reduce the Chances of Headlines

Like This: Iroquois Theater Fire –

Dec 30, 1903

(4)

At least 605 people die

The cause

– a shorted arc light set a

curtain on fire, and then the stage set

materials ignited a significant amount of

wood trim.

Problems

: there were unfinished fire

escapes, no extinguishers, sprinklers,

alarms, telephones, or water connections,

and blocked exits. The theater attendance

exceeded 2,000 and the building was

over capacity and at SRO. This tragedy

contributed to produce better fire codes

and standards.

Some results and improvements

: this

tragedy led to panic bars, a sheet metal

screen to be raised and lowered between

the audience and stage (not universally

adopted by Codes & Standards) and doors

of public buildings that must open in the

direction of egress.