What are Norms, what is their purpose and who makes them?

• Norms define standards and greatly simplify domestic and international trade.
• Norms are voluntary agreements and are self-regulatory, made by the industry for itself.
• In Germany, norms regulate up to 80 % of all technical details in manufacturing and the manufacturing process.
• Technical norms define the exact requirements for such things as specific dimensions, weights, tolerance allotments and measurement methods.
• Norms reflect the current standards of technical equipment and the newest results of scientific research, both of which can change. Norms contain mandatory and suggested regulatory guidelines.
• Recently even such things as management systems are being standardized, for example quality control or even regulations regarding acompany´s internal management decisions as to the organization of work procedures.
• Since 1975 the German Institute for Norms (Deutsches Institut für Normung, DIN)is the most prominent standards organization in Germany and is under contract by the federal government.
• The DIN is required to adapt the European norms (DIN EN) . International norms such as ISO are not valid in Germany unless they are accepted by the DIN.
  
  

The European norm commissions
Following stronger European cooperation, 1957 saw the founding of the Commission Européen de Normalisation (European Norms Commission, CEN) and the Comitée Européen de Normalisation Electrotéchnique (European Electrotechnical Norms Committee, CENELEC). Along with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), they set up their headquarters in Brüssels. The national norm organizations of all EU and EFTA countries, including the CzechRepublic have representatives in the CEN.

Uniform technical norms for a harmonious domestic market

The goal of European technical norms is to contribute towards the realization of the basic protection goals of the EU-guidelines for harmonization of the market in Article 100aEWG. It contains construction and equipment requirements, for example machinery guidelines.

The harmonized EU norms, EN, specify the guidelines and contain descriptions of possible technical solutions. Through voluntary enactment of the established norms, a strengthening of the safety levels in all of Europe is supposed to be achieved.

The harmonized Norms are formed and ratified by the European Norms committees as dictated by theEU Commission (Mandates). Norm proposals can also be submitted by private citizens.

European Norms, or EN, are only suggestions, which means that manufacturers are not required by law to adhere to the standards. At the same time, adherence to the guidelines also means that one can assume that basic safety precautions have been met.

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.

Burggrafenstr. 6, 10787 Berlin

Tel.: (030) 26 01-0

Internet: http://www.din.de

Beuth Verlag GmbH

Burggrafenstr. 6, 10787 Berlin

Internet: http://www.beuth.de

Only the Beuth Verlag (Beuth Publishers) in Berlin publishes the DIN Norms. Many cities have DIN information centers where the norms can be viewed and copies may be purchased. Copies of single norms can be costly, but there are many books dealing with the most relevant DIN Norms.

CEN, Commission Européen de Normalisation

Central Secrétariat

36, rue de Stassart, B-1050 Brussels

E-Mail: infodes@cenclcbel.be

Internet: http://www.cenorm.be

CENELEC, Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotéchnique

Internet: http://www.cenelec.be

ETSI, EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute

Internet: http://www.etsi.fr

ISOInternational Organization for Standardization

Central Secretariat

1, rue de Varembé (Case postale 56), CH-1211 Genève 20

Internet: http://www.iso.ch

KAN Kommission Arbeitsschutz und Normung, Geschäftsstelle

Alte Heerstr. 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin

Tel.: (02241) 2 31-03, Fax: (02241) 2 31-34 64

E-Mail: Info@KAN.de

Internet: http://www.kan.de

Important national standards organizations

USA

ANSI - American National Standards Institute.

The ANSI represents the interests of ca. 1400 companies, organizations, government agencies, institutions und international members. As of 1995 there were already 11,500 ANS (American National Standards). www.ansi.org

Frankreich

AFNOR - Association Française de Normalisation

England

BSI - British Standards Institute

Österreich

ÖNORM - Österreichisches Normungsinstitut

The reliability and quality of today’s highly sensitive electronical products is dependent upon an adherence to strict guidelines that protect the components from electrostatic charge. The following are the most important international standards:

DIN EN 61340-5-1 Electrostatics Part 5-1:
Protection of electronic components from electrostatic phenomenona
- General Requirements

DIN EN 61340-5-2 Electrostatics Part t 5-2:
Protection of electronic components from electrostatic phenomena
- Users Guide

DIN IEC 61340-4-1 Electrostatics Part 4-1 Ed.2.0:
Standard testing procedures for special applications
Part 1: Electrostatic behavior of floor surfaces und flooring

DIN EN 61340-4-3 Electrostatics Part 4-3:
Standard testing procedures for special applications
- Footwear

DIN IEC 61340-4-5/CDV Electrostatics Part 4-5:
Standard test methods for specific applications - methods for characterizing the electrostatic protection of footwear and flooring in combination

DIN EN 61340-2-1 Electrostatics Part 2-1:
Measuring procedures for gauging materials and products for their ability to deflect electrostatic charges

DIN EN 61340-2-3l Electrostatics Part 2-3:

Testing procedures to determine resistance and the resistivity of solid plane materials, in order to avoid electrostatic charge.

DIN EN 61340-3-1 Electrostatics Part 3-1:
Procedures for simulating electrostatic charge: Human Body Model (HBM) device test

DIN EN 61340-3-2 Electrostatic Part 3-2:
Procedures for simulating electrostatic charges: Machine Model (MM) device test

ANSI/ESD S20.20-1999 ESD association standard for the Development of an Electrostatic Discharge Control Program for Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts, Assemblies and Equipment (Excluding Electrically Initiated Explosive Devices)