Q: Where do standards come from?

A: Standards are developed by committees of expert stakeholders with an interest in a particular issue or problem. These committees are usually organized and managed by an organization that specializes in the development of standards. International standards, for example, are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Here in Canada, there are four standards development organizations that have been recognized by the Standards Council of Canada. They are:

• Bureau de normalisation du Quebec (BNQ)
• Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and
• Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC).