Guide to Australian manufacturing standards, accounting standards, food code, building code and design rules
From January 2000, Australian Standards are only available in electronic format. This also includes any Australian Standards which were published earlier than 2000 but were current and applicable at that date. The Library no longer has online access to overseas standards.
All Australian Standards can be searched and purchased through the Webstore.
Australian Standards published prior to January 2000 are available in print through the Library. See the box below for more details.
Some Australian Standards are available through the Reader Room platform which offers limited (three downloads) no fee access to Standards’ publications for non-commercial use. This requires creating an account.
Currently [2023-] some more recently published New Zealand Standards are made available online via Standards New Zealand. These may include joint or equivalent standards to Australian Standards.
Up to January 2000, Australian Standards were available only in print format.
How to find older Australian Standards in the Library's catalogue
In the first instance, check Intertek SAI Global to see if the standard is available in electronic format-- this will be the case in the event that the standard was in force or current as at January 2000, even if it was published a few years earlier. You may also discover any amendments that were made to the original standard or if more recent standards would have been produced which could have superseded the earlier standard.
If this does not meet your needs, then follow the steps below:
If the Standard number and name are known:
The Library holds print copies of Australian Standards prior to 2000 and potentially subsequent amendments up to 2004.These are stored offsite and would need to be requested ahead of a visit. To request material held in storage, you need to be a member of the Library.
Generally, standards will only retrieved if it is necessary to compare or verify something about a given standard which was applicable at a point in time. Take note of these prefixes to help you identify the standard you require.
Library staff will need to request these on your behalf with your membership details.
If the Standard number is unknown OR if it is not known whether or not a standard exists:
1. Numerical list of Australian Standards --- arranged by AS number (and increasingly by AS/NZS number). It gives full details of the relevant standard for identification purposes.
2. Subject index --- every publication listed under relevant subject heading, followed by its standard number and page where item is listed in the catalogue.
MEPS programs are made mandatory in Australia by state government legislation and regulations which give force to the relevant Australian Standards.
Regulations specify the general requirements for MEPS for appliances, including offences and penalties if a party does not comply with the requirements.
Technical requirements for MEPS are set out in the relevant appliance standard, which is referenced in state regulations.
State based legislation is necessary because the Australian constitution gives Australian States clear responsibility for resource management issues, including energy.
