Standardisation
Standards are everywhere in our lives. The help us to recognize the safest products, the best services, the most competent professionals, the most efficient organisations.
How standards are born
A standard is a distillation of theoretical and practical knowledge that draws from a variety of sources, including thousands of experts, often all over the world.
This section tells how standards come into being and how different stakeholders can contribute to making them better. In particular:
- technical standards that codify the state of the art of a product, a service, a process, a profession
- reference practices, pre-standardisation documents developed quickly in a table restricted to authors only
- CEN Workshop Agreements, para-normative documents that intercept emerging issues at European level.
All standardisation values
Although the standards are not mandatory, they work well because of their values,
which are guaranteed by UNI.
Consistency
The standard is a complete solution, giving no room for doubts or contradictions, and fully meets the needs of users.
Transparency
The process of developing a standard is for all to see: there are no behind-the-scenes actions.
Openness
Everyone can participate in the elaboration of a standard: experts with their expertise, users with their needs or with a simple opinion.
Consensuality
For a standard to be approved, the participants in the standardisation process must reach a widely shared agreement.
Voluntariness
The widespread adherence to a non-compulsory standard is the guarantee of its effectiveness.
Independence
UNI finances itself through the fees of members who buy standards, subscriptions, training courses and other products and services.
Efficiency
Standards make entire sectors work because they are the best possible solution, based on sharing the best knowledge, skills and experience.
Why standards are important
Guaranteeing well made things is good for everyone, but especially good for the socio-economic system.
Technology
Standards reduce the economic and financial risk of research and development.
Competitiveness
Standards reduce business costs and time to market for products and services.
Protection of citizens
Standards set quality and safety requirements for products, processes, services, etc. As consumers and as workers.
Sustainability
Standards promote sustainability and are always designed with respect for the environment in mind.
Support for legislators
Standards provide clear and agreed references to regulate new areas or to simplify existing regulation.
Infrastructure for
Quality Italy
Support for improving the quality of products, services, processes and professions.
Find out moreInnovation
"Discovery consists of seeing what everyone has seen and thinking what no one else has thought." - Albert Szent-Györgyi
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A collaborative process
Technical standardization was born thanks to thousands of experts from every sector who make their expertise and experience available within the Technical Bodies managed directly by UNI or at our Federated Bodies.
Making a standard means writing a document that explains “how to guarantee well made things”, while guaranteeing safety, respect for the environment and reliable performance.
There is a standard for
FFP2 masks
UNI EN 149:2009
Artisanal Neapolitan pizza
UNI 10791:1998
Toys
UNI EN 71-1:2018
Greenhouse gases
UNI EN ISO 14067:2018
Petrol pumps
UNI EN 13617-1:2022
Recycling bins
UNI 11686:2017