Smarter and more automated homes and buildings for greater energy efficiency

 

This month's e-tech focuses on automated buildings and smart homes.

 

Although the obvious way to conserve electrical energy is to switch off devices, it is not always feasible or practical. Giving a building a brain and a broadband connection allows an intelligent mix of on, off, timers and stand-by, all of which can be controlled remotely.

 

This edition looks at some of the areas in which International Standards on networked automated housing and buildings are helping reduce consumption and contributing to greater electrical energy efficiency and savings, for example:

 

• Energy storage for homes in a next-generation microgrid pilot scheme
• Controlling an automated home at distance using a mobile device and smart system architecture
• HES (Home electronic systems) and interconnected devices
• Protection systems in buildings and the work of TC 79
• New edition of popular household safety publication, IEC 60335-1
• Home networks, multimedia gateways and some of the work of TC 100
• Domain management and content sharing.

 

( read article )

IEC Global Visions show strategic importance of standards in business

 

IEC Global Visions consist of a series of interviews with CEOs of global companies who actively participate in IEC standardization work. These mini-documentaries provide insight into some of the challenges the companies face. They demonstrate how IEC International Standards and CA (Conformity Assessment) help them to address those challenges.

 

The second video has just been released on-line. It centres on Keith Williams, the President and CEO of UL (Underwriters® Laboratories Inc.), an independent product safety certification organization based in the USA.

 

( read article )

Japanese testing mass introduction of renewable energy on microgrid

 

During their recent Sector Board 1 meeting, members visited the pilot Smart Grid project on the Japanese island of Miyako-jima, the largest and most populous of all the Miyako Islands, situated 303 km southwest of Naha.

 

This pilot project, set up in the form of a microgrid aims at identifying the challenges that need to be solved before constructing a next-generation intelligent power transmission and distribution network able to cope with mass input of renewable energies.

 

( read article )

IEC announces new Collaboration Tools partnership with CIE

 

How can IEC experts from all over the world gather and work together on technical standards and related projects? This is what Collaboration Tools platform is all about – connecting people and offering an online tool for teamwork.

 

The IEC has customized a new portal on Collaboration Tools for CIE. It is the first time a partner organization has been given the opportunity to use the IEC's IT tools for carrying out online work.

 

( read article )

IECEE CB-FCS: Eliminating the hassles of multiple testing and factory inspections

 

To protect the value of global brands and defend price points, products have to function safely and as expected by the consumer.

 

Global competition in electrical and electronic goods is fierce. The need to cut costs and comply with national regulations worldwide represents a major challenge.

 

Since 1985, IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Testing and Certification for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, has grown to become a truly global CA system.

 

( read article )

IECEx – Protecting capital investments in Ex areas

 

Repair and overhaul is one sector of activity that doesn’t get much publicity while being essential to the Ex industry.

 

In today’s world, it is often cheaper to replace a product or a piece of equipment than to have it repaired. Product life cycles are shorter and shorter. If your mobile telephone breaks, you buy a new one. Not so in the Ex industry.

 

( read article )

IECQ ECMP: Safety, reliability and performance for Goodrich engine control systems

 

An aircraft engine control system provides a means for a pilot to control and monitor the operation of the aircraft's powerplant. The system allows the engine to perform at maximum efficiency for a given condition. The complexity of the task is proportional to the complexity of the engine.

 

In 2009, Rolls-Royce Goodrich Engine Control Systems Limited, trading as Aero Engine Controls, was granted its first IECQ ECMP (Electronic Component Management Plan) Certificate.

 

( read article )

Smart homes just a phone call away

 

Linking an intelligent phone to a smart home may be the handiest "conversation" anyone has in a given day. Connecting an intelligent phone to a smart home works just like a PC or TV hooked to the web. Everything is controlled by user software personalized to the individual’s home.

 

A smart home might allow you to control the digital video recorder, stereo, thermostat and home security system. You might also ring home to activate, for example, the sprinkler system or lighting.

 

This article looks at some of the IEC International Standards together with technology that is used to control homes intelligently at distance.

