Last edit: 07/11/2026
THE DOUBT: As a machinery manufacturer, you may feel overwhelmed by the many standards referenced when discussing exports to the USA or Canada. This raises a fundamental question: which standards should you follow when designing machinery or a production line for the North American market?
CONSIDERATIONS: In North America, as in Europe, a distinction is made between the fixed electrical installation, also referred to as premises wiring, and the electrical equipment of machinery. Understanding this boundary is essential when identifying the applicable standards.
The main international standard for the electrical equipment of machinery is IEC 60204-1, adopted in Europe as EN 60204-1. The corresponding standards in the USA and Canada are NFPA 79 and CSA C22.2 No. 301, respectively. These standards serve similar purposes, but their requirements are not identical.
For industrial control panels, the principal product standards are UL 508A in the USA and CSA C22.2 No. 286 in Canada. At European and international levels, there is no direct counterpart dedicated exclusively to machinery control panels. IEC 60204-1 addresses the panel as part of the machine’s electrical equipment, while the relevant parts of the IEC 61439 series may also apply, depending on the assembly and its intended use. For example, Parts 1 and 2 address general requirements and power switchgear and controlgear assemblies. Part 6 specifically addresses busbar trunking systems (busways). But, IEC 61439-1 does not apply to Control Panels containing busbars: the reference standard is still IEC 60204-1 and the panel manufacturer may look into IEC 61439-1 for guidance, for example, on bus bar ampacity.
The distinction between machinery and the fixed installation does not mean that NFPA 70—the National Electrical Code—and the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, are irrelevant to machinery. These codes govern installation requirements, including the supply and connection of machinery, and contain provisions relevant to its installation and approval. Their applicability is not determined solely by the size of the machine or production line.
In the European Union, the manufacturer is responsible for defining and documenting the scope of the machinery covered by its conformity assessment and CE marking, in accordance with the applicable legislation. For machinery within the scope of the Machinery Directive, the electrical safety objectives of the Low Voltage Directive apply, but conformity assessment for electrical hazards is governed by the Machinery Directive. CE marking does not remove the need to comply with applicable national requirements for the surrounding fixed installation and the machine’s connection to it.
In the USA and Canada, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) plays a key role in interpreting and enforcing the applicable installation and approval requirements. For large production lines or complex installations, it is therefore advisable to clarify the boundary between machinery wiring and premises wiring early in the project, together with the AHJ and a qualified electrical consultant.
Finally, North American requirements often call for electrical equipment to be approved for its intended use. Depending on the jurisdiction and equipment involved, this may be achieved through product certification to the applicable standards or through an accepted field evaluation procedure. In Canada, CSA SPE-1000 provides a model code for the field evaluation of electrical equipment. Field evaluation is distinct from product certification, and its acceptance depends on the applicable jurisdiction.
CONCLUSIONS: The drawing shown in this page should clarify which standards to use in order to engineer a Machinery Electrical Installation. Please be aware that if your installation falls under the “electrical premises” or “fixed installation” (that judgement is made by the AHJ) you need to follow the prescription of the NEC in USA and the CE Code in Canada.