the association of electrical equipment and medical ... pdf/ei_oct13.pdf · n industry feedback...

The Association of Electrical Equipment and Medical Imaging Manufacturers n www.nema.org n October 2013 n Vol. 18 No. 10

Industry StandardsIndustry Standards

n Standards for Smart Grid, Electric Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, Transportation Security, Electrical Power Systems, Safety, and the Grand Prix

n Industry feedback from ANSI, UL, CSA, Intertek, FM Approvals, and NIST

n Carbon Footprint Methodology Available for Application

n Changes to 2014 NEC®

and the Rock Stars

Who Write Them

Standards Boost Business

UL-CA-NEMA-electroindustry-ad-2013-02-21117-v1-OL.indd 1 2/14/13 4:28 PM

CONTENTS FEATURES

NEMA electroindustry text and cover pages are printed on SFI-certified Anthem paper using soy ink.

• SFI certified products come from North American forests managed to rigorous environmental standards.

• SFI standards conserve biodiversity and protect soil and water quality, as well as wildlife habitats.

• SFI forests are audited by independent experts to ensure proper adherence to the SFI Standard.

• SFI participants also plant more than 650 million trees each year to keep these forests thriving.

ECO BOX

electroindustry (ISSN 1066-2464) is published monthly by NEMA, the Association of Electrical Equipment and Medical Imaging Manufacturers, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209; 703.841.3200. FAX: 703.841.5900. Periodicals postage paid at Rosslyn, VA, and York, PA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NEMA, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209. The opinions or views expressed in electroindustry do not necessarily reflect the positions of NEMA or any of its subdivisions.

Subscribe to electroindustry at www.nema.org/subscribe2eiContact us at [email protected]

Follow NEMA: www.nema.org/facebook, blog.nema.org, podcast.nema.org, twitter.com/NEMAupdates, www.youtube.com/NEMAvue, www.nema.org/linkedin

electroindustryPublisher | Paul Molitor

Managing Editor / Editor in Chief | Pat WalshContributing Editors | Chrissy L. S. George

William E. Green III

Economic Spotlight | Don LeavensCodes & Standardization | Vince Baclawski Government Relations Update | Kyle Pitsor

Art Director | Jennifer TillmannMedia Sales Team Leader | Stephanie Bunsick

Available on the App Store

Did you know...2014 ESPG is now available at www.nema.org/espg

Fostering Economic Growth and Safety ..................................................................................................8

Standards Boost Business ....................................................................................................................10

Cultivating the Future of Energy Storage .............................................................................................11

Case Study: Commercial Building Energy Storage ..................................................................................11

Surveying Deadly Impact of Counterfeits .............................................................................................12

How Does the Smart Grid Measure Up? .................................................................................................14

ANSI/NEMA SG-IC 1 Brings Consistency, Portability to Smart Grid Interoperability and Conformance Testing Process ........................................................................................................16

Risk-Based Approach is Key to Long-Term Success .................................................................................18

NRTLs Strive for Electrical Safety ..........................................................................................................19

New Molded-Case Circuit Breakers Reduce Costs, Minimize Maintenance, and Enhance Safety ................20

DICOS Enables Commercialized Research ..............................................................................................22

Interoperability Center to Promote Electric Mobility and Smart Grids .....................................................23

ANSI Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative—Long Name, Important Goal ..........24

Taking Aim at Public Charging Stations ................................................................................................25

Need for Mass Notification Drives Grand Prix ........................................................................................26

2014 ELEcTricAL sTANdArds

& PrOducT GuidE

Why are standards professionals the rock stars of the industry? See inside back cover.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/electroindustry/id504947439?mt=8)

Newsmakers NOTES

DEPARTMENTS

Jim Pauley and Christopher Greer offer overviews of standards.

The Hon. Christine Whitman will explore environmental and energy challenges at Illuminations Weekend.

NEMA’s field reps promote electrical safety.

4&5

30

31

Government Relations Update ...............................................................................................................6

Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill Debate Begins, Is Postponed ..............................................................................................6

ENERGY STAR Lighting to Roadmap Future .........................................................................................................................................7

Electroindustry News ..........................................................................................................................27

New App Includes NEMA Technical References .................................................................................................................................27

NEMA Carbon Footprint Methodology Available for Application......................................................................................................28

IDEA Innovates for the Future of the Electrical Industry ....................................................................................................................29

Illuminations Weekend Keynote Speaker to Explore Environmental, Energy Challenges .................................................................30

Safeguarding Safety Code Adoption ..................................................................................................................................................30

Code Actions/Standardization Trends ...................................................................................................31

Height of Hurricane Season Brings Warnings of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning .................................................................................31

NEMA’s Field Representatives Converge on NEMA Headquarters .....................................................................................................31

Publication Addresses Fire- and Heat-Damaged Equipment ............................................................................................................32

Report on ANSI ASC C29 Committee—Insulators for Overhead Lines ...........................................................................................32

New Software Offers Greater Ease of Use ...........................................................................................................................................32

Few, but Significant Changes Appear in 2014 to National Electrical Code® ......................................................................................33

New MITA Standards Promote Safety and Security ...........................................................................................................................33

International Roundup .......................................................................................................................34

Latin America Shows Divergence in Conformity Assessment Rules .................................................................................................34

ANSI to Conduct U.S.–China Standards and Conformity Assessment Program ...............................................................................35

Economic Spotlight .............................................................................................................................36

NEMA Wins U.S. Department of Commerce Award to Promote Smart Grid Market Access in Brazil .................................................................................................................................36

NEMA Officers .......................................................................................................................................................................................3

Comments from the C-Suite .................................................................................................................................................................3

View from the Top .................................................................................................................................................................................4

View from the Industry .........................................................................................................................................................................5

Coming in November .........................................................................................................................................................................IBC

NEMA electroindustry • October 2013 3

COMMENTS FROM THE C-SUITEOfficers

ChairmanJohn Selldorff President & CEO Legrand North America

First Vice ChairmanChristopher Curtis President & CEO Schneider Electric

Second Vice ChairmanThomas S. Gross Vice Chairman & COO Eaton Corporation

TreasurerDon Hendler President & CEO Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Immediate Past ChairmanDavid J. FitzGibbon Vice Chairman & CEO ILSCO Corporation

President & CEOEvan R. Gaddis

SecretaryClark R. Silcox

John P. Selldorff Chairman, NEMA Board of Governors

Standards go beyond setting a baseline of product design or performance for the marketplace. They are the cornerstone of our industry—central to achieving market access and technical interoperability, fostering innovation, and shaping competitive energy and tax policies. That is why NEMA echoes ANSI’s “Standards Boost Business” campaign this month and why NEMA and its members are taking on new challenges.

NEMA recently received an award from the U.S. Department of Commerce to collaborate with authorities in Brazil to increase grid modernization. A central component will support standards that promote Smart Grid interoperability, a complement to NEMA’s domestic leadership in the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel. We will now have a voice in the U.S.–Brazil Strategic Energy Dialogue, which until now has been limited to government officials. Our goal is to grow markets for NEMA member products.

At home, as a result of discussions between our Board of Governors and David Danielson, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy, we are engaged with the department’s national laboratories. They tackle critical scientific challenges with unique facilities and computing capabilities, but their resources and expertise are underutilized. NEMA and the national labs are considering ways to integrate R&D with manufacturing know-how.

When governments seek to influence market behaviors, they often turn to consensus-based codes and standards that carry the imprimatur of technical experts. Standards allow lawmakers to shape policy using a set of definitions that have been vetted by stakeholders and understood by the market. The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S 1392) includes a NEMA-negotiated section that supports the development and adoption of model building codes and incentives, as well as proposals for rebates for the purchase of electric motors that comply with NEMA standards and for NEMA Premium® transformers. (See “Shaheen-Portman” on page 6.) This bill passed the Senate Energy Committee with overwhelming support, is backed by more than 200 businesses and organizations, and was partially debated in the Senate before being postponed. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, S 1392 and related amendments would support 174,000 jobs and save consumers and businesses more than $65 billion in energy costs by 2030.

Beyond the realm of standards, NEMA also delivered a proposal for comprehensive tax reform to Congress that is a technology-neutral, performance-based approach that would incentivize energy efficiency through the tax code, where the tax preference is closely tied to an energy-efficient investment’s compliance with industry consensus codes and standards.

Standardization does not exist in a vacuum; its reach extends into the public policy arena, which is altering the landscape for NEMA members like never before. ei

4 NEMA electroindustry • October 2013

View from the Top

Ask any CEO whether his or her company really needs to engage in standardization and most would probably say it’s not a priority. That’s because they

don’t truly understand what standards do and how powerfully they can impact the bottom line. It’s an expensive misperception, and one that threatens the future of U.S. competitiveness.

Without globally-relevant standards and effective conformity assessment, U.S. businesses stand to lose market access while facing increased and disparate regulatory environments. Furthermore, without effective utilization of standards and conformance within their own operations, U.S. companies and organizations cede an invaluable opportunity to influence future product lines and market requirements around the world. These are advantages our corporate leaders cannot afford to be without.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has coordinated Standards Boost Business as an outreach effort to get this message heard, loud and clear. ANSI represents thousands of companies, organizations, government entities, and individuals who rely on standards and conformance to increase efficiency, demonstrate quality, and foster international commerce. As chairman of ANSI’s Board of Directors, I have a unique view into the critical impact of standardization on the success of businesses and organizations worldwide.

I also have decades of industry experience watching standards in action, and the power they have to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. I’ve been fortunate

Ű What CEOs Don’t Know Can Hurt ThemJim Pauley, Chairman of the Board, American National Standards Institute; Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Government Relations, Schneider Electric

to work for a company that takes its role in the standardization system seriously, participating domestically and internationally, and at technical expert and management levels. Businesses that understand and actively participate in standardization have a leg up on competitors that don’t.

For example, NEMA members that have actively participated in the development of electrical safety standards have taken the lead in developing products and solutions that meet those standards more quickly, resulting in the protection of more people and property. Industry players that don’t participate are often left to figure out new requirements after the market has already recognized early leaders as solution providers.

In addition to case studies demonstrating how U.S. businesses leverage standards to their advantage, StandardsBoostBusiness.org features a video gallery of industry leaders citing success stories. Russ Chaney, CEO of IAPMO, put it clearly:

“If a company is unsure about participating in standards development, I would remind them that in the absence of their participation, their competitors will decide their destiny. I don’t think anybody—whether in the manufacturing sector, or in the code implementation sector, or in the training sector—would want someone else, particularly a competitor, determining their future.”

Here are four steps to help executives reap the rewards of standardization:

1. Participate in domestic and international standards development activities. Active participation enables a

company to exert influence on technical content and align its products and services with changing market demand. It provides insiders’ knowledge and early access to information on emerging issues, and helps reduce redundancy, minimize errors, and shorten time to market.

2. Rely on standards to design products and services, and turn to recognized conformity assessment systems to test, inspect, certify, and accredit them. Demonstrating compliance to standards helps a company’s products, services, and personnel to cross international borders. Standards also make cross-border interoperability possible, ensuring that products manufactured in one country can be sold and used in another.

3. Treat standardization as a strategic business tool. Standards and conformance are a marathon, not a sprint. As critical business tools, standards and conformance should be managed right alongside an organization’s quality, safety, and environmental policies. They are just as important to the long-term health of a business.

4. Make a commitment of time, money, and manpower to the U.S. standardization system. In difficult economic times, many companies feel the need to downsize or even eliminate participation in standards development. The resources needed to re-start the process at a later date can be more expensive and difficult than maintaining a well-functioning system for the long run.

Visit StandardsBoostBusiness.org, take advantage of the resources, and join us. Working together, we can ensure U.S. business leaders harness the power that standards and conformity assessment can wield. ei

http://www.standardsboostbusiness.org/


View from the Industry

October 3 marked this year’s U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day, when members of the U.S. standardization community

gather with other leaders in business, industry, and government for an exhibit, reception, and dinner gala. While standards clearly merit this special one-day international recognition, my colleagues and I at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) think about standards and work on standards-related activities every day of the year.

NIST’s overall mission—to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life—is of special relevance these days to all of us involved in modernizing the electric power grid. As outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, NIST has been given “primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of smart grid devices and systems.”

We believe that standards and interoperability are very important, especially right now and especially in the Smart Grid industry—a global market that is projected to exceed $400 billion cumulatively by 2020. As highlighted in the February 2013 report, A Policy Framework for the 21st Century Grid: A Progress Report, from the White House’s National Science and Technology Council, “interoperability standards

make markets more efficient, help open new international markets to U.S. manufacturers, and reduce the costs of providing reliable, safe power to U.S. households and businesses.”

Over the past five years, NIST has worked cooperatively with industry to pursue the goals of the initial NIST Smart Grid framework. We’ve identified key standards and filled critical standards gaps. We’ve provided guidance and tools to advance Smart Grid architectures, cybersecurity, and testing and certification. And we’ve established a robust consensus-building stakeholder engagement process and organization—the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel—for continued development and implementation of standards to meet the needs of industry and consumers and to keep pace with the rapid advance of technology.

Working together, we’ve built a solid foundation and platform. However, our work—both within NIST and within the broader national and global Smart Grid community—is far from complete.

Looking AheAdRight now, we are in the final stages of drafting a revision of the NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards. This draft version of Release 3.0 will update the first two versions, which were published in January 2010 and February 2012.

Included in this Framework 3.0 document will be a review of major deliverables and the current status of work in the following key areas:

• Architectural Framework

• Standards Identified for Implementation

• Smart Grid Interoperability Panel

• Cybersecurity Strategy

• Framework for Smart Grid Interoperability Testing and Certification

• Cross-cutting and Future Issues

Following the public release of this draft document, we will be seeking feedback and comment from stakeholders. We welcome your comments, and we’ll be using several upcoming meetings and conferences—including SGIP’s Annual Conference in early November and DistribuTECH in late January—to discuss ways to improve and implement the document.

With the release of the revised Framework, it’s time to look forward together. While continuing our work toward Smart Grid version 1.0, we must also anticipate Smart Grid 2.0, 3.0, and beyond. This requires expanding our efforts to embrace the full cycle of innovation and evolution. Working together toward shared goals in our respective research, development, adoption, deployment, and operations efforts can speed progress toward a bright energy future.

