An Introduction to the American National Standards Institute and the United States Standards System Last update: April 2008.

An Introductionto the

American National Standards Instituteand the

United States Standards System

Last update: April 2008

© 2008 ANSISlide 2

Introduction to ANSI and the U.S. Standardization Process

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

© 2008 ANSISlide 3


Standards Developers and Conformity Assessment Bodies

GovernmentAcceptance

Commercialand ConsumerAcceptance

Standardization: A Global Community

© 2008 ANSISlide 4


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 the nation’s political (federal) structure

resembles the nation’s economic structure sector-based and driven by market needs

relies strongly on diversity and decentralization

© 2008 ANSISlide 5


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 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

© 2008 ANSISlide 6


Cardinal Principles of the U.S. System

TransparencyTransparencyOpennessOpenness

Due ProcessDue Process

Consensus

© 2008 ANSISlide 7


Guiding Principles

Standards should meet societal and market needs and should not be developed to act as barriers to trade

The U.S. endorses the globally accepted standardizationprinciples of the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement Transparency Openness Impartiality Effectiveness and relevance Consensus Performance-based

Coherence Due process Technical Assistance Flexible Timely Balanced

© 2008 ANSISlide 8


United States Standards Strategy

The United States Standards Strategy (USSS) provides a vision, purpose and common framework that can be used by U.S. stakeholders to achieve their respective standardization goals. Implementation of the Strategy is the

responsibility of all interested parties.

Approved in December 2005, the USSS is a revision of the National Standards Strategy for the United States. ANSI served as an administrator and facilitator

during the revision process. The document represents the vision of a broad

cross-section of standards stakeholders and reflects the diversity of the U.S. standards system.

© 2008 ANSISlide 9


Examples:Current Standardization Initiatives

Homeland security issues such as biometrics, radiation detector systems, “safe harbors” and others

Nanotechnology terminology and nomenclature

Healthcare information technology

Identity theft protection and identity management

Alternative energy resources / alternative fuels

© 2008 ANSISlide 10


Coordination and Harmonization Activities ANSI Standards Panels

2003

Homeland Security

Standards Panel

2004

Nanotechnology Standards Panel

2005

Healthcare Information Technology Standards

Panel

2006

ID Theft Prevention

and ID Management

Standards Panel

2007

Biofuels Standards

CoordinationPanel



Coordination and Harmonization Activities ANSI Standards Panels (continued)

Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel

Contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support widespread interoperability among healthcare software applications, accelerate decision making, and eliminate barriers to standards harmonization.

Nanotechnology Standards Panel

Established at the request of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States to facilitate the development of standards supporting nomenclature/terminology; materials properties; and testing, measurement and characterization procedures.

Homeland Security Standards PanelPartnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to accelerate development and adoption of consensus standards critical to homeland security. Support also provided to the 9-11 Commission for private sector preparedness.

http://www.ansi.org/hitsp

http://www.ansi.org/nsp

http://www.ansi.org/hssp



Coordination and Harmonization Activities ANSI Standards Panels (continued)

ID Theft Prevention and ID Management Standards Panel

Partnering with the Better Business Bureau to facilitate within 18 months the timely development of voluntary consensus standards aimed at minimizing the scope and scale of identity theft and fraud.

Biofuels Standards Coordination PanelLaunched in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and several other federal agencies to promote the development and compatibility of voluntary consensus standards and related conformity assessment programs necessary to support the large-scale commoditization of biofuels.

http://www.ansi.org/standards_activities/standards_boards_panels/idsp/overview.aspx?menuid=3

http://www.ansi.org/standards_activities/standards_boards_panels/idsp/overview.aspx?menuid=3



Coordination and Harmonization Activities Next on the horizon . . .

Energy management

Chemical controls and regulations Import safety / Supply Chain

Biotechnology

About ANSI



Facilitates U.S. standardization policy development

Promotes U.S. standardization policies globally

ANSI is the bridge for standardization between industry and government

among and within industries



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



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.ANSI is not a government agency or a standards developer.



Industry

TradeAssociations

ProfessionalSocieties

Government

Consumers andLabor Interests

StandardsDevelopers

OtherStakeholders

AcademicInstitutions



COMPANYMEMBERFORUM

CONSUMERINTEREST

FORUM

ORGANIZATIONALMEMBERFORUM

GOVERNMENTMEMBERFORUM

BOARD OFDIRECTORS

Organization Chart



U.S. PRIVATESECTOR

U.S. DOMICILEDSTANDARDS

DEVELOPING BODIES

OTHER FOREIGNSTANDARDIZATION

BODIES

INTERNATIONALSTANDARDIZATION

BODIES

REGIONALSTANDARDIZATION

BODIES

U.S. GOVERNMENT(PUBLIC SECTOR)

Domestic Standards Programs



American National Standards Institute

APIAmerican Petroleum Institute

APIAmerican Petroleum Institute

NFPANational Fire Protection Association

NFPANational Fire Protection Association

ICCInternational Code CouncilICCInternational Code Council

CSA AmericaCSA AmericaSAESociety of Automotive Engineers

SAESociety of Automotive Engineers

Examples of U.S. Standards Organizations Accredited by ANSI

ASTM InternationalASTM International

ASABEAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

ASABEAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

UL Inc.Underwriters Laboratories Inc.UL Inc.Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

