What Is an Accredited Standards Committee (ASC)?

An Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) is a formal body responsible for developing, maintaining, and promoting industry standards in various technical and professional fields.

What Is an Accredited Standards Committee (ASC)?

An Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) is a consensus-based standards development body that operates under the procedures established by an official accrediting organization, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the United States. An ASC is composed of representatives from diverse stakeholder groups, including industry experts, manufacturers, users, government agencies, and academia, ensuring balanced participation and broad representation in the standardization process.

The committee is responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising standards within its designated scope, addressing technical specifications, best practices, and compliance guidelines relevant to its field. ASCs follow an open, transparent process that includes public reviews and formal voting to achieve consensus, ensuring that the resulting standards reflect the collective expertise and needs of affected parties. These standards facilitate interoperability, safety, and efficiency in industries, while also supporting regulatory compliance and international trade.

Who Authorizes an ASC?

An Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) is authorized and accredited by a national standards body, most commonly the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the United States. ANSI does not develop standards itself but accredits organizations, including ASCs, to develop American National Standards (ANS) following ANSI’s Essential Requirements, which ensure openness, balance, due process, and consensus in the standards development process.

In other countries, similar roles are held by national standards bodies (e.g., BSI in the UK, DIN in Germany). However, the term "ASC" is most specifically associated with ANSI-accredited committees in the U.S.

What Is the Role of an Accredited Standards Committee?

The role of an Accredited Standards Committee is to develop, maintain, and revise voluntary consensus standards within a specific technical or industry domain. These committees bring together stakeholders, such as manufacturers, users, government representatives, and subject matter experts, to collaboratively define technical requirements, performance criteria, and best practices that promote interoperability, safety, and quality.

An ASC ensures that the standards development process follows strict procedures of transparency, balanced participation, and consensus, as mandated by its accrediting body (e.g., ANSI). The committee oversees the entire lifecycle of a standard, from initial drafting to public review, balloting, and periodic revisions, ensuring the standards remain relevant and effective in addressing industry needs, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements.

Accredited Standards Committee Examples

Here are a few examples of Accredited Standards Committees:

• ASC X12 (Accredited Standards Committee X12). Develops and maintains EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) standards used for electronic business transactions across industries such as healthcare, logistics, finance, and government.
• ASC A117 (accessible and usable buildings and facilities). Responsible for developing standards related to accessibility in building design, including the ANSI A117.1 standard that specifies requirements for making buildings accessible to people with disabilities.
• ASC B11 (safety of machinery). Develops safety standards for industrial machinery to ensure safe design, operation, and maintenance practices in manufacturing environments.
• ASC C63 (electromagnetic compatibility). Focuses on standards related to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and compatibility (EMC) for electronic devices and systems, ensuring they operate without causing unacceptable electromagnetic disturbances.

How Is an Accredited Standards Committee Created?

An Accredited Standards Committee is formed through a structured process defined by an accrediting body, such as the American National Standards Institute in the United States. The process begins when an organization, often a trade association, professional society, or industry group, submits an application to become an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer. Once accredited, the organization can propose the formation of an ASC to focus on a specific technical area or industry sector.

The sponsoring organization must ensure that the committee’s membership is balanced, meaning no single interest group (e.g., manufacturers, users, regulators) can dominate the decision-making process. Membership is open to all materially affected parties, encouraging participation from a wide range of stakeholders to ensure fairness and consensus.

The ASC operates under a set of written procedures that comply with ANSI’s Essential Requirements, which cover openness, due process, lack of dominance, and consensus-building. These procedures define how members are selected, how meetings are conducted, how votes are taken, and how standards are drafted, reviewed, and approved. Once formed and operational, the ASC becomes responsible for developing and maintaining standards within its defined scope, subject to periodic audits by ANSI to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements.

Where Are Accredited Standards Committees Used?

Accredited Standards Committees are used across a wide range of industries and sectors where formal, consensus-based standards are essential to ensure interoperability, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Their work influences both national and international practices, depending on the scope of the standards they develop.

Common areas where ASCs are used include:

• Information Technology and EDI. ASCs like X12 develop standards for electronic data interchange (EDI), facilitating automated business transactions across industries.
• Construction and building codes. ASCs such as A117 create accessibility standards for buildings, ensuring compliance with legal regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Manufacturing and machinery safety. ASCs like B11 develop safety standards for industrial machinery, guiding safe equipment design, usage, and maintenance practices.
• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). ASCs such as C63 set standards for controlling electromagnetic interference in electronic devices, ensuring reliable operation across environments.
• Healthcare. ASCs participate in developing data interchange standards and safety protocols for healthcare systems, supporting secure and efficient information exchange.
• Energy and utilities. Standards developed by ASCs are used in power systems, electrical installations, and environmental practices to ensure operational consistency and safety.

Why Is an ASC Important?

Accredited Standards Committees play a vital role in shaping the technical frameworks that underpin modern industries. By following a structured and consensus-based process, ASCs ensure that standards are not only technically sound but also equitable and broadly applicable. Their work directly impacts product quality, safety, market access, and innovation.

Key reasons why ASCs are important include:

• Structured and transparent process. ASCs develop standards through a well-defined, consensus-driven process that balances the interests of all stakeholders, ensuring fairness and broad representation.
• Technical accuracy and reliability. Standards created by ASCs are built on expert input and thorough review, resulting in technically sound and widely accepted guidelines.
• Interoperability. ASCs define common specifications and best practices that enable compatibility between systems, products, and services across vendors and sectors.
• Safety and quality assurance. By setting minimum requirements, ASCs help protect consumers, workers, and the environment from substandard or unsafe practices.
• Regulatory support. Many government regulations and policies rely on ASC-developed standards as their technical basis, aiding in legal compliance.
• Market access and international trade. ASC standards often align with global norms, helping industries overcome technical barriers and compete in international markets.
• Innovation and technology adoption. Clear, standardized guidelines encourage the responsible integration of emerging technologies by ensuring performance and compatibility.

Accredited vs. Non-Accredited Standards Committee

Here’s a comparison table of Accredited vs. Non-Accredited Standards Committees: