Standards are agreed ways of doing things. They may specify the exact physical and/or electronic dimensions and behaviors of something, such as standards for USB-C connections or the Bluetooth communication standard. Building codes give requirements, including materials, dimensions, and methods, for erecting safe buildings. Other standards may specify correct procedures for an activity.
Sources of Standards:
Standards are created by many different groups. Companies in an industry may come together to create industry standards. Other standards are created by governmental or quasi-governmental organizations. Professional organizations are also often involved in creating standards. Many times, such groups will work with large standards organizations such as ISO (International Organization for Standards) or ANSI (American National Standards Institute) to publish the standards. In many cases, there is a cost to acquiring a standard.
The best way to find out about the existence of a standard relevant to your subject is by reading research articles, handbooks, and other works on the subject. Check to see whether they mention standards in their text or references.
Here's some to get you started:
- ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- ANSI - The Society for Standards Professionals
- ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
- ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials
- SAE - Society of Automotive Engineers
- IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- ASTM International - ASTM International develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) - The IEC prepares and publishes international standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies.
- International Organizations for Standardization (ISO) - The ISO supports a wide-range of standardization work on everything from screw threads to ship building.
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - ITU's scope of standardization is global telecommunications. ITU's standards document, Recommendation, can be downloaded for FREE on the ITU website.
