Research Guides: Civil and Urban Engineering: Standards

About Standards

What are Standards?

A standard is "a recognized unit of comparison by which the correctness of others can be determined." Another definition is "a set of characteristics or qualities that describes features of a product, process, or service." (Source: StandardsLearn.org)

Who produces them?

Scientific and Professional Organizations such as the ASTM, ASME, IEEE, trade organizations, and governments produce standards. In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates many standards producing organizations. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards.

Databases with Standards

ASHRAE (Techstreet) This link opens in a new window
ASHRAE standards establish consensus for test methods and performance criteria. These include voluntary consensus standards for Method of Measurement or Test, Standard Design and Standard Practice. Consensus standards define minimum values or acceptable performance. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development.
ASTM Compass This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
ASTM Compass (ASTM International Digital Library) is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world-a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.
The database link will resolve to the homepage of ASTM Compass. To look for a specific journal, enter the journal title in the search bar and you will then be redirected to that specific journal.
IEEE Xplore This link opens in a new window
IEEE Xplore , under the banner of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, provides full text access technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics. Content includes electronic journals, magazine, and books; conference proceedings; standards; and Standards Dictionary Online. Most articles are available in PDF and HTML. Tools include links to citations, references and figures.
Knovel This link opens in a new window
Knovel is a library of science and engineering ebooks, articles, handbooks, and datasets.

Standards Organizations

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Administrator and coordinator of the United States private sector voluntary standardization system for more than 80 years.
American Society for Testing and Materials Standards International (ASTM)
One of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world. Search more than 11,000 ASTM standards in many different areas.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 160 countries. It is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. Links to standards, standards background information, and sources for purchasing standards.
World Standards Services Network (WSSN)
Links to international and regional standardizing bodies.

Gateways to Standards

ASSIST QuickSearch
Provides direct access to Defense and Federal specifications and standards available in the official DoD repository. Search by document ID or number, title, or FSC/standardization area.
IHS
Search for popular technical industry standards in areas such as aerospace, automotive, construction, electrical/electronics, government/military, health and safety, medical, petrochemical/utilities, quality, telecommunications.
ANSI
Search over a quarter million records of the world's leading commercial and government standards. Includes quicklinks to U.S. federal government standards and regulatory information sites.
Techstreet
Access more than 300,000 industry codes and standards aggregated from over 350 leading Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs). Covers a broad range of disciplines including research, design, manufacturing, and testing in dozens of industries.