At 21 03 05, 04:19 AM, Pat Naughtin wrote: >> The document title is "American Softwood Lumber Standard" and its designation >> is "Voluntary Product Standard DOC PS 20 99". > >Can you have a standard that's 'voluntary'?
I suspect 99% of all standards are voluntary. Sure, there are some mandatory ones (e.g., FCC Part 15), but most are simply "recommended practices" more than anything. For example, the NEMA electrical enclosure standards are not only voluntary, but they allow self-certification, meaning a company can claim its products comply without having third-party verification of the claim. What, then, helps ensure compliance? Well, in my industry it is reputation. If you claim your product meets NEMA-4 sealing but it gets soaked in the first rain storm, you will not be in business very long. Jim Jim Elwell, CAMS Electrical Engineer Industrial manufacturing manager Salt Lake City, Utah, USA www.qsicorp.com
