Improving Global Quality of Life

In national or regional legal codes, e. g. European Directives, mostly general requirements for the function
and safety of products are stated. As an example in Annex I of the European Construction Directive (CPD)
“Essential Requirements” asks for: mechanical resistance and stability, safety in case of fire, safety in use,
hygiene, health and the environment, protection against noise, energy economy and heat retention. Details
to those requirements given in legal codes are stated in national or regional rules and standards.
USA and Australia and others vary – all for beneficial outcomes for the nation – some very prescriptive,
others less so. EU PED is good.
Standards are the result of deliberate actions by all stakeholders to achieve consensus. They are outside
legal requirements and take the form of recommendations that are used voluntarily. Standards are used
in practice because they satisfy the needs and expectations of stakeholders and support them in their
activities. Moreover, used in combination with more generally worded legal provisions, they make it easier
for a manufacturer of a product to prove its conformity with such legal provisions by complying with the
requirements specified in the appropriate standards.
Regional standards, like European Standards (EN), take over the task of national standards and unify
good practice within the region. European standardisation has already largely taken the place of national
standardisation. It may be followed by other regional standardisation. In no respect is regional standardisation
a rival to international standardisation. Regional standards should support free world trade and reduce
trade barriers. They acknowledge that both technical directives and voluntary European or other Regional
Standards need to be harmonised if technical barriers to trade are to be dismantled. This is the cornerstone
of cooperation between state and voluntary technical standardisation. Therefore European or other regional
standards are important for the function of the Regional Internal Market best for the world.
National and regional standards should be only the first and second step on the way to globally relevant
standards.
7.3.3 IIW source of technical knowledge
In 1984, as a result of a change in policy at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), IIW
applied, and was accepted, as an International Standardizing Body to produce ISO standards directly. It was
the first such organisation accepted by ISO and is one of three such bodies today. IIW is permitted to issue
ISO International Standards, ISO Technical Specifications, and ISO Technical Reports under dual ISO/IIW
logos. Approximately 30 such documents have been published to date, and another 15 are in development.
This activity has been increasing on an annual basis.
In 2006, it was recognised that further recognition of the technical work of IIW could be achieved if the
IIW Journal – Welding in the World – could be registered in the Science Citation Index. A concerted effort
was launched, and by the end of 2008, all of the requirements for registration had been completed, and
registration was completed in 2010.
IIW, through its 16 Technical Commissions, Working Group Standardization and other Working Units, develops
and publishes technical information in the form of reports and peer-reviewed papers, ISO standards, and
ISO Technical Reports to address the needs of its members and the general public. There is a significant
need in the world today to make this information available in an easy and implementable form for the lesser
developed countries. IIW is attempting to meet this challenge by increasing its efforts in technology transfer
workshops, International Congresses, and its standardisation efforts.
A guide for the welding industry is needed on up-to-date fair realistic practice on copying anything and fair
use of intellectual property.
64 Improving Global Quality of Life Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies