IEC Technical Committee 80

CIRM supports the work of IEC Technical Committee 80 in writing testing standards used when type approving Marine Electronics equipment to the requirements of IMO Performance Standards. IEC TC 80 also prepare standards when technical co-operation is needed with non-SOLAS equipment where the expert groups are the same. IEC is the International Electrotechnical Commission based in Geneva, an organisation consisting of many standards bodies around the world with the aim of producing harmonised, Internationally approved standards for electrical and electronic equipment.

Background

Before harmonised International Standards, most companies would have to have their equipment "type approved" by the country of flag state where the equipment was to be used. For UK flag ships, UK "type approval" was required for instance. Some countries would accept other countries cerificates, others would not and often extra testing was required. This led to expensive approvals and a one stop solution was sought.

At the initiative of CIRM, IEC set up a technical committee IEC TC80 to deal with standards for Maritime Navaigation and Radiocommunications Equipmemnt and Systems as required by IMO. This Committee is made up of a number of Countries (currently 20 Participating and 14 Observers). The List is available here.

CIRM also finances the work of a Secretary to TC80 to coordinate the work and ensure that the programmes run to time and that the input to the IEC central office in Geneva is in accordance with the Directives of IEC.

Some background to IEC TC80 and its work is available to members here in an IEC brochure called: TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 80: MARITIME NAVIGATION AND RADIOCOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS

The work of TC80 is planned at a Plenary Meeting held every two years - the last meeting was held in London and the unconfirmed minutes are available to members in document 80/578/RM

A Good Practice Guide is also available explaining how the committees work is done.

This doesn't prevent new work items being started between Plenary Meetings.

IEC TC80 current projects

The current projects and stages are available on the IEC website under the TC 80 dashboard. The key stages which produce draft standards are the CDV (Committee Draft for Voting) and the FDIS (Final Draft International Standard).

Because of the need to have International approval, the CDV goes out for public voting for 5 months where comments and changes may be proposed by the national members, the FDIS stage is a two month process where only minor editorial corrections may be made. The FDIS shopuld be very close to the Final published Standard

Papers are available to members of the committees through the technical cooperation system at IEC which members may join if they are active in a particular group. Any CIRM member who is not involved may obtain copies from the Secretariat, however published International Standards are not available from CIRM and must be bought from IEC or your local standards organisation.

Taking Part

Members of CIRM may take part in this work - either by joining their National Committee - if there is one, or as an Observer through CIRM. Please contact the CIRM Secretaiat on the best way your company can make a contribution.