How an idea becomes an IEC standard

Gary JohnsonChairman IEC SC45A

kg6un@alumni.calpoly.edu

Caveats• This presentation focuses on:

– Development of International Standards• IEC produces other kinds of standards products but they are

not common in SC45A– The “normal” process

• Rare cases, disapproval, and iteration aren’t described– A broad overview

• Certain details are left out or glossed over• If you want the full story see the ISO/IEC

directives. – http://www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs/

Some Basic Points

Working Group

Members

Working Group

Members

National Committees

National Committees

IEC standards are developed by a collection of National Committees

The National Committees delegate experts participate in the working groupsIn the working groups the delegate’s positions represent their own opinions

The Delegates produce the documents

The National Committees make the decisions

Often the National Committees’ deliberations consider opinions other than those of their Working Group delegates’

National Committee opinions are not always the same as their delegates’

New Work Item Proposal• Input

– An idea• Typical Process

– The idea is discussed within the Working Group– A National Committee identifies a Project Leader– The project leader prepares a New Work Item Proposal*

• Often with the help of a small group– The draft proposal is discussed within the WG– The project leader’s national committee or the SC45A Secretary submits the

proposal• Decision point

– The National Committee either decides to submit to IEC • Output

– A New Work Item Proposal sent to each National Committee along with any comments from the SC officers

• Next step– Review of New Work Item Proposal

*The New Work Item Proposal normally includesa first draft of the proposed standard (at least within 6 months of approval)

Review of New Work Item Proposal

• Input– New Work Item Proposal

• Typical Process– Each member country discusses the proposal and develops:

• A voting position• Comments

• Decision Point– The New Work item Proposal is Approved if

• 50% of P-members vote yes AND• 5 P-members that voted yes name an expert from their country who will

participate in the development• Output

– Approved New Work item Proposal – Vote results– National Committee comments

• Next step (if approved)– Committee Draft

Development of a committee draft• Input

– Approved New Work item Proposal• Typical Process

– The Project Leader refines the working draft with the help of a small team

– The draft is discussed within the Working Group – Repeat– Working drafts are internal to the working group until:

• Decision Point– A working draft is submitted for review as a Committee Draft if:

• The Working Group believes that it is ready for National Committee review &• The SC45A Secretary and Chairman concur

• Output– Committee draft sent to each National Committee

• Next step– Review of Committee Draft

Review of Committee Draft• Input

– Committee Draft• Typical Process

– Each National Committee discusses the Committee Draft and develops comments

• Decision Point– None for this step

• Output– Comments from each National Committee

• Next step– Committee Draft for Vote

Committee draft for vote• Input

– Committee Draft– Comments from each National Committee

• Typical Process– Project leader proposed resolutions where possible– Comments and resolutions are discussed within the Working Group– Secretariat prepares a Compilation of Comments– Secretariat reviews resolutions they are formally sent to each National Committee– A proposed Committee Draft for Vote is prepared– SC45A secretary creates French language version. – National committees may prepare their own translations in parallel

• Decision Point– A Committee Draft for Vote is submitted if:

• The Working Group believes all member country comments have been appropriately addressed AND

• The SC45A Secretary and Chairman concur• Output

– Committee Draft for Vote (both French and English) sent to each National Committee• Next step

– Committee Draft for Vote with National Committee votes and comments

Review of Committee Draft for Vote• Input

– Committee Draft for Vote• Typical Process

– Each National Committee discusses the CDV and develops:• A voting position• Comments

• Decision Point– The Committee Draft for Vote is is Approved if

• 2/3 of P-members vote yes AND• No more than ¼ of all members vote no

• Output– Approved Committee Draft for Vote– Vote results– Comments

• Next step – Final Draft International Standard

Final Draft International Standard• Input

– Approved Committee Draft for Vote– Comments from each National Committee

• Typical Process– Project leader prepares proposed resolutions where possible– Comments and resolutions are discussed within the working group– Secretariat prepares a compilation of the comments on the CDV – Compilation of comments & resolutions are sent to each National Committee– A Final Draft International Standard is prepared– SC45A Secretary updates French language version

– Decision Point– None. Approved CDV goes direct to FDIS once comments are addressed

• Output– Final Draft International Standard sent to each National Committee

• Next step– Final Draft International Standard with National Committee votes and

comments

Review of Final Draft International Standard

• Input– Final Draft International Standard

• Typical Process– Each National Committee discusses the FDIS and develops:

• A voting position• Comments

– Technical comments require a NEGATIVE vote

• Decision Point– The Committee Draft is is Approved if

• 2/3 of P-members vote yes AND• No more than ¼ of all members vote no

• Output– Approved Final Draft International Standard– Comments

• Next step (if approved)– Final International Standard for Publication

International Standard for Publication• Input

– Approved FDIS– Comments from each member country

• Typical Process– Technical comments are retained for consideration during the next revision– SC45A Secretary updates French language version

• Decision point– None. Approved FDIS is finalized and published

• Output– Approved standard for final editing, formatting, and publication by IEC Central

Office

• Next step– Publication!!

• Whew!

Timeline

0 1 2 3 4 5

Comm

ittee

Draft

Comm

ittee

Draft

for V

ote

Final D

raft

Public

ation

Propo

sal &

Wor

king

Draft

Vote and Comm

ent Period

Comm

ent Period

Compil

ed co

mm

ents

&

Obs

erva

tions

Vote and Comm

ent Period

Compil

ed co

mm

ents

&

Obs

erva

tions

Vote Period

Projects not completed in 5 years

are canceled

Projects not completed in 5 years

are canceled

Document Circulation(we have some discretion)

Review Lags(cast in concrete)

Approximate time of SC45A Meetings

The Standards Management Board monitors progress and challenges slow projects

Projects not to CDV in 2 years are

challenged

Projects not to CDV in 2 years are

challenged

years