Hubbell Wiring Device.pdf - Eversave Technology

Industry Standards – Wiring Device Standards General Technical DataTechnical DataIndustry Standards – Wiring Device StandardsStandards of many types developed by and for our industry form a vital consideration in the design of ourproducts. The following pages in this section briefly describe the functions of the organizations producingthe standards which influence the safety and design of wiring devices.The American Boat & Yacht Council Inc.(ABYC) is a not-for-profit membership organizationthat has been developing and updating the safetystandards for boat building and repair for over50 years. ABYC is actively involved with theInternational Organization for Standardization(ISO) and is a leader in education for the marineindustry, as well as certification programs formarine technicians. ABYC’s membership includesboat builders, boat owners, surveyors, boatyards, insurance companies, law firms, tradeassociations, marinas, dealerships, governmentagencies, educational institutions and equipmentand accessory manufacturers. Over 400 volunteersdonate time, expertise, and research while servingon technical committees, which develop and revisethe ABYC standards and technical informationreports. We ensure quality and professionalism ineach of ABYC’s services.Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)A not-for-profit corporation, operating as a testingfacility and a developer of safety standards.By its own definition, Underwriters Laboratoriesdefines itself as follows: “Underwriters LaboratoriesInc. founded in 1894, is chartered as a not-for-profitorganization without capital stock, under the lawsof the state of Delaware to establish, maintain, andoperate laboratories for the examination and testingof devices, systems and materials to determine theirrelation to hazards to life and property.”UL tests products for paying “clients” and if theproduct submitted passes the requirements of theUL standard for which it is submitted, a UL “Listing”is granted which allows the manufacturer to usethe UL manifest or “Label” on its products. It isimportant to remember that UL is not an approvalagency. It approves nothing, but merely lists aproduct as meeting minimum standards for safety.The Underwriters “Listing” mark on a product isgenerally accepted by the public and governmentagencies as evidence of a “safe” product, notnecessarily a “quality” product.The Canadian Standards Association (CSA)performs a function for manufacturers similar to thatperformed in the USA by Underwriters LaboratoriesInc. (UL) and National Fire Protection Association(NFPA). Canadian Standards Association developsstandards for electrical products which parallelUL standards in many aspects but are not alwaysidentical. CSA international tests products andgrants paying clients “Certification” that theirproducts meet CSA standards. Canadian StandardsAssociation also sponsors the Canadian ElectricalCode (CEC).American National Standards Institute, Inc.(ANSI) as the voice of the U.S. standards andconformity assessment system, the AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI) empowersits members and constituents to strengthen theU.S. marketplace position in the global economywhile helping to assure the safety and health ofconsumers and the protection of the environment.The Institute oversees the creation, promulgationand use of thousands of norms and guidelines thatdirectly impact businesses in nearly every sector:from acoustical devices to construction equipment,from dairy and livestock production to energydistribution, and many more. ANSI is also activelyengaged in accrediting programs that assessconformance to standards – including globallyrecognizedcross-sector programs such as theISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental)management systems.The International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC) is the leading global organization thatprepares and publishes international standards forall electrical, electronic and related technologies.These serve as a basis for national standardizationand as references when drafting internationaltenders and contracts. Through its members,the IEC promotes international cooperation onall questions of electrotechnical standardizationand related matters, such as the assessment ofconformity to standards, in the fields of electricity,electronics and related technologies.IEC’s international standards facilitate world tradeby removing technical barriers to trade, leading tonew markets and economic growth. Put simply,a component or system manufactured to IECstandards and manufactured in country A can besold and used in countries B through to Z. IEC’sstandards are vital since they also represent thecore of the World Trade Organization’s Agreementon Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), whose100-plus central government members explicitlyrecognize that international standards play a criticalrole in improving industrial efficiency and developingworld trade.X-2 www.hubbell-wiring.comDimensions in Inches (mm)