A technical standard is an established norm or requirement. It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes and practices.

A technical standard can also be a controlled artifact or similar formal means used for calibration. Reference Standards and certified reference materials have an assigned value by direct comparison with a reference base. A primary standard is usually under the jurisdiction of a national standards body. Secondary, tertiary, check standards and standard materials may be used for reference in a metrology system. A key requirement in this case is (metrological) traceability, an unbroken paper trail of calibrations back to the primary standard.

This article discusses formal technical standards. In contrast, a custom, convention, company product, corporate standard, etc which becomes generally accepted and dominant is often called a de facto standard.

A technical standard may be developed privately or unilaterally, for example by a corporation, regulatory body, military, etc. Standards can also be developed by groups such as trade unions, and trade associations. Standards organizations often have more diverse input and usually develop voluntary standards: these might become mandatory if adopted by a government, business contract, etc.

The standardization process may be by edict or may involve the formal consensus of technical experts.

Types of standards

The primary types of technical standards are:

• A standard specification is an explicit set of requirements for an item, material, component, system or service. It is often used to formalize the technical aspects of a procurement agreement or contract. For example, there may be a specification for a turbine blade for a jet engine which defines the exact material and performance requirements.
• A standard test method describes a definitive procedure which produces a test result. It may involve making a careful personal observation or conducting a highly technical measurement. For example, a physical property of a material is often affected by the precise method of testing: any reference to the property should therefore reference the test method used.
• A standard practice or procedure gives a set of instructions for performing operations or functions. For example, there are detailed standard operating procedures for operation of a nuclear power plant.
• A standard guide is general information or options which do not require a specific course of action.
• A standard definition is formally established terminology.
• Standard units, in physics and applied mathematics, are commonly accepted measurements of physical quantities.

Availability

• Public documents available on the internet, public library, etc. (Some technical standards may be found at a major central library or at the library of a good technical university.)
• Published documents which are available for purchase.
• Private documents owned by an organization or corporation. These are used and circulated as they determine necessary or useful.
• Documents open for public use but with intellectual property (copyright, etc) associated with them.
• Closed or controlled documents which contain trade secrets or classified information.