It’s going to be a lot of hard work—and a lot of fun. I look forward to sharing in both with all of you. ei

Ű Promoting Smart Grid Interoperability—NIST’s RoleChristopher Greer, PhD, Director, Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office, NIST

See “How Does the Smart Grid Measure Up?” on page 15


Government Relations Update

Disagreement over the number and scope of amendments to be offered to the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency legislation (Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, S 1392) led the Senate on September 19 to at least temporarily discontinue consideration of the bill.

The nearly three-year-old efficiency bill, which has been sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), enjoys broad bipartisan support and includes a number of NEMA-proposed provisions. As many anticipated, it became an avenue by which senators could be heard on other matters.

Debate on the bill began on September 11, and after a few bipartisan amendments were offered, Senator David Vitter (R-LA) insisted that the Senate consider his amendment pertaining to the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) before he would allow more amendments brought forward. This was followed by days of backroom negotiations over which amendments would be allowed to be brought up; talks did not yield an agreement by the time Senate leadership determined they had to move on other legislation that faced a September 30 deadline.

NEMA and many senators are hopeful the bill can be taken up again once some of the fights pertaining to fiscal year 2014 spending have been resolved.

If the Senate returns to Shaheen-Portman, it would be improved by a series of amendments likely to be offered. These include a Race to the Top grant program to encourage innovative state efficiency initiatives; Tenant Star to enable tenants of commercial buildings to do energy efficiency retrofits in their spaces; a federal revolving loan program for commercial buildings; a federal grant program for industrial energy efficiency projects; and benchmarking and disclosure of the efficiency of federal buildings, among others. ei

Jim Creevy, Director of Government Relations | [email protected]

Ű Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill Debate Begins, Is Postponed

He is Vice President of Channel Development at Schneider Electric.

Read his story online at www.idea4industry.com/billstory.

Bill increases productivity

with IDW

View more stories from industryleaders on IDEA’s new website.

www.idea4industry.com


Among the many lighting vignettes and discussion panels at the ENERGY STAR® annual partner’s meeting this month is, for the first time in many years, a focused roadmapping meeting for the ENERGY STAR lamps and luminaires programs. It will establish an ongoing discussion of the goals and mission of each program, and how each should evolve to meet those goals.

NEMA staff and members met with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June and July to discuss their concerns about current ENERGY STAR programs and how those concerns might be mitigated. One of the agreed upon courses of action was roadmapping, prompting NEMA staff to coordinate with EPA and engage NEMA members. EPA staff performed similar outreach and coordination among the utility sector.

Among the top priorities for NEMA members partnering in ENERGY STAR were such issues as:

• clarifying and expanding guidance from EPA to certification body labs about test procedures and re-use of previous test data

• discussions of whether a verification test cap might be reinstated for lamps

• how to increase stakeholder discussions and more positively engage utility partners

• ways to reduce testing burden without compromising program integrity

Previous ENERGY STAR roadmapping exercises are credited with establishing joint-stakeholder working groups, some of which are still operating to discuss issues and concerns as they arise. By establishing a roadmap plan, we will begin a running discourse that will identify a group of core stakeholders whose interactions will guide ENERGY STAR programs for lighting. In so doing, it is hoped that stakeholders

will influence program direction and content, assisting the EPA in making the best possible decisions for program administration.

One of the primary benefits of this effort will be reduction of unnecessary product requirements and reduced testing burden. It is hoped that the relatively new programs evolve as technology advances and progress in other arenas affects products.

ongoing ProcessSince the specification for ENERGY STAR lamps will be published soon, some would say that it is too late—or too soon—to begin roadmapping. This is a shortsighted opinion, as there is no bad time to roadmap a program; key considerations and goals should always influence decisions that affect a program’s focus or content. As the lamps program is fashioned, the roadmapping working groups will have plenty to do as the program and specification are debugged. Likewise, although the ENERGY STAR luminaires program is nearly two years old, this is an excellent time to take stock of its progress and to plan its future before it enters revision.

While sunsetting, an important step in a program lifecycle, is sometimes the right thing to do, it needs to be done in a coordinated manner with plenty of awareness and outreach to all quarters, especially consumers. The lifecycle mantra of an ENERGY STAR program is much more than simply “adapt or perish.” As a program evolves, as technology advances, and as federal

and local minimum standards are established, these considerations must be addressed. Sometimes a program can refocus on more than just energy efficiency. Other times, the correct action is to plan ahead for the program’s sunset, establishing a timeline and making all parties well aware of it.

Knowledge of sunsetting and adequate notice are critical. It does no good for purchasing agents and consumers to continue to seek out ENERGY STAR–labeled products after a program is sunsetted; this detracts from sales of newer, better products. This has happened in the past when knowledge of federal minimum product requirements and abrupt ENERGY STAR program cessation combined to confuse the marketplace.

Confusion can be prevented through consideration and coordination, both of which are expected to grow out of the roadmapping meetings and resulting stakeholder discourse. With them, NEMA will help keep ENERGY STAR lighting programs relevant and up to date, and when that is no longer possible, to encourage careful considerations of adaptation or sunset. ei

Alex Boesenberg, Regulatory Affairs Manager | [email protected]

Ű ENERGY STAR Lighting to Roadmap Future

The lifecycle mantra of an

ENERGY STAR program is

much more than simply

“adapt or perish.”

to promote safety of these components and eliminate the need for redundant testing at the end-product level.

UL hears of the need for standards from regulators, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, who works closely with UL to establish safety requirements for personal flotation devices. Consumer groups who become aware of safety issues look to UL to help address them. UL also responds to the need for a new standard from manufacturers and trade associations who are looking to address safety concerns and level the playing field for their industry.

UL standards are developed using the UL Standards Technical Panel (STP) Process, a procedure that provides for participation, review, and comment from groups representing a broad range of interests including industry, government, consumers, and manufacturers.

UL is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop American National Standards in the U.S. Recently, UL was accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to develop Canadian National Standards. This dual-accreditation allows UL to develop new standards for use in the U.S. and Canada, providing manufacturers with more consistent requirements cross-border.

International ReachIn addition to UL’s standards development activities in the U.S. and Canada, UL staff also actively participate on international standards development committees, such as those administered by the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). UL shows U.S. leadership by serving as secretary of IEC TC 61 (appliances), IEC TC 72 (controls), and IEC TC 108 (ITE). UL participates in countless other U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (USTAG), IEC working groups, project teams, and maintenance teams. By participating in these international standards development activities, UL (and others from the U.S.) are able to influence the international requirements.

In recent years, text from UL standards has been used as the basis of requirements for lighting products, circuit protectors, and appliances. Participation in the international standards activities allows U.S. interests to improve the level of safety of the international standard, while establishing common requirements to minimize technical differences from country to country.

Although participation on international standards committees requires resources, UL continues to increase its presence within the international community. Active participation

Ever since the publication of the first UL standard in 1903 covering safety requirements for tin-clad fire doors, UL has facilitated the development

and publication of thousands of UL standards. Initially, the primary need for standards was to establish minimum requirements in an effort to promote safety. In recent years, UL standardization has grown beyond safety. Standardization has proven to be an effective way of promoting interoperability of products, helping companies access new markets, and facilitating free and fair global trade.

Why Are Standards Important?The process of developing standards is not an inexpensive endeavor. Yet, UL remains committed to standards development

activities for the primary purpose of promoting safe living and working environments for people. In a history of

developing standards that spans more than 100 years, UL has published thousands of standards for safety,

covering a wide range of end-products including power tools, appliances, building materials, and computer

equipment. UL has also developed and published requirements for components—such as switches,

wire and cable, printed circuit boards—in order

Fostering Economic Growth and Safetysonya Bird, international standards Program Manager, Underwriters Laboratories inc.,

and John Thompson, director, UL Principle engineers



STANDARDS ROck ThE INDUSTRyat the IEC and ISO allows UL to develop relationships with key international industry leaders, assists UL with collecting competitive intelligence, and provides UL with the opportunity to influence domestic and international requirements through a better understanding of the safety issues.

Proven compliance with IEC and ISO standards facilitates country access for manufacturers. International standards coupled with effective conformance programs bring confidence to consumers and others that products are safe and meet the requirements of that country.

As standardization drives consistency, UL’s participation in the Committee of Testing Laboratories (CTL) drives the consistent interpretation of IEC standards, and consistent lab practices that prove compliance with those standards. UL staff serves as the secretary of this important IEC committee in an effort to promote consistency among test laboratories and ultimately improve the manufacturer’s access to countries.

In addition to active standards development and compliance programs, UL also adds value to the concept of standards and conformance through its zero-tolerance policy towards counterfeiting. UL is an industry leader with its dedicated anti-counterfeiting program. Working with customs officials, UL intercepts products before they reach the U.S. market. Such active work maintains the integrity of the UL mark and protects those manufacturers with legitimate UL marks on their products.

UL’s conformity assessment and anti-counterfeiting programs help give manufacturers confidence that they will not be facing unfair competition from those who ignore safety.

Get Involved!Standards and conformance are key components in fostering international economic growth and safety. UL standards coupled with an effective conformity assessment program bring confidence to consumers that products are safe. Manufacturers and others are encouraged to get more involved in the standards committees—at UL as well as the IEC and ISO standards development processes—in order to more effectively influence the requirements and promote both safety and trade.

Ms. Bird oversees UL participation in international and other outside standards activities, and coordinates UL international and regional harmonization standards efforts. Mr. Thompson develops technical strategy and provides coordination and oversight to UL’s principal engineers. ei

Having common standards enables innovation,

fosters economic growth, and promotes safety.

Over the past several years, there has been an increasing demand for

development of requirements for electric vehicles (EVs) that would allow

for the safe mass deployment of them. Through the leadership of ANSI,

an Electric Vehicle Standards Panel was formed that identified all existing

EV standards, as well as those standards that needed to be developed. UL

had already developed standards for personnel protection systems for EV

supply circuits (UL 2231-1 and UL 2231-2); safety of plugs, receptacles, and

couplers for EV (UL 2251); and electric vehicle supply equipment (UL 2594).

There were no comparable requirements in Canada, although a Canadian

standards developing organization (SDO) had indicated an interest in

adopting relevant IEC standards for use in Canada. Anticipating that EVs are

likely to be driven across the border into Canada, the manufacturers of this

equipment wanted to have common requirements in Canada.

With strong industry support and drive, the UL standards were used as the

basis of tri-national standards with ANCE in Mexico and CSA in Canada.

NEMA, the SDOs involved, and key volunteers from the industry developed

four tri-national standards based on the four standards defined above.

Not only do these standards establish common safety requirements for all

three countries, but they also provide for easy exchange of products across

country lines.

These tri-national EV standards may be viewed by some as a success since

common requirements were established for multiple countries. However,

others may see this example as a case of “what not to do.” Requirements

were established first in the U.S. and then were used as the basis of

requirements in Canada. In the future, as new technologies require the

development of new standards, UL looks forward to fully utilizing the

ANSI and SCC accreditations in order to develop standards addressing new

technologies for both the U.S. and Canada. Such a process would allow for

broader input initially so that the standard addresses the needs of both

countries, and would eliminate the need for manufacturers and others to

participate on multiple standards committees developing requirements for

the same product. Having common standards enables innovation, fosters

economic growth, and promotes safety. ei

Ű Case Study—Electric Vehicles


executives and senior public policy officials about the ways in which standards and conformance activities can boost business performance and innovation, lower costs, and help U.S. industry to be more competitive in the global marketplace. SBB is also a call to action for corporate America to devote more resources—time, money, and manpower—to standardization activities.

Through case studies and video testimonials, the SBB website StandardsBoostBusiness.org provides real-world demonstrations of how U.S. businesses are leveraging standards to their advantage. Executives at firms like Eaton Corporation and Hubbell Incorporated, as well as associations like NEMA, offer firsthand accounts of how they have streamlined processes, trimmed costs, and gained market access with the help of standardization. By using both standards and conformity assessment in day-to-day operations, and by actively participating in the development of the documents that shape their industry and their markets, business leaders can gain these types of pro-competitive advantages over firms who do not.

As coordinator of the U.S. standardization system, ANSI is proud of this highly successful, community-wide effort, but we need even more support to keep the momentum going. I urge you to visit StandardsBoostBusiness.org, and take advantage of the great resources available.

I also hope you will click on our partnership page, and join ANSI, NEMA, and the dozens of other organizations that are already involved. We truly need your engagement.

At a time when the public and private sectors are looking to foster economic growth and create good jobs for the future, it is more important than ever that U.S. companies understand the power of standards and conformance. With a foundation based on responsiveness and collaboration, our nation’s standardization system can help to ensure America’s strength in the innovation age while driving business growth and advancing U.S. competitiveness on the global stage. ei

Mr. Bhatia has more than 30 years of leadership experience in global business operations.

The U.S. reigned supreme as the innovation leader of the 20th century. While we still possess the talent, drive, and resources that fuel continual

innovation, translating that promise into business growth has become our greatest challenge.

According to a 2012 Department of Commerce report, there is now concern “…that the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership have been eroding at a time when many other nations are actively laying strong foundations in these same areas.”1

This is a dangerous shift, and U.S. business and industry simply cannot afford to allow it to continue. We need effective tools to turn our nation’s limitless ingenuity into the innovation and business strength that will drive U.S. competitiveness for the 21st century; strategic standardization is one of those tools.

Standards and conformity assessment play a critical role in removing barriers to trade, enforcing free trade agreements, and expanding foreign markets for U.S. goods and services. They impact more than 80 percent of global commodity trade2 —in 2012, an estimated 14 trillion dollars. They are a key to the acceptance and success of U.S. products, personnel, and services overseas. With 95 percent of the world’s consumers outside the U.S., we need to grow our exports to grow our economy.

Many American companies and manufacturers, however, are missing the boat. Their leadership is often un- or mis-informed about the value of standards and conformance as strategic business tools. Few of those who don’t work directly in standardization understand its impact and potential power. Together, our community must commit to changing this perception.

We need to help C-suite executives and senior public policy officials understand that standards and conformance activities are powerful business tools at their disposal. They can help individual businesses out-innovate competitors in the global market and tap into new and expanding technologies, and help U.S. government and industry to fuel overall business growth. Executives must understand that if they don’t position their organization to take a seat at the table and be part of the standardization process, they will be letting their competitors dictate the way they do business.

