technical Commission was founded in or architecture, and common data communication protocols. It also 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, with the prime aim of carrying includes application messages to support event and configuration out standardisation work for domestic and commercial electrical management, plus the definitions of a first critical set of managed and electronic equipment. It has over 40 member nations, each objects. In fact the nine documents which make up Release 1 country being represented by a committee which is expected to contain everything a developer needs to build the Forum interface, reflect the views of that country's government establishments, and states requirements which must be met by a system in order to manufacturers, users and educational bodies. be considered conformant. Draft standards are produced from over 80 technical centres and The OSI/NM Forum has also published technical reports (TRs), their related subcommittees. which are guidelines on Forum strategies and activities. Examples are: TR100 - Forum Testing Strategy, which explains the import- ance of conformance testing; TR101 - Conformance Testing Report 22.3.5.2 IEC output and organisation Proforma, which explains how to document results of conformance tests and submit these to the Forum to claim conformance; TR102 IEC standards are of two types: - Modelling Principles for Managed Objects, which provides a set of principles to aid in the design of object classes. 1. Standards covering engineering design aspects, such as the The Forum operates a Showcase programme, which are usually definition of electrical units; the standardisation of symbols shows within International trade exhibitions, where members can used in circuit diagrams; and the nomenclature used. demonstrate products and interoperability. The Forum's user pro- 2. Standards for electrical equipment covering all aspects, such as grammes also include the President's Roundtable, which are work- material used, methods of test, safety, etc. ing sessions where user