Viewing the IEC through its Technical Meetings

by Anne O'Neill

In the last issue of the IEEE Standards Bearer we looked at how the International Electrotechnical Commission's business is conducted at IEC governing meetings and who attends them. In this article, we will discuss the IEC's technical meetings.

Technical meetings are probably the area of greatest organizational difference between IEC and IEEE. For readers familiar with the IEEE standards-development process, IEC organizes its work much like IEEE and even uses similar names--Technical Committees and Working Groups. But many of the rules are different.

Since the membership of IEC comprises 49 countries rather than individual professionals, National Committees are key to participation in the process. All appointments, establishment of technical positions on drafts, and copies of the actual draft International Standards are processed through a country's National Committee, which is the actual member of the IEC.

Over the years, IEC has established 99 numbered Technical Committees (TCs). The job of the TCs is to develop standards within their scope as approved by the IEC's governing arm, the Council. TCs organize most of their work within Subcommittees (SCs) and Working Groups (WGs), occasionally appointing task forces and ad hoc committees. The TC or SC actually conducts the voting procedures of the draft International Standard and, unlike the IEEE, often resolves ballot comments without returning a document to the WG.

Delegates to an IEC TC present the national consensus of the country they represent. They are typically briefed by their sponsoring country prior to leaving for a meeting. For those willing to commit the time and expertise, appointment as a national representative provides the privilege of official participation. It would be difficult and unlikely for a technically interested individual simply to hear about the meeting, show up at the location, and be allowed to participate. However, an individual who is interested in attending as an observer may be able to arrange to be invited by the chair through his or her National Committee.

TCs and their SCs typically meet every 18 months. The IEC Central Office in Geneva maintains a central calendar for coordination of dates, and distributes agendas and basic documentation. A host country for an IEC meeting generally provides the meeting site, secretarial staffing, and administrative and social event support. At least two meetings will be held in the US in 1995. TC17 on Switchgear and Controlgear in the Washington, DC, area will be co-located with the IEEE/Power Engineering Society Switch-gear and Substations Committees. TC57 on Telecontrol, Teleprotection, and Associated Telecommunications for Electric Power Systems will meet in Minneapolis. For 1996, funds are being sought to invite TC78 on Tools for Live Working to the US. Hosting a meeting, though a decided responsibility, makes it logistically easier for a host country's technically interested experts to observe and become familiar with the work of the IEC committee.

A TC or SC may set up WGs for specific tasks that are restricted to a limited number of experts. While WG members are appointed by the participating country members of the TC or SC, they participate as individual experts. Their internal draft documents are distributed directly to the members of the group and are not available from the Central Office. IEEE members should volunteer their expertise through their National Committee to serve on an IEC WG. Those who have often come away with a great deal of respect for the expedient fashion in which such a close-knit working group can complete its work.

The Standards Board at IEEE has encouraged working group chairs to show the "Introduction to SPAsystem" video to their committees. The video is provided on an on-loan basis to every working group chair. To borrow a copy of the SPAsystem video, call (908) 562-3800. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.