FAQs 

Standards are developed by technical committees. These committees are made up of individuals representing various interest groups such as suppliers, regulatory authorities, government departments, associations, academia and consumers. Committee members are typically appointed by Nominating Organisations to represent the views of that interest group. 

We do not provide contact details for individual committee members or Standards Australia Project Managers. However, the names of the Nominating Organisations represented on a technical committee are listed in the preface of our publications.

Anyone can propose a new or revised standard. Proposals are approved based on their net benefit case, the scope of work, demonstrated stakeholder support and available resources. Please refer to Submitting a Proposal  to learn more.

Anyone can comment on a draft publication during the public comment stage.
 
Go to the Public Comment Portal and click on ‘Make a comment’ in the ‘Action’ column.
 
If it is your first time submitting a public comment then please follow the instructions for ‘new public user’.

A withdrawn status indicates that a document is no longer relevant or its designation has changed. A publication can be withdrawn if it:

• Is not up-to-date technically
• Does not reflect current practice or research
• Is not suitable for new and existing applications (such as products, systems, or processes)
• Is not compatible with current views and expectations regarding quality, safety, and the environment.

Withdrawn publications can still be used within an industry, community or government if they choose to do so. For example, this can happen when there are no replacement documents readily available.
 
Withdrawn publications can still be purchased from the SAI Global Store.
 

A superseded status indicates a publication has been replaced by a more recent document. For example, AS 1234:2015 will supersede AS 1234:2010.

In some cases, the older document may be superseded by a new document with a different designation (AS number) and title.

In other cases, a publication will only be partly superseded. The earlier edition will remain current until there are replacements available that cover all the content of the original standard.

Available superseded indicates that a document has been made available for a period of time, despite it being formally superseded by another document. It may be maintained because it is being used by a certifying body, or referenced in legislation/regulations (e.g. the National Construction Code) or other publications.

Standards Australia takes no responsibility for the ongoing technical validity of such a document. It is up to government authorities to decide whether available superseded products should be referenced in legislation/regulation.

When an available superseded publication is being used as the basis for certification, the publication must be available until the relevant certification of all organisations has lapsed.

This indicates that the publication is no longer recommended for current practice or new equipment, but it is retained in order to provide information on the servicing of existing equipment or requirements.
 

After a document has been published, the committee could be presented with new information or errors may be found in the published document. When this occurs, an amendment to the document is issued.

An amendment is published as a stand-alone document, and the correct text is meant to replace the existing text in the standard.

Later versions of the full standard will be published with the amended text already incorporated. This will be reflected in the title, cover page and preface.

Standards Australia does not undertake any consulting activities, nor do we keep a list of qualified consultants.

We recommend that you contact relevant industry bodies that may be able to assist you in this area.

The preface of a standard lists the industry bodies or organisations that contributed to the development of the standard.

Standards Australia does not determine whether products comply with Australian Standards®. This is the role of certification, inspection and testing bodies.

The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) website has a database of companies that can carry out certification.
 
Testing bodies can be found by contacting the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA).

Standards Australia does not certify products/services/organisations. This service is provided by certification bodies.

In order to find the certification body accredited to certify your specific product, you will need to identify the designation (AS number and year of publication) for that standard. You can browse our catalogue  to identify standard designations.

Once you have the designation (AS number) of the standard, you can use the JAS-ANZ Accredited Bodies Register to get a list of accredited certification bodies that provide the service you are after.

Standards Australia does not test products. Product testing is usually carried out by test laboratories.
 
To find the relevant testing bodies accredited to conduct the testing to a particular standard, you will need to identify the designation (AS number and year of publication) of that standard. You can browse our catalogue to identify standard designations
 
Once you have the designation (AS number) you can find a list of Australian test laboratories from the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA).
 

We are unable to advise if the product you are importing needs to meet any mandatory requirements.

Information on requirements that apply to imported products can be obtained from the relevant government organisations.

For general information on importing, visit the Australian Government website or speak to the relevant government authority.
 

Standards Australia does not have information on export requirements as these are generally set by the country you are exporting to.
 
The Australian Trade Commission 'Austrade' may offer assistance to exporters in Australia.
 

If you are unhappy with a product, start by contacting the place of purchase. False and misleading claims on products can be referred to the Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs body in your state or territory and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
 
Click here for a list of consumer regulatory bodies.
 

Suppliers and manufacturers can seek WaterMark certification for their plumbing products. In accordance with state and territory plumbing regulations, WaterMark certification is mandatory for certain plumbing products (such as taps and pipes) before they can be installed.
 
The ‘WaterMark’ symbol on a product indicates that the supplier or manufacturer claims this product meets applicable regulatory requirements.
 
You can find information relating to WaterMark certification and details of Conformity Assessment Bodies on the ABCB's WaterMark website.

The safety and certification of electrical products sold in or imported to Australia is the responsibility of the relevant electrical safety regulator.
 
Contact the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) for details of the relevant regulator or view this list.
 
For further information regarding any mandatory requirements for your product please contact the electrical safety regulator in your state or territory.

There is a mandatory Australian Standard® for the installation of electrical products, commonly referred to as the Wiring Rules. For further information regarding any mandatory requirements regarding electrical installations, please contact the electrical safety regulator in your state or territory.

The building authority in each state or territory is responsible for the mandatory requirements of building products.

For further information, please contact the relevant building authority in your state or territory.

Standards Australia is not responsible for standards in this area. Please contact Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

Standards Australia is not responsible for standards in this area. The National Transport Commission (NTC) or the Australian Design Rules may be able to answer your question.