Concepts, terms, definitions

Activity of establishing, with regard to actual or potential problems, provisions for common and repeated use, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context
NOTE 1: In particular, the activity consists of the processes of formulating, issuing and implementing standards.
NOTE 2: Important benefits of standardization are improvement of the suitability of products, processes and services for their intended purposes, prevention of barriers to trade and facilitation of technological cooperation.

Document that provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results
NOTE 1: The term "normative document" is a generic term that covers such documents as standards, technical specifications, codes of practice and regulations.
NOTE 2: A "document" is to be understood as any medium with information recorded on or in it.
NOTE 3: The terms for different kinds of normative documents are defined considering the document and its content as a single entity.

Document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context.
NOTE Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum community benefits.

Document that prescribes technical requirements to be fulfilled by a product, process or service
NOTE 1: A technical specification should indicate, whenever appropriate, the procedure(s) by means of which it may be determined whether the requirements given are fulfilled.
NOTE 2: A technical specification may be a standard, a part of a standard or independent of a standard.

Document that recommends practices or procedures for the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance or utilization of equipment, structures or products
NOTE: A code of practice may be a standard, a part of a standard or independent of a standard.

Document providing binding legislative rules, that is adopted by an authority

Regulation that provides technical requirements, either directly or by referring to or incorporating the content of a standard, technical specification or code of practice

NOTE: A technical regulation may be supplemented by technical guidance that outlines some means of compliance with the requirements of the regulation, i.e. deemed-to-satisfy provision.