A Publicly Available Specification or PAS is a standardization document that closely resembles a formal standard in structure and format but which has a different development model.[1] The objective of a Publicly Available Specification is to speed up standardization. PASs are often produced in response to an urgent market need.[2]

Background

BSI Group develops PASs in the UK,[1] while the International Electrotechnical Commission develops international PASs in the arena of electrical, electronic and related technologies,[2] and the International Organization for Standardization develops international ISO PASs.[3]

BSI Group pioneered the PAS format. Under the BSI model, any organization, association or group who wish to document standardized best practice on a specific subject, can commission a PAS, subject to the BSI acceptance process. A British Standard and a PAS must reach full consensus between all stakeholders on technical content. The timescale for the development of a PAS can be shorter, typically around 8 months, and is why it is sometimes referred to as a 'fast-track standard'.[4]

The development of a PAS cannot conflict with, or contradict, existing or draft work within the formal standards arena and must complement, not conflict with, any legislation in the subject area. It is also written in accordance with BS drafting rules, which means that the content must be technically robust and cannot be technically constrained (i.e. it cannot include patented or proprietary methods or products). It is written unambiguously and with objectively verifiable requirements or recommendations.[1]

Origin of term "PAS"

According to a BSI document "Principles of PAS standardization" "The term PAS was originally an acronym derived from "publicly available specification". However, not all PAS documents are structured as specifications and the term is now sufficiently well established not to require any further amplification." However, early examples of PAS were actually titled "Product Approval Specification" as illustrated in the accompanying photograph showing part of PAS 003, and may not be equivalent to PAS standards as they are used today.

List of specifications

This list is not complete.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c "Principles of PAS Standardization" (PDF). www.bsigroup.com. BSI Group. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Publicly Available Specifications". www.iec.ch. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. ^ "ISO Deliverables". www.iso.org. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Develop your own fast-track standard". www.bsigroup.com. BSI Group. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. ^ Constructionline, PAS 91, accessed 13 March 2023
  6. ^ PAS 1192-2:2013 Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling, accessed 11 April 2017

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