To lead that effort, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has worked in partnership with NEMA and 30 other organizations to launch the Standards Boost Business (SBB) awareness campaign. SBB aims to inform and educate C-suite

1 www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2012/january/competes_010511_0.pdf2 www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/

Standards Boost Businesss. Joe Bhatia, President and ceo, American national standards institute

http://www.StandardsBoostBusiness.org

http://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2012/january/competes_010511_0.pdf

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/

STANDARDS ROck ThE INDUSTRy


The energy storage industry is rapidly approaching manufacturing at economies of scale. To support this growth, work must continue on system standards related to safety, availability, reliability, maintenance, electromagnetic compatibility, equipment protection, applications/use cases, and performance metrics.

Standards for energy storage will allow the market to flourish and bring with it jobs, energy efficiency, grid reliability, and greater diversity in our energy supply. ei

Mr. Creevy ([email protected]) advocates the adoption of policies favorable to energy storage and Smart Grid in Congress and at federal agencies. Mr. Franks ([email protected]) coordinates NEMA’s efforts in the energy storage and microgrid industries.

The key to deriving value from energy storage is the ability to integrate it with other building and electric grid functions. The fundamental building blocks for this are the standards being worked by the NEMA energy storage and high-performance building councils. ei

Chrissy L. S. George, NEMA Communications | [email protected]

What if each movie and music studio released its works in proprietary formats rather than by universal formats of CDs, DVDs, and MP3s?

Households would face increased costs in acquiring multiple players and covering marketing costs, less choice in content due to incompatibility, and greater risk that an investment in any one technology may become obsolete. These inefficiencies would suppress the market.

Presently, with few exceptions, the parameters of an energy storage system are as stated by the manufacturer/integrator and are hard to independently verify. Rather than a scalable or turnkey implementation, each system must be custom-designed which increases manufacturing, engineering, and marketing costs. Consequently, because there is no third-party aggregation of data on performance, cost, and reliability, the purchaser is assuming a higher level of risk than he would if reliable standards were in place.

According to a recent study, “The Role of Energy Storage in the PV Industry,” global installations of photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial use are estimated to expand by a factor of 700, and will become the largest market segment by 2017.1 Rising energy prices and the need for backup energy sources are likely the cause.

With this in mind, utilities in California may be required to start paying for their own energy storage soon. This notion has led banks, such as Wells Fargo, to explore whether or not installing an energy storage system in one of its administrative buildings is lucrative.

Set to begin in 2014, the pilot will take place in either Los Angeles or Orange County. The plan: install an energy storage system with the capacity of 30 kW of storage using batteries and PV solar panels. Data collected will be analyzed to learn how the system performed, if it was worth the financial investment, and if an investment portfolio could be built around it.

Cultivating the Future of Energy Storage Jim creevy, neMA director of government relations, and ryan Franks, neMA Program Manager

Case Study: Commercial Building Energy Storage

Installations of energy storage for commercial use are estimated to increase dramatically, as seen here in Kansas Cit y, Missouri, as part of a Kansas City Power & Light ARRA Smart Grid Demonstration grant. Photo by Deana Dennis

<?> www.imsresearch.com/report/the_role_of_energy_storage_in_the_pv_industry_world_2013_edition&cat_id=198&type=LatestResearch

mailto:[email protected]


found in use in the industrial electrical panel at a hospital. They were completely incapable of handling the required load.

In another, CSA Group investigated suspicious aftermarket electrical components that were found at a national hardware retailer in Canada. Another major retailer alerted CSA Group investigators when a container of lighted holiday decorations didn’t seem right. Their suspicions were correct—the uncertified products bore counterfeit CSA certifications marks. In Quebec, CSA Group took an active lead in an investigation that resulted in the deliberate destruction of thousands of counterfeit electrical and conduit boxes bearing the CSA certification mark.

Sadly, these are only the tip of the iceberg.

Protecting Supply Chain IntegrityMany North American manufacturers have exported the production and assembly of their products to different parts of the world to maximize profits. Consequently, they grapple with long, complex supply chains which can often be difficult to audit. The products themselves are also becoming more complicated as manufacturers combine components and services from multiple suppliers and multiple jurisdictions. As a result, products as a whole and their individual components are at risk of having counterfeiters breach the integrity of the supply chain.

Protecting supply chain integrity is of the utmost importance for manufacturers whose reputations are at stake. To effectively safeguard against counterfeiting, there are several steps that manufacturers can take at each point in their production process.

It’s like the old saying: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” That faux designer watch or handbag might not hurt you, but buy that

discounted holiday light string or that too-cheap-to-be-real electrical equipment and you may live to regret it. Or worse yet, you may not.

Forget the notion of counterfeit products being cheaply-made versions of designer bags, watches, and sunglasses. Today’s counterfeiters know that the real money is in infiltrating the global supply chain with component products integral to manufacturers and end users, products most people wouldn’t even consider to be attractive to counterfeiters.

From electrical power bars to holiday lights, circuit breakers to light bulbs, if it can be purchased legally at the manufacturers suggested retail price, it can be counterfeited and sold to unsuspecting consumers at a fraction of the cost. Not surprisingly, that reduced price can come at the expense of important safety components. Compounding the problem, counterfeiters even copy the proprietary certification marks of testing and certification organizations like CSA Group to give their products a greater appearance of legitimacy. Fooled consumers believe they are buying legitimate products with authentic certification marks, leading them to believe the items have been tested to the requirements of applicable safety standards.

Dangerous and DeadlyThe consequences of product counterfeiting can be dangerous and deadly. In one instance, counterfeit circuit breakers were

Actual counterfeit products include certification marks to give their products an appearance of legitimacy. Photo courtesy of CSA

Surveying Deadly Impact of Counterfeitsstephen Brown, director of Technologies, csA group


STANDARDS ROck ThE INDUSTRylegitimate products. Counterfeit products also compromise brand integrity and consumer confidence, and increase the risk of legal action and unfavorable publicity to stakeholders.

New Laws on the BooksThe Canadian government enacted the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act in 2011 (CCPSA). The catalyst for the introduction of CCPSA was the recognition that Canada had fallen behind peer nations in having the necessary tools to combat product counterfeiting and intellectual property crimes and that needed to be rectified.

CCPSA adopts modern tools and techniques that strengthen protection and bring Canada’s consumer product safety system into line with key trading partners globally.

Domestically and internationally, CSA Group actively works to stem the flow of counterfeit products. In October 2013, CSA Group investigators attended INTERPOL’s International IP (Intellectual Property) Crime Conference in Dublin, Ireland. The three-day conference brought together more than 500 IP crime law specialist investigators and prosecutors from 52 countries representing public and private sectors, dedicated to mitigating against transnational organized intellectual property crime, extending integrated enforcement strategies on a global level, and enhancing public-private partnerships. ei

Mr. Brown has 30 years of experience in standards development, product planning and management, regulatory affairs, international business development, and strategic planning.

To combat the proliferation of counterfeit products, members of the supply chain must collaborate to institute a better component tracking system. A rigorous internal quality standard, based on an inspection program of all incoming parts can help keep the supply chain clean. It is important to document dates, lot codes, and photograph all products to maximize traceability if a product is found to be counterfeit or substandard. Manufacturers should also perform due diligence when working with new component suppliers.

Establishing a system of checks and balances throughout the supply chain can help manufacturers detect counterfeit components. Frequent and random testing and retesting of product samples will aid in exposing counterfeit components. In addition, internal quality assurance inspectors should be encouraged to act as whistle-blowers if they spot something suspicious.

Providing Localized, International ServicesAs manufacturing continues to grow abroad, many certification and product evaluation organizations, including CSA Group, are establishing laboratories around the world to provide localized services. This global network approach shortens testing and certification times since products don’t have to be verified in North America. It also helps to identify potential problems sooner, enabling certified products to be introduced to the market in a timely manner. This is a crucial consideration for manufacturers trying to get ahead of the competition.

Counterfeit marks undermine the entire global system of standards, testing, and certification that have been put in place to protect the interest of retailers, regulators, product manufacturers, and most importantly, consumers. They also present a real danger to the public as counterfeiters often use substandard materials or bypass safety features in order to make a profit. If left unchecked, counterfeit certification marks can enable unsafe or deficient products to gain widespread access to the North American market—a direct safety risk to consumers.

Global manufacturers, retailers, law enforcement, and regulators must work cooperatively to understand the true economic impact of counterfeiting on the economy. CSA Group mitigates the impacts of product counterfeiting by working with investigative agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Customs and Border Security Agency; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Bureau of Investigation; and international police services such as INTERPOL. International law enforcement agencies estimate the impact to be in the billions of dollars annually. In 2011 alone, U.S. Customs seized more than $10 million worth of electrical products illegally bearing the CSA certification mark.

In addition, there are costs to the economy, including the loss of sales revenue, taxes, and jobs because of declining sales of

What the Industry is Saying…coUnTerFeiTingA longtime problem, the challenges associated with counterfeiting electrical products has moved way beyond our familiar concerns with extension cords and Christmas lights. Earlier this year a warning was issued in the U.S. and Canada for solar panels bearing counterfeit safety certification marks.

On September 20, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a notice seeking comments from the public about internet-based or physical markets outside the U.S. that are notorious for handling goods that violate the rights of intellectual property (IP) owners. Any input received by USTR will inform the U.S. government’s IP enforcement activities and be considered for inclusion in USTR’s annual “Notorious Markets” list.

According to the notice, “Notorious markets are those where counterfeit trademark or pirated copyright products are prevalent to such a degree that the market exemplifies the problem of marketplaces that deal in infringing goods and help sustain global piracy and counterfeiting.” ei


tested solutions based on interoperable and secure equipment and systems.

New measurement science is needed to support grid operators and regulators to adopt Smart Grid technologies at large scale and achieve expected benefits. Technical barriers to the adoption of Smart Grid include the following:

• incomplete standards and testing programs for interoperability of smart grid devices and systems

• the need for better approaches that enhance cybersecurity and privacy,

• lack of validated measurement methods and models that demonstrate the ability of new Smart Grid technologies to cost-effectively improve grid performance without introducing unforeseen instabilities and vulnerabilities

Assessing this broad array of technical barriers and challenges, NIST researchers have identified four key research areas where NIST expertise in metrology can help provide both better understanding and innovative solutions. Here’s a very brief summary of the metrology program that NIST is undertaking in Smart Grid.

MeTroLogy For sMArT grid sysTeM PerForMAnce

Challenge Improving Smart Grid systems-level performance will be challenging because of the lack of coordination and validation of integrated modeling of the multiple interconnected systems and subsystems. These systems and subsystems must operate over a range of different time scales and abstraction levels, and must meet significant physical and cybersecurity requirements.

Research focus This thrust area includes five projects that provide the needed measurement science to support cross-cutting, systems-level analysis, and operational needs. The projects’ deliverables will support actionable intelligence and decision-support modeling tools for grid-scale operators, including addressing cybersecurity, understanding of network and timing requirements, and acceptable performance within complex electromagnetic environments.

Example of research project The Smart Grid System Testbed Facility Project is creating a new integrated Smart Grid system measurement testbed that will provide NIST with the initial technical capability to simulate advanced Smart Grid systems and subsystems.

While the electric grid was hailed by the National Academy of Engineering as the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th

century, more work remains to modernize the grid to meet the increasing demands of the 21st century economy for cost-effective, highly reliable, resilient, and sustainable electric energy.

The existing U.S. electric power grid is a complex and fragmented assembly of systems and operators. With a collective infrastructure investment of more than $1 trillion, the grid is operated by approximately 3,200 electric utilities, delivering power to over 140 million customers, with equipment and systems provided by hundreds of suppliers. Adding to this complexity are the broad and diverse range of stakeholders, regulatory oversight at the federal and state levels, and the intricate and intertwined markets that influence the flow of energy.

Our present grid system is designed to meet infrequent peak demands and operates at roughly 50 percent system load factor on average, with room for improvement. The reliability of the U.S. grid is less robust than that of some other developed countries, imposing an estimated $80 billion to $100 billion in yearly economic losses to the U.S. economy.

Last year’s Superstorm Sandy showed us that grid resiliency must be improved, so that operations can be quickly and systematically restored after widespread outages. Electricity generation accounts for 40 percent of human-caused CO2 emissions, and renewable energy portfolio standards have been enacted in a majority of states to drive more sustainable, clean generation. However, the integration of significant amounts of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, into the electric grid will require a much more dynamic system.

New Measurement for New System“Smart Grid” and “grid modernization” are shorthand ways of referring to the electric industry’s evolving plans to upgrade the grid infrastructure and address these challenging problems. The big new idea underlying the Smart Grid is the integration of new distributed intelligence, communications, and control technologies into the power grid. The long-term result will be a system of systems that enables two-way flows of energy and information, with communication and control capabilities that will lead to an array of new functionalities and applications.

One of the biggest technical problems is introducing this new operating paradigm into a large, complex system of systems that must continue without interruption. It will require robust, fully-

How Does the Smart Grid Measure Up?Metrology Research at NIST Looks for Answers

david Wollman, Phd, deputy director of nisT’s smart grid and cyber-Physical systems Program office


STANDARDS ROck ThE INDUSTRyExample of research project This project will develop metrology and standards to characterize and integrate advanced PCSs with new functionalities (e.g., islanding, ride-through/continued operation, and other enhancements) to support PCS-based distributed generators, storage, and microgrids.

MeTroLogy For User-To-grid inTeroPerATion

Challenge A major paradigm shift for the grid is automated management of demand as well as generation to optimize asset utilization and accommodate intermittent variable generation. Significant technical challenges remain to improve the bidirectional interactions between subsystems and the Smart Grid in buildings and commercial and industrial facilities, and to engage residential consumers with actionable information on their energy usage.

Research focus In this thrust area, the Building Integration with Smart Grid project is developing underpinning measurement science necessary to integrate customer facilities with a smart grid, through development of high impact industry standards, industry-run testing and certification processes to support implementations, and new industry best practices.

