Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most important questions about DIN, its tasks and standardization:
What does "DIN" stand for?
What does DIN do?
Who are DIN's members?
What is a standard?
What is standardization?
Who develops standards?
How is a standard developed?
What are the economic benefits of standardization?
How do standards help businesses?
How do standards help consumers?
What is the role of the government or the European Commission in standardization?
Do we still need DIN when we have international standardization?
Do standards get in the way of innovation?
Are standards equivalent to laws?
What do the various abbreviations mean at the beginning of a standard number?
What does "DIN" stand for?
DIN stands for "Deutsches Institut für Normung", which means "German Institute for Standardization". DIN Standards are the published results of DIN's work.
DIN was founded on 18 May 1917 as the "Normalienausschuss für den allgemeinen Maschinenbau" (roughly, the "Standardizing Committee for Mechanical Engineering in General"). Since then, it has undergone several name changes, as have its products - originally, German standards were called "Deutsche Industrie-Normen", or "German Industrial Standards". It wasn't until the 1970s that the name "DIN" became the official symbol for technical standardization in Germany.
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What does DIN do?
DIN, the German Institute for Standardization provides services for all stakeholders in standardization by serving as a meeting place for representatives from industry, commerce, consumers, the trades, other service providers, research organizations, technical inspection institutions and public authorities. At DIN stakeholders sit down together to develop consensus-based standards that meet market requirements.
By agreement with the German Federal Government, DIN has been the acknowledged national standards body that represents German interests in European and international standards organizations since 1975.
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Who are DIN's members?
DIN has nearly 1,700 members, including individual companies, associations, public authorities, and other organizations from industry, commerce, the trades and research. DIN members help support standardization through their fees and play an active role in the decision-making process.
For more information see DIN als Partner > DIN Membership
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What is a standard?
A technical standard represents the state of technology as determined in a consensus-based process organized by a standards body. Standards lay down general and/or detailed specifications for products, procedures and services alike.
DIN EN 45020 defines the term "standard" as a "document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context".
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What is standardization?
Standardization is the process by which a standard is developed. In Germany, this process is governed by the DIN 820 series, which have been harmonized with the Internal Regulations of CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, and the Directives of ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. Again, DIN EN 45020 defines standardization as the "activity of establishing, with regard to actual or potential problems, provisions for common and repeated use, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context" and goes on to state that "important benefits of standardization are [the] improvement of the suitability of products, processes and services for their intended purposes, prevention of barriers to trade and facilitation of technological cooperation".
One of the major principles of standards work is its voluntary nature. Another important aspect of standardization is that its results, the standards themselves, are recommendations whose use is also voluntary. Standardization is open to the participation of all stakeholders, is consensus-based, relevant, international, reflects the state of science and technology, and is economically viable and beneficial to society as a whole.
For more information see Develop standards > Consensus Based Standardization
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Who develops standards?
Standards are developed by those who have a need and an interest in using them. This includes technical and other circles often referred to as the "stakeholders" in standardization. In Germany around 26,000 experts are active in national, European and international standards work, representing manufacturers, consumers, wholesalers and retailers, research organizations, public authorities and testing agencies. At present 73 standards committees at DIN bring these experts together to work on various projects. Draft standards are then published for public comment, thus allowing an even broader public to become involved in the process.
For more information Develop standards > Consensus Based Standardization
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Anybody can submit a proposal for a new standard. Once accepted, a standardization project involves all interested parties, who delegate experts to represent their interests in the work groups overseen by DIN's standards committees. The permanent staff at DIN coordinate this process and are responsible for overall project management.
Standards are consensus-based, that is they are developed by experts with the goal of arriving at a common standpoint. In doing so, they consider technological developments, economic viability and international harmonization. Once discussion has reached the stage of initial agreement, the results are published as a draft standard and made available to the public for comment. Comments received are discussed by the committee before a standard can be adopted and published.
For more information Develop standards > Consensus Based Standardization
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What are the economic benefits of standardization?