 

( read article )

HES turns on the lights

 

The trend for the future is for electrical products with embedded microprocessors to provide systems with sufficient intelligence to be able to communicate with other such products and systems even when multiple protocols are used. Smart metering and energy management systems, providing monitoring and energy management are likely to be the order of the day.

 

Experts from ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25/WG 1: Home electronic systems, are working to produce International Standards for interconnecting gateways, allowing different pieces of equipment to be connected and provide interoperability.

 

( read article )

Nominations within the IEC

 

The IEC community has seen a number of changes in recent weeks:

 

• New Presidents of National Committees
• Extension of office for TC Chairman.

 

( read article )

SADC SQAM participants reaffirm commitment to standardization

 

Evah Oduor, IEC Affiliate Coordinator for Africa, was at the March 2010 meeting of the Southern African Development Community SQAM (Standardization, Quality assurance, Accreditation and Metrology).

 

Oduor told delegates about the IEC and its Affiliate Country Programme and the unique opportunity it offers developing countries to take an active and cost-free part in International Standards development.

 

( read article )

Obituary:
President Latvian IEC National Committee, Jānis Strīpnieks, 1941 – 2010

 

The IEC was saddened to learn at the end of March that Jānis Strīpnieks, President of the Latvian IEC National Committee, had passed away.

 

( read article )

Systems for keeping safe

 

A number of systems exist to protect buildings, people and properties from theft, vandalism and malicious acts. Thanks to advances in technology, familiar old alarm systems have been joined by access control systems, CCTV (closed-circuit television), movement detection and intruder and hold-up alarm systems, as well as other means of surveillance.

 

In order to ensure that all aspects of its work are covered, TC 79: Alarm and electronic security systems, has voted to change its scope. Originally entitled "Alarm systems" when it was created in 1979, with a scope covering alarms and other kinds of alarm and screening system, it was clear that this title and scope did not cover all aspects of the TC's real activities.

 

( read article )

Bratislava excels in organizing its first IEC WG meetings

 

When Canadian Nic Maennling, the Secretary of IEC TC (Technical Committee) 89: Fire hazard testing, recently went looking for a site to hold the May 2010 TC 89 WG (Working Group) meetings, he was pleased to receive a positive response from SEV, the Slovak Electrotechnical Committee.

 

What Maennling did not realise when he started discussions with Andrej Svatik, the Secretary of the Slovak NC, was that the Slovakians had never hosted IEC WG meetings before.

 

( read article )

New edition of popular household safety publication

 

May sees the publication of the fifth edition of a popular IEC International Standard.

 

IEC 60335-1 deals with the safety of all kinds of electrical appliances mainly used in the household, but also in professional areas such as catering, cleaning, hairdressing, retail shops, light industries and farms where the equipment might be used by professionals, but equally well by laymen. IEC 60335-1 also covers battery-operated appliances. It is the work of IEC TC 61: Safety of household and similar electrical appliances.

 

( read article )

Home networks – digital homes

 

Digital homes contain many different types of automated devices. Beyond the omnipresent computer and the ubiquitous home entertainment system, they include a number of other types of interoperable, automated devices that can be controlled both digitally and remotely.

 

In a digital home, household devices and appliances, meters for water, electricity and gas, sensors for various-electrical products, lighting and security systems and health-care equipment devices are integrated in a home network system, essentially a LAN (Local Area Network), which, in turn, exchanges information with outside networks, sharing resources and managing services.

 

( read article )

Conceptualising domain management for content sharing

 

In terms of access to digital content, one way of improving user convenience is to define a concept of "domain", i.e. a group of users, such as in a home or school, with permission to share access to content.

 

IEC TC 100's Technical Area 8: Multimedia home server systems has just published a new IEC Technical Specification, IEC TS 62579, Multimedia home server systems - Conceptual model for domain management.

 

( read article )

Consolidated publications now have a lot more in store

 

IEC International Standards are rarely published without there being a need at some time to make a modification to a technical detail. However, in order to retain a certain stability and to prevent users from having to incessantly update their libraries with new versions, new editions are not issued every time there is a change or a new detail. Instead, the IEC issues amendments.

 

A new process is being applied to make these modifications more visible in IEC consolidated publications.

 

( read article )