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Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2007 106 13
IEC wire and cable product standards are harmonised and
international. The harmonisation efforts are complex since
each country has an opportunity to comment and vote on
the technical merits of a standard under development or
being revised.
The International Standards Organization (ISO) develops
standards for the world so that products such as
automobiles or electro technical products that are
manufactured on several continents are developed and
produced to uniform standards. Your input is needed so
that cable manufacturers, suppliers and other experts
work with the standards development organisations to
create new standards, update standards as a result of
evolving technology, and review existing standards to
ensure that relevance and value is maintained.
There is always a need to develop standards more rapidly
for the evolving materials development work constantly
ongoing. These efforts by people are required to provide
the highest quality standards to meet electrical, fire safety
and performance criteria. This makes your participation
critical to the process.
3.1 Why Help Develop Consensus Standards?
a Working on standards developments helps people to
see another company’s perspective
b Working on standards helps a person to understand
the reason behind a test or a product standard
c The understanding gained allows your company to
develop consistency and repeatability in testing and
reporting
d Your company brings its experiences to standards
development. Having standards experts in your
organisation is essential for continued success
e It is vital to have continuity of personnel. When
today’s expert retires, then the next designee can
seamlessly go forward for the company. New and more
participation is needed
f Your participation benefits the industry, fosters
competition and stimulates global trade
g There has been a reduction of support for standards
development.
The message to take away from this is that standards are
crucial for the future of your business. You must petition
the management of your company and communicate the
value and benefits obtained from participation in standards
organisation work.
3.2 Benefits of Technical Committee Membership(29)
3.2.1 Employer Benefits :
a Ability to influence content of codes and standards
b Contribution to improved safety and performance of
products
c Early awareness of new or revised requirements
3.2.2 Personal Benefits :
Professional development, networking and recognition.
3.2.3 Small Manufacturer Representation:
More than half of the members participating in ASTM’s
standards developing technical committees are employed
in enterprises with 500 or fewer employees.
3.3 Standards Development Opportunities
3.3.1 Smart Grid, photovoltaic, wind and other types
of grid connections
3.3.2 Micro grid Standards – self-supporting such as
hospitals, military, university, etc
3.3.3 Determination of heat energy and the savings
through reduction in usage of carbon based
fuels(28)
3.3.4 The standards of today are prescriptive(7)
Standards need to become performance based. New
materials can improve the performance with higher V/
mil, better abuse resistance, and yet, in wire and cable,
standards remain locked within artificial constraints based
upon 1960’s and earlier technology. General Electric
Co once advertised: “Progress is our most important
product”. New materials can provide better wire and cable
products.
The benefits provided by standards are high. This value
must be enhanced by recognition of the dynamic changes
occurring in W&C products and movement towards
development of performance based standards.
4 Conclusions
4.1 All of us need to work toward maintaining and
improving standards
4.2 It is essential that you and your organisation
participate to develop and maintain strong vibrant
standards
4.3 Work is needed and challenges abound in
the areas of smart grid, energy efficiency and
nanotechnology developing areas of cable
products
4.4 Standards must continue to bring value and
benefits to the users of products
5 Acknowledgement
The author wishes to thank Alcan Cable, a General Cable
company, for the opportunity to present this paper. This
paper was heard at the IWCS symposium 2012.
6 References
1 John Hall Jr, Home Electrical Fires, National Fire Protection
Association Report, Jan, 2012
2 United States Standards Strategy, approved by the ANSI board of
Directors, December 2, 2010
3 Robert A Williams, Standards in an Open International Trading
System, NEMA Electro- industry, Pg 10, October 2006
4 Wikipedia and R. Sector, Chicago Tribune, Dec 30, 1903
5 James A Thomas, The Value Factor, Standardization News, July/
August 2012
6 Presidents Conference on Fire Prevention, May 6-8, 1947, page 2
7 L Ingram, Standards – A Great Benefit, SPE 2004 ANTEC
Proceedings, pp 3885-3892
8 ASTM D149 Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage
and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulation Materials at
Commercial Power Frequencies