There are several standards for fuses, including the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and British Standard (BS). Each standard has different ratings for voltage, current, and interrupting capacity. The IEC is the most widely used fuse standard and the standard used by the European Union. The BS standard is used in the UK and other countries that use the metric system. ANSI fuses are typically made with stronger glass that can better withstand high temperatures. In addition, ANSI fuses are required to have a minimum time delay before they fuse, while IEC fuses do not have this requirement. As a result, ANSI fuses are often used in applications where a more gradual shutdown is necessary, such as in electronic equipment. In contrast, IEC fuses are often used in applications where a rapid shutdown is desired, such as in circuit breakers. Fuses are rated according to their ability to break an electrical circuit. This is measured in amperes; the higher the rating, the more amperes a fuse can handle before breaking the circuit.