How to Find Standards

standards

Christine Drew Gordon Library

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Finding Standards: Confused about ASTM, UL, IEEE, ISO, 802.11, NFPA 13?

Connect to web guidelibguides.wpi.edu/standards

Why

• Assure health and safety

• Increase product quality, safety and reliability

• Ensure consistency and uniformity

• Facilitate global trade, exchange, and technology transfer

• Harmonize industry & technology

• Facilitate global communication

History

Source: ANSI & American Standards Association, "Through History with Standards" Ed. By Rowen Glie Speaking of Standards, Cahner Books, Boston, MA, 1972

Standards, Regulations, Codes?

1. National Policy on Standards for the United States and a Recommended Implementation Plan, National Standards Policy Advisory Committee, Washington, D.C.,December, 1978. p. 6.

American Heritage® Dictionary: Definition of code

American Heritage® Dictionary: Definition of regulation

A standard was defined by the National Standards Policy Advisory Committee as:

A prescribed set of rules, conditions, or requirements concerning definitions of terms; classification of components; specification of materials, performance, or operations; delineation of procedures; or measurement of quantity and quality in describing materials, products, systems, services, or practices 1

Who Creates Them?

• Standards developing organizations, government, industries, trade associations, consumers such as:– American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)– Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE)– Department of Defense (DOD)

• ANSI – American National Standards Institute– U.S. standards clearinghouse & member of ISO

International Organization for Standardization

the simple crayon

For your design project, you choose to redesign the crayon, what standards apply to arts materials for children?

• Consumers, parents, doctors: organizations such as Safe Kids worldwide or American Academy of Pediatrics• Toy Industry Association – trade groups represent manufacturers • Government - US Consumer Product Safety Commission • Look at product packaging: “Conforms to ASTM D-4236”

Determine who has a vested interest

Glean Clues from Web & Database Searches

• Global Toy Safety Standard (ISO 8124-1)• ASTM F963, “Standard Consumer Safety

Specification on Toy Safety”• Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). 15

U.S.C. §§ 1261 et seq.• Conforms to ASTM D-4236

Find leads & follow up…

How About Fido?

• Web search to find a few leads

• Hint– Scan for organizations, government

agencies, trade associations

Are there pet food standards or regulations? How about other pet products?

Take two minutes on your own to find a few leads and share what you find.

search & obtain themHave a specific number? Title of a specific

standard?

Search NSSN or Global Engineering Documents to find the number, title & date:

1. Web search the title for more information, you may even find the text online

2. in the library, search Library Catalog,

3. request via Interlibrary Loan or,

4. you may have to purchase the standards

search & obtain

Need to find the standards of a specific organization?

– Most standard making bodies have a search feature for their standards on their web site, but often they are pay per view

– Follow above mentioned steps 1-4:1. Web search

2. Library Catalog,

3. Interlibrary Loan or,

4. purchase

search & obtain

Need standards for a specific project you are working on?– Web search on

("craft supplies" OR crayons) (standards OR standard OR federal regulations OR ISO OR ASTM OR CFR)

– Search NSSN or Global Engineering Documents – Track down trade associations: a web search on

(Council OR Society OR Association) and your industry keyword may come up with some:

– Craft & Hobby Association – Toy Industry Association

– Follow above steps 1-4 to try obtain the full text

Standards @WPI

• Search the Library Catalog – We own or subscribe to:

• ASTM• National Fire Protection Association• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

(IEEE)• Building Officials and Code Administrators

International (BOCA),• and others, refer to our Finding Standards guide as

well as Library Catalog

Choose Your Own Adventure5 minute challenge – search & share

You are designing a new type of bicycle helmet, what standards or regulations apply?

You are designing a new type electronic toothbrush, what standards or regulations apply?

You are planning to start an advertising

agency that specializing on internet

advertising, any standards that apply?

Questions?Christine Drew,

Gordon Library WPI

www.wpi.edu/+library

cdrew@wpi.edu

chat: wpiref

508-831-6700