An Introduction

to the

American National Standards Institute

and the

United States Standards System

Last update: January 2005

The international language of commerce is standards.

Source: Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans Report on Standards and Competitiveness Removing Standards-Related Trade Barriers Through Effective Collaboration May 18, 2004
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Standardization: A Global Community

Standards Developers and Conformity Assessment Bodies

Commercial and Consumer Acceptance

Government Acceptance

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The U.S. Standardization Model One Approach Among Many in the World


The U.S. standardization model includes both standards-setting and conformity assessment programs
 resembles  resembles

the nations political (federal) structure the nations economic structure

sector-based and driven by market needs

 relies

strongly on diversity and decentralization

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Compliance and Enforcement: Factors Influencing Standardization

Examples from a U.S. perspective . . .


Public opinion


Example: Publicity about faulty or dangerous products will negatively impact the market

Legal system
 

Example: Laws allow consumers to return faulty products Consumers can sue producers of faulty or dangerous products
Penalties include requiring companies to recall and withdraw products from the market

Government agencies (federal, state or local)

 

Example: The import of unsafe products can be denied Faulty or dangerous products can be recalled or removed from the market
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The U.S. approach to market relevance



In the U.S. alone, there are more than 95,000 recognized standards. These documents are being developed by
more than 450 standards developing organizations (SDOs), with the twenty largest of these organizations producing approximately 80% of the standards  at least 150 consortia  hundreds of committees addressing the technical requirements of standards


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Examples: Current Standardization Initiatives



Homeland Security issues such as biometrics, radiation detector systems, Safe Harbors and others Nanotechnology terminology and nomenclature Federal election reform


Example: An ANSI-accredited developer is working on equipment related standards

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Cardinal Principles of the U.S. System

Due Process

Consensus

Openness

Transparency
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The Role of Government



In the U.S., no single government agency has control over standards.

 Each government

agency determines which standards

meet its needs.  The agency is responsible for determining whether a private sector standard already exists that is appropriate for its needs.
If so, they will use the private sector standard. If not, the agency is expected to work with the private sector to develop the needed standard.
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The Role of Government



National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) - 1995 (P.L. 104-113 1996)
 Encourages federal

agencies to utilize voluntary consensus standards where feasible  Encourages federal participation in voluntary consensus standards development activities  Designates NIST as coordinator (no budgetary or policy authority) of government standards policy activities
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Summary
Structure of the U.S. Standardization System


ANSI
Coordinator of the Private Sector  Private sector, non-profit, membership organization  Supported by membership fees, sale of publications


NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Coordinator of Federal Agencies  Sets legal metrology standards; accredits laboratories


Standards developing organizations (SDOs)

Private trade and professional organizations, often non-profit  Many, but not all, accredited by ANSI

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Mission
To enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the American quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems and ensuring their integrity.
A Private- and Public-Sector Partnership Since 1918

ANSI is not a government agency or a standards developer.

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A Federation of members representing . . .

Academia Individuals Government Manufacturing Trade Associations Professional Societies Service Organizations Standards Developers Consumer and Labor Interests and many more

Bringing the Private- & Public-Sectors Together Private- PublicANSI and the U.S. Standardization Process: Tools for Business Success 2004 ANSI Slide 13

Member Participation

COMPANY MEMBER FORUM

GOVERNMENT MEMBER FORUM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CONSUMER INTEREST FORUM

ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER FORUM

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Organization Chart

U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR

U.S. GOVERNMENT (PUBLIC SECTOR)

U.S. DOMICILED STANDARDS DEVELOPING BODIES

OTHER FOREIGN STANDARDIZATION BODIES

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION BODIES

REGIONAL STANDARDIZATION BODIES

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ANSIs Roles and Responsibilities



to accredit U.S. Standards Developers, U.S. Technical Advisory Groups and conformity assessment programs to ensure integrity of the U.S. voluntary consensus standards system to provide regional and international access to offer a neutral policy forum
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ANSI and the U.S. Standardization Process: Tools for Business Success

ANSI as an Accreditor


ANSI accreditation, whether as a standards developer, Technical Advisory Group, or a certification program, provides an assurance of:
 Openness  Balance  Due

process

 Transparency  Consensus
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American National Standards (ANS) Developers



Currently there are approximately 200 ANSI-accredited standards developers* Not all standards developed by these organizations are submitted for consideration as ANS There are approximately 10,000 American National Standards*

*Information based on year-end 2003 data.

