InfoPower

What the IEC Does and Doesn’t Do The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), né Commission électrotechnique internationale, is an international standards organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, which writes and publishes international standards. IEC standards have been adopted by a majority of nations worldwide. Unlike safety agencies such as UL or VDE, the IEC does not test or certify its IEC 60320 electrical components—the safety agencies do that. While the standards are not codified or enforced by the IEC, the agencies representing countries worldwide—such as those listed above—can demand compliance from manufacturers to meet IEC standards as written. In Europe alone, 80% of European and electronic standards are IEC standards.

Global Passports: Designing electrical systems for use on every continent requires a global interface which IEC 60320 cords and components provide. No longer is it necessary for end users worldwide to reconfigure cord sets once they unbox them from the factory. Instead, the end of the cord set bearing a country-specific plug connects to a wall outlet (mains power); the other end of the cord, bearing an IEC 60320 connector, plugs into an accessory power strip (APS) or a power distribution unit (PDU) via an IEC 60320 inlet on the APS or PDU.

With numerous country-specific configurations of plug and socket patterns being used worldwide, the prospect of exporting overseas may seem daunting. Accessory Power Systems are electrical passports to global markets, offering end users the versatility of connecting to country-specific power by using just one country-specific plug on a cord set, which is rated per the standards of the agency representing that country.

“Made in America,” “Made in the U.S.A.,” are iconic phrases implying craftsmanship, quality, and entrepreneurial spirit on a prolific scale. Prolific production of goods and services demands a robust logistics infrastructure to build and maintain a global presence.