NEMA Currents

IECEE-CB Scheme Suspends Brazil for Infringement

Solis, Joel — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:22:00 GMT

The Brazilian Committee of Electricity, Electronics, Lighting and Telecommunication (COBEI) is temporally suspended from the IECEE CB Scheme. The suspension includes Brazil’s national certification bodies—TÜV Rheinland do Brasil Ltda, Division UCIEE and NCC Certificações do Brasil; and associated testing laboratories. In reporting the incident to IECEE Members, the IECEE Executive Secretary, Mr. Pierre de Ruvo, stated that the basis for suspension was for infringement of the IECEE Basic Rules. This is the first instance where the IECEE have suspended an IECEE Member.

The IECEE CB Scheme is an international cooperation between sixty-five national certification bodies with 244 testing laboratories located in fifty participating countries. It is one of two globally recognized schemes based on the principal of mutual recognition of test results for obtaining national safety certification of electrical equipment and components in the participating countries. Participation of the various national certification bodies within the Scheme is based on the principle of mutual recognition (reciprocal acceptance) by its members of test results for obtaining certification or approval at national level.

At the heart of the matter is Brazil’s regulatory authority— the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) which is responsible for accreditation of testing laboratories and certification bodies. It is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Agreement (ILAC MRA) between national accreditation bodies intended to foster the acceptance of calibration certificates and test reports issued by laboratories accredited by them. As a way of further strengthening the ILAC MRA, INMETRO imposed requirements that prevent the acceptance of IECEE CB Test Certificates and associated Test Reports by Brazilian Certification Bodies that are members of the IECEE unless it can be shown that the test results come from a testing laboratory accredited by INMETRO or an Accreditation Body that is a signatory of the ILAC MRA. This requirement is not in line with the requirements of the IECEE which is based on a Peer Assessment System between Members of the IECEE CB Scheme.

Despite their best efforts, negotiations between the IECEE and COBEI failed to produce a resolution that would have enabled national certification bodies in Brazil to accept IECEE CB Test Certificates and Test Results. While the failure has added to the uncertainty surrounding market entry of electrical products into Brazil, for the most part they remain unaffected. The real and unintended harm has come at the expense of Brazilian manufacturers exporting products using the IECEE CB Scheme. The suspension prevents IECEE Members from accepting Test Certificates and Test Reports from Brazil.

What are the driving forces behind expansion of LVDC beyond Data Center Applications?

Gettman, Kenneth — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:37:00 GMT

The ability to directly link between photovoltaics or energy storage mechanisms and direct current (DC) rated utilization equipment is an attractive option to avoid the potential energy losses and heat generation associated with power conversion from DC-to-AC-to-DC. Many pieces of utilization equipment, particularly IT, home electronics and appliances, and office equipment are actually operated by DC supplied from individual power supplies that convert the AC current from the utility or building electrical supply system. Eliminating these "bricks" would result in less clutter and may provide some efficiency improvement in energy utilization. However, there seems to be little movement beyond Data Center applications, and future anticipation for expanded use of Electric Vehicles, despite the potential savings. Perhaps the cost of retrofit does not outweigh the potential benefits and the technology is still young enough that architects and building designers are not yet comfortable for mainstream implementation. So the first question is whether there are any other driving forces that can be tapped to facilitate expanded use of LVDC where it would provide benefits or move LVDC to the forefront where it would be an enabler of power availability? The second question would be what steps can be taken to encourage adoption of LVDC where appropriate and what will it take to implement those steps? It seems that there are numerous applications where LVDC makes sense and will provide benefits to the users and society. The next steps seem to be to facilitate the early adopters to take the plunge for implementation and to generate the experience and expansion of application so that the benefits of LVDC installations can be enabled where ever appropriate. A part of this future work will be NEMA cooperation with EMerge Alliance for the development of application standards and equipment standards as related to the use of dc power in buildings and associated properties.

