IEC Standard
In everyday life, there are a variety of different standards. This is also true in the field of machinery and plant engineering. In addition to various DIN, EN, and ISO standards, there is the IEC standard in the field of electrical engineering, electronics, and information technology. It unites more than 170 countries worldwide and provides a global, neutral, and independent standardization platform for around 20,000 experts.
Standards are, in essence, agreed ways of implementing something. This could involve manufacturing a product, managing a process, providing a service, or delivering material. Standards cover a wide range of activities conducted by companies and used by their customers. They are primarily developed and introduced when processes need to be optimized, quality ensured, or production methods standardized. Standards are based on expertise and are initiated by people who understand the needs of businesses.
Standards cover a range of areas in personal and business life, from construction to nanotechnology, from energy management to occupational health and safety. They can be very specific, such as concerning a particular type of product, or very general, such as in management procedures. They can especially help reduce operational risks, increase productivity, ensure sustainability, and foster innovation.
IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a non-profit organization that develops international standards for electrotechnology. Founded in 1906, the organization supports international trade in electrical and electronic goods. Its work facilitates technical innovations, affordable infrastructure developments, efficient and sustainable access to energy, as well as intelligent urbanization and transportation systems. Additionally, it promotes climate change mitigation and enhances the safety of people and the environment.
The approximately 10,000 published IEC standards, together with conformity assessment, form the technical framework that enables governments to establish a national quality infrastructure. These IEC standards are used as a comprehensive basis for risk and quality management and are primarily employed in certifications.
The main task of the IEC is to achieve the global application of international IEC standards and conformity assessment systems. This aims to ensure the safety, efficiency, reliability, and interoperability of electrical, electronic, and information technologies, ultimately promoting international trade, facilitating broad access to electricity, and enabling a sustainable world.
The International Electrotechnical Commission is structured with Technical Committees (TC), Subcommittees (SC), and Working Groups (WG) that develop international standards, guidelines, and standards. These committees are led by the Standardization Management Board (SMB), which also determines the formation of new technical committees and their areas of responsibility. For interdisciplinary topics such as safety, environmental aspects, or electromagnetic compatibility, technical advisory committees and application-oriented sector committees are used.
Assessments of current and future technology developments and market requirements for electrotechnical standardization work are carried out in special working groups of the Market Strategy Board (MSB) of the IEC. The Conformity Assessment Board (CAB) coordinates all activities of the four IEC conformity assessment systems: IECEE, IECEx, IECQ, and IECRE.
IEC Standard: How Do DIN, EN, ISO, and IEC Differ?
The main issuers of standards for machinery and plant engineering on an international level are the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The former primarily deals with topics related to electricity and electronics, while the latter mainly focuses on mechanical topics. Both IEC and ISO are international standards organizations recognized across over 100 countries.
At the European level, EN standards are applied. In Europe, the development and issuance of new standards are handled by the relevant standardization organizations CEN and CENELEC. Similar to ISO and IEC, CEN and CENELEC divide the standards between them. CEN covers mechanical standards, while CENELEC handles electronics and electrotechnology.
As with international standards, norms are now typically developed in conjunction with the EU and the respective organization (CEN and CENELEC) and issued as EN IEC or EN ISO standards. In Germany, the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) is responsible for issuing national standards. Typically, DIN standards are developed in collaboration with CEN and CENELEC as DIN EN ISO or DIN EN standards. In other European countries, the process usually differs only in that a different institute issues the standards. The more localized the institute, the further it is mentioned at the beginning of the name.