How do the NEC and IEC 60364 help provide electrical safety?

Electrical safety requires a combination of standards and enforcement processes that must be carefully integrated so they work together. Two main standards are used to provide electrical safety in facilities: the Internationale Electrical Technical Commission (IEC) system in Europe and the National Electrical Code (NEC). These two systems provide electrical safety when used separately, but using a mix of the two raises many technical issues that are complex and not obvious to most users. This paper examines some of them, showing some similarities and differences while looking at related product issues.