Straight from the Source: Q&A with our in-house IEC Delegate About the Evolving Standards
The world of technology is constantly evolving, and with it, the standards that shape its development. To stay ahead of the curve, we need to understand the latest trends and innovations. That’s why we’re excited to bring you a special Q&A session with our founder, Endre Surinya, who is a delegate to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Endre will shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and provide valuable insights into the IEC Member’s role in driving innovation.
So, join us as we go “Straight from the Source” and learn about the evolving standards that are powering the world around us.
Frida Kutasi, Interviewer
Introduction
Let’s start by getting to know you a bit better, Endre. Tell us about your role at ADOTT.
As usual, in SME-s there are some role-overlaps at the beginning, but after the first 5 years things crystallise, and I think now I am doing what I enjoy the best: leading a world-class team of dedicated R&D engineers in challenging and innovative projects. We are working on solving technical problems that nobody has yet solved.
When and why did you decide to become an IEC Delegate?
Around 10 years ago, we started something extra innovative, to develop a Windows tablet that would be certified for use in Zone 1 in explosive atmospheres. This was at a time when the biggest battery powered handheld devices approved for this zone were walkie-talkies and some low-performance mobile phones. In that conservative environment, it was very challenging to convince the stakeholders that it is possible to solve the technical challenges where energy, capacitance and inductance built into an equipment must be limited to a very small value (to remain intrinsically safe), and on the other hand, there was power needed to run Windows, Office, SAP and other business software on the same device smoothly. But it was not only an uphill work to get the project financed, and the certificate acquired. It was also a new situation for us to face, where a market surveillance office may question a 3rd party certificate. W successfully defended our project, but with serious time and financial resources invested.
This was the point when we decided that we needed to be part of IEC at least for 2 major reasons:
- To ensure we are well-aware of the different interpretations of the standard, and that our designs follow the most conservative approach to avoid any possible conflicts in the future.
- In order not to diminish our innovative mood by conservative approaches, , we wanted to be part of the committee that maintains the standard for intrinsic safety, to make sure the standard is up to date with the technologies that we want to use in our designs.
Can you explain the benefits of IEC membership for engineers? How does it help to shape the future of technology?
The safety puts a lot of requirements and constraints on the design we are working on. The standards are trying to catch-up with the latest technology developments. As we are working in the frontline of innovation, we must be there where the standards are created – at least the ones that have the major impact on our everyday tasks – which are intrinsic safety and batteries used in explosive environments.
What are the benefits for our current and future customers? Why should they care that ADOTT is an IEC Delegate?
Our customers are already benefiting from the important insights we have for them.
For example, there was a customer who wanted a battery pack in an “Ex d” enclosure. Something that the current standards will allow, but not everyone is aware of works at PTB in Germany or NIOSH in the US, showing how a lithium battery thermal runaway in a flameproof box can be even more dangerous than without any protection. Simply, these boxes are standardized to withstand the pressure of an explosion of hazardous gases inside them, but the pressure released during thermal runaway can be a multitude of that pressure, thus making the “Ex d” enclosure with lithium cells a grenade. The standards will change, and products will have to be recalled from the market. But this takes time, and we are redirecting our customers into different solutions where they don’t need to worry if their battery will be recalled.
IEC Delegate, Membership and Standards
What tasks and responsibilities come with IEC membership?
There are major meetings at least twice a year, where the groups in which we represent our National Committee, are meeting face-to-face to discuss issues related to the standards – or the batteries. The work is sometimes delegated down to Task Groups, which can also meet online between the major sessions.
The documents, decisions, and interpretation sheets, as well as the drafted standard, are then submitted by IEC to National Committees who have the opportunity to comment, accept, or reject these documents. At the national level, we meet only once a year, and since COVID-19, it may often be an online meeting, and we are continuously working jointly via email. Our response is sent back to IEC where the documents get finalised and published.
How are IEC standards developed? Please walk us through the process of creating, reviewing, and updating IEC standards.
