NEMA and IEC Standards: A Practical Approach

This paper considers the application of and provides comparisons between products and standards of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the International Electrotechnical Commission. Specifically, what each standard consists of, the history of both standards, and where they typically apply will be reviewed. Design, application, and operational issues to consider will be addressed, as well as different drivers for selecting a standard such as cost, lifecycle, equipment and personnel protection, and space requirements. Industry standard requirements and typical expectations based on location, i.e., U.S. or international, will be addressed. Equipment such as motors, contactors, enclosures, and controllers and material such as raceway and wire will be addressed, as well as installation methods. Case studies for each approach will be provided, as well as an example of an approach that implements mixed standards, in order to achieve the most economical overall system cost.