Wiring Device-Kellems ® Tech-2 General Technical Data www.hubbell.com/wiringdevice-kellems/en Product Standards and Installation Codes The American Boat and Yacht Council Inc. (ABYC) is a not-for-profit membership organization that has been developing and updating the safety standards for boat building and repair for over 50 years. ABYC is actively involved with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is a leader in education for the marine industry, as well as certification programs for marine technicians. ABYC’s membership includes boat builders, boat owners, surveyors, boat yards, insurance companies, law firms, trade associations, marinas, dealerships, government agencies, educational institutions and equipment and accessory manufacturers. Over 400 volunteers donate time, expertise, and research while serving on technical committees, which develop and revise the ABYC standards and technical information reports. We ensure quality and professionalism in each of ABYC’s services. UL LLC, formely Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) A for-profit corporation, operating in two distinct roles, as a certifier and testing facility, and as a developer of safety standards. By its own definition, Underwriters Laboratories defines itself as follows: “Underwriters Laboratories Inc. founded in 1894, is chartered as a not-for-profit organization without capital stock, under the laws of the state of Delaware to establish, maintain, and operate laboratories for the examination and testing of devices, systems and materials to determine their relation to hazards to life and property.” On January 1, 2012, UL moved to a for-profit structure. Separate from product certifications, UL develops consensus safety standards for the U.S. UL evaluates products for paying “clients” and if the product submitted passes the requirements of the UL standard for which it is submitted, a UL “Listing” is granted which allows the manufacturer to use the UL manifest or “Label” on its products. Electrical inspectors or other Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) use UL Listings of products to determine acceptability of electrical installations. It is important to remember that UL is not an approval agency. It approves nothing, but lists a product as meeting minimum standards for safety. The Underwriters “Listing” mark on a product is generally accepted by the public and government agencies as evidence of a “safe” product, not necessarily a “quality” product. CSA Group, formerly Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a not-for-profit membership- based association and performs a function for manufacturers similar to that performed in the USA by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). CSA Standards develops product safety standards for Canada, which parallel UL standards in many aspects but are not always identical. CSA International evaluates products and grants paying clients “Certification” that their products meet CSA Standards. CSA Standards also sponsors the Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code). American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI) as the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) empowers its members and constituents to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment. The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution, and many more. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards – including globally- recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality), ISO 14000 (environmental) and ISO 17025 (laboratory) management systems. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. These serve as a basis for national standardization and as references when drafting international tenders and contracts. Through its members, the IEC promotes international cooperation on all questions of electrotechnical standardization and related matters, such as the assessment of conformity to standards, in the fields of electricity, electronics and related technologies. IEC’s international standards facilitate world trade by removing technical barriers to trade, leading to new markets and economic growth. Put simply, a Standards and codes of many types developed by and for our industry form a vital consideration in the design of our products. The following pages in this section briefly describe the functions of the organizations producing the standards which influence the safety and design of wiring devices.