Standards generate economic benefits which have been estimated at 16 billion euros a year for Germany alone. Standards promote worldwide trade, encourage rationalization, quality assurance and environmental protection, and improve security and communication. Standards have a greater effect on economic growth than patents or licenses. Here are some of the results of the joint research project "Economic benefits of standardization" carried out by the TU Dresden and the Fraunhofer Institute in Karlsruhe:
- Standards are an indicator of innovative technological competitiveness
- Standards encourage technology transfer
- International standards lead to international competitiveness and help export-oriented sectors open up new markets
- International standards encourage trade
For more information see Success with Standards
The economic benefits of standards also contribute to a company's success. Some of the advantages for businesses include:
- Cost reduction through
- mass production and global purchasing
- lower transaction costs
- reduced adjustment costs
- shorter development times
- R&D investment success through R&D phase standardization
- Access to new markets
- Lower liability exposure
- Improved customer relations
- Improved image in general
Participation in the standardization process is a strategic move for any company. Potential competitive advantages include:
- Lower cost of market entry
- Timely access to information and knowledge
- Reduced adjustment costs by contributing to the content of a standard
- Cost savings in contracting procedures
For more information see Success with Standards
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How do standards help consumers?
Standards help ensure safety, quality and easy operation of products. Standards accompany us throughout our entire lives, making our baby articles, toys, and school supplies safe, then ensuring the quality of the products we use at home, at work and on the road. Without standards, the light bulb won't fit in its socket, the letter won't fit in its envelope, and the nozzle won't fit in our car's tank.
Standards help protect our safety, health and the environment, and ensure performance capability and reliability, thus increasing consumer confidence. They also protect employees in industry, in the office, in laboratories and on building sites ... in short, standards help make life better for everyone in all walks of life.
For more information see DIN as Partner > Consumers
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What is the role of the government or the European Commission in standardization?
Standardization is a form of economic self-regulation, relieving the state of the responsibility for developing detailed technical specifications while ensuring that a standard reflects the state of technology. Because the state has an interest in standardization, particularly in the occupational safety and health sectors, it funds DIN projects in sectors which are in the public interest.
Standards also function as tools for deregulation at the European level. Acting within strict guidelines laid down in its directives, the European Commission submits proposals for concrete standards projects.
For more information see DIN in the World> Europe
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Do we still need DIN when we have international standardization?
We most certainly do, for without DIN Germany could not participate in international standards work! DIN represents German interests in European and international standards organizations such as the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and through the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies of DIN and VDE (DKE) participates in the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In fact, 85 % of DIN's standards work is international in nature. Stakeholders can participate in work at CEN/CENELEC or ISO/IEC only if they are accredited by DIN. They can also work on a national "mirror" committee which presents the national position on a topic in the form of a standard proposal.
For more information see DIN in the World
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Do standards get in the way of innovation?
No. A standard does not specify one technical solution, but rather contains requirements that form the framework for many different possible solutions. In fact, standards contribute greatly to the rapid dissemination of technical knowledge, allowing a quick translation of research results into marketable technical products, thus strengthening the competitiveness and innovative lead of businesses. And European and international standards open markets for new technologies throughout Europe and the world.
For more information see Success with Standards > Innovation Management
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Are standards equivalent to laws?
Standards are not in themselves regulatory in nature and their use is voluntary. Although standards are in effect recommendations, they are widely used because of the benefits they bring and because they contain a concentration of qualified technical information.
Standards only become mandatory if they are referred to in private contracts or agreements, or in laws or regulations and their use is stated as a requirement. Standards can prevent legal disputes, because they set out unambiguous specifications.
For more information Use Standards > Standards and the law
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What do the various abbreviations mean at the beginning of a standard number?
DIN: German Standard developed solely at national level that has primarily national significance. It may also be the preliminary version of a future supranational document.
DIN EN: European Standard that has been published, unchanged, in Germany. In fact, all CEN/CENELEC member countries are required to adopt European Standards in this manner.
DIN EN ISO: Increasingly, standards are developed either under the leadership of ISO or of CEN and then published by both organizations. As with the ENs, they are to be adopted unchanged as national standards by all member countries. In Germany these are published as "DIN EN ISOs".
DIN ISO: ISO standard adopted unchanged as a German Standard.
DIN IEC: IEC standard adopted unchanged as a German Standard.
For more information Develop Standards > Consensus Based Standardization > Standards Products