Comparisons of the IEC and NFPA/ANSI Electrical Standards for Industrial Machines and Equipment

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has issued the second edition of Publication 204-1, Electrical Equipment for Industrial Machines. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Committee 79 recently completed its work on the 1984 edition of the Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery, covering metalworking machine tools, plastics machinery, and mass production industrial equipment. This standard is slated to replace the now dated Joint Industrial Council (JIC) electrical and electronic standards. These two publications will become the predominant standards relating to safety from electrical shock and fire in electrical equipment for industrial machines. Their basic aspects are described and comparisons between the major areas of these publications are drawn.