Example of research project This project includes improving and expanding consumer access to energy usage information in the White House Green Button Initiative, by increasing the consistency of available data and industry implementations. NIST will continue to drive progress with year-long sponsorship of a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow, who started in June 2013. ei

Dr. Wollman wrote this article on behalf of the NIST Smart Grid Team. He is Deputy Director of NIST’s Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office.

When established, the testbed will become a focal point for internal coordination and collaboration among Smart Grid projects.

MeTroLogy For T&d grid oPerATionsChallenge It is difficult to implement distributed sensing and control into transmission and distribution grids because of the need to characterize the dynamic performance of equipment and sensors that are both cost-effective and operational under challenging field environments.

Research focus This thrust area’s two projects provide measurement science to support real-time situational awareness needed by grid operators. The projects’ focus is to develop standards to support communication of actionable information from grid sensors, and new measurement methods to optimize the capabilities of these sensors to support grid operations.

Example of research project The Wide-Area Monitoring and Control of Smart Grid project addresses measurement science and standards supporting deployment of phasor measurement units and new phasor data concentrators by utilities across the country in transmission grids.

MeTroLogy For disTriBUTed energy resoUrces And Microgrids Challenge It is difficult to accommodate large amounts of intermittent distributed energy resources into the grid because existing systems were not designed for two-way power flows, and required changes will substantially modify existing operations and safety procedures.

Research focus In this thrust area, the Power Conditioning Systems (PCSs) for Renewables and Storage project addresses key measurement and standards barriers impeding deployment of distribution energy resources.

Metrology, or measurement science, provides the foundation for research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Through exploration of the very small (quantum computing), very cold (less than a millionth of a degree above absolute zero), and the very accurate (the most stable NIST atomic clock is about 10 billion times more stable than quartz wristwatches), NIST scientists and engineers engage in cutting-edge research, as evidenced by four Nobel Prizes won by NIST scientists in the past two decades.

An agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NIST undertakes this science for a good reason—“to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.” NIST has been involved in measurement research and standards development related to the electric grid since the early days of the electric age. Congress established NIST in 1901 in part to meet the needs of electrical instrument makers and manufacturers.

Today, as the electric grid undergoes its most dramatic transformation in a century, more than 20 scientists and engineers are part of the NIST Smart Grid team working on Smart Grid-related projects. NIST laboratories participating in this effort include the Engineering Laboratory (lead laboratory), the Information Technology Laboratory, and the Physical Measurement Laboratory.

For more information, visit the NIST Smart Grid website (www.nist.gov/smartgrid). ei

Ű Why NIST?


1. Engage utilities, equipment suppliers, consumers, standards developers, and other stakeholders to achieve consensus on Smart Grid standards;

2. Launch a formal partnership to facilitate development of additional standards to address remaining gaps and integrate new technologies; and

3. Develop a plan for testing and certification to ensure that Smart Grid equipment and systems conform to standards for security and interoperability.

ANSI/NEMA SG-IC 1 specifically addresses phase three of this implementation plan. It creates a lasting program of industry testing and validation for interoperability similar to the rigorous safety program offered by various nationally-recognized testing laboratories (NRTLs). SG-IC is expected to be an important component in NIST’s mission for Smart Grid.

Given the nature of the Smart Grid, NEMA’s expectation is that electrical manufacturers will bear the greatest burden as they strive to bring interoperability to Smart Grid programs and applications. NEMA manufacturers face the hurdle of mastering several—perhaps even dozens—of different testing programs.

Utilities also face a major challenge as they integrate interchangeable parts from different providers worldwide. There is a huge need for interoperability standards that will allow utilities to buy pieces of equipment from any vendor knowing that they will work with one another and with

In order for the Smart Grid to gain traction and actually provide benefits to customer and utility companies, the many systems that comprise it must

be able to work together. New applications and equipment must be built in such a way that they can work well with all the other systems. Without standards, there is the potential for technologies developed or implemented with sizable public and private investments to become obsolete prematurely or to be implemented without measures necessary to ensure security.

NEMA received approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in July for ANSI/NEMA SG-IC 1-2013 Smart Grid Interoperable and Conformant Testing and Certification Scheme Operator Guidelines. The SG-IC guidelines are designed to unite several Smart Grid stakeholders to “support the modernization of the nation’s electricity transmission and distribution system to maintain a reliable and secure electricity infrastructure,” as described in Title XIII of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).

Under EISA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is assigned the “primary responsibility to coordinate development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid devices and systems.”

In order to accomplish its mission under EISA, NIST devised a three-phase plan for implementing Smart Grid:

ANSI/NEMA SG-IC 1 Brings Consistency, Portability to Smart Grid Interoperability and Conformance Testing Process

steve griffith, PMP, neMA smart grid industry director



will save the industry, and ultimately the consumer, billions of dollars.

The implementation of this guideline addresses the major points that define the Smart Grid adoption process—testing and certification, governance, harmonization, and backward compatibility. The Smart Grid Interoperable & Conformant Testing and Certification Scheme Operator Guidelines represents a major step in delivering on the promise of Smart Grid. ei

ANSI/NEMA SG-IC 1-2013 is available on the NEMA website.

Before joining NEMA, Mr. Griffith ([email protected]) managed projects in communications and IT networking infrastructures for Department of Defense facilities.

existing equipment at every level. We are not simply talking about interfaces—one plug fitting with another—we need interoperation at all levels in a given system.

Ensuring Consistency and Portability The NEMA guideline brings consistency and portability to the interoperability testing process in much the same way the industry has performed safety testing for the last century. To ensure this, contributors to the scheme include internationally-accredited testing authorities and NTRLs.

ANSI/NEMA SG-IC 1-2013 describes the roles and responsibilities for each of the four main participants in the testing scheme in order to create the necessary levels of checks and balances for the overall testing process. See Figure 1.

inTeroPerABiLiTy TesTing And cerTiFicATion AUThoriTy (iTcA) ITCA is the scheme operator. This is the person or company that owns the responsibility for the testing process. It will:

• identify the standard that forms the basis for the testing;

• prepare the test specification that describes the type and purpose of the testing that will be conducted; and

• ensure there is industry consensus around the test specification and how it fulfills the needs of Smart Grid.

AccrediTATion Body (AB)AB, an agent of ITCA, ensures that everyone involved in the testing process has the appropriate credentials and qualifications to perform their roles in the test.

TesTing LAB (TL)TL is the company that will perform the hands-on testing of electrical products. TL may also be charged with performing market surveillance after the test to ensure that the manufacturers continue to conform to the requirements of the test specification.

cerTiFying Body (cB)CB is an independent body that examines the test results from TL to ensure that they meet the requirements of the test specification.

Validating Interoperability and SecurityStakeholders in Smart Grid can now validate the interoperability and security of individual grid elements on a consistent, industry-wide basis. Manufacturers who sell the same product to different utilities will now only have to manage a single testing program.

While we may never achieve complete plug-and-play functionality, we can shorten the integration period for electrical equipment through interoperability testing. This

Figure 1. Roles and responsibilities for each of the four main participants in the SG-IC testing scheme

1. A company adopts the SGIP’s manual for interoperability testing (IPRM) to become an interoperability testing and certification authority (ITCA).

2. ITCA establishes business relationships with accreditation bodies (AB), certification bodies (CB), and test labs (TL) to run its testing program.a. These bodies should be properly qualified by the International

Accreditation Forum (IAF)b. The test laboratories may be nationally-recognized test laboratories (NRTL)

3. The ITCA works with the appropriate industry representatives to create a test suite specification for the subject standard that includes:a. the environment under which the test shall be conductedb. the use case that creates the context for the testingc. pass/fail criteria

4. The test suite specification is provided to the AB, CB, and TL.5. The manufacturer submits a product that conforms to the subject standard to

the test lab for testing under the test suite specification

For illustration only

http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Smart-Grid-Interoperable-and-Conformant-Testing-and-Certification-Scheme-Operator-Guidelines.aspx

18 NEMA electroindustry • October 201318 NEMA electroindustry • October 2013

some manufacturers may take steps during the design and development process to assess the dangers associated with product functionality, it often takes well-publicized safety incidents to coax the majority of companies to consider assessing such vulnerabilities.

3. Liability Issues Beyond immediate safety concerns, liability is the next most important aspect of risk assessment. Manufacturers are exposed to liabilities as a result of action by regulators, which can range from mandated product recalls to monetary fines and forfeitures that cost millions of dollars. The magnitude of risk becomes even greater when private litigation enters the picture in the form of civil lawsuits or class actions.

4. Financial Implications In addition to the monetary implications of adverse action by regulators or a costly civil judgment, manufactures also face financial exposure associated with the direct expense incurred in the recall of unsafe products, and the cost of reworking or safely disposing of them. It is important to take into account the financial risk that can result from the loss of future sales. Once a product has been connected with a significant safety issue, the manufacturer may have little choice but to stop selling it, and erase any anticipated sales revenue from its financial projections. Fairly or not, one unsafe product can stigmatize a manufacturer’s entire line of products, cutting into anticipated sales across the board.

5. Impact on Business Reputation Finally, an unsafe product can pose a significant threat to a manufacturer’s brand and market reputation. Unless a manufacturer acts swiftly and with complete transparency to deal with allegations of unsafe products, buyers will often stop using their products altogether, or will move essential purchases to competitors. In complex cases, months can pass, by which point many customers will have switched allegiances. Business schools teach from case studies of both effective and disastrous management of product recalls. In the best case scenarios, most well-intentioned manufacturers connected with unsafe products eventually reemerge, although the overall impact on a company’s market reputation can take years to mend. In more dire instances, however, the financial impact and the tarnishing of a manufacturer’s brand identity as a result of an unsafe product can lead to a downward financial spiral and ultimate ruin.

Safer Products + Happy Customers = Winning StrategyThere are limitations in relying exclusively on a standards-based approach to compliance to mitigate product safety risks.

The challenges of bringing innovative and safe products to global markets become more complex each year. Change is typically driven by new

technologies and unrelenting demand for innovation, quality, and value, which requires manufacturers to rapidly develop a pipeline of new products that meets the needs and desires of customers.

When it comes to ensuring inherent safety of those products—and their safe use in the real world—most reputable manufacturers design products to comply with applicable regulations and industry standards. When required, they also subject new products to testing and certification by independent third-party testing laboratories such as Intertek Testing Services, UL, and CSA. These steps are critical in gaining market acceptance from regulators, distributors, retailers, and increasingly, safety-conscious end users.

While a product’s compliance with regulations and standards may satisfy a company’s minimum legal obligation, the job of mitigating a product’s overall safety risk is a much larger task. It involves a wide range of considerations, from the types of materials that will be used in the product’s construction to how the product will actually be used or installed by the customer, as well as environmental issues and final disposition.

Many leading manufacturers have adopted a broader, more risk-based strategy in the development of new products that spans the entire lifecycle. Some new standards, such as IEC 60601-1-3 (third edition) for medical devices, have incorporated risk management into their revisions because a risk-based approach has the potential to anticipate and mitigate the impact of a new product on the manufacturer, end user, and society as a whole.

Five Risks Manufacturers Need to Consider 1. Inherent Safety Concerns

Inherent safety issues typically occur as a result of inadequate product design, or through the selection of materials that are inherently dangerous or inappropriate for the product’s intended use. Risks related to inherent safety issues in new products typically generate the greatest attention from manufacturers and consumers, and are often the catalyst for increased regulatory and standards development efforts. For example, the massive recall of toys with lead paint in 2007 was one of several incidents that led to the development of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in 2008.

2. Product Functionality Despite a manufacturer’s best efforts to design a product that is safe, it is difficult to anticipate all of the scenarios in which a product could be used, and to address the safety issues associated with a range of theoretical scenarios. While

Risk-Based Approach is Key to Long-Term SuccessMichael Brousseau, intertek, Boxborough (Massachusetts) Laboratory

NEMA electroindustry • October 2013 19 NEMA electroindustry • October 2013 19

STANDARDS ROck ThE INDUSTRyAdopting a risk-based approach to product safety compliance is complex. From a logistical standpoint, manufacturers need to assemble analysis teams who understand the principles and procedures of a risk-based approach. Product development schedules must be altered so analysis can be performed as early as possible in the design process, enabling designers to make modifications that will eliminate or mitigate vulnerability.

Manufacturers interested in exploring the advantages of a risk-based approach should remember that the standards-based approach still prevails as the primary means of demonstrating product safety compliance. It is also still mandated for many types of products in many geographic markets. The evolution to a risk-based approach is not an argument to do away with product safety standards. On the contrary, it’s a way to look at those standards and beyond to help ensure that risk of injury or harm has been mitigated as much as possible—for the well-being of the end users and for the long-term financial success of the manufacturer. ei

Mr. Brousseau has worked with electrical manufacturers in the medical, IT, industrial, and lighting industries to meet global regulatory, industry, and market requirements.

First, the standards development process often lags behind technological advances. This is not the fault of the standards process itself, but rather a reflection of the length of the process, the fact that standards are inevitably based on then-current technologies, and the incredible speed with which technology drives new innovations. In addition, compliance with standards carries no guarantee that the product will be free of risk. Simply demonstrating compliance with a given standard is not sufficient to fully ensure the safety of that product. Malfunctions or defective products can result from a variety of influences ranging from production issues to environmental stresses to user errors.

A standards-based approach to product safety compliance can actually serve to impede innovation. Manufacturers must ensure that their new products comply with existing standards, even when those standards fall short of addressing design challenges mandated by market demands. Instead of spending precious resources on developing breakthrough approaches that might lead to inherently safer products, time is consumed instead in the pursuit of less-innovative but more compliant designs.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) defines nationally-recognized testing laboratories (NRTLs) as third-party organizations that

provide product safety testing and certification services to the manufacturers of a wide range of products for use in the American workplace.

Certification marks from testing laboratories such as FM Approvals, UL, Intertek, and CSA demonstrate compliance to the requirements of widely accepted product safety standards. These standards are developed by U.S.–based standards developing organizations and are often issued under the accreditation of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Electrical products must bear an NRTL certification mark in order to be sold in the U.S. and Canada. NRTLs play a vital role in maintaining electrical safety by scrupulously testing devices to ensure that they are safe to be used at home and in the workplace. Certification marks also protect manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and consumers against dangerous and defective counterfeit electrical products. These illicit, substandard products not only cost the electrical industry millions of dollars each year, but more importantly, pose as a serious threat to our families, communities, and employees.

