IEC - e-tech > May 2011 - Around the house

May 2011 edition

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Managing Editor e-tech :

Philippa Martin-King

Editor in Chief:

Gabriela Ehrlich

Articles may be reproduced in whole or in part provided the source, "IEC e-tech" is mentioned in full.

	Do-it-yourself – safely With summer at the Northern Hemisphere’s doorstep, people are moving increasingly to the outdoors. They work in their garden, use barbecues, pools and other electric outdoor paraphernalia or work on improving their homes. The DIY (do-it-yourself) market – especially in the US (United States) and Europe – is booming. [read article]
	IEC invited to major electronics event in Brazil Klaus Wucherer, IEC President, delivered a keynote speech at the ABINEE TEC Forum, the key electronics industry event in South America. He underlined the importance of International Standards for innovation and global trade in electronics. [read article]
	Energy efficiency high on the agenda at PASC Dennis Chew, Officer in Charge IEC-APRC (Asia-Pacific Regional Office), attended the recent PASC (Pacific Area Standards Congress) held in Bangkok, Thailand where energy efficiency, electric vehicles and home energy management systems were high on the agenda. [read article]
	Academic day to pursue strategic importance of teaching about standardization In June, the WSC (World Standards Cooperation), a high-level group with representatives from the three world-leading standardization organizations ISO, the IEC and ITU, is holding an Academic Day aimed at facilitating contact among academics, industrial leaders and experts, and SDOs (Standards Development Organizations). It is to be held in China and registration is already open. [read article]

	High-voltage show at the Swiss Electrotechnical Committee centenary In the company of national, regional and international representatives from the world of standardization, CES, the Swiss National Committee of the IEC, celebrated its hundredth anniversary on 14 April 2011 in the Swiss Science Centre of Winterthur, the unique technorama of Switzerland. [read article]
	Santiago de Chile inaugurates with the focus on conformity assessment On 5 April, IEC Immediate Past President Jacques Régis joined members and guests of the Chilean NC at the official inauguration ceremony opened by Victor Ballivián President of the Chilean NC and Jack Nahmias, interim CEO of SEC (Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles), held in Santiago de Chile in the offices of the Chilean Constructors' Chamber. [read article]
	Why the CEO of Bosch looks to International Standards IEC Global Visions interviewed Franz Fehrenbach, CEO of Bosch, a company that has been operating successfully worldwide for more than 100 years. His message is clear. While the company needs to invest in R&D and protect its intellectual property, it must also be able to access markets globally and eliminate wasteful duplication. International Standards and CA (Conformity Assessment) are the key to achieve this. [read article]
	Look ahead and get involved! The 2010 GM in Seattle saw the start of a new initiative by the IEC to involve younger professionals more deeply in the world of standardization right from the outset of their career. Labelled the Young Professionals' Programme, the workshop held in the context of the GM was the first event the IEC had organized specifically for IEC Young Professionals. Now with a new agenda, the event is to be repeated at the 2011 IEC GM. Registration is open. [read article]
	IEC invited to the White House IECEE Executive Secretary Pierre de Ruvo was in Washington DC, US, to attend an APEC meeting and present IEC standardization and CA (Conformity Assessment) activities. During his stay, at the invitation of a US government official, he had the rare opportunity to visit the White House. [read article]
	IECEE certification makes DIY and gardening safer If you have a garden, it’s time to resume all the great outdoor activities the winter interrupted. Mowing the lawn, pruning the trees, fixing things around the house, uncovering and filling the pool (if you’re lucky enough to have one) and getting the barbecue ready are some of the tasks to be performed before you can relax and enjoy the good life in your garden. Electrical hand-held tool manufacturers have at their disposal a vast array of standards and specifications for the design and production of the relevant devices. [read article]
	Quality systems for Ex equipment In April, the subcommittee that deals with non-electrical equipment and protective systems for explosive atmospheres, IEC SC 31M, was proud to announce the publication of its first International Standard, ISO/IEC 80079-34. The publication is to be used as a basis for IECEx certification in the application of quality systems for equipment manufacturers. [read article]
	Sophisticated tools for outdoor use Modern-day electronics have extended to beyond the confinement of the house to the back yard. And, while electric lawn mowers and gardening tools have been around for some time, they too have benefitted from the numerous developments made in the electronics sector, as have other outdoor devices and equipment. IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components, is instrumental in proving the quality and reliability of electronic components. [read article]
	Chore or hobby – electric tools have changed the horizon Electric tools and appliances have transformed often unpleasant chores into rewarding and enjoyable activities. From home improvement to car repair or gardening, amateurs couldn't tackle many of these tasks today without them. As in countless other areas, these devices, once developed for the professional environment, have shifted into the home. The continuous introduction of better products is made possible by the IEC International Standards that cover the components used in these devices and parts such as switches, transformers or batteries. [read article]
	Power to the people – freedom from the cord A generation of power tool users obtained their freedom when electricity made its way into the home and DIY (do-it-yourself) stores provided them with all the mod cons to build, repair and maintain their homes. Then along came new performance and new power with cordless devices running on fast recharging lithium-ion batteries. [read article]
	Role of International Standards in Latin American household appliances Over the last 10 years Latin American countries have adopted many International Standards in the field of safety and put into place the corresponding regulations. One of the three IEC Young Professional Leaders, Juan Rosales, comments on the role that IEC International Standards are playing for household appliances in Latin America. [read article]
	Consultative committee nominations In addition to its regular Technical Committees, the IEC has a number of Strategic Groups, Sector Boards and Technical Advisory Committees that report to the Standardization Management Board. This month, e-tech announces various changes and nominations. [read article]
	Cambodia holds its first ASEAN Consultative Committee Meeting On 14-18 March, ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) held its 36th ACCSQ (ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality) meeting. The occasion was a first for the Kingdom of Cambodia, organized by the national standardization body ISC (the Institute of Standards of Cambodia) through the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy. [read article]
	IEC Affiliate, Lao PDR welcomes standardization training Unable to attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ACCSQ (ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality) meetings in Cambodia, a group of 15 people from DISM, Lao Electronic Engineering, Electronic Du Lao, Department of Electronic-City, Ministry of Energy and Mines, and Lao Metrology Institute, welcomed the training given by the two IEC representatives who were on their way to Cambodia. [read article]
	Measurement of standby power The electricity used by appliances and equipment in standby mode or even, in some cases, when they are switched off, accounts for a significant amount of the electricity used in modern homes. Standby power is estimated at between 5 % and 15 % of the total household electricity use in developed economies and the International Energy Agency claims it is responsible for 1 % of global carbon dioxide emissions, or roughly 240 million tonnes of CO₂ every year. [read article]
	Let the sun shine – new renewable energies Technical Committee Following a proposal from the Spanish National Committee, recommendation from the IEC SMB and the vote of the IEC NCs, a new IEC Technical Committee has come into existence. TC 117: Solar Thermal Electric plants, is to deal with all the standardization aspects of solar power concentrators that are used to produce electric energy from the heat of the sun. [read article]

