【Standards Focus】How Many Types of Standards Are There? A Clear Guide to 13 Common Categories of Standards

      The following content is excerpted from GB/T 20000.1—2014 Guide for Standardization Work — Part 1: General Terms for Standardization and Related Activities.

      Note: The purpose of providing the following terms and definitions is neither to establish a systematic classification of standards nor to list all possible categories of standards. Instead, it is intended only to present several common categories of standards. These categories are not mutually exclusive. For example, a particular product standard that not only specifies technical requirements for the product but also specifies methods for verifying compliance with those requirements may also be regarded as a specification standard.

 

      1.Basic Standard

      A standard that has a broad scope of application or contains general provisions for a specific field.

      Note: A basic standard may be applied directly or may serve as the basis for other standards.

 

      2.Terminology Standard

      A standard that defines the designations and definitions of concepts used in a specific field or discipline.

      Note: Terminology standards usually contain terms and definitions, and may also include illustrations, notes, examples, etc.

 

      3.Symbol Standard

      A standard that defines the form, meaning, or designation of symbols used in a particular field or discipline.

 

      4.Classification Standard

      A standard that systematically arranges or classifies products, processes, or services based on common characteristics such as origin, composition, performance, or application.

      Note: Classification standards may sometimes provide or include classification principles.

 

      5.Testing Standard

      A standard that comprehensively describes testing activities and the methods for deriving conclusions under specified environmental conditions and within a precision range suitable for the intended purpose.

      Note 1: Testing standards may also include additional provisions related to testing, such as sampling, application of statistical methods, sequence of multiple tests, etc.

      Note 2: When appropriate, testing standards may specify the equipment and tools required for conducting the tests.

 

      6.Specification Standard

      A standard that specifies the requirements to be fulfilled by a product, process, or service, as well as the methods used to verify compliance with those requirements.

 

      7.Code of Practice Standard

      A standard that recommends good practices or procedures for relevant stages throughout the life cycle of a product, process, or service.

      Note: Code of practice standards compile practical experience and knowledge in a form convenient for access and use.

 

      8.Guide Standard

      A standard that provides general, principled, or directional information, guidance, or recommendations on a subject with appropriate background knowledge, without prescribing specific methods.

 

      9.Product Standard

      A standard that specifies requirements a product must satisfy to ensure its fitness for purpose.

      Note 1: In addition to suitability requirements, product standards may directly include or reference requirements related to terminology, sampling, testing, packaging, labeling, and sometimes process requirements.

      Note 2: Product standards may be classified as complete or incomplete standards depending on whether they specify all or only part of the necessary requirements. Accordingly, product standards may further include categories such as dimensional standards, material standards, or delivery technical condition standards.

      Note 3: If a standard contains only one aspect such as classification, test methods, marking, or labeling, it belongs respectively to a classification standard, testing standard, or marking standard rather than a product standard.

 

      10.Process Standard

      A standard that specifies requirements a process must satisfy to ensure its fitness for purpose.

 

      11.Service Standard

      A standard that specifies requirements a service must satisfy to ensure its fitness for purpose.

      Note: Service standards may be developed for fields such as laundry services, hotel management, transportation, automobile maintenance, telecommunications, insurance, banking, trade, etc.

 

      12.Interface Standard

      A standard that specifies requirements related to compatibility at the points of interconnection between products or systems.

 

      13.Standard on Data to Be Provided

      A standard that lists the characteristics of a product, process, or service, while the specific values or other relevant data are to be separately specified according to the particular requirements of the product, process, or service.

      Note: Typically, some standards specify that the supplier determines the data, while others specify that the purchaser determines the data.