When making a purchase, consumers should not only make sure that certification marks are present, but should also be able to differentiate between authentic and false ones. To facilitate this process, samples of each certification mark can be found on the OSHA website. If you have concerns about the marks and suspect that they might be counterfeit, contact the certifier.

In addition to checking for certification labels, Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) offers the following tips to protect consumers against dangerous and sometimes deadly counterfeit electrical products:

• Beware of bargains that seem too good to be true. Products may be cheap because they are counterfeit or defective.

• Use established vendors who purchase their goods from legitimate distributors and genuine manufacturers. Fly-by-night vendors may not be willing to grant refunds for electrical products that do not perform as they should.

• Check the warning label. It should be free of grammatical errors and should not conflict with information found elsewhere on the package.

• Look for the name and contact information of the manufacturer. If this information is missing, consider purchasing electrical products elsewhere.

• Avoid no-name products that lack brand affiliation.

• Be proactive. Organizations such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission and UL provide information about product recalls on their websites.

For more information on NRTLs, visit www.osha.gov. For additional resources on the dangers of electrical product counterfeiting, visit www.esfi.org. ei

Julie Chavanne, Communications Director, ESFI | [email protected]

NRTLs Strive for Electrical Safety

https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtlmrk.html

http://www.osha.gov

http://www.esfi.org


design. Proper commissioning of electrical power systems has proven to reduce operating costs, minimize future maintenance requirements, and enhance safety.

Building Blocks of SafetyThere are key standards in place to perform field-acceptance testing on low-voltage circuit breakers, which are the building block of electrical distribution systems.

FieLd AccePTAnce TesTing NFPA 70B-2013 Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, published by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), provides field acceptance testing guidelines for several types of electrical power systems. This robust standard draws on the experience of members from a wide variety of industries—NEMA, testing organizations, end users, design professionals, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, government officials, Underwriters Laboratories, and others. The standard provides an unbiased basis for conducting field acceptance tests. To determine proper field acceptance testing procedures for commissioning, NFPA 70B should be used in conjunction with the manufacturer’s instruction book and published guidelines.

Ansi/neMA AB 4-2009ANSI/NEMA AB 4-2009 Guidelines for Inspection and Preventive Maintenance of Molded Case Circuit Breakers Used in Commercial and Industrial Applications provides guidance for inspections, testing, and maintenance of molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs), which are the heart of the electrical power system. The standard specifies the guidelines for inspection and preventative maintenance of MCCBs that are used in commercial and industrial applications.

It recommends many non-destructive tests to verify operational circuit breaker characteristics including mechanical operation tests, insulation resistance tests, individual pole resistance tests (millivolt drop test), inverse time overcurrent trip test, instantaneous overcurrent trip test, and rated hold-in test. Most of these tests also provide excellent baseline information for future maintenance evaluation tests.

PriMAry vs. secondAry inJecTion TesTingPart of the recommended tests in ANSI/NEMA AB 4 includes testing trip characteristics of an MCCB by primary injection using a low-voltage, high-current test set capable of delivering the required test current. The field test procedure is a modified version of the overload calibration and magnetic trip calibration detailed in UL489. The data obtained from field

Electrical power systems are increasingly complex and intelligent. Today’s electrical equipment integrates protection, control, monitoring, and

predictive maintenance technology to support reliable operations and reduce maintenance costs and downtime.

Further, the demand for fault-tolerant electrical systems is increasing to meet the requirements for data centers, medical facilities, financial intuitions, and utilities. For mission-critical operations, downtime is simply not an option.

Yet, best-in-class equipment and design is not sufficient. Often overlooked, proper commissioning is crucial to protect capital investment, and operator safety, and provide desired system continuity in accordance with the design.

The design professional must specify site-commissioning services that include:

• installation support and supervision

• field acceptance testing

• startup and energization

• training of end user personnel

• thermographic surveys

Additional commissioning items that can be specified for complex systems include functional performance tests and integrated system tests. It is essential to develop commissioning guidelines for electrical power systems to verify proper operation of these integrated systems in accordance with the

New Molded-Case Circuit Breakers Reduce Costs, Minimize Maintenance, and Enhance Safety

scott Brady, Pe, Western region Manager, Technical Application support, eaton

Arc-flash reduction maintenance systems are typically integral to the trip unit of circuit breakers and reduce the trip time during an arcing fault when activated. Photo courtesy of Eaton



Zone-selective interlock schemes, which require wiring between equipment sections or different pieces of equipment, need to be verified for proper operation as they can help mitigate arc flash in some applications. The manufacturer should be contacted to develop commissioning programs to verify proper operation of these devices.

sTAndArds For enhAnced sAFeTyWith the advent of the microprocessor, electrical power systems have greater intelligence and often communicate among multiple products providing superior system continuity and safety. There are standards for field testing of MCCBs, but choosing which tests to utilize for a particular project are dictated by the criticality and economics of the project.

Current standards can address the basics of commissioning, but new technology needs to be incorporated into developing commissioning plans. ei

Mr. Brady has more than 20 years of experience in the installation, commissioning, and testing of industrial equipment across mission critical systems.

tests can differ from published data as manufacturers conduct all tests using fixtures specifically designed for the circuit breaker in controlled ambient conditions with long cool-down periods between tests. Any “failed” test should be sent to the manufacturer for evaluation under standard test conditions.

When using the instantaneous overcurrent trip test described in Section 6.6 of ANSI/NEMA AB 4, there is the risk of damaging instantaneous (magnetic) only MCCBs, such as motor circuit protectors (MCP). MCPs lack thermal elements, which makes the devices susceptible to thermal damage during these tests. Primary current injection testing—ramped or pulsed—may be of a sufficient duration or repeated often enough to overheat and destroy current-sensitive coils as well as damage the contacts. If current-sensing coils are not destroyed during these tests, their current sensing characteristic may be altered because of heating. Damaging the current sensing coils will render the MCP useless.

Thermal-magnetic MCCBs are tested by primary injection in the factory as part of calibration adjustment. The magnetic and thermal adjustments are different for each breaker. However, there is an adjustment means that changes the gap between the bimetal and magnetic armature. MCCBs with electronic trip units are also tested by primary injection as part of a final quality control process. A certified test report of factory tests can be obtained from the manufacturer.

Difficulties with field testing MCCBs is one reason behind the development of electronic trip units. Secondary injection test sets simulate fault currents at the secondary outputs from the current transformers in the circuit breakers to verify the trip characteristics, trip actuator, and latch mechanism. Secondary test sets are lightweight, easier to operate, do not require the circuit breaker to be removed from the assembly, involve substantially less test power, and allow testing to be performed faster with reduced downtime.

ANSI/NEMA AB 4 lists the use of a secondary injection test as an alternate means for verification of the inverse-time overcurrent trip test. It should be noted that the secondary injection test does not validate the integral current transformers within the circuit breakers. Based on the criticality of the load, a decision should be made if the costs and downtime required for field primary injection are necessary or certified test reports should be ordered with the equipment.

Arc-FLAsh MiTigATion TechnoLogyNew technology is available to mitigate arc flash and enhance the safety for personnel operating electrical equipment through arc-flash reduction maintenance systems. These systems are typically integral to the trip unit of circuit breakers and reduce the trip time during an arcing fault, thus reducing the incident energy downstream of the protective device. It is important that these systems are commissioned properly and settings implemented and documented to match arc flash study settings tables.

Technician in full arc-flash personal protective equipment (PPE) gear. Use of arc-flash reduction and safety products allows for lower-level PPE and can result in faster, safer work and commissioning. Photo courtesy of Eaton


programs with the industry to drive innovation, open dialogue, and get feedback.

To secure our nation’s airports, TSA will need new technologies that assist security officers in analyzing and verifying threats. As the processes for scanning, inspection, and analysis become more automated and the need for immediate and consistent information becomes more critical—particularly for homeland security reasons—NEMA’s Industrial Imaging and

Communications Section (4IIC) brought together manufacturers to develop the DICOS standard that enables equipment users to install or upgrade devices that are manufactured by multiple companies to conform to widely accepted standards.

The standard, based on Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM):

• Establishes the initial negotiation between communicating devices. The requesting device will need to know the capabilities of the receiving device. The exchanges are based on the capabilities that the two entities have in common, which are communicated in the initial handshake.

• Addresses the differences in how imaging devices represent values and define the transfer syntax.

DICOS allows wide deployment of communication across the boundaries between heterogeneous or disparate applications, devices, and systems used for security and protection purposes. With DICOS, TSA will bring new technologies to the market and improve the traveling experiences for every flier. ei

As an industry specialist, Mr. Massey ([email protected]) is responsible for expanding partnerships with manufacturers in support of building codes, developing marketing awareness activities, and identifying future standards.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the nation’s busiest airport and a magnet of sorts for gun-toting fliers. The New York Times reports that

people are increasingly caught at security checkpoints with firearms in their carry-on bags. As of July 2013, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had seized 67 guns this year at Hartsfield-Jackson, putting it ahead of last year. Nationwide, security agents have seized 862 through the first half of 2013, a rate likely to eclipse last year’s record of 1,556.

For Atlanta airport officials and law enforcement authorities, the increase in gun seizures poses a vexing problem, one that strains their security resources even as they continue to search, seemingly in vain, for a way to persuade travelers to leave their guns at home.

As TSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continue to evaluate and test new technology for airport security, many companies are seeing the value of Digital Imaging and Communications in Security (DICOS). This standard enables network and component integration to send and receive digital images and related information.

DICOS covers systems, devices, components, and accessories used in imaging and communications for security and protection purposes. This includes equipment and accessories used in image generation, transmission, and capture that integrate imaging information with other data in human, animal, baggage, and cargo scanning inspection and analysis.

During recent DHS/TSA Industry Days (showcasing advanced imaging technology and advanced x-ray material discrimination research), DHS indicated a need on the part of DHS/TSA to make testing “more transparent.” This was coupled with an indication by DHS/TSA to “productize” (i.e., commercialize) research efforts.

This year, the TSA Office of Security Capabilities (OSC) held a Test and Evaluation Industry Day on September 4 that focused on sharing information about OSC-related processes and

DICOS Enables Commercialized Research harry Massey, neMA industry director

mailto:[email protected])

NEMA electroindustry • October 2013 23 NEMA electroindustry • October 2013 23


• Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing: Investigating the conducted emissions, radiated emissions, and susceptibility of EV systems and components.

• Wireless Charging: Developing the test requirements and protocols for the certification of wireless charging systems.

• Electric Vehicle Communication Controller: Creating test methods to evaluate power line communication technologies that enable messaging between EVs and electric vehicle supply equipment.

Argonne’s efforts are directed toward enabling harmonized electrical codes and standards by providing technical expertise to industry for coupler designs, charger hardware solutions, and grid communication protocol validation. ei

Mr. Berst, founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News, is a featured panelist at Illuminations Weekend.

Utilities that try to go it alone on electric vehicle (EV) integration are likely to spend a lot of money stranding themselves with dead-end

technology. It is essential to follow open standards—not just for plug sockets, but also for other hardware and software aspects of EVs and smart charging.

The first of twin centers designed to promote common standards in electric mobility and Smart Grids on both sides of the Atlantic was inaugurated at the U.S. Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. Converging standards and interoperability between Smart Grids and EVs will allow for deeper penetration of renewable energies in electricity systems, thus facilitating the way to a low-carbon economy. Technology harmonization will drive product and service innovation in the two world’s largest economies and could prove instrumental in establishing global standards for electric mobility.

The launch of the Interoperability Center for EVs and Smart Grids is the fruit of 18 months of dedicated work following a letter of intent for closer cooperation signed in 2011. Additional centers will be opened in the EU in 2014.

Providing Support to Emerging TechnologyArgonne researchers will provide support to emerging technology development in grid connectivity, bridging the needs of the EV manufacturers and the utilities. The focus of this research and development effort is in providing practical applications that enhance the market acceptance of plug-in vehicles and the charging infrastructure, including:

• Codes and Standards: Helping to develop and refine EV standards to enable smart, convenient, and safe interaction with the electric grid (e.g., ISO/IEC 15118, SAE J1772 [conductive charge coupler], and SAE J2953 [interoperability]).

• Compact Metrology System: Developing a proof-of-concept device to measure and communicate charge energy. The prototype is a fraction of the size and cost of existing systems.

• Smart Energy Profile: Developing a gateway to bridge the existing messaging infrastructure used by utilities (SEP 1.1) to SEP 2.0. This includes adapting off-the-shelf hardware for use in field trials to encourage commercial development.

Interoperability Center to Promote Electric Mobility and Smart Grids

Jesse Berst, chairman, smart cities council

Former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Keith Hardy, Director of the U.S. Electric Vehicle–Smart Grid Interoperability Center, and DOE Assistant Secretary of Policy and International Affairs David Sandalow (left to right) discussed interoperability at the Argonne center. Photo courtesy of Argonne National Lab


• WG3 Building Energy Modeling, Rating, and Labeling includes whole building modeling from design to construction, as well as rating and labeling for energy performance

• WG4 Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification includes evaluation, measurement, and verification, standardized and portable data collection, and reporting

• WG5 Workforce Credentialing includes standards for workforce training and certification programs, and workforce skills standards

The working groups have each drafted chapters of a roadmap that will lay out the existing standards guiding energy efficiency in buildings, as well as calling out areas in need of standardization. The purpose of the ANSI EESCC is neither to develop standards nor to replace any existing work on energy-efficiency standardization. Rather, its goal is to assess the landscape and identify needs that standards developing organizations can address.

A public review of the ANSI EESCC Roadmap document is scheduled to start in mid-November with comments due at the end of the year. NEMA members will be asked to review this document and provide comments either directly to ANSI or through NEMA. ei

Mr. Stoppelmoor, a certified energy manager, co-chairs the ANSI EESCC Working Group 3 on Building Energy Modeling, Rating, and Labeling. He is also a member of IEEE, IAEI, NFPA, and ASHRAE.

How many different types of energy-efficiency standards can you think of? Building codes, performance standards for energy and water use,

system communication standards, energy modeling, building rating and labeling systems, measurement and verification, workforce credentialing… the list goes on.

