History
CANENA is a volunteer based organization focused on electrotechnical standards harmonization activities within the Americas, reducing the complexity inherent in designing products for multiple markets.
Originally founded in 1992 by the electroindustry manufacturers associations of North America, CANENA was formed out of opportunity resulting from a negotiated trade agreement among nations to foster the harmonization of electrotechnical product standards, conformity assessment test requirements, and electrical codes between the democracies of the Western Hemisphere.
Today, CANENA promotes, encourages and receives participation from leading industry organizations, standards developers, conformity assessment testing laboratories, regulators, and other interested parties from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean Region and Central and South American.
CANENA acts as a facilitator for electrotechnical standards harmonization. It provides a focal point for contacts within each country, information exchange, and a forum in which the technical harmonization committees can function.
While CANENA was initially created by the manufacturers associations of North America, it is a continuing objective that CANENA be open to participation by all industry organizations throughout the Americas, standards developers, conformity assessment testing laboratories, regulators, and other interested parties, and their participation is encouraged in these very important electrotechnical standards harmonization activities.
Product Sector Technical Harmonization Committees are currently functioning in the following product areas:
- Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment
- Automatic Transfer Switches
- Busways
- Electrical Tubing and Sleeving
- Electrical Wire & Cable
- Fuses
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
- Household Appliances
- Industrial Control Equipment
- Lighting Fixtures and Ballasts
- Metal Conduit, Boxes & Fittings
- Metal Cable Tray
- Molded Case Circuit Breakers
- Motors and Generators
- Nonmetallic Conduit
- Outlet and Switch Boxes
- Panelboard and Distribution Boards (including Deadfront Switchboards)
- Pin and Sleeve Type Plugs, Receptacles and Connectors
- Portable Power Tools
- Rotating Machinery
- Switches
- Wiring Devices
What CANENA Does
Since the first tri-national set of harmonized standards was published in the fall of 2000 for the fuse series through voluntary cooperation, CANENA has published more than 70 harmonized standards.
However, CANENA Standardization Activities are not limited to the harmonization or development of standards. They also include conformity assessment, compliance issues, compatibility, interchangeability,
interoperability, installation codes, energy efficiency, intellectual property and other
issues in the broadest definition of standardization.
CANENA provides a forum for harmonization discussions and, upon agreement, the draft harmonized
standards are then processed by the respective standards developer in each country,
in accordance with that SDO’s procedures. Forums like CANENA have become a necessity,
providing critical mass and necessary breadth of technical knowledge and views to support
electrotechnical standards development and maintenance at all levels, nationally, regionally and to
an extent internationally.
CANENA acts as a facilitator for electrotechnical standards harmonization.
It provides a focal point for contacts within each country, information exchange, and a
forum in which the technical harmonization committees can function.
Mission and Objectives
The mission of CANENA is to provide a hemispheric forum for the harmonization of
electrotechnical standards which provides mutual benefit for participating members and the
realization of value and return on investment for electroindustry participants, including
standards developing organizations, conformity assessment testing laboratories and individual
electroindustry product manufacturers.
The vision of CANENA is to become one of the principal organizations for the harmonization of
electrotechnical standards and conformity assessment practices in the Western Hemisphere through
mutual cooperation and communication with other regional and international standardization bodies
that support the electroindustry and its infrastructure in the nations of the Americas.
The objectives of CANENA are to:
- Promote mutual understanding and harmonization of each country’s standards and codes.
- Establish product specific technical committees to address harmonization of electrotechnical standards in the Americas.
- Expand lines of communication on standards and conformity assessment.
- Expand contacts with counterpart trade and conformity assessment organizations.
- Promote participation in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), including the IEC System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment (IECEE),
the IEC System for Certification to Standards to Equipment for use in Explosive
Atmospheres (IECEx) and the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components (IECQ). - Support the harmonization of IEC Standards with harmonized regional standards.
