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FAQs
What does Standards Australia do?
Standards Australia is the nation’s peak standards development body. We develop standards, technical specifications, handbooks and other publications, resources and solutions. We participate in international standards development as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
We do not enforce, regulate or certify compliance with standards.
We form technical committees made up of stakeholders from government, business, industry, community, academia and consumers. Through a process of consensus, these committees develop standards for Australia’s net benefit. We facilitate that process.
We do not enforce, regulate or certify compliance with standards.
We form technical committees made up of stakeholders from government, business, industry, community, academia and consumers. Through a process of consensus, these committees develop standards for Australia’s net benefit. We facilitate that process.
What is a standard?
Standards are documents that set out specifications, procedures and guidelines that aim to ensure products, services, and systems are safe, consistent, and reliable. Learn more here.
Are standards mandatory?
We publish voluntary standards. However, State and Commonwealth governments often refer to standards in their legislation. When this happens, these standards can become mandatory.
We are not able to give advice in relation to the compliance or non-compliance with any requirements or specifications in a standard. Please contact the relevant regulator for information on compliance with mandatory standards. A list of key government contacts is available here.
We are not able to give advice in relation to the compliance or non-compliance with any requirements or specifications in a standard. Please contact the relevant regulator for information on compliance with mandatory standards. A list of key government contacts is available here.
How do I obtain a standard and how much do they cost?
Only the Standards Store and our official licensed distributors are authorised to distribute Australian Standard® brand standards.
The pricing of standards varies from document to document. For sales and pricing information please visit:
- Standards Store or call 1800 035 822 (from Australia), or +61 2 9237 6171 (from overseas)
- Techstreet (formerly “Standards Australia Webstore powered by Techstreet”) or call +61 1800 845 140
- Intertek Inform (formerly "SAI Global") or call 131 242 (from Australia) or +61 2 8206 6010 (from overseas)
The pricing of standards varies from document to document. For sales and pricing information please visit:
- Standards Store or call 1800 035 822 (from Australia), or +61 2 9237 6171 (from overseas)
- Techstreet (formerly “Standards Australia Webstore powered by Techstreet”) or call +61 1800 845 140
- Intertek Inform (formerly "SAI Global") or call 131 242 (from Australia) or +61 2 8206 6010 (from overseas)
Will I have to pay to view a standard?
If you would like to read an entire document, you will have to purchase the standard. Some libraries maintain access to Australian Standards. Contact your local library to see if a subscription is maintained to Australian Standards.
I'd like to reproduce or copy all or parts of the Australian Standard I have purchased. How do I go about this?
Australian Standards® are protected by copyright.
Licensing requests can be made by submitting an enquiry form .
Licensing requests can be made by submitting an enquiry form .
How are Australian Standards® developed?
Standards Australia receives proposals from the public to develop or revise a standard. Approved proposals become projects assigned to committees made up of various interest groups. For a standard to be published, consensus must be reached in accordance with our standardisation guides. Please refer to Developing Standards to learn more.
Who develops standards?
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.
How do I propose a new standard or revise an existing standard?
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.
As a member of the public, how can I comment on a proposal to create or revise a standard?
Anyone can vote and comment on a proposal open for consultation. Please refer to our Proposal Consultation page to learn more.
As a member of the public, how can I comment on a draft standard?
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.
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.
I've got questions about the Standard and what it means - can I speak to someone?
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.
What are ANZSIC Sectors?
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) sectors are the classification of industries that have been jointly developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand to increase comparability of industry statistics across the economy. From September 2023, Standards Australia will be changing our industry classifications to align with the ANZSIC sector structure. Publications and Committees will be assigned to the new ANZSIC sector classifications, which will be reflected in our corporate site and store content, search and filtering options, and assigned sectors in other SA platforms, e.g. Connect, PCMS, etc.
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For more information, go to:
• https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-industrial-classification-anzsic/2006-revision-2-0/nature-and-objectives-classification
• https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-and-new-zealand-standard-industrial-classification-anzsic/2006-revision-2-0/numbering-system-and-titles/division-codes-and-titles
What is an interim standard?
An interim document is a provisional publication with a maximum life of two years. It is typically created in instances when a subject field has not fully determined all of the requirements or if national consensus is anticipated but has not yet been reached.
The aim of an interim document is to provide a guide for future standardisation in the specified field and to collect public feedback on the subject during the life of the publication.
The aim of an interim document is to provide a guide for future standardisation in the specified field and to collect public feedback on the subject during the life of the publication.
Why is a standard marked as withdrawn?
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, please visit Buy Standards for current access options.
Withdrawn publications can still be purchased, please visit Buy Standards for current access options.
What is a superseded standard?
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.
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.
What does “available superseded” mean?
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.
We do not enforce, regulate or certify compliance with standards.
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.
We do not enforce, regulate or certify compliance with standards.
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.
What does it mean when a standard has been made “obsolescent”?
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.
An amendment has been issued for a standard I bought. What is an amendment?
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.
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.
I have questions about using a Standard - can you help me?
No, technical queries regarding implementation of the content of a standard are outside Standards Australia's area of expertise and responsibility.
We are unable to comment on the application, implementation or interpretation of our publications. These activities are handled by regulators, designers or consultants. We recommend that you contact a relevant industry consultant.
