Comparison of IEC and NEMA requirements to ensure proper specification and design of induction motors & generators for global use

Under today's global market requirements, products may be manufactured in a different country than where they are used, and may thus be manufactured to a different standard than that which is required for its intended use. It is important to understand different requirements in order to determine if the product can be used. Considerable alignment between the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has occurred, and while their standards have shown much convergence, many differences still exist. This paper will include analysis and comparison of International Electrotechnical Commission and North American standards for three phase squirrel cage induction motors 1 horse-power (HP) or .□5 Kilowatt (kW) and higher. Due to space limitations this paper will only be able to cover the most commonly discussed performance requirements. A follow up paper will be proposed to cover the remainder of the IEC vs NEMA comparisons.