Why use ISO and IEC standards to evaluate and verify safety in the design and manufacturing of control panels.

In the design and manufacture of control panels, WTO member countries are required, under the TBT Agreement, to align their national standards/specifications (such as JIS in Japan) with international standards, ISO/IEC standards. The reason for using ISO/IEC standards is to share an "objective measure of safety" worldwide. Safety measures based on country-specific circumstances and individual experience inevitably lead to oversights and inconsistencies. International standards systematize the "correct answer for risk reduction" based on accident cases and knowledge from around the world. Adherence to these standards makes it possible to prove validity to third parties, directly leading to compliance with legal responsibilities both domestically and internationally, and ensuring product reliability.

WTO (World Trade Organization)It is an international organization that aims to facilitate international trade and formulates various rules to ensure that transactions between member countries are conducted fairly.
TBT Agreement (Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade)This framework requires countries to align their technical standards and specifications with international standards so that they do not become obstacles to trade.

ISO/IEC standards

ISO/IEC standards

International standard

  • ●ISO

    Its official name is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and it is an international standardization organization comprised of representative standardization bodies from various countries. It creates international standards for all industrial fields except electrical and electronic technology (machinery, mining and manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, management, etc.).

    ● IEC

    Its official name is the International Electrotechnical Commission, and it is an international standardization organization that creates and promotes international standards and specifications in the field of electrical and electronic technology.

    Under the Technical Barrier to Trade Agreement (TBT), WTO (World Trade Organization) member states are required to harmonize their national technical standards with international standards. Based on this agreement, each country either accepts the international standards as they are, or develops its own national standards that incorporate its own circumstances as needed.

America

  • ●Features

    • Electrical safety standards are outlined in Subpart S of the Federal Code of Regulations (CFR) Title 29. A related standard is NFPA 70 (NEC). Each state adopts NFPA 70 in its state laws regarding electrical installations, and electrical installations throughout the United States must comply with NFPA 70.
    • Since the NFPA 70 adopted by each state may have different issuance years, it is necessary to check the issuance year of the NFPA 70 adopted by the destination state.
    • While NFPA70 covers the electrical equipment of the entire factory, NFPA79 applies to the electrical equipment within the factory itself.
    • UL508A will be applied to the electrical control panels for factory equipment.
    • UL standards are industry standards, but they are adopted or cited in national standards and have a strong influence within the United States.
    NFPA

    National Fire Protection Association

    UL

    Underwriters Laboratories

Europe

  • ●Features

    • In order to distribute products within the EU, they must comply with the relevant EU directives.
    • The manufacturer must prepare a Declaration of Conformity and take responsibility for ensuring compliance with the directive.
    • By applying the CE marking to the product based on the Declaration of Conformity, it becomes possible to distribute the product within the EU.
    • EU directives are divided into many product categories, including machinery, electrical equipment, EMC, medical devices, and toys.
    • The standard for electrical installations in machinery is EN60204-1, which is a harmonized standard of the Machinery Directive and the Low Voltage Directive.
    Major EU Directives

    - Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) (will be replaced by Machinery Regulation (2023/1230/EU) in 2027)
    • Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU)
    ・EMC Directive (2014/30/EU)

Japan

  • ●Features

    • The national standard is the JIS standard, which is aligned with international standards, but it is only positioned as a technical standard within Japan and does not have any binding force.
    • Risk assessments of equipment conducted under the Industrial Safety and Health Act include safety evaluations related to electrical systems. In this context, JIS B 9960-1 (IEC 60204-1) is generally applied as the safety requirement for electrical equipment.
    • Regarding laws and regulations concerning electrical equipment, there is the "Ministerial Ordinance Establishing Technical Standards for Electrical Equipment," and to complement it, there is the private standard "Internal Wiring Regulations."

Summary

In WTO member countries, national standards are aligned with international standards based on the TBT Agreement. However, not all countries have the same requirements. Please understand the laws and relevant standards for each destination country before making equipment modifications.