Seven key things you can learn from the foreword of a standard

If you have a question about a standard – whether that be how it relates to other standards, its publication date, or even who it was developed by – you may well find an answer in the document’s foreword.
The section comes at the very start of the document and it has an important function in clarifying what the standard does and where it comes from.

Here are seven key things you need to know about forewords.

1. Forewords tell you how the standard relates to other standards. A foreword might tell you whether the standard is a revised edition of an existing standard, and whether the previous edition is now withdrawn. It will also explain which standards it replaces and how the text has changed between versions.

2. Key publication dates are included in the foreword. A foreword will state the date of publication for the standard, the dates of previous editions of the standard, and whether any grace period applies to the transition between different editions of the standard.

3. Amendments are listed in the foreword. The foreword explains how the standard is different to previous editions. This can be very useful if you have been using the withdrawn version of the standard and want a quick indication of how things have changed. The BSI Knowledge Centre can also help BSI members understand the changes made to a new edition of a standard.

4. The background of the standard is often explained. The foreword will give details of who developed the standard, for example, a particular technical committee. If the standard was developed from a specific starting point. This might have been a recommendation from a government committee to implement an EU or ISO Directive. It might also note anything unusual about the background of the document (matters omitted because agreement could not be reached, for example).

5. You can usually preview forewords before you buy. When you buy a standard from the BSI shop, key sections such as the foreword, scope and introduction may be available to help you check the standard is the correct one for your purposes. Read more detail about the scope and introduction of a standard here (link to relevant scope/introduction article here).

6. Forewords have standard sections. The format of forewords has changed over time, but current standards usually follow this structure:

• Publishing information: the date a standard is published and when it comes into effect
• Supersession: what the standard replaces
• Relationship with other publications: for example, whether the standard is part of a series
• Information about this document: what has prompted the publication, whether there are any additional sections such as annexes or checklists
• Presentational conventions: whether any of the text is identical to that contained in other standards, such as ISO or IEC Directives

7. A standard might have multiple forewords. Standards have their own foreword section, but where a standard is international (for example, EN or ISO standards) there will also be a National Foreword that precedes the main body of the standard. European standards also have a European Foreword.

The National Foreword sets out how a standard relates to the national context. For example, a BS ISO standard will have the main text of the ISO standard preceded by a UK National Foreword that states which standards it supersedes and what input UK representatives had in its development. It may also have a brief explanation of what the standard sets out to do, and which organisations may benefit from using it.

This is the key to vital standard information

The foreword to a standard contains vital information. You should check the foreword to ensure you understand the context of a standard before beginning to use it.

If you need help to identify or understand standards, why not get in touch with the BSI Knowledge Centre? They’ll be happy to help, all part of our service to BSI members.