Standards Australia

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Standards Australia Limited
Industry Standards organization
Founded 1922
Headquarters Sydney, Australia
Website http://www.standards.org.au/

Standards Australia is a standards organization established in 1922 and is recognised through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian government as the peak non-government standards development body in Australia. It is a company limited by guarantee, with 72 members representing groups interested in the development and application of technical standards and related products and services. Through its Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian government, it is Australia's member of the two major international standardising organisations, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (the IEC).[1]

Standards Australia develops internationally aligned Australian standards (AS) and participates in standards-related activities that deliver benefit to the nation. Since 1991, Standards Australia has promoted excellence in design and innovation through the annual Australian International Design Awards.[2] In cooperation with the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), joint Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) are developed.[3][4]

In 2003 Standards Australia disposed of its principal commercial interests in publishing and assurance services when it floated its subsidiary company SAI Global Ltd on the Australian Stock Exchange. Initially it retained a 40% interest in SAI Global, but progressively sold this shareholding down to zero, enabling it to focus exclusively on its core business of developing and managing its collection of 7000 Australian standards and representing Australia's interests in international standardisation.

Standards documents

Standards are published documents setting out specifications and procedures designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they were intended to. They establish a common language which defines quality and safety criteria.

These documents are practical and don’t set impossible goals. They are based on sound industrial, scientific and consumer experience and are constantly reviewed to ensure they keep pace with new technologies.

They cover everything from consumer products and services, construction, engineering, business, information technology, human services to energy and water utilities, the environment and much more.

Each standard is developed by a committee made up of technical, business, academia, government and community experts who come together to debate how a product or system should perform and how it should be made. Before finalisation, every standard is subject to public comment to ensure everyone with an interest in the subject has the opportunity to input.

Notable standards

OOXML

Standards Australia was criticised over the way it represented Australia's position in Microsoft's quest to have its OOXML document format ratified as a standard with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Computer magazine ITWire described Standard Australia's decision to cast an "abstain" vote as "bizarre".[5] Standards Australia decision followed continued consultation with the OOXML working group (made up of industry, the community and government) who could not come to an agreed position.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "AIB Standards Development". The Australian Institute of Building. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  2. ↑ "About Standards Australia". Standards Australia. 1998-04-10. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  3. ↑ http://www.standards.org.au/Pages/FAQ.aspx
  4. ↑ http://www.jas-anz.com.au/
  5. ↑ Withers, Stephen (2007-09-04). "What the...? Australia abstains on OOXML vote". Australia: iTWire. Retrieved 2010-05-29. 
  6. ↑ Australia maintains abstain position on OOXML, retrieved 2010-05-29

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