Standards are generally recognized rules that define requirements for products, processes or services. They are based on a structured consensus procedure and serve to make technology, safety and quality transparent and comparable. Whether in everyday life, in industry or in the development of innovative solutions – standards are an integral part of our modern world.
A norm – also known as a standard – provides clear, uniform specifications for technology, processes and products. It creates trust, promotes innovation and enables uniform quality standards. Standards not only provide guidance, but also legal certainty for companies, authorities and consumers.
A standard such as the DIN VDE 0100 series, which applies to the safe installation of electrical systems, is an example of the practical implementation of such rules. Other important series of standards are
DIN EN IEC 61558 (VDE 0570) series: Safety transformers and similar devices
DIN EN 60076 (VDE 0532) series: Power transformers in the field of energy supply
These standards are representative of the variety of technical standards that are used on a daily basis – particularly in electrical engineering.
Behind every set of standards is a structured organization that is active at national, European and international level. Important institutions are
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization)
The German DKE (German Commission for Electrical Engineering)
The DKE represents Germany in international committees, coordinates standardization work in electrical engineering and offers interested parties the opportunity to play an active role in shaping it.
If you are a member of specialist committees, you can contribute to the further development of technical standards and thus improve quality and safety in the long term.
For companies, standards are a central basis for efficiency, market access and product quality. Producing in accordance with a recognized standard demonstrates reliability and a sense of responsibility – both towards consumers and towards partners and authorities.
Standards also offer important advantages for society:
They increase safety
They promote the transparency of technical solutions
They facilitate international trade through harmonized guidelines
They contribute to sustainability and innovative capacity
A distinction is made between:
Basic standards: Rules for terms, units of measurement or symbols
Product standards: Requirements for specific products
Process standards: Specifications for the implementation of technical processes
Safety standards: Minimizing risks to people and the environment
Standards play a key role in technology. A good example is the DIN EN IEC 61558 (VDE 0570) series, which provides manufacturers with clear rules for transformers. Equally relevant is the DIN EN 60076 (VDE 0532) series, which is used in the field of energy transmission.
Standards arise on different levels:
International standards through organizations such as ISO
European standards, for example by CENELEC
National standards such as DIN or VDE in Germany
The harmonization of these standards promotes the global exchange of technologies and goods. The adoption of international standards in national legal systems creates uniform guidelines that offer planning security and efficiency.
The creation of a standard is a multi-stage process. Experts from science, industry and society develop new standards by consensus, which are then published as an official document. The process usually proceeds as follows:
Request for a new standard
Draft with public comment phase
Voting and consensus
Publication and regular review
Anyone who would like to help shape the process themselves can become active via the DKE, get involved as a member and thus receive practical information at first hand.
The introduction and application of norms and standards brings numerous advantages:
Improve quality and safety
Promoting compatibility and innovation
Facilitating international cooperation
Expanding market access
Strengthening consumer confidence
Reduce effort through standardized rules
In addition, many organizations offer a good overview of current standards, their application and opportunities for participation.
Standards are essential tools for business, science and society. They enable reliable technology, set internationally valid standards and create the basis for innovation, safety and competitiveness.
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