How a standard is created

The breadth and depth of standards in use in the UK is impressive. From management systems to toothbrushes, from customer service to the design of screw threads, smart phones to electric cars. Have you ever wondered how these 30 000+ BSI standards come into being?

The procedure for creating a standard is based around consensus-building. Experts come together to identify areas of agreement, in a process that takes anywhere from one to four years to complete. The aim is to create a reliable and comprehensive standard informed by input from a range of stakeholders and knowledgeable parties.

How are standards projects initiated?

Most UK standards are initiated through international standards-making bodies such as ISO, IEC or European bodies CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. To create standards, experts from all over the world contribute to technical committees that consider the scope, definitions and content within a new standard.

International standards are then adopted by regions and individual nations. For example, a BS EN ISO standard is an ISO document which has been adopted by the European region (EN) then adapted for use in the UK (BS).

Other standards often begin with a knowledge gap in an innovative or fast-changing area. A proposal for a new standard is judged by whether the need for the standard can be evidenced and whether the guidance would receive active support from a range of relevant interests.

PAS and BSI Flex standards

Beyond the regular standards, there are also two other types of rapid-response standards. A PAS is best suited to areas where new concepts are becoming widely accepted and minimal change is expected. A BSI Flex is designed for emerging areas where there is a low level of certainty about “what good looks like” and good practice needs to evolve through a series of iterations. Around 30% of PASs have gone forward to form the basis of international standards.

The development process for creating a national standard

The development process for creating a standard begins with a proposal for a standard and culminates in a final published document. The process differs in some aspects between UK National Standards and international and European standards[JC2], but here is how a National standard initiated in the UK is created.

Stage 1: Assessment

The proposed standard is assessed to consider whether there is genuine need and to search for conflicting standards. For international and European standards, the technical committee votes on whether the proposed standard should proceed[VS3][JC4]. In the UK, BSI gives the go-ahead. If the project is accepted by BSI, an editorial project manager is assigned to the project.

Stage 2: Creation of project

The project is created and the committee begins work on drafting the text of the standard.

Stage 3: Drafting

Drafting is generally carried out by a small panel of experts, together with the editorial project manager. Several versions of the draft might be produced before it is finalized.

Standards follow a set format:

• a front cover page, including title
• a foreword
• an introduction
• the scope of the standard
• normative references
• terms and definitions
• symbols and abbreviated terms
• provisions
• normative annex(es) – for supplementary and technical information
• a bibliography
• indexes

A full first draft of the standard is usually completed in a couple of months.

Stage 4: Consultation on draft

The standard is circulated to technical committees as a draft for public comment (DPC). The DPC is also made available to the public on the Standards Development section of the BSI website for at least two months[VS10].

Stage 5: Considering comments

Comments on the draft are considered by the committee and changes made, with input from the editorial project manager.

Stage 6: Issuing final draft

A final draft is prepared by the editorial project manager which is circulated to the panel and its parent committee(s) for a two-week approval period. Consensus needs to be achieved by the relevant parent committee before the standard can be signed off for publication.

Stage 7: Final approval of the draft

When consensus has been reached by the parent committee, the draft is endorsed for publication by the Committee Manager[VS14] of and Chair of the relevant technical committee. This ends the committee’s involvement in developing the standard.

Stage 8: Standard enters production

The standard manuscript is then prepared for publication. This takes around a month.

Stage 9: The final standard is published

The final standard is issued online. Details of the new publication are made available on the BSI Shop and through Update Standards and BSI subscription products (BSI Plus and BSOL). BSI aims to publish new/revised British Standards, Drafts for Development and National Annexes within 18 months[VS16]. Published Documents take around 9
months and amendments 6 to 12 months. The standard will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains up to date and relevant. [JC17]

Getting involved with standards creation

BSI is always looking for individuals and organizations to contribute to standards committees. The more balanced, diverse and well-informed the committee, the better the results will be. Standards makers can be from any background or industry sector.

Find out more about how you can become a standards maker.  This is a good place to find out more..