OthersOthers



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



American National Standards (ANS) Developers Currently there are approximately 200

ANSI-accredited standards developersNot all standards developed by

these organizations are submitted for consideration as ANS

There are approximately 10,000 American National Standards



ANS Development Cycle

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

Consensus Ballot(Form al Ballot of Consensus Group)

Approved by theBoard of Standards Review

Appeals ProcessCom pleted

Consensus ObtainedSubm itted to the Board of Standards Review

Vote and Com m ent Resolution(Recirculation and 2nd Announcem ent, if necessary)

Developm ent of a DraftAm erican National Standard

Project Initiation

IDEAS

COMMENTS

VOTE

International andRegional Participation



AdoptInternational Standards as

American National Standards(where they meet the needs

of the user community)

Submit American National Standards for adoption as regional or International Standards

Ensure that U.S. positions (policy

and technical) are accepted by international and regional standards organizations

The U.S. will . . . .



U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)

Similar to Accredited Standards Developers, U.S. TAGs are accredited by ANSI and must follow the Institute’s cardinal principles.

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 ISO and IEC and represents the U.S. in regional and global forums.



U.S. Interface to IEC and ISO

ISO Technical Committee

ISO or IEC/TC XX

Subject Area

ANSI-Accredited or USNC/IEC Approved

U.S. Technical Advisory Group

TC XXX / SC 1

Subcommittee -----

TC XXX / SC 2

Subcommittee -----

U.S. TAG

/TC XX

Subject Area

U.S. TAG

TC XXX / SC 1

Subcommittee -----

U.S. TAG

TC XXX / SC 2

Subcommittee -----



ISO Technical Committee

Subject Area

InternationalOrganization for Standardization

U.S. Member of the ISO

U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and its

AdministratorOPTIONAL

Secretariat, ISO TC or SC

ISO Example: Organizational Relationships



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 92% of Technical Committees/Subcommittees assigned Secretariat for 15% of TC/SC Secretariats



U.S. Member Body of the ISO

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – Geneva, Switzerland Comprised of 159 National Standards Bodies

ANSI is one of 5 permanent members to the ISO Council of 18 4 permanent members to the Technical Management Board of 12

ANSI and its members participate in 80% of Technical Committees administer 20% of TC Secretariats



International Organization for Standardization

International ElectrotechnicalCommission

International Telecommunications Union



Regional Standards Bodies

COPANT (Pan-American Standards Commission) ANSI has membership on behalf of the U.S.

PASC (Pacific Area Standards Congress) ANSI has membership on behalf of the U.S.

CEN (European Committee for Standardization) ANSI has access as a liaison via the ISO/CEN Vienna Agreement

CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) ANSI has access as a liaison via the IEC/CENELEC Dresden Agreement

ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) U.S. companies which qualify may apply for membership



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



PASC(Pacific Area Standards Congress)

Founded in 1972 in Honolulu, Hawaii Currently 22 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



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

Conformity Assessment Programs



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



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



National Conformity Assessment Principles Document (NCAP)

Articulates principles for U.S. conformity assessment activities Guidance document to be considered in

conjunction with the United States 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



ANSI Accreditation Programs

Conformity Assessment

ProductCertifiers

ISO 9000 / ISO 14000Certifiers

PersonnelCertifiers

Standards Developing

Organizations

and U.S. TAGs

ISO/IEC

Guide

65

ISO/IEC

Guides

62 and 66

ISO/

IEC170

24

ANSI Procedures

Standards

Information andEducation Services



Knowledge Provides AdvantageKnowledge Provides Advantage

ANSI as anInformation Provider

ANSI provides access to timely, relevant, and actionable information for its members and customers.



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



Education & Training Services

Promote use and value of standards

Promote Strategic Standardization Management

Provide training on standardization participation, leadership, and administration

Membership



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

Positioning Influence at the leading edges of technology



Benefits to Organizations

Global relevance Self-regulation Shared costs Reduced liability Reduced redundancy Marketplace acceptance

of standards



Benefits to Consumers

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



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

Role of the Government



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.



National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) of 1995

Public Law 104-113 Signed into law on 7 March 1996 Guidance document is OMB Circular A-119

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



U.S. Approach to Influencing Global Standards and Trade Issues

ANSI U.S. Government

Global ISO and IEC WTO

Americas COPANT FTAA

Pacific Rim PASC APEC

Europe CEN / CENELEC / ETSI TABD

Contact Information



For more information:

Headquarters Operations

1819 L Street, NW 25 West 43rd Street

Sixth Floor Fourth FloorWashington, DC 20036 New York, NY 10036

Tel: 202.293.8020 Tel: 212.642.4900 Fax: 202.293.9287 Fax: 212.398.0023

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

American National Standards Institute

An Introduction to the American National Standards Institute and the United States Standards System Last update: April 2008.

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