Standards Development

Why Standards?

Standards provide interchangeability between similarly functioning products and systems, improving compatibility, safety and performance for users. They can also improve the availability of components that can be used interchangeably with equipment provided by different manufacturers. They establish performance criteria for products, materials, or systems. Standards also provide a common basis for testing, analyzing, describing, or informing users and producers in regards to the performance and characteristics of products, methods, materials, or systems.

ASABE is the leading national producer of agricultural safety standards. They are an integral part of our modern world. 

ASABE is also accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to coordinate and develop the U.S. position in fifteen distinct areas of international standards development. Each of these areas has an associated ASABE technical committee, made up of U.S. experts from a diverse range of backgrounds, to establish the U.S. position in these areas.

The first step in getting involved is to determine which of the technical communities match your general interest.  Once you have determined which community to explore you can examine the variety of committees within the community to see if one or more match your specific interest area. You then contact the ASABE administrator overseeing the committee(s) you are interested in. The Standards Administrators can provide a more detailed explanation and answer questions as well as get you linked to these committees. The Standards Administrators are your key to learning about the process, the forums, ballots and other opportunities.

You can find a list of the communities and information regarding the  administrators of the committees within each community here. Details for each committee can be found  on the Committees page.