IEC GUIDE 108:2006

IEC GUIDE 108 ®
Edition 2.0 2006-08
GUIDE
GUIDE
Guidelines for ensuring the coherency of IEC publications – Application of
horizontal standards
Lignes directrices pour assurer la cohérence des publications de la CEI –
Application des normes horizontales

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IEC GUIDE 108 ®
Edition 2.0 2006-08
GUIDE
GUIDE
Guidelines for ensuring the coherency of IEC publications – Application of
horizontal standards
Lignes directrices pour assurer la cohérence des publications de la CEI –
Application des normes horizontales

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
F
CODE PRIX
ICS 01.120 ISBN 2-8318-8787-9
– 2 – Guide 108 © IEC:2005
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

1 Scope.5

2 Normative references.5

3 Definitions .5

4 Working procedures.5

4.1 General .5
4.2 Horizontal standards.6
4.3 Product publications .6

Guide 108 © IEC:2006 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
GUIDELINES FOR ENSURING THE COHERENCY

OF IEC PUBLICATIONS –
APPLICATION OF HORIZONTAL STANDARDS

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of

patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This second edition of IEC Guide 108 has been prepared, in accordance with ISO/IEC
Directives, Part 1, Annex A, by the Standardization Management Board (SMB). This is a
mandatory guide in accordance with SMB Decision 136/8.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1994.
The principal changes are an emphasis on horizontal standards, as a means of ensuring
technical coherence in IEC publications, as well as the role of the SMB in designating
horizontal standards.
– 4 – Guide 108 © IEC:2005
The text of this IEC Guide is based on the following documents:

Four months' vote Report on voting

C/1405/DV C/1437/RV
Full information on the voting for the approval of this Guide can be found in the report on voting

indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

Guide 108 © IEC:2006 – 5 –
GUIDELINES FOR ENSURING THE COHERENCY

OF IEC PUBLICATIONS –
APPLICATION OF HORIZONTAL STANDARDS

1 Scope
This guide defines and establishes the relationship between horizontal standards and product

publications. It specifies procedures for the designation of horizontal standards and for their
use.
For safety and EMC standards the principles of this guide are addressed by the specific
technical provisions of IEC Guides 104 and 107 respectively.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of
the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2:2004, Rules for the structure and drafting of International Standards
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this guide, the following definitions apply.
3.1
horizontal standard
standard on fundamental principles, concepts, terminology or technical characteristics, relevant
to a number of technical committees and of crucial importance to ensure the coherence of the
corpus of standardization documents
3.2
product publication
publication covering a specific product or group of related products
NOTE In this guide, the term product includes items such as process, service, installation and combinations

thereof, commonly known as systems.
4 Working procedures
4.1 General
When dealing with subjects relating to horizontal standards, committees shall follow the
provisions of this guide, which is to be used in conjunction with the ISO/IEC Directives.

– 6 – Guide 108 © IEC:2005
4.2 Horizontal standards
New work proposals (NPs) to be developed as horizontal standards are drawn to the attention

of the officers of all other committees and of Advisory Committees, as well as to National

Committees, by the notification processes for documents provided by Central Office. Other

committees should indicate their interest, if any, in the NP, to the secretary of the committee

developing the horizontal standard.

Committees developing a horizontal standard shall make a formal request for the standard

concerned to be designated as such to the Standardization Management Board, as a Question

of Principle, during the enquiry draft stage. The request shall include appropriate justification

for designation as a horizontal standard. The SMB will take a decision based on the
justification and the interest shown by other committees.
The status of each horizontal standard shall be re-evaluated during the maintenance process
and be subject to confirmation by the SMB.
The horizontal nature of such standards shall be indicated in the scope.
NOTE 1 These procedures permit the standard to be developed without additional delay.
NOTE 2 Attention is drawn to the provisions of ISO/IEC Directives:2004, Part 2, 4.4 dealing with coherency of
documents.
The IEC Catalogue shall provide a method for identifying horizontal standards.
4.3 Product publications
4.3.1 Committees developing product publications, dealing with subjects covered by
horizontal standards, shall incorporate the relevant horizontal standard into their own
publication by reference. If necessary, they may specify, in their own publications, additional
details relevant to their product area.
Where, exceptionally, it is not practicable to reference the horizontal standards, committees
should ensure that such parts of horizontal standards as are used are not altered when
introduced into their own publications. In this case, the horizontal standard concerned should
be indicated.
4.3.2 Committees responsible for a product publicatio
...