There has never been a comprehensive and systematic mapping of energy efficiency standards for buildings, let alone a concerted effort to identify gaps in energy efficiency standardization, until now.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) launched the Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative (EESCC) in the fall of 2012 with co-leadership from the U.S. Department of Energy and Schneider Electric. More than 140 technical experts from at least 50 government, industry, standards developing organizations, non-profits, and educational institutions have been involved in the effort to develop a roadmap for energy-efficiency standardization in the built environment.

Phase one of ANSI EESCC focused on collecting a comprehensive list of existing energy-efficiency standards, codes, guidelines, building labels, conformance programs, and workforce training as well as credentialing standards. Over 500 documents, 150 conformance programs, and more than 10 standardization gaps were identified in the first phase of the EESCC, which ended in May 2013.

Throughout the summer, five working groups have met dozens of times to craft the list of identified documents and standards into a more useful roadmap for energy efficiency standardization in buildings. Each working group has tackled a distinct issue area relevant to energy-efficiency standardization:

• WG1 Building Energy and Water Assessment and Performance Standards includes diagnostic test procedures and health and safety testing

• WG2 Systems Integration and Systems Communications encompasses communications between building automation/operation systems and equipment/appliances, within single buildings, as well as the communications between buildings (e.g., facilities and campuses)

ANSI Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative—Long Name, Important Goal

Wayne stoppelmoor, industry standards Manager—energy efficiency, schneider electric



Recognizing the importance of this decision by NCWM, the mission of the section’s working group to communicate EV metering data became even more urgent. It is nearing completion of the NEMA guide, EVSE Embedded Metering and Communication.

The section also established an interoperability working group to address the following gaps:

• Locating and reserving a public charging station. There is a need for a standardized communication method to permit EV drivers to locate a public charging spot and reserve its use in advance by developing a communication and messaging standard to permit them to universally locate and reserve a public charging spot.

• Offline access control at charging stations. It would be beneficial to standardize offline access control at charging stations where a vehicle or driver may be denied access to charging by developing communication standards for offline access control at charging stations.

NCWM will move forward with the regulation allowing the sale of electricity at public charging station. The section, through its Embedded Meter Business Policy Committee, is committed to working with the NCWM to ensure that regulations allow other business models.

For more information on EVSE, contact Harry Massey. ei

As an industry specialist, Mr. Massey ([email protected]) is responsible for expanding partnerships with manufacturers in support of building codes, developing marketing awareness activities, and identifying future standards.

The Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment/Systems Section (5EV) supports a position that would allow the development of a new market for

electric vehicles.

In a letter to the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), NEMA supported revisions to NIST1 Handbook 130 Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality pertaining to method of sale at public charging stations. NEMA members believe that the sustainable adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) requires the deployment of commercially viable electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

The NEMA language supported multiple business models for providing EV charging services, which, consistent with national energy policies, will increase the availability of convenient charging facilities by promoting more widespread adoption of EVSE. This also puts the EV driver in control of his or her recharging needs.

NCWM supported the sale of electricity based on the quantity of electricity delivered to the customer. NEMA raised issues such as the prohibition that some 40 states do not specifically allow non-utility electricity sale for vehicles and that only 20 percent of charging occurs via public infrastructure.

The services that have formed around recharging an EV are still in their early stages, with market participants offering many different types of recharging services. Innovative companies are providing great value to the EV driver in ways that bear little resemblance to the gasoline station model.

1 National Institute of Standards and Technology

Taking Aim at Public Charging Stationsharry Massey, neMA industry director

evseReady.comAD-7.5x3.indd 1 6/14/2013 3:14:01 PM

mailto:[email protected])


Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the first Grand Prix facility built in the U.S., will host its first Formula 1 race in November. The Austin, Texas, complex

was completed in late 2012. During its construction phase, Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee saw the need for a mass notification system (MNS), a multi-layered emergency notification system used in settings such as sports complexes. The caveat: MNS was not required by current building codes.

In Texas, counties have the authority to adopt a fire code for unincorporated areas when the population is greater than 250,000 or if a county adjoins another county of more than 250,000. Travis County falls into the “over 250,000” category. According to Mr. Lee, the Travis County Commissioners Court adopted a fire code for unincorporated Travis County in 2005 so the county only has building code authority when the building code is referenced in the fire code.

What prompted the decision to implement MSN was the nature of the track—a hilly, twisting, 3.4-mile course with a seating capacity of 120,000 and a pit area with an observation tower that accommodates 100—as well as an amphitheater, medical center, and other buildings on the 1,000-acre site. That’s a lot of people to communicate with in an emergency.

Although installing MNS was not required by current building codes, Mr. Lee was looking at this from a different perspective.

“As a fire prevention agency, we discussed the need for mass notification before the system design started,” he said. “The fire alarm contractor came to us and said they had been designing to the 2010 edition of NFPA 72 on other projects and asked if that was okay for this project. That kind of solved the problem of mass notification for us.”

NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code was used, specifically because of Chapter 24, “Emergency Communication Systems.” Several tests were conducted to

Need for Mass Notification Drives Grand Prix chrissy L. s. george, neMA communications

assure emergency messages could be heard inside and outside of the complex’s buildings. In an emergency, MSN will override the public address (PA) system. Spectators could also receive emergency instructions via message boards, but it is not an automatic feature of the system.

Many scenarios were considered while developing MNS including severe weather, fire, haz-mat releases, active shooter, bomb threat, and plane crash. If one of these events were to occur, MNS could notify people indoors to remain in place but away from glass, while at the same time attendees outdoors could be instructed to seek shelter.

“The COTA facility has a wayfinding system incorporated into the emergency plans,” said Mr. Lee. “People could be instructed to move away from Building X or to move to Parking Area Y.”

Spectators would know that MSN was being utilized because the PA system would go silent. Afterward, a series of alarm sounds would be heard, followed by instructions about the emergency and another series of alarm sounds. If the facility were to experience loss of power, MNS has extensive backup components.

“The system is operable from multiple locations,” said Mr. Lee. “The MNS has a battery backup, which can operate the system at full power for approximately six times longer than required to evacuate the entire site.”

Many spectators visiting COTA may not consider safety standards upon taking their seats, but thanks to Mr. Lee and his team, if an emergency were to occur, these standards will help keep everyone safe. ei

Ms. George ([email protected]), a car enthusiast, is a regular contributor to ei magazine.

Copyright Circuit of the Americas

NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code requires all emergency voice communications to be intelligible. This is a change to the past requirements for just audibility. All areas of the fire-life safety industry are working together to comply with this code requirement. NEMA SB 50-2008 Emergency Communications Audio Intelligibility Applications Guide was written by industry professionals to assist specifiers and authorities having jurisdiction with the concepts and terminology used to enhance intelligibility for emergency voice paging systems.

Daniel P. Finnegan, CFPS, Regulatory Affairs Manager—North America, Siemens Industry, Inc. | [email protected]



Electroindustry News

Released in mid-September, the Master Electrician Reference ™ is an iPhone and iPad app for electricians and electrical professionals providing instant access to reference material, tables, diagrams, images, and graphics.

The app is divided into topics including Ampacity, Distribution Systems, NEMA® Standard Products, and Safety with each topic containing one or more pages of vital information for designers and electricians alike. Most pages have a built-in scientific calculator allowing the user to perform calculations without even leaving the page. Other pages have specialized calculators for common formulas like Ohm’s Law.

The application is available from the App Store for $8.99; go to http://appstore.com/MasterElectricianReference, or www.mastersparky.com for more information.

A quick look inside MER™ shows:

• Simple Circuits—Ohm’s law, series and parallel circuits, capacitance, inductance, impedance, and reactance

• Distributed Systems—Distribution wiring diagrams for 120, 208, 277, and 480 volts, color codes, breaker sizes, light switches and bells diagrams

• Electrical Formulas—Formulas for kVA, kW, and HP

• Color Codes—Color codes for capacitors and resistors

• Motors and Wiring—Standard motor and motor starter sizes, tables of full-load currents, locked-rotor information, overload units, OCPD, nameplate information, synchronous motor speeds, three-phase STAR and DELTA diagrams, three-wire start-stop diagram, motor frame dimensions, and motor enclosure types

• Transformers—KVA ratings for single- and three-phase current, transformer formulas.

• Conductor Properties—Conductor tables, AWG and metric wire sizes, twist-on pressure connectors, and wire combinations.

• Ampacities—Ampacities in raceway, cable, earth, and free air, and derating tables

• Conduit Fill table

• Grounding Sizes—Equipment grounding conductor and grounding electrode conductor

• Metal Boxes—Images and sizes of metal boxes, junction / device boxes, junction / pull boxes

• Voltage Drop calculations

• Dictionary of electrician terms

• Insulation Charts—Table of cable and wire types

• Electrical Symbols

• NEMA®—Plugs and wiring diagrams, enclosure types, standard underground boxes, standard fuse and breaker sizes, standard pull box / junction sizes, standard gutter and wire-ways, standard switchboards,

standard busway, standard busbar ampacity, standard panelboard sizes, and standard disconnect sizes

• Math and Conversions—Formulas for geometry, fractions, temperature conversion, trig tables, unit conversions, metric prefixes, and conversions between inches and millimeters

• Conduit Bending—The guide “The Master Bender Way” on how to bend conduit

• Conduit Weights

• Copper Wire Cost

• Material Raceway Support

• Lighting—Fluorescent, high-intensity discharge, incandescent, LED, and low-pressure sodium

• Torque—Lugs, bolts, and screws, tightening torque

• Dry, Damp, and Wet Locations

• Hazardous Locations

• Wiring Methods

• Safety—Lock-out / tag-out , safety manual, and first aid ei

Ű New App Includes NEMA Technical References

http://appstore.com/MasterElectricianReference

http://appstore.com/MasterElectricianReference

http://www.mastersparky.com



NEMA’s three-year strategic initiative designed to help its members assess the “carbon footprint” of electrical products reached completion earlier this year. Exploration of Carbon Footprint of Electrical Products is available for member use and review on the NEMA website.

This final report:

• describes a novel methodology for identifying the drivers of carbon impacts within a product,

• provides high level guidance for applying the methodology, and

• presents findings from analyses conducted on four “focal products.”

Concern that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may affect global climate trends continues to factor into policy decisions at virtually all levels of government in the U.S. and elsewhere. In an overview of President Obama’s Action Plan for Climate Change, the White House website states resolutely that “Carbon pollution is the biggest driver of climate change.”1 Accurate or not, this position is at the root of market pressures felt by manufacturers in all sectors to address the carbon impacts of their facilities and product lines.

TriAge APProAchWorking with experts from MIT’s Materials Systems Laboratory, NEMA sought in this project to devise a consistent approach that members could use to meet this challenge for electrical products and systems. Based in the techniques of lifecycle analysis, the method features a preliminary “triage” stage wherein a rough, yet comprehensive, lifecycle inventory of materials and processes is generated for the product under investigation. 1 www.whitehouse.gov/share/climate-action-plan

Although not fully specified at this stage, the items in this inventory are then used as inputs to statistical simulations and sensitivity analyses that reveal which lifecycle features have the highest probability of being large contributors to the product’s carbon impact.

These high-probability factors or attributes thus become the prime suspects in reducing the overall uncertainty in the footprint and are assembled into the set of interest (SOI) for the product. The next step is to specify the items in the SOI as rigorously as possible, using guidance and real-world data from manufacturers.

This triage process saves resources by effectively screening out elements of the product’s composition and lifecycle that offer little opportunity for GHG reduction. Instead, it focuses attention on the attributes that contribute the most to carbon emissions, i.e., the principal drivers. These could be materials or production processes, or as in the case of energy-efficient lamps and motors, the actual use of the product.

From the outset, NEMA sought insight and guidance from its member companies to orient the project toward the key questions they faced internally when seeking to address the carbon potential of their products. A seven-member executive working group played a key advisory role while providing input on technical issues and project deliverables.

According to one member of the group, Callan Schoonenberg, sustainability lead for global research and Technology at Eaton Corporation, collaboration is crucial.

“Due to the scale and complexity of sustainability challenges facing our world, it is imperative to collaborate across traditional business boundaries to effectively address these issues with a strong, united approach. We believe that the NEMA Carbon Footprint methodology serves not only as a great tool to do so, but also as a great example and foundation for future efforts to standardize in this space,” she said.

BroAder iMPLicATionsLooking ahead, NEMA will strive to build awareness of the methodology not only within the electro-product industry, but also in government circles and the manufacturing standards community. Briefings are planned for relevant committee staff on Capitol Hill and program offices at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, NEMA’s counterpart organization in China has asked for assistance in adopting the method, noting that a harmonized approach to carbon footprint analysis aligns with the interests of its membership as well.

Interest by the Chinese may foreshadow support for the NEMA method as an international standard for assessing the factors that drive GHG impacts within electrical products and systems. Developing a consensus standard is a lengthy process complicated by significant political and technical hurdles. The NEMA Carbon Footprint Methodology may be the ideal framework for meeting these challenges and achieving global harmonization. ei

Mark A. Kohorst, Senior Manager of Environment, Health, & Safety |

[email protected]

Ű NEMA Carbon Footprint Methodology Available for Application

http://www.nema.org/Policy/Environmental-Stewardship/Pages/Carbon-Footprint.aspx

http://www.nema.org/Policy/Environmental-Stewardship/Pages/Carbon-Footprint.aspx


The Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA) announced the establishment of an Innovation Advisory Council this summer, and has been collaborating with these electrical industry thought leaders on an Innovating for the Future Plan to enhance manufacturer product content available to distributors through the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW).

“These thought leaders bring unique knowledge and skills that complement those of the IDEA Board of Directors and extend the collaborative base of IDEA. The top priority for the council is to guide the enhancement of the product content in the IDW based on what our customers have identified as their most important needs in the growing digital economy,” said IDEA President and CEO Bob Gaylord.

As part of the Innovating for the Future Plan, IDEA is working with the Innovation Advisory Council to determine the best ways to deliver additional product information through the IDW that will enable more efficient bids, sales transactions, and eCommerce capabilities for distributors.

