Designing to the code

While product safety standards alone can be used for testing products, and understanding of the various national electrical codes can help improve the acceptance of a product in a number of countries. By studying the electrical codes, we can learn the origins and rationales behind many of the clauses in national product standards. The electrical codes will also give us insight into the national deviations for many international standards. Issues such as cord types, cord sizes, overcurrent protection and motor protection are often derived from electrical codes, and understanding these codes will help improve the chances of a product passing the required tests for different countries and regions.