Memo


	October 2011 edition		If this page does not load correctly please click here.

			Energy generation Articles this month deal with energy generation, particularly using renewable sources. IEC General Secretary and CEO, Ronnie Amit, talks of the IEC's vision and mission in promoting the strategic advantage of active participation in IEC work. [read article]

			Distinguishing between SMB entities In its role as the main decision-making entity of the IEC, SMB, until recently, had three types of sub-groups reporting to it, each with its own specific terms of reference: Sector Boards, Advisory Committees and Strategic Groups. [read article]

			IEC work on stage IEC officers and senior management participate in many strategic events and meetings to raise awareness and increase understanding of the importance of IEC work, the positive impact it has on global trade and the help it provides in addressing the energy challenge. [read article]

			Globally engineered – locally competitive IEC Global Visions enables industry leaders to express their support of active participation in IEC work. During 2011 the IEC has continued interviewing leaders about the challenges they face and how involvement with the IEC helps them to run their businesses more efficiently. [read article]

			IEC Regional Centres present at key events Both the IEC-APRC and IEC-LARC are key to local development and promotion. Helping raise awareness at a national and regional level, they present IEC standardization and conformity assessment activities, while encouraging active IEC participation. [read article]

			Tangible IEC contributions move EVs forward 2011 has been an active and successful year for the IEC in the electric vehicle arena. It started with the high-level strategic round table organized by the IEC jointly with e8, a global organization of 10 world-leading electricity companies, in January in Washington DC. [read article]

			Share your work with other readers of *e-tech* Some 10 000 experts work on IEC standardization matters. Often the awareness of each extends only to the activities of the particular TC/SC(s) in which they work. One of the goals of e-tech is to change that. Help us tell others more about your work! [read article]

			Young Professionals' Programme As each of the IEC NCs has selected its 2011 IEC Young Professionals, their profiles have appeared on the IEC website. The results of a recently published survey of last year’s Young Professionals are both revealing and encouraging. [read article]

			Harmonization of battery safety requirements Converging technologies and increasingly horizontal standards make it essential for batteries to be tested and conformity assessment processes coordinated. Currently four standards issued by IEC TC 108 and SC 21A are involved in the harmonization process. [read article]

			IECEE meeting specific industry demands Technological innovations and environmental issues have prompted IECEE to set up additional services including a complete factory inspection process and the PV Quality Seal and Quality Mark to meet the specific demands of industry and governments worldwide. [read article]

			Role of Kerry McManama in IECEx growth IECEx Chairman, Kerry McManama, talks of the IECEx System that has gained wide recognition among companies in helping control hazards in Ex (explosive) areas such as oil and gas refining, chemical processing, coal mining, paper manufacturing, etc. [read article]

			Dubai to host major IECEx event Middle Eastern countries with a large number of oil-producing and processing operations are expressing a strong interest in IECEx. To help educate interested parties about the System, ESMA is hosting a major Ex event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. [read article]

			IECQ certification saves time and cost Manufacturers need the assurance that the many electronic components used in their products have the required quality and reliability. At present, IECQ provides certification at the international level for 8 families of electronic components. [read article]

			The 2011 Awards for commitment to the IEC Every year the IEC honours the commitment and work of a select number of individuals who have contributed to making products and electrical systems not just safer, but more energy efficient and more compatible. Richard Schomberg is to receive the Lord Kelvin Award. [read article]

			Alpha and omega – before the word is spread The Editing and Document Preparation team plays a vital role in producing the IEC International Standards used by companies throughout the world as the basis for their product designs and subsequent conformity assessment. Under a new name, comes broader scope. [read article]

			Nominations in IEC Consultative Committees As well as its regular Technical Committees, the IEC has a number of Strategic Groups, Sector Boards and Technical Advisory Committees which report to the Standardization Management Board. This month, e-tech announces two nominations within SG 1 and ACEA. [read article]

			Providing assistance to developing countries This year, the IEC Affiliate Country Programme celebrates its tenth anniversary. It helps developing countries understand how existing International Standards can be adopted at a national level, then applied and used for greater safety and efficiency. [read article]

			IEC supports renewable energies Global energy needs are increasing constantly and with the diminishing supply of fossil fuels and rising environmental and safety concerns, renewables are likely to occupy a growing share of the future energy mix. [read article]

