On Fri, 23 Dec 2016 15:34:53 -0500, Ralph Mowery
wrote:

That's the normal way. Down for on, off for up.

Could be where you are, but in the US (atleast southern US) it is up for
on.

The code does not define up or down with snap switches but it does say
up is on for circuit breakers and unit disconnects that operate up and
down. There is no preference on side to side operation.
This probably came from the code rule about knife switches where it
says gravity shall not tend to move a switch to the on position.