Access to Standards

A standards developing organization (SDO) is an organization that develops, publishes, and disseminates standards within their area of expertise. SDOs may include professional societies, industry and trade associations and membership organizations. They may develop standards with their own members or in cooperation with other SDOs and interested parties. SDOs in the United States may choose to develop standards that are submitted to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for approval as American National Standards (ANS). They may also develop standards outside the ANSI accreditation and approval process.

Here is a list of SDOs and other organizations we work with and how you can access their standards.

Academy Standards Board. The Academy Standards Board (ASB) develops consensus based forensic science standards within an ANSI accredited framework, and provides training to support those standards. The ASB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), established and accredited by ANSI in 2015. ASB publishes various types of documents that serve a specific purpose. All ASB published documents are available for free from the ASB website. 

American Dental Association. The American Dental Association (ADA) powers the profession of dentistry to advance the overall oral health of the public. Dental standards from the ADA are available for purchase from the ADA Store. 

Audio Engineering Society. The Audio Engineering Society (AES) is the only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology. Founded in the U.S. in 1948, the AES is now an international organization that unites audio engineers, creative artists, scientists and students worldwide by promoting advances in audio and disseminating new knowledge and research. 

ASTM International. Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards. ASTM publishes various types of documents used around the world to improve product quality, enhance health and safety, strengthen market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.

• ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences develops standards relevant to forensic science, including criminalistics, digital and multimedia evidence, fire debris analysis, drug testing analysis, collection and preservation of physical and digital evidence as well as reporting of findings.
• ASTM has given the public free access to the E30 published standards. To view the ASTM standards on the OSAC Registry, visit the OSAC Registry webpage and click on the standard of interest. You can also click the green "ASTM Standards Access" button at the top of this heading to enter the ASTM Compass website. There you can search E30 standards by standard number, title or keyword. 

International Organization for Standardization. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 150+ national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. Standards published by ISO are available for purchase from the ISO Store or ANSI Webstore. 

• ISO Technical Committee 272 Forensic Sciences (ISO/TC 272) develops standards that pertain to laboratory and field-based forensic science techniques and methodology in broad general areas such as the detection and collection of physical evidence, the subsequent analysis and interpretation of the evidence, and the reporting of results and findings. 
• ANSI is the U.S. member body to ISO and coordinates the development of voluntary consensus standards in the United States. ANSI does not write standards; rather, it accredits standards developers that will establish consensus among qualified groups. 

National Fire Protection Association. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazard. NFPA delivers knowledge and information through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. NFPA is an ANSI accredited organization with a full, open, and consensus-based standards development process. As part of its commitment to enhancing public safety, NFPA provides free online access to its codes and standards.

Credit: SWGDE

Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence. The Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) brings together organizations actively engaged in the field of digital and multimedia evidence to foster communication and cooperation as well as to ensure quality and consistency within the forensic community. SWGDE documents are developed by a consensus process that involves the best efforts of relevant subject matter experts, organizations, and input from other stakeholders to publish suggested best practices, practical guidance, technical positions, and educational information in the discipline of digital and multimedia forensics and related fields. SWGDE documents are freely available at swgde.org.