Standards designations can appear as cryptic codes, initially as bewildering as hieroglyphics. In this blog post, we explain what the different prefixes and numbers mean.
What do the letters stand for?
The letters within a standard's designation provide information about the organisation responsible for its development. Standards are published at various levels, with some designed solely for national purposes. Others are developed for Europe as a whole and some hold global significance.
European standards are developed and published by a few standards organisations (e.g. CEN-CENELEC).
Most European countries are obliged to adopt each standard as a national standard. The procedure aims to guarantee a common collection of standards for Europe. These standards are identified by the prefix EN.
For example, the EVS-EN 71 series ensures the safety of toys, particularly for children, covering various aspects of toy safety in Europe. „EVS-EN“ in this case means that the standard has been published in Estonia.
International standards are developed and published by ISO and standards for electrical, electronic and related technologies are developed and published by IEC. International standards (ISO or IEC) are often adopted as European (EN) standards, in which case they are also nationally adopted as EN ISO or EN IEC.
For instance, EVS-EN ISO 22000:2018 focuses on ensuring the safety of food products throughout the supply chain, and EVS-EN IEC 61000, a series of standards, addresses electromagnetic compatibility requirements. Both are published in Estonia.
Through national implementation, many national standards are based on or identical to international standards.
If you want to ensure you have the right standard before buying it, check either the base documents or use a preview option if possible.
What do the numbers stand for?
Each standard is given an identification number. The identification number can also refer to different parts of a standard.
For example, EVS-EN 71-1, 71-2, and 71-3 are all parts of the standard EVS-EN 71 for the Safety of Toys. Standard series are often given consecutive numbers. However, not all consecutive numbers are related to each other. Always verify the title of a standard to ensure you have the correct one.
The year of publication can typically be found at the end of the standard's designation.
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