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Examples of U.S. Standards Organizations

ANSI American National Standards Institute
API
American Petroleum Institute

INCITS
InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (Secretariat: Information Technology Industry Council)

T1

Accredited Standards Committee T1 - Telecommunications (Secretariat: Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions)

ASME International
American Society of Mechanical Engineers

SAE
Society of Automotive Engineers

ASTM International

Others

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ANS Development Cycle

Project Initiation Development of a Draft American National Standard

IDEAS

Public Review Period (30 or 45 or 60 day Announcement in S ta nd a rds A ction )

Consensus Ballot (Formal Ballot of Consensus Group)

Vote and Comment Resolution (Recirculation and 2nd Announcement, if necessary)

Consensus Obtained Submitted to the Board of Standards Review

COMMENTS

Appeals Process Completed

Approved by the Board of Standards Review

VOTE
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ANSI and the U.S. Standardization Process: Tools for Business Success

In a global marketplace, the objective of the standards development process must be a single, internationally recognized, technically valid standard that allows products to be distributed for commerce worldwide without change or modification.

One Global Standard Accepted by All

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To this end, the U.S. will . . . .

Submit American National Standards for adoption as regional or International Standards Adopt International Standards as American National Standards (where they meet the needs of the user community)

Ensure that U.S. positions (policy and technical) are accepted by international and regional standards organizations

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A National Standards Strategy (NSS) for the United States



Confirming the importance of a market-driven, sectoral-focus

1998, the U.S. standardization community set about to develop its future vision  The result is the first-ever National Standards Strategy (NSS) for the U.S. (approved in August 2000).  Implementation is the responsibility of all U.S. interests  ANSI serves as the coordinator
 In
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NATIONAL STANDARDS STRATEGY

FOR THE

UNITED STATES

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International Organization for Standardization

International Electrotechnical Commission

International Telecommunications Union

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U.S. Member Body of the ISO



International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Geneva, Switzerland

 Comprised

of 146 National Standards Bodies

ANSI is one of
5

permanent members to the Council of 18  4 permanent members to the Technical Management Board of 12


ANSI and its members

 participate in

80% of Technical Committees  administer 18% of TC Secretariats

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U.S. National Committee of the IEC



International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Geneva, Switzerland

 Comprised

of 60 National Committees (member nations)

U.S. National Committee is one of

5

permanent members of the Council Board of 15  15 members of the Standardization Management Board  participates in 91% of Technical Committees  assigned Secretariats for 16% of TC Secretariats
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U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)



Similar to Accredited Standards Developers, U.S. TAGs are accredited by ANSI and must follow the Institutes cardinal principles of openness, balance, due process and transparency. ANSI sets policy for U.S. TAGs because the Institute is recognized as the official U.S. member of ISO and, through its U.S. National Committee (USNC), is the official U.S. member of IEC. ANSI pays total dues for U.S. membership in both ISO and IEC.
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Regional Standards Bodies



COPANT (Pan-American Standards Commission)



ANSI has membership on behalf of the U.S. ANSI has membership on behalf of the U.S. ANSI has access as a liaison via the ISO/CEN Vienna Agreement ANSI has access as a liaison via the IEC/CENELEC Dresden Agreement U.S. companies which qualify may apply for membership
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PASC (Pacific Area Standards Congress)



CEN (European Committee for Standardization)



CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization)



ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)



COPANT
(Pan-American Standards Commission)


 

Standards setting body for Latin and South American countries  Founded as the Pan American Technical Standards Committee in 1949 to develop regional standards  Executive Secretariat is in Caracas, Venezuela Currently 28 Active and 7 Adherent member countries Oriented towards international standards, but develops regional technical standards when none exists at the international level
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PASC (Pacific Area Standards Congress)

 

Founded in 1972 in Honolulu, Hawaii Currently 25 members

 Membership

open to any country or territory bordering on the Pacific Rim whose standards organization is a member of ISO and IEC, or national organization that PASC determines is capable of making a contribution  Secretariat responsibility rotates among members


Does not set standards, rather coordinates on standards issues

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Standards Bodies of the European Union



European Standardization Policy

  

Established in 1984 in the General Guidelines for Co-operation between the EU and EFTA and the European Standards bodies Goals are to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry and to improve the functioning of the European market New Approach Directives state that the European Union shall look towards the private sector to develop standards

Three organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) now constitute the European forum for standardization
 

