II Standards
Standards New Zealand
155 The Terrace, (Private Bag 2439), Wellington
Telephone: 04-498 5990
Website: www.standards.co.nz
Mission: "To be a world leader in the development and provision of consensus-based standards solutions achieved through an active, profitable partnership with our customers"
Standards New Zealand (SNZ) prepares, adopts and publishes most of the technical and commercial standards in New Zealand. Standards development is an open process of consultation and consensus, with all interested parties invited to participate.
Mandatory standards are those cited in laws or regulations, either as formal requirements or endorsed as examples of approved practice.
Most standards are voluntary; i.e. they are not required by law. Voluntary standards may be used as the best way to make sure a product is safe, or to give assurance to customers and add value to your product or service.
The current trend is towards acceptance and adoption of international standards wherever possible.
Examples of standards, guidelines and codes of practice are:
- Timber framed buildings
- Code of practice for the management of agrichemicals (English and Chinese language versions)
- Quality Management Systems
- Methods of testing child restraints - dynamic testing
- Acoustics - measurement of environmental sound
- Electrical Installations (wiring rules)
- Code of practice for bungy jumping
- Health and Disability - Infection control
- Health and Disability - Restraint minimisation and safe practice
- Materials and Workmanship for Earth Buildings
- Professional Standards for Telenursing Practice
- Risk Management for Local Government
- Guidelines for Risk Management in Healthcare
Standards are also the basis of conformity assessment. Laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies refer to standards when testing samples, inspecting safety equipment or auditing quality systems. Accreditation bodies use standards to check that laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies are competent to undertake the work they do for their clients.
Structure
Standards New Zealand is the trading arm of the Standards Council, a Crown-owned entity operating under the Standards Act 1988. The Standards Council is an appointed body, with representatives from consumers, industry and government. The Council has statutory responsibility for overseeing the development and adoption of standards and standards-related products. SNZ has a staff of 43 and relies on over 2,000 New Zealanders who give their time to serve on the many boards and standards development committees.
SNZ does not receive direct government funding for its activities, apart from contestable contracts. Revenue comes from contracts with industry and government for the adoption, development and support of standards and from the sales of standards publications.
Operations
Standards provide formal guidelines for safe, efficient products and practices that help organisations, industry and the community. Other SNZ products include codes of practice, handbooks and interim standards. SNZ also offers membership services and runs public seminars about the content of key standards.
A standard or code of practice sets acceptable levels of quality and performance, usually a minimum level or a "best practice" benchmark. For clients, this provides an opportunity to:
- Define specifications that ensure a quality product or service within their business, industry or community
- Reduce cost (and risk) by providing a solution that key stakeholders agree is the "way to do" a task or specify the characteristics of a product
- Meet international requirements, reducing barriers between exporters and their international markets
- Use standards as a marketing tool, a proud stamp of quality
- Provide a means of compliance with legislation
- Achieve national and international recognition for best practice
The Process
Development of standards and codes of practice is based on an internationally recognised process of consultation and consensus. Importantly, the process is independent and seen to be independent within an agreed scope. The key elements are as follows:
Products and Services
Standards New Zealand is responsible for:
- New Zealand Standards, specified for New Zealand conditions
- Joint Australian/New Zealand Standards for use on both sides of the Tasman. Joint standards are developed and published in conjunction with Standards Australia International, under an Active Co-operation Agreement. Over 2,500 joint AS/NZS standards are now in use
- Overseas standards adopted or amended to suit New Zealand conditions
- Codes of Practice or Industry Technical Agreements - these are quicker and less expensive to develop than a full standard
- Useful, easy to understand handbooks that assist practical application of standards in the community
- Seminars to inform and train people on the content of specific standards and to publicise new standards
- WTO TBT Enquiry Point for all non-agricultural products
Case Study: Winstone Wallboards
Winstone Wallboards is conscious that, ultimately, it competes in a global market. We believe it is important for us to demonstrate our technical credibility to manufacture products to meet the needs of our New Zealand and export customers. We maintain a Quality Management System certified to ISO 9000 and ensure that the products we manufacture meet the requirements of other relevant standards.
Winstones has supported the development of performance based standards - versus prescriptive standards - for building materials and systems, as this promotes competitive innovation.
As an example, we found that the Australian construction market did not have any gypsum-based, high impact, low maintenance, interior lining systems. The end result is the recent, successful introduction of Gib Toughline. This is an internationally patented "reinforced" plasterboard, developed with good Kiwi know-how. It was extensively tested to ensure it met the specific Building Code performance requirements of both the New Zealand and Australian markets.
International Role
SNZ represents New Zealand in the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) and facilitates New Zealand representation on relevant ISO and IEC technical bodies and standards committees. This enables New Zealand to have input into shaping international standards developments that help reduce barriers to trade in our major export sectors and markets.
SNZ is contracted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to act as New Zealand's Enquiry Point for the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). The Enquiry Point notifies the WTO of any new New Zealand regulations that may impact on trade. It also responds to enquiries from overseas on any regulations or requirements that must be met before specific products can be imported into New Zealand.
SNZ is a founding member of the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) and participates in PASC activities. SNZ also works closely with government in standards and conformance activities within APEC and on standards issues in negotiations between Australia/New Zealand (CER) and trade groups in Southeast Asia and South America. SNZ also provides advice to the government on standards issues within international organisations such as the WTO and the OECD.
SNZ assists in meeting the government's development assistance objectives by providing consultancy support, training and capacity building opportunities for standards bodies in developing countries.
Case Study: Relevant Standards for Aviation Industry
Five years ago, when the aviation industry started to use standards on a regular basis, it found that some were out of date or irrelevant. The industry decided to get involved in the standards development process in order to make sure that the end product reflected the industry's needs.
The first standard to be reviewed was AS/NZ 2430.3, which addresses the classification of hazardous areas, including aircraft hangars. The earlier version of the standard was written as if modern aircraft were powered by petrol. In fact, they are usually powered by Jet a1, a kerosene-type fuel. The revised standard distinguishes between different fuel types and the dangers that each type poses. This has proved to be of significant benefit to the industry by providing a realistic standard that can be readily complied with.
The industry has also had input into the revision of AS/NZ2381.1, which covers electrical equipment in hazardous zones. The revised standard enables different equipment to be used safely within hazardous zones, provided the risk is managed through testing for explosive vapours and an audit trail. This gives the aviation industry flexibility to use a wider range of equipment while still meeting safety standards.