The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), founded in 1906, is a non-profit organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as 'electrotechnology'. All IEC international standards are fully consensus-based and represent the needs of key stakeholders of every nation participating in IEC work. IEC standards cover a vast range of technologies from power generation, transmission and distribution to home appliances and office equipment, semiconductors, fibre optics, batteries, solar energy, nanotechnology and marine energy. Other important standards that IEC publishes are radiation protection standards, nuclear plant cyber security standards, hydraulic energy engineering standards, rotating machinery standards and standards for industrial automation systems and standards for cutting tools.
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Millions of devices that contain electronics, and use or produce electricity, rely on IEC International Standards and Conformity Assessment Systems to perform, fit and work safely together. The specific development process makes IEC International Standards unique and gives them broad relevance. IEC’s standards for electricity and its switchgear standards, electrical accessories standards, electronic component assemblies standards and others provide the technical foundation for the all types of organizations irrespective of the size.