United States National Committee of International Electrotechnical Commission (USNC/IEC)

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The U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (USNC/IEC) serves as the focal point for U.S. parties who are interested in the development, promulgation and use of globally-relevant standards for the electotechnical industry. The Committee is also engaged in the assessment of conformance to standards, undertaking work in areas such as testing, certification and accreditation.

As the United States’ representative to the IEC and many related regional standardization bodies, the USNC/IEC serves as a conduit to the global standards-setting community for technical and policy positions arising in the U.S. and brings issues from the global arena to the U.S. for review, consideration, and response.

The USNC/IEC is a totally integrated committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Institute provides administrative support to the USNC and its nearly 1,400 U.S. managerial, engineering, scientific and professional participants. ANSI also provides the fiduciary framework by which the USNC’s financial obligations are met, including the payment of annual dues to the IEC.

• Mission

The USNC mission is to provide strategy to effectively participate in the development of IEC standards to facilitate international trade for the benefit of the U.S. industry in the fields of all electrotechnologies*, and to provide a framework to the U.S. industry which serves as the focal point, conduit and advocate for U.S. interests in international and regional electrotechnical standards, conformity assessment, and other related matters.

*The IEC charter embraces all electrotechnolgies including electronics, magnetics and electromagnetics, electroacoustics, multimedia, telecommunication, and energy production and distribution, as well as associated disciplines such as terminology and symbols, electromagnetic compatibility, measurement and performance, dependability, design and development, safety and the environment.

For the purpose of the USNC/IEC as defined by the ANSI Constitution and Bylaws, please click here (2005 edition – see Section 6.07 (page 14) and Section 6.15 (page 16)).

• History

For a brief history of the USNC/IEC, please click here.

The broad-based USNC/IEC constituency currently includes representatives of academia, consumers, government agencies, manufacturers, professional societies, retailers, testing organizations and trade associations.

Organizations interested in participation in the USNC technical or policy activities described below are invited to contact the USNC/IEC General Secretary

• Technical Position Development

U.S. positions on technical – and certain policy – issues under consideration within the IEC technical committee structure are developed by USNC-approved Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs). TAGs also nominate the experts who will represent the United States in technical committee discussions at IEC meetings.

The USNC participates in almost the entire technical program of the IEC, and administers many key committees and subgroups

A directory of USNC - approved TAGs will be available soon.

• Policy Position Development and Governance

Responsibility for management of policy and strategic issues of the USNC/IEC lies with the USNC/IEC Council, a group that also works to improve the overall effectiveness of the U.S. interface with IEC, its national committees, and the related regional standardization bodies.

Membership in ANSI is required for a seat on member of the USNC/IEC Council; additional fees apply.

USNC/IEC Officers

USNC Members

Please click here for a complete list of USNC/IEC Officers, USNC Members, TAG Administrators, Administrative Secretariats, Organization Members, Honary Life Members, Council Members and Technical Management Committee Members.

IEC Officers

Leadership in the IEC itself currently includes a U.S.-based individual who holds the office of IEC Vice President and Chairman of the IEC Standardization Management Board.

• View the USNC/IEC Organizational Chart
  • The USNC is subject to the oversight of the ANSI Board of Directors.
  • The USNC Council is subject to the oversight of the ANSI International Policy Committee (IPC).

Responsibilities within the USNC/IEC are clearly delineated for both technical and policy activities.

Technical Position Development

U.S. positions on technical – and certain policy – issues under consideration within the IEC technical committee structure are developed by USNC-approved Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs). TAGs also nominate the experts who will represent the United States in technical committee discussions at IEC meetings.

A directory of USNC-approved U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), will be available soon.

Oversight of USNC/IEC TAGs technical committees is the responsibility of the Technical Management Committee. The TMC also develops U.S. participation in technical activities and also represents the interests of the U.S at the IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB).

Policy Position Development and Governance

The responsibilities of the USNC/IEC Council include coordination of U.S. involvement in the IEC and other electrotechnical bodies associated with the IEC, its Council Board, and oversight of its standing committees. It develops annual plans to achieve the USNC strategic objectives, implements these plans, measures successes, and reports progress to the USNC constituency.

The USNC Council coordinates with appropriate ANSI policy committees, standards boards and planning panels, and the ANSI Regional Standing Committees to promote consistency between those international and national activities that fall within the scope of the IEC.

Regional activities in which the USNC/IEC is involved include:

• Strategic Goals and Objectives

The USNC’s strategic objectives may be revised from time to time to reflect changing business factors and revisions to the United States National Standards Strategy and the IEC Masterplan 2000.

For a schedule of upcoming meetings, click here.

NOTE: Please enter either “USNC” or “IEC” in the Key Word search field in the ANSI Online calendar of events.

The USNC Public Document Library contains documents relating to the work of the USNC/IEC and the IEC, including documents relating to committee procedures, guides and forms, governance activities, and international and regional technical activities

Included in this collection are numerous procedures, guides and forms, including the following USNC and ANSI reference documents:

• USNC Statutes and Rules of Procedure (December 2005) – These procedures are the guidelines to the operation of the Committee.
• USNC Council and Technical Management Committee Decision (May 2005) – An informational document containing current practices on a number of subjects and currently in place decisions of the USNC Council and Technical Management Committee (TMC).
• United States Standards Strategy (USSS). The United States Standards Strategy (2005) provides a vision, purpose and common framework that can be used by U.S. stakeholders to achieve their respective standardization goals. The Strategy represents the vision of a broad cross-section of standards stakeholders and reflects the diversity of the U.S. standards system. The USSS also stresses the importance of standardization and focuses on principles and policies. Implementation of the Strategy is the responsibility of all interested parties.
• ANSI Procedures for U.S. Participation in the International Standards Activities of ISO (January 2003) – Appointed USNC Technical Advisory Groups (TAGS) operate in compliance with the “ANSI Criteria for the Development and Coordination of U.S. Positions in the International Standardization Activities of the ISO and IEC” as shown within these procedures.

The USNC/IEC Members Only Document Library contains information available only to registered U.S. contacts. It requires a username and password to use. To access this document library, click here .

Included in this collection are the following documents:

• USNC Directory Part #1 – A Directory that lists the core of the USNC constituencies including the USNC Council, TMC, Technical Advisors/Deputy Technical Advisors, US TC/SC Chairs and Secretaries, USNC TAG Administrators, etc.
• USNC Directory Part #2 – A listing of U.S. Experts on IEC Working Groups.

For more information about document access, click here.

IEC Reference Documents

• ISO/IEC Directives: Part 1: 2004 (Procedures for the technical work)
• ISO/IEC Directives Part 2: 2004 (Rules for the structure and drafting of International Standards)
• IEC Supplement: 2004 (Procedures specific to IEC)
• For additional information about the International Electrotechnical Commission,
  go to the IEC website (www.iec.ch).
• IEC Statutes and rules of procedure: 2001
• Basic Agreement
• Survival Kit for Chairman
• Survival Kit for Secretaries
• Document for WG Convenors
• Guidance for National Committees on the hosting of Technical Committee Meetings
• Guide on the Use of Information Technology Tools in the IEC

If you are not already a member of ANSI, find out more about the benefits of ANSI membership.

USNC/IEC Management Team

IEC Voting and Comments

IEC Meeting Registration

Appointment of USNC Experts on IEC Working Groups