WCA September 2013

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Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2007 103
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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 by 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.
Benefits of standards for
wire and cable products
By Lawrence B Ingram, Alcan Cable, a General Cable company