A technical standard is an established norm or requirement. It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes and practices.
A technical standard can also be a controlled artifact or similar formal means used for calibration. Reference Standards and certified reference materials have an assigned value by direct comparison with a reference base. A primary standard is usually under the jurisdiction of a national standards body. Secondary, tertiary, check standards and standard materials may be used for reference in a metrology system. A key requirement in this case is (metrological) traceability, an unbroken paper trail of calibrations back to the primary standard.
This article discusses formal technical standards. In contrast, a custom, convention, company product, corporate standard, etc which becomes generally accepted and dominant is often called a de facto standard.
A technical standard may be developed privately or unilaterally, for example by a corporation, regulatory body, military, etc. Standards can also be developed by groups such as trade unions, and trade associations. Standards organizations often have more diverse input and usually develop voluntary standards: these might become mandatory if adopted by a government, business contract, etc.
The standardization process may be by edict or may involve the formal consensus [1] of technical experts.
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The primary types of technical standards are:
Many standards are written as voluntary standards. Interested parties may participate in the development voluntarily and the use of the finished standard is voluntary. The standards organization usually does not have any way to impose their use or to enforce compliance. [2] People and organizations may choose to use or not to use a published voluntary standard.
Some standards are written to be mandatory standards. A defense standard is mandatory in relation to that use: It may be voluntarily referenced by a different organization. A standard written and published by a government regulator is mandatory for that use. (A standard which is enforced by law is sometimes called a de jure standard.) A corporation may write its own standard for its mandatory use.
The use of some voluntary standards may sometimes become mandatory.
When a geographically defined community needs to solve a community-wide coordination problem, it can adopt an existing standard, or produce a new one.
The main geographic levels are:
National/Regional/International standards is one way of overcoming technical barriers in inter-local or inter-regional commerce caused by differences among technical regulations and standards developed independently and separately by each local, local standards organisation, or local company. Technical barriers arise when different groups come together, each with a large user base, doing some well established thing that between them is mutually incompatible. Establishing national/regional/international standards is one way of preventing or overcoming this problem.
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It has been suggested that International standard be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
The existence of a published standard does not imply that it is always useful or correct. For example, if an item complies with a certain standard, there is not necessarily assurance that it is fit for any particular use. The people who use the item or service (engineers, trade unions, etc) or specify it (building codes, government, industry, etc) have the responsibility to consider the available standards, specify the correct one, enforce compliance, and use the item correctly. Validation of suitability is necessary.
Standards often get reviewed, revised and updated. It is critical that the most current version of a published standard be used or referenced. The originator or standard writing body often has the current versions listed on its web site.