Primer on Standards - OEK - OVE

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IntroductionThis primer is intended as a basic introduction to the influential, challenging andyet relatively unknown world of electrotechnical standardization. Whether youstudy or teach, work in a small family business, a law firm, or a multinational,whether you manufacture, market or simply use electrotechnical products, thisguide will provide answers to your most common questions. It will also give youa closer look at CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization,the main topic of this booklet.Although at first the term standardization may summon images of a facelessBrave New World where everything is the same shape and size, nothing is furtherfrom the truth! Standardization is actually a highly efficient way to achievemobility through compatibility, and quality through market-driven needs. Standards,in fact, are so much a part of our lives that we no longer even notice they arearound - until something happens to show how vital they really are.Even though standardization's most pressing goal is undoubtedly to ensure safety,it also facilitates commerce and eases communication. European standardization,as we will see throughout this booklet, fosters economic exchanges when aproduct conforming to the standards of one European country is granted accessto all of CENELEC 22 member countries because CENELEC standards are identicalfrom Portugal to Finland, from Malta to Iceland.In our increasingly global world, acquaintance with standards has grown on themanufacturer’s side in their need to refer to them when they place their goodson the European market. However among consumers and others not directlyinvolved in manufacturing, the general rule is still lack of awareness, misconceptionsand confusion. This is quite understandable, though, as standards are highlycomplex animals with numbered references, multiple amendments, and regularupdates to keep pace with technology. This is why we have included a chapterin this guide that explains basically just what a standard is, the different kindsof standards, why they should be applied by industries and the advantages forconsumers.Throughout the world, standardization in each country or region is flavoured byits specific historical, economic and cultural context. Many of Europe's best recipesare the product of co-operation between European legislation and standardizers.The process has a terminology of its own, and it is not easy to grasp conceptssuch as harmonized standards, New Approach Directives, and presumption ofconformity, learn know standards are developed and to which products they apply,or comprehend their relationship with European Legislation. This guide will tryto clarify these and other questions as simply as possible.4 CENELEC. <strong>Primer</strong> on Standards
We will also try to describe what is special about electrotechnical standardization,particularly in the European context. Product and services using electrical energyalways need a system to run properly. Working and interchanging within the partsof this system requires standardization of characteristics, tolerances, interfaces,dimensions and last but not least, a high level of user protection. All this explainswhy electrotechnology was an early runner in international and regional standardization.The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was founded in1906, 20 years before its sister organization ISO (International StandardizationOrganization), which was created in 1926 (at that time called ISA).CENELEC began its European standardization work in 1958 under the name ofCENELCOM. CENELEC today, like its CENELCOM ancestor, acts as a federation ofEuropean Electrotechnical Committees. CENELEC in fact is the sum of its NationalCommittees and it stands today as a world player in standardization thanks totheir know-how, help and continuous support.Many CENELEC National Committees are even older than the IEC. As early as1883, the first electrotechnical standardization institution in Europe began itswork in Austria, issuing the first Austrian national standard in 1889. Germanyfollowed in 1893 and the UK in 1902.And moving farther into the past, standardization is surely ONE of the world'soldest activities.... A story widely reported states that the width of the SpaceShuttle's booster rockets, transported by rail through mountain tunnels, isdetermined by the standard railway gauge in the US and UK, which in turn isinherited from a long string of measurements that began with the space neededby a pair of Imperial Roman horses to travel along the roads of ancient Britain!Although this story has been debunked as an "urban legend", it is nonetheless awhimsical illustration of the way standards have always been with us.We hope you enjoy this primer. If we have not been able to answer all yourquestions feel free to contact us at the CENELEC Central Secretariathttp://www.cenelec.org, at the CENELEC Online Info Service at info@cenelec.org,or at any of our members.Pieter ParlevlietCENELEC Secretary GeneralUncovering the mysteries of standardization in Europe5
Page 1: Primer on Standard
Page 4 and 5: ContentsIntroductionChapter 1Introd
Page 8 and 9: ChapterIntroducingCENELECCENELEC, t
Page 10 and 11: CENEL, the European Committee for t
Page 12 and 13: The Central Secretariat handles all
Page 14 and 15: Documents used as a basis for CENEL
Page 16 and 17: ChapterThe EuropeanStandardWhat is
Page 18 and 19: European trade and consumers. Havin
Page 20 and 21: CENELEC Standards are of the highes
Page 22 and 23: ChapterUnderstandingthe CenelecStan
Page 24 and 25: In the case of a European standard
Page 26 and 27: New work arises at European level v
Page 28 and 29: ChapterThe CenelecConformityAssessm
Page 30 and 31: Mutual Recognition Agreements signe
Page 32 and 33: ChapterThe EuropeanStandardization
Page 34 and 35: Legal framework of the New Approach
Page 36 and 37: The Role of European Standards in N
Page 38 and 39: New Approach Directives for which C
Page 40 and 41: ChapterCE Marking, ConformityAssess
Page 42 and 43: egardless of the product’s origin
Page 44 and 45: Some other products, mostly those i
Page 46 and 47: Market are governed by one (or some
Page 48 and 49: manufacturers are often approached
Page 50 and 51: COOPERATING PARTNERSAIECAPIELCEACEC
Page 52: For more information:35 rue de Stas

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