These bodies are made up of diverse parties that form more than 1,500 technical groups Work to develop national standards within the European Union has essentially ceased
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CANADA SCC U.S. ANSI

U.K. BSI

GERMANY DIN JAPAN JISC

FRANCE
AFNOR/UTE

BRAZIL ABNT

Examples of National Standards Organizations

ANSI and the U.S. Standardization Process: Tools for Business Success

AUSTRALIA SAA

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Characteristics of the U.S. Conformity Assessment System



Conformity assessment activities are not centrally organized Activities are a mix of government (regulatory programs) and private sector (market-based programs) Approaches vary among sectors

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Conformity Assessment Goals



Promote and achieve global acceptance of products and services through conformity assessment activities for
Product certifiers  Personnel certifiers  ISO 9000 & 14000 registrars (via the ANSI/ANAB partnership)  International Accreditation Forum (IAF)  Laboratory Accreditation Working Group National Council for Laboratory Accreditation


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National Conformity Assessment Principles Document (NCAP)



Articulates principles for U.S. conformity assessment activities

Guidance document to be considered in conjunction with the U.S. National Standards Strategy  Improves the ability of consumers, buyers, sellers, regulators and other interested parties to have confidence in the processes of providing Certification services  Approved in 2002  Implementation is the responsibility of all U.S. interests

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ANSI Accreditation Programs

Conformity Assessment ISO/IEC Guide 65 Product Certifiers ISO/IEC Guides 62 and 66 ISO 9000 / ISO 14000 Certifiers Personnel Certifiers Standards Developing Organizations and U.S. TAGs ISO/IEC 17024 Standards ANSI Procedures

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ANSI as an Information Provider



Standards development and implementation has become yet one more arena in which to compete and excel in order to ensure business success. There is a price to be paid, but none so high as the cost of competing against the consensus choice of the key participants in an open standards system. ANSI provides access to timely, relevant, and actionable information for its members and customers.
Knowledge Provides Advantage
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Web-Based Information Tools



ANSI Online (http://www.ansi.org)

News and information  Standards Action for public notice  ANSI Reporter for news and editorial coverage

NSSN: A National Resource for Global Standards (http://www.nssn.org)

Key-word or document number searches; bibliographic data on standards; up-to-date reports on new development projects, and much more.

Electronic Standards Store

(http://webstore.ansi.org) E-commerce site for real-time electronic publication sales

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Education & Training Services



Promote use and value of standards Promote Strategic Standardization Management Provide training on standardization participation, leadership, and administration

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ANSI as a Policy Forum



Facilitate U.S. standardization policy development Promote U.S. standardization policies globally

ANSI is the bridge for standardization



between industry and government  among and within industries

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ANSI Partnership with U.S. Government on Standards and Trade Issues

Influence via: ANSI | U.S. Government WTO FTAA APEC TABD

ISO and IEC COPANT PASC CEN/CENELEC/ETSI

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The same guidance applies to all agencies



Public Law 104-113

 known

as the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995

 

Signed into law on 7 March 1996 Guidance document is OMB Circular A-119

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Value of ANSI Membership



Influence
ANSI Federation policies  ISO/IEC policies  WHAT standards are written WHERE If you dont do it, your competitors will If the private sector does not do it, the federal Government may take the lead


  

Assurance of a level playing field for standards and conformity assessment programs Access to a major source of information and expertise Domestic and global networking opportunities
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Benefits to Companies


Protection
 The

strong voice, influence and networks necessary to help ensure that standards are not written that will exclude your products, processes or technologies

Knowledge
 Early awareness of new requirements  Close customer and supplier contact  Early

assessment of new market directions the leading edges of technology

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Positioning
 Influence at

Benefits to Organizations
     

Global relevance Self regulation Shared costs Reduced liability Reduced redundancy Market place acceptance of standards

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Benefits to Consumers
    

Greater selection Easier choices Better and consistent quality Lower costs Enhanced safety & health

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Benefits to Government


  

Lower costs for procurement and regulatory agencies Increased U.S. competitiveness, employment and economic growth Private sector cooperation World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance Legislative compliance

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For more information:

American National Standards Institute
Headquarters 1819 L Street, NW Sixth Floor Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202.293.8020 Fax: 202.293.9287 Operations 25 West 43rd Street Fourth Floor New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212.642.4900 Fax: 212.398.0023

www.ansi.org | webstore.ansi.org | www.nssn.org

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