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Standards, Codes & Regulations Research Guide

Help understanding and finding standards, codes and regulations

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Standards vs Codes vs Regulations

Standard: A standard is a document or specification developed by a recognized standard-setting organization. Standards are voluntary guidelines that establish a consistent and accepted approach to processes, products, services, or systems. Unlike codes, compliance with standards is generally not legally mandated, but adherence to standards is often seen as a mark of quality, safety, and best practices.

Code: A code is a set of rules and guidelines established by a recognized authority or government agency. These codes are designed to ensure the safety, integrity, and functionality of buildings, structures, systems, and products.  Codes that have been adopted by a city, state or country must be followed. Codes are legally enforceable, and failure to adhere to the code may result in penalties or restrictions.

Regulation: Regulations can incorporate codes and standards and are mandated by a government body, Compliance to regulations is required by law.

information gathered from nVent, Stevens Institute of Technology and University of Louisville

 

Where Would the World Be Without Standards? 3:09 video

Frequently Asked Questions

 
Where do standards come from?

Professional associations (e.g. ASCE, ASME, IEEE, and SAE), trade organizations, and governments create and produce standards. Standards are produced nationally and internationally. In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates many standards producing organizations.

International standards are produced by organizations such as the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). Engineers frequently encounter standards from other countries such as Germany (DIN), Japan (JIS), or the UK (BSI).

 

What are some different types of standards?
  • Product/design-based standards, which identify specific design or technical characteristics of a product.
  • Performance-based standards, which test products by simulating their performance under actual service conditions.
  • Management system standards, which define and establish an organization’s quality policy and objective.
  • Personnel certification standards, which specify the requirements to be fulfilled by a service provider.

 

Why are standards so expensive?

Standards development organizations rely on the revenues of the sale of standards to fund the standards writing process. This process can be lengthy and expensive. When you pay for a standard, you not only pay for the paper it is printed on, but for the cost of creating the information on the paper. The more specialized the standard, the more time and resources may be required to achieve certification, resulting in a higher cost. (ansi.org)

 

Why are standards so important?

They impact nearly every aspect of our lives. If you're interested in reading more about the importance of standards, take a look at these websites: