Technical information

Among the SDOs some bodies of particular importance can be individualised:

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME):

founded in 1880, it is one of the main American engineering

organisations, acting in the mechanical and pressurised

components sector,whose standards often hold international value

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

(IEEE): founded in 1884, it is the standard reference body

for electrical engineering (medium voltage), electronics and

telecommunications,fields where it is a world leader

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA):

founded in 1926, it is the organisation that gathers

manufacturers of electrical and electronic materials in the

USA and it is a powerful industrial lobbyist. Since it was born, the mission has

been both to protect the interests of the member firms and to set up common

building standards to allow for full product interchangeability

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): founded in 1896 with

the duty to keep NEC and sprinkler standards updated, it has grown

year after year to become the most important American organisation in

the field of fire prevention. Besides the original standards there are

many other standards that regulate every standard regarding building,

management and maintenance of civil constructions and industrial plants, to

provide safety against fire. NFPA is also active in the educational field and, with

the NFPA79 standard on “Industrial Control Machinery”, in the field of

machinery safety

In Canada the structure is similar to that in the United States, but with some

differences related to its prolonged permanence within the British domination

and later on, the European dominance. Every single Canadian state accredits the

standards bodies authorised within its territory through the labour ministry and it

recognises the standards.

The co-ordination among the several ministries is guaranteed by

the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), founded in 1964 to

solve commercial and safety problems arising from the lack of

standardisation. SCC is also the reference for the ISO and IEC

international bodies.Among its various activities, SCC also is

devoted to:

■ Accredit of standards bodies, SDOs and recognise their standards like ANSI

■ Accredit National Recognised Testing Laboratory (NRTL), that is,

laboratories authorised to certify the component and materials conformity to

the standards in force

■ Accredit inspection bodies

Also in Canada there is an active organisation that gathers electric and electrical

material manufacturers, Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Advisory

Council (EEMAC), whose mission is similar to NEMA's.

INTRODUCTION TO NORTH AMERICAN STANDARDS