STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

All ULC Standards are developed by Technical Committees made up of a balance of producers, users, inspection authorities and the general public, selected on representing major interests across Canada.

Three main steps are taken before a Standard is designated as a ULC standard or as a National Standard of Canada:

1. ULC technical committees must ballot on the technical 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 submitted to a second-level balloting by the Standards Review Council to ensure all the accredited standards development procedures of ULC, 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 technical committee and the Standards Review Council, the final stage is as follows:

a) Publication as a ULC standard or

b) formal request to the Standards Council of Canada for approval of a National Standard of Canada.

Reaffirmation of existing Standards is accomplished every five years.