Standards Harmonization Good for Growth of Solid State Lighting

Hayes, Megan — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:08:00 GMT

Recently, NEMA published SSL 4-2012, SSL Retrofit Lamps: Suggested Minimum Performance Requirements. The purpose of this standard is to provide suggested minimum performance levels for SSL retrofit products. Federal programs such as Energy Star set high performance goals to encourage growth of such products, but do not provide minimum acceptance criteria for products as a whole. Since its publication, NEMA has been approached by several organizations wishing to adopt, in part or in total, the standard for use in their countries or regions.

The retrofit market being the first market introduction for most consumers, it is critical that the products being offered meet a minimum standard for form, fit and function, so as to not disappoint or discourage market acceptance and growth. Dozens, even hundreds of standards exist for illumination technology, and many of these may be applied to SSL if an examination is first made to determine correct application. SSL 4-2012 seeks to call out, tailor and consolidate these performance parameters, either by reference or direct quote.

As jurisdictions around the globe consider adopting minimum performance requirements, it is essential for them to consider what exists elsewhere. To have identical or aligned requirements for each country assists in growing the market, as manufacturers will not be required to design different products for different countries, or to design a product that exceeds minimum performance requirements for one country so that it can meet the minimum performance requirements of another. It is critical that organizations that wish to adopt SSL 4-2012 understand this and attempt to only make changes to the document that are necessary for implementation of it in their country. Conflicting requirements will only serve to further confuse the market for SSL technology, which is already flooded with a glut of standardization efforts that can be confusing and difficult to navigate.

Comparing apples and oranges and energy storage

Franks, Ryan — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:52:00 GMT

As more and more grid energy storage projects are planned, how do you select the best technology for the need, or even begin to report and compare performance? Comparing pumped hydro, compressed air, sodium sulfur batteries, flow batteries, lead acid batteries, lithium ion batteries, flywheels, and capacitors is akin to comparing apples to oranges to pears to kumquats to….you get the point.

Ambiguity in measuring performance in energy storage could result in slowing down adoption of all competing technologies. Thankfully, the DOE, through Pacific Northwest National Lab and Sandia National Labs, is reaching out to interested parties to develop an initial protocol for measuring and reporting the performance of energy storage systems. A finalized document is expected to be completed in September 2012 – an aggressive, but appropriate goal given that of the 40+ (and growing) participating organizations, 30 rated this effort highly important to their operations. Following completion, DOE hopes that the effort will form a basis for more and more consensus standards on energy storage and foster uniform reporting on the performance of projects and technologies.

As the scope, technologies, and applications to be considered come together over the coming weeks, the participating organizations will be meeting at NEMA in early May to discuss the key issues.

DOT Rulemaking Revision Pending for Lithium Batteries

Updyke, Craig — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:04:00 GMT

A new approach to updating U.S. regulations on air shipment of lithium batteries is expected this spring following President Obama’s Feb. 14 signature on legislation authorizing activities of the Federal Aviation Administration and a Feb. 10 agreement at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on new requirements set to take effect on January 1, 2013.

The ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel chose to require all bulk shipments of lithium cells and/or batteries shipped by air to be treated as hazardous materials, but agreed to allow small, low-risk shipments to remain excepted from full regulation. NEMA's and U.S. industry’s presence and voice at the ICAO meeting were critical to retention of this exception for genuinely small consumer and e-commerce type quantities. At the same time, however, the battery industry and battery-consuming industries globally have little more than 9 months to change some shipping practices and to have relevant personnel trained as required under the hazmat shipping rules.

Domestically, Section 828 of the new FAA law contains a NEMA-backed provision essentially requiring DOT agencies to put in place no requirements more stringent than ICAO standards unless special circumstances apply. In addition, the U.S. ban on lithium metal batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft will be retained.

DOT’s current plans include a new regulatory proposal as soon as May. The approach taken in a heavily criticized January 2010 rulemaking proposal should be abandoned. NEMA favors harmonization of U.S. lithium battery shipment regulations with international norms as well as international collaboration on compliance and enforcement.

Public’s Perception of Climate Change

Baclawski, Vince — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:23:00 GMT

If you think that the public’s perception of climate change is influence by access to scientific information or extreme weather events, think again. Research shows that political messaging has a much greater effect.

