Standards
Introduction
How can we be sure that the homes we live in, the vehicles we travel in, and the water we drink are safe? In all these aspects of our lives, we are protected by technical standards. It’s important that all engineers have a strong understanding of technical standards so that they can abide by them in their work. In this module, you’ll learn about what standards are and how they are developed. You’ll explore an example standard and think about how this document is useful to engineers and society. Finally, you’ll learn about where to find standards and how to access them.
Modes of Learning
In this module, students will use the following modes of learning:
- Videos
- An activity in which you explore a standard
This module will take approximately 25 minutes to complete.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, you will be able to…
- Recognize what a standard is and its value to society
- Locate needed information in a standard
- Identify sources for finding standards
Key Terms & Concepts
- Standard
- Regulation
- Code
- Guideline
- Specification
Topic 1: Introduction to Standards
This video covers what a standard is, how they are developed and who develops them, and specific vocabulary and terminology related to standards.
Watch Introduction to Standards in full screen.
Quiz
Topic 2: Reading a Standard
In this video, we will look at an example of a standard and learn how to read one.
Watch Reading a Standard in full screen.
Quiz
Use the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards to answer the questions below.
Topic 3: Finding Standards
Watch Finding Standards in full screen.
Quiz
Summary
In this module on technical standards, you learned what standards are, how they are developed, and why they are important to engineers and society. You practiced reading and interpreting information in a standard through an activity using the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards. You also learned about standards organizations and standards databases and how you might interact with each of these to access standards.
References
International Electrotechnical Commission, “Understanding Standards.” https://www.iec.ch/understanding-standards (accessed Oct. 6, 2021).
Additional Resources