“This work leverages the significant improvements the manufacturers have made over the last year in the richness and completeness of their product marketing content for their distributor partners,” said IDEA Chairman John Burke, who is also president and COO of Kirby Risk Electrical Supply.

Additional rigor was added to the IDW Bands of Excellence as a result of feedback from distributors and end users. The 2013 bands have been tightened from the ranges defined in 2012 to more closely align with the NAED Supplier Scorecards.1 Manufacturers recognized this year provide essential marketing content (spec sheets, attributes, images, descriptions) for 85–100 percent of their stock products.

“The 2013 banding criteria addresses the proliferation of eCommerce websites and associated demand from end users. This marketing content is essential for distributors to stay competitive, and will help us get the right products in front of buyers while they are searching online,” said Jeff Skiles, director of information technology and shared services, Kirby Risk Electrical Supply, and IDEA Innovation Advisory Council Chairman.

The new banding criteria also has more stringent requirements for attribute population than before, and additional rigor will be added to the banding criteria as end user needs evolve. The manufacturers listed below are leading this effort in the most elitecategory—Platinum—which indicates they have provided marketing content for 100 percent of their stock products in the IDW.

IDEA has distributed scorecards to all IDW manufacturers and is ready to help your company improve product data quality so that you too can be recognized in the IDW Bands of Excellence program. IDEA continually updates the list of banded manufacturers as progress is made. If you’re not sure where your company stands, please contact IDEA at [email protected] to find out.

Additional focus areas of the Innovating for the Future Plan include: product cross references (IDEA is asking manufacturers to provide cross references to the IDW so that the information can be made available to their authorized distributors), links to contractor estimating systems (IDEA is partnering with these companies to get IDW data in the hands of buyers), and much more. ei

Amanda Kiely, Marketing Manager, IDEA | [email protected]

Links/Resources:Learn more about the thought leaders on IDEA’s Innovation Advisory Council: www.idea-esolutions.com/about-us/innovation-advisory-council

View all of the manufacturers that are recognized in the IDW Bands of Excellence program: www.idea-esolutions.com/customers/bands- of-excellence

Ű IDEA Innovates for the Future of the Electrical Industry

1 A system developed by the National Association of Electrical Distributors to measure supplier performance

Platinum populated 100% of their stock produces with product marketing content


http://www.idea-esolutions.com/about-us/innovation-advisory-council

http://www.idea-esolutions.com/about-us/innovation-advisory-council

http://www.idea-esolutions.com/customers/bands-of-excellence





In August, the NEMA Task Force on State Code Adoptions, the vehicle that drives the NEMA-wide Strategic Initiative to Preserve the Three-Year Code Adoption Cycle, convened a joint meeting with the Coalition for Current Safety Codes and other stakeholders, including the International Code Council (ICC); National Fire Protection Association; Electrical Safety Foundation International; Independent Electrical Contractors; National Electrical Contractors Association; Underwriters Laboratories; and NEMA members Eaton Corporation, Honeywell Life Safety, Legrand, and Schneider Electric.

The meeting organized major stakeholders who are committed to preserving current safety code adoption

by state and local jurisdictions, identifying respective resources in various states, and beginning a plan to proactively engage in threatened states.

In their opening remarks, NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis and newly appointed ICC CEO Dominic Sims stressed the need to work together to fight efforts across the country aimed at derailing current safety code adoption.

The meeting was run by NEMA Task Force Chair Alan Manche of Schneider Electric and ICC Senior Vice President of Government Relations Sara Yerkes. The group found common ground on a number of states where current code adoption may be threatened, identified the resources each organization can

offer in each of the states, and pledged to support efforts through their membership, affiliations, or companies.

The group plans to host a second face-to-face meeting on October 11 at NEMA’s new conference center. Any NEMA member is welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting. For more information or to confirm your attendance, contact Vince Baclawski or Deana Dennis. ei

Vince Baclawski, Senior Technical Director, Codes and Standards |

[email protected]

Deana M. Dennis, Manager, State Government Relations |

[email protected]

Ű Safeguarding Safety Code Adoption

As head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and governor of New Jersey, the Honorable Christine Todd Whitman wrestled with some of the

most challenging public policy issues confronting government, business, and the scientific community.

In a provocative and informative keynote presentation at NEMA’s 87th annual meeting, Illuminations Weekend: Where Leaders and Ideas Meet (IW), Ms. Whitman will explore environmental and energy challenges facing America and the world today. She will help manufacturers:

• better understand environmental challenges

• understand the role that the government plays in shaping public policy

• more effectively develop strategies

Governor Whitman served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (2001–2003). She was the first woman governor of New Jersey (1994–2001) and president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Since leaving EPA, she serves as president of The Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues. She also co-chairs Clean and Safe Energy

and is a member of the board of directors of the American Security Project.

IW commences on Friday, November 8, with an opening reception and continues all day Saturday, November 9, at The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach, Florida. The deadline to reserve rooms is October 16.

To view conference events and to register, visit www.nema.org/illuminations. ei

Dedra Wilson, Meeting Manager | [email protected]

Ű Illuminations Weekend Keynote Speaker to Explore Environmental, Energy Challenges

http://www.nema.org/illuminations


Code Actions/Standardization Trends

Photo by Paul Molitor

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission and NEMA are teaming up to make sure hurricane and other storm victims are prepared to mitigate the risks associated with alternative power sources in the event of a blackout. In addition to physical damage sustained during severe weather systems, tragedy can strike at a more personal level in the form of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

When severe weather leaves a wake of homes without power, many residents use alternative methods for heat, cooking, and electricity. Any method that involves burning or consumption of coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane or natural gas will emit CO, an odorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas. Charcoal grills, camp stoves or lanterns, and portable generators are common examples.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that annually more than 400 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning and more than 20,000 are injured or suffer illness from CO poisoning. Because the symptoms of CO poisoning at low to moderate concentrations are similar to flu-like symptoms, they often go unchecked, allowing further exposure to the gas and resulting in much more serious conditions.

NEMA’s Field Representatives recently traveled to NEMA headquarters to meet with upper management, industry directors, program managers, and the C&S Subcommittee on the Field Rep Program to discuss opportunities to improve the program and enhance its value to the NEMA membership. Shown here wearing their new sport coats are (from left) Jack Lyons, Northeast ([email protected]); Don Iverson, Midwest ([email protected]); Paul Abernathy, Southern ([email protected]); and Mike Stone, West Coast ([email protected]). ei

Vince Baclawski, Senior Technical Director, Codes and Standards | [email protected]

Symptoms of CO poisoning at low to moderate concentrations:

• headaches

• dizziness

• sleepiness

• nausea and vomiting

• shortness of breath

• disorientation

Symptoms of CO poisoning at high concentrations:

• cognitive impairment

• loss of muscle coordination

• loss of consciousness

• coma

• death

ProTecT yoUrseLF!Because CO is virtually impossible to detect without electronic sensing technology, it is often referred to as the silent killer. One of the most effective ways to protect you and your loved ones is the installation of CO alarms or detectors on every level of your home and in or near every sleeping area. These units should be backed up by battery power so that they work in the event of a blackout.

Ű Height of Hurricane Season Brings Warnings of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Ű NEMA’s Field Representatives Converge on NEMA Headquarters

Ű NEMA SB 7-2013 Addresses Use of CO Detection DevicesThe current revision of NEMA SB 7-2013 Applications Guide for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms and Detectors reflects changes in the 2012 edition of NFPA 720 Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detection and Warning Equipment.

SB 7 covers CO detection devices, including single- and multiple-station CO alarms and system-connected CO detectors and sensors connected to a control unit. It provides guidance on the proper application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing, and maintenance of CO detection devices.

NEMA SB 7-2013 may be downloaded or purchased on the NEMA website.

If you use any power source that might emit CO, be sure to place it outside—preferably 25 feet away from your home—while it is running. ei

Jonathan Stewart, Government Relations Manager |

[email protected]





http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Applications-Guide-for-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarms-and-Detectors.aspx

http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Applications-Guide-for-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarms-and-Detectors.aspx



The evening news anchor reports on a major building fire in your community or wild fires in the West. When these events strike, where do you turn when cleanup and reconstruction begin? Due to the effects of heat and smoke as well as water and other firefighting byproducts on the electrical system, questions will arise during reconstruction as to which electrical products can and cannot be reused.

NEMA has answers.

NEMA holds the secretariat for the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) C29—Insulators for Electric Power Lines.

The current scope for ASC C29 covers specifications including ratings, dimensions for interchangeability, and tests for apparatus and line insulators of all types except those used on communication lines. Also within this scope is a directive to bring the C29 series of standards in harmony with their counterparts in the IEC insulator standards wherever practical.

This committee manages 18 ANSI C29 standards, which fall into:

• Test method/procedure standards ANSI C29.1 Test Methods for Electrical Power Insulators ; and ANSI C29.11 Composite Insulators—Test Methods

• Design and performance standards ANSI C29.2A, C29.2B, C29.3, C29.4, C29.4, C29.5, C29.6, C29.7, C29.8,

Standards development is one of three core competencies of NEMA, along with advocacy and information. NEMA is improving the efficiency of standards development by deploying new software to manage and automate the process.

New software, which will be used by NEMA program managers and

Evaluating Fire- and Heat-Damaged Electrical Equipment, a new publication that is available on the NEMA website, is for suppliers, installers, inspectors, and users of electrical products. It provides information on how to evaluate equipment that has been exposed to heat and fire residue resulting from firefighting activities, or close proximity to a fire. Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment is also available

C29.9, C29.10—wet process porcelain insulators ; and ANSI C29.12, C29.13, C29.17, C29.18, C29.19 (under development)—composite insulators

By using a particular ANSI C29 design/performance standard, a manufacturer can provide an insulator that is physically interchangeable with those supplied by other manufacturers and one that will perform when subjected to tests as specified in the standard and conducted in accordance with relevant test method/procedure standards.

The committee will track the revisions/reaffirmations of all ANSI standards under its jurisdiction. A number of them were recently reaffirmed by the committee.

Current ASC C29 committee activities include revisions on the following wet process porcelain insulator standards: spool type, strain type, low and medium voltage type, high voltage pin type, and

technical committee members who participate in standards development, features an online collaboration portal, an improved email notification system, easier balloting, a comment manager, streamlined ANSI auditing, and an overall greater ease of use for our members. The software is scheduled for deployment by November 1.

on the NEMA website. It is the premier guide for evaluating equipment that has been exposed to water after hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters.

Contact a NEMA Field Representative (page 31) if electrical products are exposed to fire or water. Remember, safety first. ei

Don Iverson, NEMA Midwest Field Representative | [email protected]

high voltage line post type. Discussions on these revisions occurred during the IEEE PES meetings in Vancouver in July. It is expected that revised drafts of these standards will be balloted for approval by the committee this fall.

The committee has worked on these standards: Wet-Process Porcelain and Toughened Glass (Distribution Suspension Type and Transmission Suspension Type) and Composite Insulators (Distribution Line Post Type and Transmission Suspension Type). An ANSI notice of final action was received; published versions will soon be available.

ASC C29 meetings are open and occur twice a year (winter and summer). New members are welcome. Contact Steve Griffith for information. ei

Steve Griffith, PMP, NEMA Smart Grid Industry Director |

[email protected]

More information can be found at http://workspaces.nema.org/SitePages/Standards-Software-Updates.aspx. ei

Lucius Kahng, Manager Information Systems | [email protected]

Ű Publication Addresses Fire- and Heat-Damaged Equipment

Ű Report on ANSI ASC C29 Committee—Insulators for Overhead Lines

Ű New Software Offers Greater Ease of Use

http://www.nema.org/fire-heat-damaged-equipment

http://www.nema.org/fire-heat-damaged-equipment

http://www.nema.org/water-damaged-equipment

http://www.nema.org/water-damaged-equipment



The 2014 National Electrical Code® (NEC) includes articles that reflect new products. Rules on photovoltaic (PV) systems and arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) installation requirements were modified and expanded. Some definitions in Article 100 have changed. Universal changes include the common disconnect lockout requirement. Article 110.25 puts requirements for lockable disconnects in one location. The High Voltage Task Group was formed to review voltage limits. The traditional 600V limit for low voltage used throughout the code increased to 1000V. This change was driven by PV and wind systems that run at levels above 600V.

In Section 210.12(A), requirements for installation of AFCIs were expanded to include kitchen and laundry areas. The rules for outlet branch circuit (OBC) AFCI-type receptacles were modified to include all suitable wiring methods in Chapter 3. Rules for metallic raceway and cable systems and OBC-type receptacles remain the same. According to UL 1699c, special testing for system combination will be required for the use of standard branch circuit overcurrent devices in

XR 28-2013 Supplemental Requirements for User Information and System Function Related to Dose in CT identifies uniform and standardized manufacturer’s information provided to users of computed tomography (CT).

In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised MITA that it would be useful to users if:

• existing equipment-operation information could be reorganized, and

• new equipment-operation information could be created that users could readily understand, access, and apply to reduce possible inadvertent application of unnecessary amounts of radiation.

conjunction with use of OBC-type AFCIs to assure total branch circuit protection. Additional location requirements were added to 210.12(C) for dormitories.

The new Article 393 covers suspended ceiling grid-type power distribution system powering for lighting and other loads that may be in the ceiling. This new wiring method allows for many kinds of equipment to be powered that would normally reside in the ceiling and would be powered by Class 2 or Class 3 power supplies.

Article 728 Fire Resistive Cables Systems covers installation requirements. These complete systems may include conductors, raceways, and other components that are listed when installed together and can achieve a timely survivability for critical circuits under fire conditions. A two-hour fire rating, which is needed to survive evacuations and firefighting conditions, is required for Article 695 Fire Pump Circuits and Article 700 Emergency Circuits.

PV systems continue to emerge as a leader in new technology installations;

XR 28 has been established to collect standardized responses and resolutions to FDA’s 2010 communication to MITA.

HN 1-2013 Manufacturer Disclosure Statement for Medical Device Security consists of the Manufacturer Disclosure Statement for Medical Device Security (MDS2) form and instructions on how to complete it. It gives healthcare providers important information to help them assess the vulnerability and risks associated with protecting private data transmitted or maintained by medical devices and systems.