			Carry-on reading More than a mere interface for reading text, e-books provide the publishing industry with numerous opportunities. IEC TC 100, TA (Technical Area) 10: Multimedia, produces International Standards for multimedia e-books, e-publishing and like technologies. [read article]

			Standby for better performance The IEC recognizes that standby power consumption is an important energy-efficiency issue. IEC TC 59: Performance of household and similar electrical appliances, published IEC 62301, widely used by manufacturers and regulators. [read article]

			Ultrasonics – widely used in dentistry Plaque and calculus can be detrimental for gums and teeth. International Standard IEC 61205, Ultrasonics – Dental descaler systems – Measurement and declaration of the output characteristics, is published by TC 87/WG 7: Ultrasonic surgical equipment. [read article]

			Tiger in the tank – sustainable transport The motor industry considers EVs to be key to providing sustainable transportation for people and merchandise while reducing emissions and dependency on fossil fuel. IEC TC 69 and IEC SC 23H prepare some of the relevant International Standards [read article]

			Ensuring patient and medical carer safety The static and electromagnetic fields of imaging equipment are increasing in strength and with them, the associated potential health risks. IEC TC 62 produces standards to ensure the safe operation of electronic medical devices in medical practice. [read article]

			H-to-H₂O The use of fuel cell technologies is spreading. From buses and aircraft to robots and medical equipment, new commercial applications are constantly being developed. IEC TC 105: Fuel cell technologies, issues related safety and performance standards. [read article]

			Cooking and steaming in the kitchen Low power consumption represents a powerful selling point for domestic appliances. IEC TC 59 is responsible for the performance of household and similar electrical appliances, and thus responds to the need of the producers of electric cooking ranges, ovens and so on. [read article]

			Protecting outdoor electric installations Electrical installations need to be protected from the weather and other potential environmental or accidental hazards. IEC SC 48D: Mechanical structures for electronic equipment, is responsible for International Standards concerning stationary outdoor enclosures. [read article]

			Safe and efficient electric tools Electric tools in and around the home are expected to do the job at hand while working safely and reliably. IEC TC 116: Safety of motor-operated electric tools, publishes International Standards that cover specific safety requirements for hand-held electric tools. [read article]

			Energy-efficient elevators and escalators Elevators, escalators and moving walkways transport a number of people equivalent to the population of the entire world at least every other day. Controlling their power consumption is important and many IEC TCs work to ensure the systems work efficiently and safely. [read article]

			Sensors help control our environment Sensors are incredibly versatile tools, used in all kinds of automated processes – for example, to open and close doors, activate alarms and measure temperatures. IEC TC 47 includes sensors in a number of its publications, as do TC 76, SC 65A and SC 86C. [read article]

			Robots at your service! Service robots help deal with disasters and dangerous situations. In the health sector they are used for operations or assist the elderly and disabled. Home robots can carry out basic household chores. The various IEC TC/SCs include TC 47, TC 44, and SC 65A. [read article]

			In and out – access versus accessibility Access to a great number of places is, today, largely controlled by machines. While many of us take the use of digital finger printing, smartcards, facial recognition, and other forms of controlled access for granted, others don't find it so easy to use the systems. [read article]

			Comprehensive rating for PV modules A study by Arizona State University Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory (PRL) based on IEC 61853-1 provides insights into the difficulty of assessing photovoltaic performance testing. [read article]

			Hydropower – small hydro goes full circle Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of mechanical and electrical power. IEC TC 4: Hydraulic Turbines, has produced many International Standards and Technical Reports including IEC 62006, Hydraulic machines – Acceptance tests of small hydroelectric installations. [read article]

	To modify your subscription to these messages alerting you to new articles posted on the IEC website, please click here and follow the instructions given on the page. If you have any questions and/or comments, please contact: Philippa Martin-King at iecetech@iec.ch		*About the IEC* The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is the world's leading organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as "electrotechnology". It brings together 163 countries and close to 10 000 experts. IEC International Standards include globally relevant specifications and metrics that allow electric or electronic devices to work efficiently and safely with each other anywhere in the world. IEC work covers a vast range of technologies from power generation, transmission and distribution to home appliances and office equipment, fibre optics, semiconductors, batteries, nanotechnology, renewable energy, to mention just a few. The IEC also manages Conformity Assessment Systems that certify that equipment, systems or components conform to its International Standards. www.iec.ch

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