Standards: U.S. Standards (General)

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. Founded in 1918, the Institute works in close collaboration with stakeholders from industry and government to identify and develop standards- and conformance-based solutions to national and global priorities.

Together, standards and technical regulations impact up to 93% of global trade. Globally relevant standards and the conformance measures that assure their effective use help to increase efficiency, open markets, boost consumer confidence, and reduce costs. And ANSI is the U.S. leader in fostering that potential for the benefit of businesses across every industry and consumers around the world.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Incorporated by Reference (IBR) Portal provides a one-stop mechanism for access to standards that have been incorporated by reference in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These standards incorporated by the U.S. government in rulemakings are offered at no cost in “read only” format and are presented for online reading. There are no print or download options.

Standards available on the ANSI IBR Portal include those developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and other standards developing organizations (SDOs) that have signed a terms and conditions agreement with ANSI. To access the standards in PDF format, go to the Hosted by ANSI tab above. All users will be required to install the FileOpen plug-in and accept an online end user license agreement prior to accessing any standards.

API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and is the global leader in convening subject matter experts across segments to establish, maintain, and distribute consensus standards for the oil and gas industry. In its first 100 years, API has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational safety, environmental protection and sustainability across the industry, especially through these standards being adopted globally.

The online standards review database has been updated to provide greater functionality, offering a single sign in feature with dashboard, so users can easily access and highlight those items that require attention. The new system reduces staff and volunteer time by allowing committees to do all of their letter ballots in the system, track most committee activity online and download ballot reports.

The ASSIST site allows you to search and download free of charge military specifications document (MIL), by document numbers or keywords.

Featuring information about Military Specifications and Standards reform, including Acquisition Practices Directorate and the Office of the Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense for Industrial Affairs & Installations, Defense Standards Improvement Council, and the Standardization Library.

EverySpec provides free access to over 55,000 Military, DoD, Federal, NASA, DOE, and Government specifications, standards, handbooks, and publications.

This data warehouse includes standardization documents with the designations of MIL, MIL-STD, MIL-PRF, MIL-DTL, FED, CID, JANS, MS, AND, USAF, DID, CID, UCF, and FIPS, including their Amendments, Notices, and Supplements.

The U.S. General Services Admistration Index of Specification, Standards and CommercialItem Descriptions lists standards issued by the U.S. Federal government for government procurement.

Standards.gov is administered by the Standards Coordination Office (SCO) at NIST. This site provides:

information about the use of documentary standards and conformity assessment activities in the Federal government;
background materials and resources on the standards landscape; and
useful standards and conformity assessment information freely available to the general public.
Standards provide industries and innovators with a common language that facilitates trade, simplifies transactions and enables people to work together toward greater common goals that cut across disciplines and borders. NIST supports the development of standards by identifying areas where they are needed, convening stakeholders and providing technical and scientific guidance and expertise to help stakeholder groups reach a consensus.

SAE develos standards for aerospace, ground vehicles, and systems management.

SES - The Society for Standardization Professionals was founded in 1947 as the Standards Engineering Society, a not-for-profit professional membership society dedicated to furthering the knowledge and use of standards and standardization. It also manages the only certification program in North America for standardization professionals. SES provides a neutral forum where standards users and developers can come together to address mutual issues, opportunities, and interests in ways that work to the benefit of everyone involved with, or affected by, standards. SES members are primarily involved in the development, application, and use of company, government, national, regional, and international standards. SES is the member body for Canada and the United States in the International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN), and is a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

UL is the leading third-party certification organization in the United States and the largest in North America. As a not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization, UL has been evaluating products in the interest of public safety since 1894. UL's activities involve evaluating more than 16,500 different types of products for safety hazards, developing standards to test products, and registering the quality systems of organizations worldwide to various quality standards. This site gives information on how to order UL standards.