New Zealand's largest solar subdivision to be built in Canterbury

Issue 36 – March 2012

Maxim Projects Ltd, one of Canterbury's developers leading the rebuilding of Christchurch, recently announced a new partnership with Meridian Energy and SolarCity to build New Zealand's largest subdivision using solar energy. 'Homeowners will see massive benefits of these new solar systems, as they will provide at least one quarter of the power needed to run their homes,' says Andrew Booth, SolarCity's Chief Executive Officer. 'The systems will also allow power to be fed back into the grid, further reducing the daily running of their properties.'

Amended regulations for caravans

Issue 36 – March 2012

In November 2011, changes came into force to both the gas and electricity regulations that have a bearing on the recreation vehicle (RV) industry (caravans, motorhomes, boats, and so on).

Standards New Zealand hosts EL-002 meeting

Issue 36 – March 2012

Standards New Zealand hosted the 149th meeting of the EL-002 committee in Wellington from 22 to 23 February 2012. EL-002 is a joint Australian and New Zealand Standards committee that prepares Standards for the safety of electrical equipment, appliances, and small power transformers, while in use with people, livestock, and the environment.

Update on certification of gas and electrical work

Issue 36 – March 2012

Safe gas and electrical installation work relies on competent people who are capable of both carrying out work safely and producing safe results.

Statutory declarations for safety management systems

Issue 36 – March 2012

Regulation 53 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 for safety management systems requires that operators of safety management systems (SMSs) must make, and send to the Secretary, a statutory declaration that confirms that the operator's SMS has a current audit certificate. The first such statutory declaration must be submitted within 6 months of the first audit of the SMS.

ISO 50001 energy management Standard – adopted as European Standard

Issue 36 – March 2012

There is growing support for energy efficiency to bolster emissions reduction efforts. Energy security is a priority and European member states recently agreed to adopt the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO's) Standard for energy management, ISO 50001:2011, as the European Standard for energy management systems. The publication of EN ISO 50001 will replace the existing European Standard, EN 16001:2009, to be withdrawn at the end of April 2012.

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Clean renewable world energy

Issue 36 – March 2012

Since the International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC's) Technical committee (TC) 4, 'Hydraulic turbines', was set up in 1913, the world's population has multiplied by a factor of 4 – now over the 7 billion mark. Almost a third of the world's population still has no access to basic electricity and world estimates are that current levels of electricity consumption will double by 2030, mainly led by developing countries. Demand for clean renewable energy and proper management of water resources is higher than ever, owing to an increased awareness of global pollution and the need to better integrate and optimise new and existing energy sources.

Computing power everywhere

Issue 36 – March 2012

Today the lines between computing, entertainment, and home appliances are blurring. All of them are smart, networked, and interconnected. A smart home features highly advanced automatic systems for lighting, temperature control, multimedia, security, window and door operations, energy consumption tracking, and many other functions. Its computer system can monitor and even perform many of the tasks that used to necessitate human intervention.

Ever thinner – components and materials reduce in size and increase in power

Issue 36 – March 2012

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas it seemed that the real buzz word for 2012 was 'thin'. While the trend is towards ever smaller components, screens – which are thinning down too – are becoming larger. There's less distinction as to what really constitutes a computer. Telephones can act as tablets that can act as remote controllers that sometimes fit into screens that might be TVs with computing powers. Even the traditional household device now comes equipped with a chip that provides it with intelligence and the ability to connect and communicate – provided it has a screen. The International Electrotechnical Commission's (IEC's) technical committee (TC)110, 'Electronic display devices', covers the essential ratings and characteristics of electronic display devices, providing methods for testing and measuring the many different categories and technologies.

Organic LEDs on the move – new flat panel display technology set to take market by storm

Issue 36 – March 2012

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, a display technology that drew particular attention was organic light emitting diode (OLED). It currently represents only a tiny proportion of flat panels, used mainly in smartphones and tablet computers, but this is set to change dramatically, as it is now ready to compete in the computer and TV markets. A new International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard specifies measuring methods of visual quality and ambient performance for OLED display modules and panels.

The networked home – paving the way for the smart grid

Issue 36 – March 2012

Integrating a myriad networked devices in homes will make daily life more enjoyable and convenient and open up opportunities to manage energy supply and demand sensibly. Work by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), in collaboration with its sister organisations International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in preparing international Standards for networking the home environment will ensure that tomorrow's homes will be smarter.

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NEW AMENDMENTS

Free to download from our website: www.standards.co.nz
Or hard copy available at $32.80+GST (Members), $41.00+GST (Retail)

NEW JOINT STANDARDS

AS/NZS 60079.0:2012 Explosive atmospheres – Part 0: Equipment – General requirements

Specifies additional test requirements for equipment operating outside the standard temperature range, but further additional consideration and additional testing may be required for equipment operating outside the standard atmospheric pressure range and standard oxygen content, particularly with respect to types of protection that depend on quenching of a flame such as 'flameproof enclosure “d”' (IEC 60079-1) or limitation of energy, 'intrinsic safety “i”' (IEC 60079-11). Identical to and reproduced from IEC 60079-0 Ed.6.0 (2011).
Supersedes AS/NZS 60079.0:2008

JOINT STANDARDS WITHDRAWN

• AS/NZS 60079.0:2008 Explosive atmospheres – Equipment – General requirements
  Superseded by AS/NZS 60079.0:2012
• AS/NZS 60079.1.1:2002 Explosive atmospheres – Flameproof enclosure 'd' – Method of test for ascertainment of maximum experimental safe gap
  Superseded by AS/NZS 60079.20.1:2012

DRAFT STANDARDS FOR COMMENT

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

DR AS/NZS CISPR 13 CP Sound and television broadcast receivers and associated equipment – Radio disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement (Revision of AS/NZS CISPR 13:2004)

To specify the generation of electromagnetic energy from sound and television receivers for the reception of broadcast and similar transmissions and from associated equipment. The frequency range covered extends from 9 kHz to 400 GHz.

Public comment on this draft Standard closes on 11 April 2012.

DR AS/NZS 3001 AMD 1 CP Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 3001:2008 Electrical installations – Transportable structures and vehicles including their site supplies