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{{otheruses4|technical standards}}

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 jurisdication of a national standards body. Secondary, tertiary, check standards  and standard materials may be used for reference in a [[metrology]] system.

This article discusses formal technical standards.  A custom, [[convention]], company product, corporate standard, etc which becomes generally accepted and dominant is often called a [[de facto standard]]. 

A technical standard can 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]] usually 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 <ref>Example of [http://www.tappi.org/s_tappi/doc.asp?CID=107&DID=551843 TAPPI standards development regulations]</ref> of technical experts.

==Types of Standards==
The primary types of technical standards are:
* A ''standard [[specification]]''  is an explicit set of requirements for an item, material, component, system or service. It is often used to formalize the technical aspects of a procurement agreement or [[contract]].  For example, there may be a specification for a turbine blade for a jet engine which defines the exact material and performance requirements.
* A ''standard [[Goal]]''
* A ''standard [[test method]]'' describes a definitive procedure which produces a test result.  It may involve making a careful personal observation or conducting a highly technical measurement. For example, a [[physical property]] of a material is often affected by the precise method of testing:  any reference to the property should therefore reference the test method used. 
* A ''standard  procedure'' (or standard practice) gives a set of instructions for performing operations or functions.   For example, there are detailed [[standard operating procedure]]s for operation of a nuclear power plant. 
* A ''standard guide'' is general information  or options which do not require a specific course of action.
* A ''standard [[definition]]'' is formally established terminology.

==Enforcement==
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. <ref>[http://www.standardsinfo.net/info/livelink/fetch/2000/148478/6301438/standards_regulations.html ISO discussion] of voluntary standards vs regulations</ref>  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.
*A voluntary standard may be referenced or adopted by a government or regulatory body.  Its use becomes mandatory within the scope of its legal reference.  Enforcement is by the regulator or government body which chose to reference the standard. <ref>Example, [http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdc/summary/14000/14063e.htm Transport Canada] use of ASTM standards.</ref> <ref>[http://www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/NEWS/handbook02/index.html?L+mystore+bkwk3044+ ASTM Handbook of Standarization]</ref> 

*A voluntary standard may be referenced or adopted by a private organization or become part of a legal contract.  The voluntary standard becomes mandatory within the scope of that usage or contract. <ref>ASTM standard referenced by [http://www.content.airbusworld.com/SITES/Customer_services/html/acrobat/fast_32_p25_30lithium.pdf Airbus for lithium grease]</ref>

*A voluntary standard sometimes may sometimse become  so common and dominant that its use becomes expected.. Enforcement of a [[de facto standard]] is usually by [[free market]] forces.

==Availability==
Standards may be:
* Public documents available on the [[internet]],  public library, etc.  (Some technical standards may be found at a major central library or at the library of a good technical university.)
* Published documents which are available for purchase.
* Private documents owned by an organization or corporation.  These are used and circulated as they determine necessary or useful.
* Documents open for public use but with [[intellectual property]] ([[copyright]], etc) associated with them. <ref>Example: [http://www.sae.org/about/copyright/ SAE International copyright policy]</ref>
* Closed or controlled documents which contain [[trade secret]]s or [[classified information]].

== Geographic levels ==
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 standard'':  by [[Standards organizations#National_standards_organizations|National standards organizations]].
* ''Regional standard'': see standards of the [[Standards organizations#Regional_standards_organizations|Regional standards organizations]]. For example, [[CEN]] standards.
* ''International standard'': see  [[Standards organizations#International_standards_organizations|International standards organizations]] Example, [[ISO]] and [[ASTM International]].

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.
{{mergefrom|International standard|Talk:International standard|date=February 2008}}

==Usage==
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.  The originator or standard writing body often has the current versions listed on its web site.

==See also==

* [[Coordination problem]]<ref>Edna Ullmann-Margalit: ''The Emergence of Norms'', Oxford Un. Press, 1977. (or Clarendon Press 1978)</ref> <!-- see, a theoretical basis for "Standard" definition -->
* [[De facto standard]]
* [[Defense Standard]]
<!-- to merge: *[[International standard]] -->
* [[Standards organizations]]
** [[Standards organizations#International_standards_organizations|International standards organizations]]
** [[Standards organizations#National standards organizations|National standards organizations]]
<!-- not here, see style, use disambiguation link only at lead section *[[Standard (disambiguation)]] -->
*[[Open standard]]

==References==

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[[Category:Standards]]

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