Getting started with standards
Standards are made up of specifications, procedures and guidelines that aim to ensure products, services and systems are safe, consistent and reliable.
Many organisations issue standards, including trade associations and government departments.
Standards are identifiable by a unique document code which usually includes a prefix (the prefix often identifies the country and publisher), and a number and publication year (e.g. AS 1816.1-2007).
Standards are "living" documents — up to 15% of them change every year. This is why standards might have current, draft and withdrawn versions.
