Standards at KU Libraries: FAQs

What is a standard?

A standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for their purpose.

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.

How many standards are there?

There are more than 100,000 recognized standards in the United States⁠—including over 13,000 approved American National Standards—and more than 30,000 globally recognized international standards.

What does the term "standardization" mean?

Standardization is the process of bringing a product, process, or system into conformity with a standard. The term is used to encompass the development of standards plus the conformity assessment measures that demonstrate compliance to standards.

Who develops standards in the U.S.?

Standards are developed by a multitude of diverse standards developing organizations (SDOs), trade associations, industry and consortia groups, academic institutions, domestic and international committees, and other consensus bodies in the United States. 

What is an international standard?

An international standard is a document that has been developed through the consensus of experts from many countries and is approved and published by a globally recognized body. It comprises rules, guidelines, processes, or characteristics that allow users to achieve the same outcome time and time again.

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.

References:
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) https://www.ansi.org/standards-faqs#standards
University of Washington Libraries https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/standards