IEC e-tech - June 2010 Edition

This month's e-tech focuses on automated buildings and smart homes.

Although the obvious way to conserve electrical energy is to switch off devices, it is not always feasible or practical. Giving a building a brain and a broadband connection allows an intelligent mix of on, off, timers and stand-by, all of which can be controlled remotely.

This edition looks at some of the areas in which International Standards on networked automated housing and buildings are helping reduce consumption and contributing to greater electrical energy efficiency and savings, for example:

• Energy storage for homes in a next-generation microgrid pilot scheme
• Controlling an automated home at distance using a mobile device and smart system architecture
• HES (Home electronic systems) and interconnected devices
• Protection systems in buildings and the work of TC 79
• New edition of popular household safety publication, IEC 60335-1
• Home networks, multimedia gateways and some of the work of TC 100
• Domain management and content sharing. (more)

IEC Global Visions consist of a series of interviews with CEOs of global companies who actively participate in IEC standardization work. These mini-documentaries provide insight into some of the challenges the companies face. They demonstrate how IEC International Standards and CA (Conformity Assessment) help them to address those challenges.

The second video has just been released on-line. It centres on Keith Williams, the President and CEO of UL (Underwriters� Laboratories Inc.), an independent product safety certification organization based in the USA. (more)

During their recent Sector Board 1 meeting, members visited the pilot Smart Grid project on the Japanese island of Miyako-jima, the largest and most populous of all the Miyako Islands, situated 303 km southwest of Naha.

This pilot project, set up in the form of a microgrid aims at identifying the challenges that need to be solved before constructing a next-generation intelligent power transmission and distribution network able to cope with mass input of renewable energies. (more)

How can IEC experts from all over the world gather and work together on technical standards and related projects? This is what Collaboration Tools platform is all about – connecting people and offering an online tool for teamwork.

The IEC has customized a new portal on Collaboration Tools for CIE. It is the first time a partner organization has been given the opportunity to use the IEC's IT tools for carrying out online work. (more)

To protect the value of global brands and defend price points, products have to function safely and as expected by the consumer.

Global competition in electrical and electronic goods is fierce. The need to cut costs and comply with national regulations worldwide represents a major challenge.

Since 1985, IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Testing and Certification for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, has grown to become a truly global CA system. (more)

Repair and overhaul is one sector of activity that doesn’t get much publicity while being essential to the Ex industry.

In today’s world, it is often cheaper to replace a product or a piece of equipment than to have it repaired. Product life cycles are shorter and shorter. If your mobile telephone breaks, you buy a new one. Not so in the Ex industry. (more)

An aircraft engine control system provides a means for a pilot to control and monitor the operation of the aircraft's powerplant. The system allows the engine to perform at maximum efficiency for a given condition. The complexity of the task is proportional to the complexity of the engine.

In 2009, Rolls-Royce Goodrich Engine Control Systems Limited, trading as Aero Engine Controls, was granted its first IECQ ECMP (Electronic Component Management Plan) Certificate. (more)

Linking an intelligent phone to a smart home may be the handiest "conversation" anyone has in a given day. Connecting an intelligent phone to a smart home works just like a PC or TV hooked to the web. Everything is controlled by user software personalized to the individual’s home.

A smart home might allow you to control the digital video recorder, stereo, thermostat and home security system. You might also ring home to activate, for example, the sprinkler system or lighting.

This article looks at some of the IEC International Standards together with technology that is used to control homes intelligently at distance. (more)

The trend for the future is for electrical products with embedded microprocessors to provide systems with sufficient intelligence to be able to communicate with other such products and systems even when multiple protocols are used. Smart metering and energy management systems, providing monitoring and energy management are likely to be the order of the day.

Experts from ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25/WG 1: Home electronic systems, are working to produce International Standards for interconnecting gateways, allowing different pieces of equipment to be connected and provide interoperability. (more)

The IEC community has seen a number of changes in recent weeks:

• New Presidents of National Committees
• Extension of office for TC Chairman. (more)

Evah Oduor, IEC Affiliate Coordinator for Africa, was at the March 2010 meeting of the Southern African Development Community SQAM (Standardization, Quality assurance, Accreditation and Metrology).

Oduor told delegates about the IEC and its Affiliate Country Programme and the unique opportunity it offers developing countries to take an active and cost-free part in International Standards development. (more)

The IEC was saddened to learn at the end of March that Jānis Strīpnieks, President of the Latvian IEC National Committee, had passed away. (more)

A number of systems exist to protect buildings, people and properties from theft, vandalism and malicious acts. Thanks to advances in technology, familiar old alarm systems have been joined by access control systems, CCTV (closed-circuit television), movement detection and intruder and hold-up alarm systems, as well as other means of surveillance.

In order to ensure that all aspects of its work are covered, TC 79: Alarm and electronic security systems, has voted to change its scope. Originally entitled "Alarm systems" when it was created in 1979, with a scope covering alarms and other kinds of alarm and screening system, it was clear that this title and scope did not cover all aspects of the TC's real activities. (more)

May sees the publication of the fifth edition of a popular IEC International Standard.

IEC 60335-1 deals with the safety of all kinds of electrical appliances mainly used in the household, but also in professional areas such as catering, cleaning, hairdressing, retail shops, light industries and farms where the equipment might be used by professionals, but equally well by laymen. IEC 60335-1 also covers battery-operated appliances. It is the work of IEC TC 61: Safety of household and similar electrical appliances. (more)

Digital homes contain many different types of automated devices. Beyond the omnipresent computer and the ubiquitous home entertainment system, they include a number of other types of interoperable, automated devices that can be controlled both digitally and remotely.

In a digital home, household devices and appliances, meters for water, electricity and gas, sensors for various-electrical products, lighting and security systems and health-care equipment devices are integrated in a home network system, essentially a LAN (Local Area Network), which, in turn, exchanges information with outside networks, sharing resources and managing services. (more)

In terms of access to digital content, one way of improving user convenience is to define a concept of "domain", i.e. a group of users, such as in a home or school, with permission to share access to content.

IEC TC 100's Technical Area 8: Multimedia home server systems has just published a new IEC Technical Specification, IEC TS 62579, Multimedia home server systems - Conceptual model for domain management. (more)

IEC International Standards are rarely published without there being a need at some time to make a modification to a technical detail. However, in order to retain a certain stability and to prevent users from having to incessantly update their libraries with new versions, new editions are not issued every time there is a change or a new detail. Instead, the IEC issues amendments.

A new process is being applied to make these modifications more visible in IEC consolidated publications. (more)

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If you have any questions and/or comments, please contact Philippa Martin-King at [email protected].