Standards and Codes
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Standards

• What is a standard?
• Why are standards important for research?
• How do I find standards?
• Learn more about standards
• Need Help?

Codes & Building Codes

• What is a code?
• What are codes important for my research?
• How do I find codes?
• International & National Building Codes
• California codes
• Books about codes
• Learn more about codes
• Need Help?

Standards
What is a standard?
"A standard is a document, established by consensus that provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results.  Standards play an important role in everyday life.  They may establish size or shape or capacity of a product, process or system...As examples, standards help ensure that film to fit our cameras can be purchased anywhere in the world, that a light bulb fits a socket, and plugs for electrical appliances fit outlests.  With standards, our homes, workplaces and public builings are safer from collapse, fire and explosion." taken from American National Standards Institute (ANSI) web site

Standards apply to almost anything including the make up of a manufacturing part, the composition of a chemical compound, or the pipes in our home. And everything in between!  Standards are created when an organization writes a standard.  The standard then goes has an extensive public evaluation and is revised with input from corporations, manufacturers, engineers and public citizens.  The standard may then be adopted by a standards-granting organization (i.e. ASTM, BOCA, ASME, IEEE, ASCE, ASHRAE, PCI, etc.).  Over time, standards are updated and old standards are withdrawn.

Why are standards important for research?
Standards, because they give very specific details about all sorts of items, are a good source of information about what "should" be.  They give insight into the "best practices" of an item or process. 

How do I find standards?
There are a number of national standards organizations that produce standards.

1.) Search the library databases such as Compendex and IEEE Xplore. 

2.) Search COAST, WorldCat or other library catalogs. The largest collection of print standards we have is the ASTM standards (Annual Book of ASTM standards, 1st floor Reference TA 401.A653). 

3.) Use the free search feature of companies that sell standards as TechStreet Standards, IHS Global Engineering, NSSN.org, World Standards Services Network (WSSN).

4.) Search specific organizations that are likely to produce the standards you are interested in.

Note: Once you find the standard you want, check COAST to see if we have it.  If not, email the Science and Engineering Librarian.  A specific standard may need to be ordered depending on cost.

Small Sample of Standards Organizations

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• International Standards Organization (ISO)
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• Standards Engineering Society (SES)
• National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
• Military Standards and Specifications

Learn More about Standards

• Standards and Specifications from the Los Angeles Public Library
• Engineering Standards and Specifications from Fogler Library, University of Maine
• World Wide Web Subject Catalog from the University of Kentucky
• Standards and Specifications from Cornell Engineering Library
• Standards Research Guide from Boston University
• IHS University Resource Centere
• European Committee for Standardization

Codes & Building Codes
What is a code (i.e Building Code)?
A code is a set of rules and specifications for the correct methods and materials used in a certain product, building or process. Codes can be approved by local, state or federal governments and can carry the force of law.

Why are codes important?
Codes help maintain a "minimum level of acceptable safety".  For example, a building code specifies materials and procedures used in construction.  Without these codes a building could be unsafe.  Other codes include plumbing codes, safety codes, electrical codes, fire codes, health codes and much more.  In California, building codes require certain buildings to be reinforced for earthquakes.
Codes, like standards, are developed over time with the input from many groups such as organizations, corporations, manufacturers, private citizens, lobbyists and government officials.  

How do I find codes?

Use COAST to search for codes by keyword or title. Check Link+ to get books from other libraries (After doing your search in COAST, click "Repeat search in Link+" button). Search WorldCat or other library catalogs or book vendors such as Amazon.com.  If you find a code that we do not have use Illiad: InterLibrary Loan to get the item in 5-10 days.

National & International Building Codes

• International Building Code (3rd floor, KF 5701.I524 2000)
• International Plumbing Code (3rd floor, KF 5701.Z95 2000)
• International Mechanical Code (3rd floor, KF 5708.Z95 I673 1999)
• International Fire Code (3rd floor, KF 3975.Z95 I673 1999) [note: Fire Codes usually included in Electrical Codes]
• National Electrical Code (1st floor Reference, TK 223 N27 2002)
• National Electrical Safety Code (4th floor, TK 152.A44 2001)

• Building Codes Illustrated: a Guide to Understanding the 2000 international building codes (4th floor TH 420.C49 2003)
• McGraw-Hill's Electrical Safety Code (NESC) handbook (1st floor Reference TK 152.M35 2002)
• Understanding the National Electrical Code (4th floor TK 260.H65 1999)
• Barrier-free design: a manual for Building Designers and Managers by James Holmes-Siedle (3rd floor NA 2545.P5 1996)

Learn More about Codes

Have questions? Need Help?

• Try Chat with a Librarian 24/7 anytime and anywhere.
• Email the Engineering Librarian and get a reply within 24-48 hours.
• Set up a research appointment with the engineering librarian.  
• Try the Library Tutorial.
• Ask a librarian at the Reference Desk on the First Floor of the Library.
• Consult the Engineering Research Page.