	Measuring performance of cooking appliances Low power consumption of appliances represents a powerful selling point for consumer goods sectors, so being able to measure performance for electric cooking ranges, hobs, ovens and grills is essential for their producers. IEC Subcommittee 59K: Ovens and microwave ovens, cooking ranges and similar appliances, is actively engaged in preparing new standards to meet this goal. [read article]
	Electric tools – safety first The large number of users of hand-held motor-operated electric tools and gardening appliances, many of them amateurs or casual workers, makes it imperative to ensure devices are as safe as possible to operate. IEC TC 116: Safety of motor-operated electric tools, is responsible for International Standards such as IEC 60745, Hand-held motor-operated electric tools - Safety, IEC 60335-2, Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety, and IEC 61029, Safety of transportable motor-operated electric tools. [read article]
	Facilitating access to homes Easier access to homes and grounds has been made possible with the widespread introduction of electrically-operated gates, doors and windows. IEC TC 61 has just published the revised edition of IEC 60335-2-103, Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2-103: Particular requirements for drives for gates, doors and windows, that ensures easy access to homes remains safe. [read article]
	Protecting electric installations from the weather and other hazards It is essential to safeguard outdoor electric installations from the weather and other potential environmental or accidental hazards. Outdoor enclosures are central to this protection, unobtrusive and frequently overlooked by the general public. IEC SC 48D: Mechanical structures for electronic equipment, is working on the second edition of its IEC 61969 series that ensures a wide range of installations are protected against impact from the weather, but also from vandalism or physical impact. [read article]