Standards

• What are standards?
• Searching for standards
  • Australian standards
  • SAI Global database
  • International standards

What are standards?

Trade and industry are bound by official specifications in areas such as construction requirements, codes of practice, methods of testing or terminology. Standards are used to provide uniformity, reliability and safety for all parties concerned. Many bodies issue standards, including trade associations and government departments.

Searching for standards

Australian standards

Current and draft Australian standards from Standards Australia are available in full text via the SAI Global database (previously ASO or Australian Standards Online).

SAI Global database

Access to SAI Global is available to UOW staff and students from the Library's Databases page.

In addition to Australian standards, some international standards can be searched via SAI Global. The database allows two simultaneous users to download the full text of Australian standards and multiple users to search. Standards files expire 48 hours after downloading.

Try the following options:

• quick search - search on a keyword in the title or standard number
• power search - use pulldown menus to tailor your search
• international equivs - enter the number of a known international standard to search for its Australian equivalent, or vice versa
• my international docs - view selected international standards available in full text for the current subscription year
• standardswatch - register for free email notification of new products, drafts, amendments and upcoming events to keep up to date with Australian, ISO and IEC standards

International standards

International standards organisations may provide searching facilities and options for purchasing individual standards on their websites.

In addition to Australian standards, some international standards can be searched via the SAI Global database.

Links to websites of selected standards organisations are listed below. If available, you will also find

• whether the full text of individual standards in SAI Global needs to be
  • unlocked
  • or, purchased separately
• information about small collections of print standards held in the UOW Library

ANSI - American National Standards Institute

• Coordinates US standards development and accreditation of US standards organisations
• Search via SAI Global - purchase separately

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

• Standards covering areas such as metals, petroleum, construction and the environment
• Search via SAI Global - purchase separately
• ASTM in print: A complete set of ASTM Standards (1997 ed.) is located in the 2nd Floor Compactus at 620.110218/1 (not for loan). The set contains formally approved ASTM standard classifications, guides, practices, specifications, test methods and terminology.

BSI - British Standards Institution

• British, European and international standards
• Search via SAI Global - purchase separately
• BSI in print: A small collection of British Standards is located in the Serials Collection at S 389.05/1.

CEN/EN - European Committee for Standardization/European Norme

• Equivalent national standards for European Union members
• Search via SAI Global - standards must be unlocked

DIN - German Institute for Standardization

• German national standards body covering a range of industries
• Search via SAI Global - purchase separately

ETSI - European Telecommunications Standards Institute

• Website includes search engine to locate ETSI standards covering information and communication technologies
• Individual publicly available standards can be freely downloaded following registration
• Or, search via SAI Global - standards must be unlocked

IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

• The Library subscribes to the IEEE Xplore database, which provides access to the full text of IEEE standards in PDF for UOW staff and students
• IEEE in print: A small collection of IEEE Standards is located in the Serials Collection at S 389.05/3.

IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission

• Standards covering electrical, electronic and related technologies
• Search via SAI Global - standards must be unlocked

ISO - International Organization for Standardization

• Designs standards for implementation worldwide, based on input from national standards organisations
• Search via SAI Global - standards must be unlocked

JSA/JIS - Japanese Standards Association

• Japanese standards (JSA/JIS), including English versions
• Search via SAI Global - standards must be unlocked

NSSN - A National Resource for Global Standards

• Originally National Standards Systems Network
• Information on US and international standards from a range of standards developers and government agencies

Last reviewed: 22 August, 2007