Standards exist as they are, and the need for updates emerge regularly. This may happen for different reasons from
- developments in technology or
- other regulations, as well as
- finding issues with the old edition of the standard – either editorial or technical errors.
Minor issues can be handled by publishing an interpretation sheet, while more complex ones would require a corrigendum to the standard. If the required changes are significant and in big number, then a new edition is prepared. It is actually a new revision of a document as we handle it in our company. Now this change can also be simpler, like adding sections, more methods or rules, but it may also be more comprehensive, like it was with the IEC 60079-11:2023 (Edition 7) that was actually built up almost from the ground, by completely restructuring its sections – while making all the efforts to minimize the number of technical changes that would impact the certified equipment that is already out there in the fields. Such a process of rewriting a standard takes many years and a number of rounds between IEC and the NC-s.
How Can You Contribute? As an IEC Member, how can someone participate in this process?
Actually, I am a delegate there. I was delegated by the Hungarian National Committee, which I am a member of. I am not sure about other countries, but in our National Committee, we are participating as company ADOTT Solutions, and I am representing the company. The National Committee then delegates several members from the committee to participate in different groups and maintenance teams within IEC. Each group and team have its own meetings with its own agenda, and the meetings are led by the group’s convenor and co-convenor.
You participated in the recent IEC meeting in the United Kingdom. Can you give us some insight about that meeting to us?
I actually participated on two meetings – one at BSI in London, and one at FM Global, Maidenhead. Both the participation of members and the location provided for the meetings are voluntary and the corporations offer their meeting rooms and other facilities for these meetings on a voluntary basis. The information discussed in these meetings is confidential until the work is published officially.
How long does it typically take to develop and implement a new standard globally? Are there regional variations?
There are simple and few-page-long standards and there are others with hundreds of pages. You can guess: their editing time will be different, but in general, it does take several years until all milestones are circulated to the National Committees, they send their feedback, comments get responded to (e.g. implemented), and the final work is approved.
IEC standards are international in general, but local governments may have additional requirements. According to the ATEX directive, the IEC standard gets harmonised, gets an EN variant, and then gets translated by individual countries – this is how we get our MSZ EN variant. Usually, there are no technical changes to the text of the standard in this process, but this is not a rule, and exceptions exist. You will still find some minor changes in the North American harmonized standards for example, as they need to maintain the integrity of their legacy regulations. There are also countries that will require you to obtain a country specific certificate for your equipment, but during the application, you submit your existing IECEx certificate, they issue the certificate for the particular country – it is just paperwork and the certification fee.
In general, we can say, that if your equipment is designed to be compliant to the IEC standard, then you can get a country level certificate anywhere in the world quite easily.
How long is the previous standard Edition typically considered valid after the new one is introduced?
IEC will allow you to be compliant with the previous edition of the standard, or you may choose to be compliant with the latest edition. The country specific regulations may be different, and for example, under ATEX you must comply with the latest edition – of course, there is a transition period in which companies and notified bodies must verify their certified products for compliance with the new edition.
What is the ticket to the IEC standard’s table? Can you explain the process of becoming an IEC Delegate?
One would need to become a member of the National Committee in their country. They need to check with their NC, what are the requirements for membership. Then they have to apply to be delegated into one or more groups or teams within IEC. If they get approved both by the NC and the IEC, then they are ready to be active members of the committee!
Conclusion of Q&A
As we’ve seen, the world of electrotechnical standards is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape. By staying informed and engaged with organizations like the IEC, you can ensure that your company continues to innovate safely and responsibly.
We’re grateful to have Endre Surinya sharing his valuable insights with our team regularly and for his dedication to shaping the future of technology.
About ADOTT Solutions
ADOTT Solutions is a leading provider of innovative solutions for hazardous environments. As an active member of the IEC, we are committed to driving the development of cutting-edge standards that ensure the safety and reliability of our products.
By partnering with us, you can benefit from our expertise and experience in designing and manufacturing robust and reliable solutions.