Tim McNeive Leadership Award | PPT
Criteria: Throughout his many years of service in leadership roles within CANENA, including his term as president, Tim McNeive worked tirelessly to promote the benefits of CANENA membership and demonstrated outstanding service and leadership. To honor Tim’s contributions and to show appreciation for the contributions of other hard-working CANENA members, the Executive Committee of CANENA has established the Tim McNeive Leadership Award, which will be given annually to a qualified CANENA member.
This award honors members of CANENA’s THC/THSCs in good standing whose work is fundamental to CANENA. The Award also recognizes exceptional service to the electrical industry through support of CANENA harmonization efforts, demonstrated by understanding and skillfully applying the CANENA process and procedures; effective communication skills; and strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
Nominations: In July/August every year, a call for nominations will be sent to all CANENA members, to all THC/THSC Chairman and Secretaries through CANENA Connects giving detailed information. It is up to the Chairmen and Secretaries to develop criteria that are relevant to their particular THC/THSC. The closing date is March 31st. Nominations must be submitted on the Tim McNeive Leadership Award no later than October 31st of each year.
A maximum of one Award may be granted per THC per year, including its THSCs. The relevant THC Chairman is invited to present the Award at an appropriate occasion. Click here to download form.
Who produces the Standards?
CANENA provides a forum for harmonization discussions and; upon agreement, the draft harmonized standards are then processed by the respective standards developer in each country, in accordance with that SDO’s procedures.
CANENA is not a standards developing organization, i.e., it does not publish “CANENA” standards.” The intellectual property rights to harmonized standards remain the property of each participating standards developer (ANCE, CSA, UL, NEMA, etc.)
There are currently more than 70 organizations and several hundred individuals actively involved in CANENA. In addition to numerous electrotechnical manufacturers, the following organizations are also active participants in the CANENA harmonization activities:
- CANAME – Cámara Nacional de Manufacturas Eléctricas (National Chamber of Electrical Manufacturers)
- EFC – Electro Federation of Canada (formerly EEMAC – Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association of Canada)
- NEMA – National Electrical Manufacturers Association
- Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
- Asociación Nacional de Normalización y Certificación del Sector Electrico (ANCE) (National Association of Standardization and Certification for the Electrical Sector)
- Canadian Standards Association
- Intertek Testing Services, Inc.
- National Fire Protection Association
- Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Membership in CANENA and payment of a nominal annual dues is required for all members of the council and the technical harmonization committees.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
AHAM – Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
AMN – Asociación Mercosur de Normalización
ANCE – Asociación de Normalización y Certificación, A.C.
ANFAD — Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Aparatos Domesticos
ANSI – The American National Standards Institute
AHRI – The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute
CANAME – Camara Nacíonal de Manufacturas Electricas
CANENA – Consejo de Armonización de Normas Electrotecnicas de las Naciones de las Americas (Council for Harmonization of Electrotechnical Standards of the Nations of the Americas)
CENELEC – The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
CNC – Canadian National Committee of the IEC
COPANT – Comisión Panamericana de Normas Téchnicas (Panamerican Commission of Technical Standards)
CSA – Canadian Standards Association
CSA International — Canadian Standards Association International
DGN – Dirección General de Normas
EFC – Electro Federation of Canada
EEMAC – Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers of Canada
ICONTEC – Instítuto Colombiano de Normas Tecnicas Certificación
IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission
INTECO – Instiítuto de Normas Tecnicas de Costa Rica
ITS – Intertek Testing Services
MNC – Mexican National Committee of the IEC
NEMA – National Electrical Manufacturers Association
NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement
SCC – Standards Council of Canada
SDO – Standards Development Organization
TFRC – Task Force on Regional Cooperation
THC – Technical Harmonization Committee
THSC – Technical Harmonization Subcommittee
THWG – Technical Harmonization Working Group
UL – Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
USNC – US National Committee of the IEC