New NEMA Engineering Bulletin would be a valuable adjunct to photovoltaic (PV) training

Leibowitz, Mike — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:36:00 GMT

Recently, UL in conjunction with several North Central Texas inspection authorities held a one-day training session on photovoltaic and supporting emerging technologies, including panel discussions on electrical requirement. As more of these training sessions are conducted around the country, UL should consider including as a handout, the newly posted NEMA Engineering Bulletin 103, Photovoltaic Wiring Methods.

This Bulletin offers a concise summary of Article 690 wiring methods permitted as alternatives to the general wiring methods in NEC® Chapters 1 through 4. The need for electrical installer education is continual given the changes in the Code and the introduction of new technologies. Engineering Bulletin 103 provides an effective update on wiring options for the growing PV landscape.

Congressional Review Act: Great Idea, Limited Success

Owen, Sarah — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:01:00 GMT

The Congressional Review Act (Public Law 104-121), enacted in 1996 as part of the "Contract with America," allows Congress to review, by means of an expedited legislative process, new federal regulations issued by government agencies. In addition, the law provides a mechanism whereby Congress can overrule a regulation by passage of a joint resolution.

Measures of disapproval cannot be filibustered in the Senate, so they can be cleared with simple majority votes in each chamber of Congress. They are, however, subject to presidential veto, so although several joint resolutions of disapproval have been introduced in the intervening period, only one has been successfully enacted into law: S. J. Res. 6 (Public Law 107-5), which overturned the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Clinton-era rule relating to ergonomics. That resolution was enacted in early 2001, when Republicans held majorities in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the presidency.

Despite the odds, a group of House and Senate Republicans have announced plans to formally challenge a new National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule designed to make it easier to hold union elections once organizers gather enough petitions from workers. The NLRB rule would delay any lawsuits filed by employers challenging the validity of such petitions until a vote has occurred. Critics of the rule argue that it violates employers' free speech rights by limiting the time they have to make their case to workers against unionizing. This comes on the heels of House passage of a measure (HR 3094) last November that would require a waiting period between the filing of petitions and a union election. The NLRB rule also is being challenged in court.

The 112th Congress has hammered the Obama Administration over and over on regulatory overreach, and continues to examine potential reforms to the regulatory process. The Congressional Review Act is a great tool to keep the executive branch in check, but it really only works when you control every branch of government. Unless they retain their House majority, retake control of the Senate, and defeat President Obama in November, the likelihood of Republicans using this tool successfully in overturning the NLRB action is very slim indeed.

What?! There are more than just environmental benefits of electric vehicles?

Skudera, Chrissy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:08:00 GMT

Sure, most of us are aware of the environmental benefits associated with electric vehicles, but do you know about the other advantages of this clean, energy-efficient technology?

Check out NEMA’s latest podcast, “What are the short- and long-term benefits of investing in electric vehicles?” This is the first in a series of electric vehicle (EV) and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) podcasts. I talk with Michael Mahan, Product General Manager of EV Infrastructure at GE Energy’s Industrial Solutions business, about the benefits of EV and EVSE for individuals, fleets, facilities, and military installations. Mr. Mahan also discusses the results of an interesting, consumer-focused GE study about EVs. I think you’ll be surprised with some of the results!

If you’re looking for more information about EVs and their supply equipment, some great sources are the Electric Drive Transportation Association, GE Energy's Industrial Solutions EV webpage, and EVSEready.org.

Expanded Redlined IEC standards a welcome improvement

Leibowitz, Mike — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:11:00 GMT

IEC’s decision to publish more redline versions of its standards – standards that show where changes from the previous release have taken place – should be a very welcome move for users of IEC publications who rely on knowing what amendments have taken place to current editions. Redlining is a much more manageable way to track changes in a standard than having to deal with a separate amendment publication that presents amendments in the form of instructions, such as “replace” this or “delete” that. I hope that IEC will decide to make redline versions a standard practice as more amendments are released.