Standards Development Process
All ULC Standards' standards are developed by Technical Committees made up of a balance of producers, users, regulators and general interests, selected on representing major interests across Canada.
ULC develops and/or adopts the following types of Standards:
a) National Standards of Canada;
b) ULC Standards;
c) ISO or IEC adoptions; and
d) Bi-national standards
Three main steps are taken before a Standard is designated as a ULC Standards standard or as a National Standard of Canada:
1. ULC Standards technical committees must ballot on the requirements of the Standard. A successful ballot requires at least two-thirds majority of votes cast in favour or 50% plus 1 (simple majority) of the members who are eligible to vote, whichever is greater. Negative votes without comments and abstentions are considered not cast.
2. The Standard is then subjected to a second-level balloting by the Standards Review Council to ensure all the accredited standards development procedures of ULC Standards, the requirements of the Standards Council of Canada Document CAN-P-1 and, in addition, for National Standards of Canada that the criteria in the Standards Council of Canada Document CAN-P-2 are met. A two-thirds majority of the Standards Review Council is required for approval.
3. On receipt of successful ballots by both the ULC Standards technical committee and the Standards Review Council, the final stage is as follows:
a) Publication as a ULC Standards' standard; or
b) Formal request to the Standards Council of Canada for approval as a National Standard of Canada.
Reaffirmation of existing Standards is accomplished at least every five years, or in the case of an identical adoption of an IEC standard, in accordance with the IEC maintenance cycle.
