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.

Login to Connect to browse a list of drafts currently open for public comment.

Connect also provides information on current standards development projects, committees and more. See the Connect user guide for members of the public (PDF) for more.

A withdrawn status indicates that a document is no longer relevant or its designation has changed. A publication can be withdrawn if it: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Withdrawn publications can still be used within an industry, community or government if they choose to do so.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Withdrawn publications can still be purchased from the SAI Global Store.
 

A superseded status indicates a publication has been replaced by a more recent document.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In some cases, the older document may be superseded by a new document with a different designation (AS number) and title.

In other cases, a publication will only be partly superseded.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Available superseded indicates that a document has been made available for a period of time, despite it being formally superseded by another document.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 business.gov.au 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 sixth edition of the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000:2018) was released in June 2018.

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been developed by the committee responsible for the Wiring Rules (2018) to explain some of the issues which have been raised by users of the standard.

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.

There are two suites of contract standards, known as the AS 4000 suite and AS 2124 suite. The AS 4000 suite has a superior, plain English drafting style aimed at introducing consistency into project administration, documentation and practices. The AS 2124 suite can be referred to by state and local government bodies eg Buying for Victoria (formerly Tenders VIC). Users should contact the relevant Government department for further information on which editions are to be used.

Below is a listing of contract standards, the suite to which they belong and equivalencies.

AS 4000 suite		AS 2124 suite
AS 4000-1997, General conditions of contract		AS 2124-1992, General conditions of contract
AS 4122-2010, General conditions of contract for consultants		No Equivalent
AS 4901-1998, Subcontract conditions		AS 2545-1993, Subcontract conditions
AS 4902-2000, General conditions of contract for design and construct		AS 4300-1995, General conditions of contract for design and construct
AS 4903-2000, General conditions of subcontract for design and construct		AS 4303-1995, General conditions of subcontract for design and construct
AS 4904-2009, Consultants agreement - Design and construct		No Equivalent
AS 4905-2002, Minor works contract conditions (Superintendent administered)		AS 4305-1996, Minor works contract conditions
AS 4906-2002, Minor works contract conditions (Principal administered)		AS 4305-1996, Minor works contract conditions
AS 4910-2002, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment with installation		AS 2987-1987, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment with or without installation
AS/NZS 4911:2003, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment without installation		AS 3556-1998, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment
AS 4912-2002, General conditions of contract for the periodic supply of goods		No Equivalent
AS 4915-2002, Project management - General conditions		No Equivalent
AS 4916-2002, Construction management - General conditions		No Equivalent
AS 4917-2003, Construction management trade contract - General conditions		No Equivalent
AS 4919-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Superintendents version)		No Equivalent
AS 4920-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Principals version)		No Equivalent
AS 4921-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Short version)		No Equivalent
AS 4949-2001, Work order		No Equivalent
AS 4950-2006, Form of formal instrument of agreement		AS 2127-1992, Form of formal instrument of agreement
AS 4301-1995, General conditions of tendering and tender form for design and contract		AS 2125-1992, Tender form

Contract standards are available in two formats:

1. PDF with editable fields in annexes (Reusable PDFs)
   Allows the user to add details relevant to their specifications within the Annexures via highlighted form fields. The contract terms however are locked and cannot be amended, only referred to within the appropriate Annexure for additions and deletions. Reusable PDFs are appropriate for small, low-negotiation projects where changes to the existing terms are minimal.
   
   Reusable PDFs can be purchased from our distributors – SAI Global. These PDFs are time centric according to the date of purchase eg a 3 month licence will allow the designation number of amended copies to be distributed within 3 months from the invoice date of purchase, after which the reusable contract tool will expire denying access to the document.
   
   Note – reusable PDFs should not be emailed to third parties as the tender document as these too will expire making the contract void. All amended versions from the tool should be printed, scanned and saved to a project file prior external distribution.
2. Microsoft Word
   Allows licensed users to add, delete or modify the contractual terms in the body of the contract and complete details in the annexes with as many additions as required. Parties can password-protect tracked changes, a feature very useful during complex contract negotiations.

Licences for these contract documents are available for terms of 3, 6 and 12 months.

“Reference use only” standards are sold under a limited licence and intended for internal reference or guidance only. These standards are not for external distribution and cannot be amended. They are not permitted to be used transactionally between contracting parties for legal purposes or extracts added to an internal publication.

Users may download the PDF to a device and make 2 print copies for backup purposes. 

Note – when printing, ensure adequate paper is available to accommodate the standard pagination. Stopping the printer will automatically cancel the print function.

Reference Use Only PDFs are not suitable for external legal purposes. A quote for a specially watermarked PDF in the name of the Matter must be sought from SA copyright services copyright@standards.org.au

AS 4000-1997, General conditions of contract, provides an industry accepted standard form of contract that is suitable for building and construction projects as well as for civil, mechanical, electrical and other types of engineering services.

The AS 4000 suite of contracts does not have an Instrument of Agreement attached as an Annexure and must be purchased separately.
AS 4950-2006, Form of formal instrument of agreement, can be used for all AS 4000 suite standards.

AS 4122-2010, General Conditions of Contract for Consultants, is not limited to the provision of consulting services within the building and construction industry. It may be used across industries. As a broadly accepted industry standard, it enables purchasers and service providers by streamlining the process of engaging consultants, reducing disputes pertaining to contractual terms and improving the clarity of obligations between clients and consultants.

The standard should be considered along with AS 4120, Code of tendering and AS 4121, Code of ethics and procedures for the selection of consultants.

This standard is available in the form of an interactive PDF only and amended in a similar way to reusable PDFs.

AS 4902-2000, General Conditions of Contract for Design and Construct, is suitable for ‘design and construct’ project procurement. The standard provides for different variations of the design and construct contract, namely:

• design and construct;
• design, development and construct; and
• design, novate and construct.

• AS 4902-2000, General conditions of contract for design and construct: Applicable for situations wherein the principal provides only a brief.
• AS 4903-2000, Subcontract conditions for design and construct, which is the subcontract compatible with AS 4902-2000.
• AS 4904-2009, Consultants agreement - Design and construct: Applicable where the head contract is AS 4902-2000 and the consultant is to be engaged by the principal.

• AS 4915-2002, Project management - General conditions: Applicable for project management delivery systems.
• AS 4916-2002, Construction management - General conditions: Applicable when project delivery system is for construction management.

• AS 4910-2002, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment with installation: Applicable for turnkey projects wherein a major item of equipment is to be supplied an installed.
• AS/NZS 4911:2003, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment without installation: Applicable to the supply of equipment which is purpose-built or manufactured.
• AS 4912-2002, General conditions of contract for the periodic supply of goods: Used for projects with a supply of diverse set of goods over a defined period.

• AS 4919-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Superintendent's version)
• AS 4920-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Principal's version)​
• AS 4921-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Short version)

If you have a Reference Use Only PDF of the principal contract and need contract standard Annexure files to amend for subsequent projects, these are available in MS Word format which allows you to add or change according to your specifications – while leaving the text of the contract terms unchanged.

Yes. Customers are required to obtain a copyright licence from Standards Australia for reproducing any extract from Australian Standards. An extract includes, for example, a sentence, paragraph, a diagram or figure, or a clause. Examples or context of the proposed use of the extract must be submitted as part of the copyright license application process. Standards Australia reserves the right to charge a fee to reproduce any extract.

Head over to our License content page for information on how to apply.