This is more closely aligned with international standards. Specifically,

Article 690 is continuously being revised to ensure safe installations and operation. The restructuring of Article 690 allows for better usability and organizes scope, general requirements, and installation rules. One significant change in 690.12 addresses the concerns of first responders for the requirement of PV emergency shutdown. Under emergency conditions, output circuits of PV systems located on rooftops will be limited to 80V within ten seconds upon de-energizing of the utility source to the PV system.

Having installation requirements and restrictions of operation in place will assure AHJs and installers that fire pumps (Article 695), emergency systems (Article 700), or essential systems (Article 517) are protected and remain operational. Article 750 Energy Management Systems was accepted as a new article proposed by a Smart Grid Task Force assigned by the NEC Correlating Committee. ei

Jack Lyons, NEMA Northeast Field Representative | [email protected]

MDS2’s provisions have greater congruence with the provisions of IEC 80001-1 supplement, IEC/TR 80001-2-2 Guidance for the communication of medical device security needs, risks and controls.

MDS2 data requested of device manufacturers has been increased to more adequately address the security capabilities of IEC/TR 80001-2-2. Also, MDS2 term definitions have been added or updated to be consistent with definitions used in IEC 80001 when applicable. ei

Richard M. Eaton, MITA Director of Industry Programs |

[email protected]

Ű Few, but Significant Changes Appear in 2014 to National Electrical Code®

Ű New MITA Standards Promote Safety and Security

http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Supplemental-Requirements-for-User-Information-and-System-Function-Related-to-Dose-in-CT.aspx.

http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Manufacturer-Disclosure-Statement-for-Medical-Device-Security.aspx


International Roundup

The conformity assessment climate in Latin America is anything but homogenous. While some countries such as Mexico or Costa Rica are reducing barriers and liberalizing trade, other countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru are implementing more rules and regulations. In an effort to become more globally competitive, Latin America should be more consistent in applying conformity assessment rules and regulations so as not to be seen as a group of bureaucratic and slow third-world countries, but as an economically aggressive block that applies international rules, guides, and standards equally and homogeneously.

ArgenTinAIn Argentina, ostensibly as a result of deep economic pressures (e.g., 30 percent annual inflation, a very low industrial production rate, and an economy based chiefly on soybean exports), the government issued a new rule to discourage imports, adding more reviews to an already bureaucratic importing process. It makes compliance of electrical goods to Resolution 92/98 a challenging endeavor. For example, if a company has an electrical product that is tested and proven to be in compliance with the regulation, additional local “reduced testing” is needed before certificates of compliance can be released. This represents an average of 45 to 90 days of additional delays for companies to import a product.

BrAziLEver since Brazil’s member body to the IECEE CB Scheme was temporarily suspended, everything associated with conformity assessment appeared to have gone backward. Although Brazil is no longer the energetic economy it used to be, INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia), the regulator of electrical products, is determined to implement their Plano

Quadrennial, a long list of topics to regulate in the next four years. This initiative will bring work for certifiers in Brazil but more pain for manufacturers and importers who already complain about excessively strict rules. Local testing or recognition of only ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) accredited labs and market surveillance with full retesting every year are examples of these burdens. INMETRO plans to regulate more than 400 new products, bringing more portarias in the next few years.

chiLeChile’s electrical regulator Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles is increasing the number of regulations on electrical products based mainly on international standards. That said, if a company already has a product that complies with a relevant IEC standard, it is a slow and frustrating procedure to get the conformity assessment certificate that was issued abroad recognized by the Chilean government. The company must officially legalize the existing certificates and technical data through the relevant consulate or embassy, the issuing certification body must be accredited by a member of the international accreditation forum, and there must be a Mutual Recognition Agreement between the issuing laboratory and a Chilean lab.

Finally, a local certification body must issue its own certificate based on the one issued abroad..

coLoMBiAColombia represents what a good conformity assessment scheme should do to grow competitiveness and slowly bring about rules that support industry growth—not so many rules that discourage trade, but not so few that the result is a market with unsafe products. Such is the case of RETIE and RETILAP (Technical Regulations for Electrical Installations Equipment and Public Lighting Equipment, respectively) that allow various certification types and recognition depending on the needs of the manufacturers and importers.

PerU Peru, which is mainly focused on mining, is slowly developing a conformity assessment scheme for electrical products. Recently, the Peruvian congress issued an initiative that specifies safety in most electrical products. The document is a first approach that others can follow in requiring certifications when placing electrical products in the Peruvian market. It’s a good start. ei

Cesar E. Silva, CEO, Avlix International |

[email protected]

Ű Latin America Shows Divergence in Conformity Assessment Rules

Next Month: NEMA Holds Key Meetings in Honduras



International Roundup

Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to fostering Sino-American cooperation to facilitate trade, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will conduct Phase III of the successful U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) initiative, the U.S.-China Standards and Conformity Assessment Cooperation Program. USTDA helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies.

Under the initiative, ANSI will organize 20 seminars and workshops over the next three years, covering a topics related

to standards, conformity assessment programs, and technical regulations that impact U.S. and Chinese industry.

The U.S.–China Standards and Conformity Assessment Cooperation Program has provided a vehicle for U.S. and Chinese industry partners to address standards-related issues since 2006, with NEMA providing support for the first two phases of work.

“Opportunities for open dialogue between the U.S. and China are critical to facilitating smoother market access for global companies and encouraging industry participation in standardization

activities,” said ANSI President and CEO S. Joe Bhatia. “ANSI is honored to continue our working relationship with USTDA on this important initiative.”

Topics for the events will be selected in coordination with relevant industry associations. Interested organizations are encouraged to contact Leslie McDermott, ANSI senior manager for international development, at [email protected]. ei

Gene Eckhart, Senior Director for International Operations |

[email protected]

Ű ANSI to Conduct U.S.–China Standards and Conformity Assessment Program

ArabicGerman French

Chinese

CzechDutch

GreekItalian

JapaneseKorean

Polish

Portuguese

Norwegian

RussianSpanish

SwedishVietnamese

Hebrew

RJG Translations can help you reach

your target audience with responsible,

accurate translations.

We deliver high-quality technical document

translations in all the world's major

languages.

RJG Translations can help you reach

your target audience with responsible,

accurate translations.

We deliver high-quality technical document

translations in all the world's major

languages.www.rjgtranslations.com

Quality Translations by Real People

We use real people, not software.Our experienced team of native speakers is highly specialized and includes experts in the medical imaging, electrical engineering, legal, and marketing �elds.

That means you can rely on us for all your translation needs — from legal patents and marketing materials to �nal IFUs and manufacturing design specs. Whatever the project, you can trust your most important translation projects to us.

We deliver on time, on budget, every time.

We help you communicate with the world.Call us today at 412-901-3162 or email us at [email protected] discuss your translation needs.



Economic Spotlight

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced in August that NEMA was chosen to receive a Market Development Cooperation Program (MDCP) award to improve market access for Smart Grid electrical products in Brazil.

Despite the recent slowdown, Brazil’s economy has grown strongly in the last decade. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), GDP grew an average of 4.2 percent from 2008 to 2011 in Brazil. The IMF forecasts that the Brazilian economy will continue to grow at or around three percent over the next few years. Because of this marked growth, energy consumption in Brazil has increased as well. Electric power consumption per capita rose more than 18 percent between 2005 and 2010 according to the World Bank.

This growth, however, has not come without challenges. Technical and non-technical losses are rampant in the aging Brazilian electrical grid and

costly, amounting to $5 billion per year. Grid modernization is essential as Brazil continues to grow in the coming years.

NEMA will receive a $195,840 financial assistance award in support of a project to increase exports and improve market access of NEMA members’ products used in the development of smart electrical grids in Brazil. The project, developed with input from the NEMA Smart Grid Council, began October 1 and will run through September 2016. The award creates a partnership between NEMA and the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration with the following project objectives:

• Improve market access by providing a clear understanding of the need for interoperable standards to the Brazilian electrotechnical community.

• Provide NEMA member companies an understanding of how to do business in Brazil.

• Grow the market for NEMA members by compiling a buyer’s guide of members’ Smart Grid products and disseminate to all Brazilian utilities.

• Educate federal and state regulators in Brazil on the benefits of implementing Smart Grid technology.

• Increase the Brazilian government’s commitment to grid modernization by creating and delivering a return-on-investment model to decision makers that shows clear benefits to the public.

• Identify favorable federal legislation through Brazilian stakeholders.

• Participate in ongoing U.S.–Brazil Strategic Energy Dialogue and U.S.–Brazil Commercial Dialogue.

This is the sixth MDCP award to NEMA from the Department of Commerce over the past decade. The awards have supported our efforts to open offices in Mexico, Brazil, and China; promote members’ products in Latin America; promote collaboration on Smart Grid technology between Mexico and Canada to ensure interoperability; and collaborate on the harmonization of federal registration of medical imaging products in China and Brazil. ei

Tana Farrington, International Economist | [email protected]

Ű NEMA Wins U.S. Department of Commerce Award to Promote Smart Grid Market Access in Brazil

Electric power consumption per captial

GDP per capita

Brazil’s Economic and Electric Power Consumption Growth, 2001-2010

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

kWh

per c

apita

curr

ent U

S$

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

20092010

Economic SpotlightNovember

Coming in Ű Think Standards Professionals, Think Rock Stars

The proliferation of renewable energy technology and distributed generation is driving changes in distribution and transmission systems. While the first infusion of money to create a smarter grid was focused on smart meters, it’s time to expand our view into distribution automation.

It isn’t too farfetched to think of distribution automation as a teenager. It has gone through its infancy and has learned to walk, talk, and even talk back. In the November issue of electroindustry, we’ll chart the growth of transmission and distribution through the monitoring, control, security, and communication of the devices and equipment associated with distribution of electrical power.

Statement of OwnershipStatement of ownership, management, and circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)1. Publication title: electroindustry. 2. Publication number: 000-9669. 3. Filing date: 9/16/2013. 4. Issue frequency: monthly. 5. Number of issues published annually: 12. 6. Annual subscription price: $0. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209-3811. Contact person: Pat Walsh, 703-841-3256. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209-3811. 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor: Publisher: National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Paul A. Molitor, Assistant Vice President; Editor & Managing Editor: Pat Walsh. 10. Owner: National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900, Rosslyn, VA 22209-3811. 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none. 12. Tax status: The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during preceding 12 months. 13. Publication tile: electroindustry. 14. Issue date for circulation data below: August 2013.

15. Extent and nature of circulation, average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months:A. total number of copies: 5,308. B. legitimate paid and/or requested distribution (1) outside county paid/requested mail subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 4,912. (2) in-county paid/requested mail subscriptions,

0. (3) sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other paid or requested distribution outside USPS: 0. (4) Requested copies distributed by other mail classes through the USPS:84. C. total paid and/or requested circulation: 4,996. D. nonrequested distribution: 0. E. total nonrequested distribution: 0. F. total distribution: 4,996. G. Copies not distributed: 312. H. Total: 5,308. I. Percent paid and/or requested: 100%.

No. copies of single issue nearest to filing date.A. total number of copies: 5,300. B. legitimate paid and/or requested distribution (1) outside county paid/requested mail subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 4,959. (2) in-county paid/requested mail subscriptions, 0. (3) sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other paid or requested distribution outside USPS: 0. (4) Requested copies distributed by other mail classes through the USPS:89. C. total paid and/or requested circulation, 5,048. D. nonrequested distribution: 0. E. total nonrequested distribution: 0. F. total distribution: 5,048. G. Copies not distributed: 252. H. Total: 5,300. I. Percent paid and/or requested: 100%.

16. Publication of statement of ownership will be printed in the October 2013 issue of this publication.

17. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager, or owner, Paul A. Molitor, Assistant Vice President. Date, September 16, 2013. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested in the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

sTock ArT crediTCover, 1, 8 ©iStockphoto.com/AF-studio14 urfin/shutterstock.com

24 ©iStockphoto.com/kirstypargeter22 ©iStockphoto.com/cornishman

When a rock star steps on stage, he basks in the cheers of thousands. So, too, should standards professionals. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that standards and conformity assessment affect more than 80 percent of global commodity trade. Related activities lead to lower costs for companies by decreasing redundancy, minimizing errors, and reducing time to market.

Those who participate in standardization efforts have a direct impact on the requirements, recommendations, and test methodologies that are included in standards. Excuses for not investing resources in the development of standards and conformity assessment tools include travel costs or perceived loss of productivity. Yet organizations that invest in standards development

are able to streamline processes, trim costs, and earn and maintain market access. Direct participation in standards development allows companies to learn and understand requirements before they are published and have a voice in those requirements during the process. These benefits should have everyone in the industry thanking standards professionals for their contributions.

While they may not sing a catchy tune, standards professionals develop the recommendations, requirements, and test methodologies that ensure interoperability, performance, and safety of products and systems. ei

Megan A. Hayes, Program Manager, Lighting Systems Division |

[email protected]

One Testing Program.Less Time.Lower Cost.

We Make ENERGY STAR® and Safety Testing a Single, Seamlessly Effi cient Process

Third-party certifi cation and verifi cation are now

ENERGY STAR requirements. CSA Group has earned

EPA recognition as an ENERGY STAR Testing Facility and

Certifi cation Body. That means today we can meet all of

your product safety and energy effi ciency testing needs

with a single, seamlessly effi cient testing program that

saves you time and money.

Look to CSA Group to meet ENERGY STAR requirements

for a wide range of products including:

• Household Appliances

• Fuel Burning and Electrical Appliances

• Commercial Food Equipment

• Information Technology

• Consumer Electronics

• Lighting Products

• HVAC Equipment

• Much More!

If you prefer to perform testing using your own testing

laboratory, we can qualify your lab facilities under our

EPA accepted, Witnessed or Supervised Manufacturers’

Testing Laboratory programs, then verify your test results

and submit them to the EPA.

Contact us today and learn how much time and

money a combined safety and energy effi ciency

testing program with CSA Group can save you.

1-866-463-1785 [email protected]

Lighting products • Gas & electric appliances • Motors & generators • Solar energy equipment • Electronics & electrical equipment

www.csagroup.org

NORTH AMERICA • EUROPE • ASIA

the association of electrical equipment and medical ... pdf/ei_oct13.pdf · n industry feedback...

Documents