Engineering Standards
An engineering standard is an established norm or requirement, typically in the form of a formal document that sets out uniform technical criteria, methods, and processes. These standards are developed by professional committees and are based on what is considered good engineering practices. They govern everything from the design of simple screw threads to the complexities of information technology networks.
Standards ensure that products and systems work safely and effectively, no matter where they are made or used.
- American National Standards Institute Document LibraryANSI is the national coordinator of voluntary standards activities in the U.S. ANSI approves and publishes standards after they are developed by various engineering, industry and professional groups.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology HandbooksThe NIST Handbooks pertain to areas of legal metrology, laws, regulations, measurement devices, and specifications and tolerances. Available for free download.
- NIST Standards.govStandards.gov provides tools, programs, services, and educational resources about documentary standards and conformity assessment.
- IEEE Standards AssociationSearch or browse standards ranging from cybersecurity to electronics to batteries to transportation. Many are available for free online.
- Browse ASCE StandardsStandards are listed in reverse order of approval year so the most recent appear at the top.
Access the Standards You Need
Historically, engineers purchased standards as they needed them, but this quickly gets expensive as most individual standards now cost anywhere from $40 to $200. Many bodies that codify engineering standards now make some standards available for a free online PDF download, but there are still plenty that ask you to pay.
However, librarians are all about free access to information. Here are some places to help you find written standards, freely and legally!
- Internet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit library that includes both current and historic digitized engineering standards. You'll need to make a free account and "check out" the scanned content.
- WorldCatWhile there are precious few US libraries that collect engineering standards, you can occasionally get lucky! Use WorldCat to search for standards across the United States. If you find what you're looking for, request it through Interlibrary Loan below.
- Interlibrary LoanUse Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to request articles, books, standards, and other materials that we don't own here at SU.
Find Patents and Intellectual Property
- Patent Public Search BasicSearch by patent number or scroll down to "Basic search" to search using keywords.
- WIPO PatentScopeSearch 117 million patent documents including 4.9 million international patent applications from the World Intellectual Property Organization.
- Trademark SearchFrom the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Relevant Library Books
Systems Engineering Standards the State of the Art by Publication Date: 2012
Engineering Rules: Global Standard Setting Since 1880 by Publication Date: 2019
Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Engineering LaboratoryPublication Date: 2015
