Queen's Service Medal – Tom Leong – dedicated supporter of Standards

Issue 29 – July 2011

Standards New Zealand congratulates Tom Leong, who was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in June 2011 for his services to the electrical industry. Tom's hard work and professionalism has benefitted Standards development in the electrical sector for over 4 decades. In 2003 he won a Standards New Zealand Meritorious Award, which recognised his contribution and work on Standards development, and his dedicated support of Standards.

New ISO 50001 energy management Standard impacts the bottom line

Issue 29 – July 2011

The new Energy management systems – Requirements with guidance for use ISO 50001:2011 offers a framework to help organisations to improve energy management and efficiency. Substantial improvements in energy efficiency, with positive financial impacts, were experienced by both a major company and a small business taking part in a pilot programme to test the new ISO 50001. These results were reported at the recent ISO launch of ISO 50001 in Switzerland. ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele told the international audience, 'Energy is no longer a technical issue, but a management issue with an impact on the bottom line and the time to address the issue is now.'

IEC Standards for energy-efficient motors – what do we do until renewables are in place?

Issue 29 – July 2011

In light of the increasing worries about power safety, more and more politicians lobby for the urgent embrace of renewable sources of energy to lower CO² emission levels. But while talks are on-going, concrete commitments are outstanding. Meanwhile regulations are waiting to be put in place that will enable investment into the building of the necessary infrastructures. The question then arises: how do we cope with the increasing need for energy in the meantime? One option is to use less energy, which for some is not an option at all. How about using energy more efficiently then? Not much can be said against that and a lot is in the pipeline and ready to use.

Shock at level of online traders failing basic electrical safety requirements

Issue 29 – July 2011

Energy Safety is concerned at the level of online traders failing to ensure their electrical products are safe – and thinks $33,000 in fines will send a clear message.

All traders, including those using popular online auctions sites, must comply with basic safety rules when selling electrical products, like chargers and plug adaptors.

Ambitious goals – how Hitachi drives business efficiency and sustainability

Issue 29 – July 2011

IEC Global Visions recently interviewed Naoya Takahashi, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi Ltd., a leading global electronics company. Takahashi underlined the need to explore systems to create a more sustainable society. To achieve its ambitious target of reducing 100 million tons of CO² (carbon dioxide) emissions annually, Hitachi globally promotes better use of resources, recycling, and energy conservation throughout its factories and businesses as well as by suppliers. Its active participation in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) helps the company build the standards that it needs to roll out the most efficient technologies globally. The company participates in 29 IEC Technical Committees (TCs) and Subcommittees (SCs).

Standards for intelligent homes – European and Asian perspectives

Issue 29 – July 2011

For consumers, the smart home, with its home networking and home automation systems, is increasingly becoming a focal point. History shows that in the late 1980s the US Consumer Electronic Show (CES) was already demonstrating intelligent home network devices. This year, the leitmotiv at CES was on wireless communication. With the additional need for interoperability and seamless connectivity, it was also clear that manufacturers had finally realised the importance of international Standards. Smart homes are now becoming better connected and offering many incentives to enable remote check-in and full control of energy and resources using dedicated programmable smart home data centres and systems.

Cybersecurity in the Smart Grid

Issue 29 – July 2011

This article was written by Steve Molitor, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Programme Manager. It is summarised from Electroindustry magazine Vol. 16 No. 6 by permission of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

As we add intelligence, communications, and computing power to the electrical grid, we are creating openings for cybersecurity problems. According to a 2010 report on critical infrastructure cybersecurity by McAfee, '... 80% [of survey respondents] had faced a large-scale denial-of-service attack, and 85% had experienced network infiltrations.'¹

NIST and IEC view roadmaps to Smart Grid

Issue 29 – July 2011

This article was written by Scott Choinski, Programme Manager at National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). It is summarised from Electroindustry magazine Vol. 16 No. 6 by permission of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) both recognise that there is an urgent need to establish protocols and Standards for the Smart Grid. Without Standards, there is the potential for technologies developed or implemented with sizable public and private investments to become prematurely obsolete. They could also be implemented without the measures necessary to ensure security.

How and where does low voltage direct current fit into the sustainability puzzle?

Issue 29 – July 2011

This article is summarised from Electroindustry magazine Vol. 16 No. 6 by permission of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

What do photovoltaic systems, LEDs, computer power supplies, and digital data centres have in common? All use or generate low voltage direct current (dc). Applications and sources of this alternative technology are expanding. This is a change from the alternating current (ac) that has been powering the digital age. But what's driving this new energy? Does its use fit with the goals of sustainable energy? Where will this resurrected method be in 5 years? 10? Right now, dc powers everything from small digital personal devices to electric vehicles and buildings that house rows of computer servers. Why is the power that Edison 'built' coming back after decades of dominance by Westinghouse's ac?

NEW PUBLICATIONS

AS/NZS 60079.25:2011 Explosive atmospheres – Part 25: Intrinsically safe electrical systems

Establishes the specific requirements for construction and assessment of intrinsically safe systems, type of protection 'i', for use where Group I, II and III apparatus is required. It modifies but should be read in conjunction with, AS/NZS 60079.0 and AS/NZS 60079.11, in particular.
Supersedes AS/NZS 60079.25:2004

→ Buy this Standard

AS/NZS 60079.29.4:2011 Explosive atmospheres – Part 29.4: Gas detectors– Performance requirements of open path detectors for flammable gases

NEW AMENDMENT

Free to download from our website: www.standards.co.nz
Or hard copy available at $32.00+GST (Members), $40.00+GST (Retail)

Amendment 1:2011 to AS/NZS 60079.17:2009 Explosive atmospheres – Part 17: Electrical installations inspection and maintenance

Amendment 1 applies to the Preface.

→ Buy AS/NZS 60079.17:2009 with Amendment 1 incorporated

JOINT STANDARDS WITHDRAWN

• AS/NZS 3350.2.8:1995 Safety of household and similar electrical appliances – Particular requirements – Shavers, hair clippers and similar appliances
  Superseded by AS/NZS 60335.2.8:2004
• AS/NZS 3350.2.12:1997 Safety of household and similar electrical appliances – Particular requirements – Warming plates and similar appliances
  Superseded by AS/NZS 60335.2.12:2004

DRAFT STANDARDS FOR COMMENT

Free to download from our website: www.standards.co.nz

DR AS/NZS 5033 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays

Sets out general installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) generators. A photovoltaic generator is an array or assembly of arrays that forms an electricity producing subsystem, including d.c. array wiring, electrical protection devices, switching and earthing up to but not including energy storage devices, power conditioners or loads. In grid connected systems the safety requirements of this document are critically dependent on the inverters associated with PV arrays complying with the requirements of IEC 62109-1 and IEC 62109-2. PV generators of less than 240 W, and less than 8A, and less than 50 V open circuit voltage at STC are not covered by this standard.

STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Recessed luminaires – NZ only amendment

Committee: EL-041 – NZ Downlights
Manager: John Kelly
Estimated publication date: July 2011
Comments: The amendment has been completed and is being prepared for publication.

NZS 5761 In-service safety inspection and testing – Second-hand electrical equipment prior to sale, and NZS 5762 In-service safety inspection and testing – Repaired electrical equipment

Committee: EL-036
Manager: John Kelly
Estimated publication date: September 2011
Comments: These two Standards have been released for public comment in Australia, after which the committee will consider any comments received.