If there is no legislation or mandatory requirement to adhere to then the interpretation of the standard is ultimately up to the end user.
For the contact details of the relevant authorities, click here.
We are unable to comment on the application, implementation or interpretation of our publications. These activities are handled by regulators, designers or consultants. We recommend that you contact a relevant industry consultant.
If there is no legislation or mandatory requirement to adhere to then the interpretation of the standard is ultimately up to the end user.
For the contact details of the relevant authorities, click here.
Can Standards Australia assist with locating a consultant?
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.
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.
Who certifies that a product conforms to a standard and how do I get a product/service/organisation certified?
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 determine whether products comply with Australian Standards® and does not certify products/services/organisations.
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 determine whether products comply with Australian Standards® and does not certify products/services/organisations.
How do I get a product/service/organisation/person certified?
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.
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.
Who do I contact to get my product tested?
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
Standards Australia does not test products. Product testing is usually carried out by test laboratories.
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).
Standards Australia does not test products. Product testing is usually carried out by test laboratories.
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).
I am interested in importing a product into Australia. How do I find out if it needs to be certified to particular standards before being imported and offered for sale?
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.
We are unable to advise if the product you are importing needs to meet any mandatory requirements.
For general information on importing, visit business.gov.au or speak to the relevant government authority.
We are unable to advise if the product you are importing needs to meet any mandatory requirements.
How do I get my product certified for export?
The Australian Trade Commission 'Austrade may offer assistance to exporters in Australia.
Standards Australia does not have information on export requirements as these are generally set by the country you are exporting to.
Standards Australia does not have information on export requirements as these are generally set by the country you are exporting to.
I have a product that says it complies with an Australian Standard®. However, it doesn't comply or it doesn't function properly. Who do I contact?
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.
Click here for a list of consumer regulatory bodies.
Mandatory Product Safety Standards - General Products
For information on a range of consumer products and safety-related issues visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website or speak to the Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs in your state or territory.
The ACCC is responsible for enforcing mandatory product information and safety standards. It also issues bans on unsafe goods declared under the Competition and Consumer Act.
Fair trading offices and Consumer Affairs bodies also have an important role in product safety within their own states or territories.
Click here for a list of consumer regulatory bodies.
The ACCC is responsible for enforcing mandatory product information and safety standards. It also issues bans on unsafe goods declared under the Competition and Consumer Act.
Fair trading offices and Consumer Affairs bodies also have an important role in product safety within their own states or territories.
Click here for a list of consumer regulatory bodies.
Plumbing Products WaterMark Certification
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 ‘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.
Electrical Products
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.
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.
Electrical Installations
Standards Australia is the nation’s peak standards development body. We develop standards, technical specifications,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.
Electrical Installation/Wiring Rules
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 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.
Building Products
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.
For further information, please contact the relevant building authority in your state or territory.
Food/Drink Standards
Standards Australia is not responsible for standards in this area. Please contact Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
Vehicle Safety Standards
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.
What are contract standards?
Australian contract standards are sample construction contracts designed to guide and assist procurement administrators and lawyers. Available in several digital formats and licensed for external commercial use, they become a trustworthy and cost-effective contract customised to accommodate your RFT/RFQ specifications.
What contract standards are available?
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.
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 3556-1998, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment
AS/NZS 4911:2003, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment without installation
AS 2987-1987, General conditions of contract for the supply of equipment with or without installation
AS 4912-2002, General conditions of contract for the periodic supply of goods
No Equivalent
AS 4915-2002, Project management - General conditions
No Equivalent
No Equivalent
No Equivalent
AS 4917-2003, Construction management trade contract - General conditions
No Equivalent
AS 4916-2002, Construction management - General conditions
AS 4919-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Superintendents version)
AS 4921-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Short version)
AS 4920-2003, General conditions of contract for the provision of asset maintenance and services (Principals version)
AS 4949-2001, Work order
No Equivalent
AS 4950-2006, Form of formal instrument of agreement
No Equivalent
No Equivalent
AS 2125-1992, Tender form
AS 4301-1995, General conditions of tendering and tender form for design and contract
AS 2127-1992, Form of formal instrument of agreement
In what formats are Standards Australia's contract documents available?
Contract standards are available in two formats:
- 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.
- 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.
What is the purpose of “reference use only” version?
“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. Please Submit an Enquiry form.
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. Please Submit an Enquiry form.
For what purpose can the AS 4000-1997 be used?
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.
Where is the Instrument of Agreement in AS 4000-1997?
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 4950-2006, Form of formal instrument of agreement, can be used for all AS 4000 suite standards.
For what purpose can the AS 4122-2010 be used?
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.
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.
For what purpose can the AS 4902-2002 be used?
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.
What contract standards are available for back-to-back “design and construct” purpose?
- 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.
Which contract standards are suitable for supply of equipment?
- 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.
Which contract standards should be purchased together for the management of assets?
- 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.
Do you have the Annexures available for separate licensing?
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.
Do I need permission to reproduce extracts from standards?
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.
Head over to our License content page for information on how to apply.
Standards Australia Acronyms and Abbreviations
This document provides the definition of acronyms and abbreviations that are commonly used at Standards
Australia. Download Standards Australia Acronyms and Abbreviations document.
Australia. Download Standards Australia Acronyms and Abbreviations document.