How to Cite Industry Standards

Learn how to properly cite technical standards, specifications, and industry guidelines in APA format.

Basic Format

Standards Organization. (Year). Standard number: Title of standard. Publisher.

Standards Organization. (Year). Standard number: Title of standard. DOI or URL

Examples

International Standard

International Organization for Standardization. (2015). ISO 9001:2015: Quality management systems - Requirements. https://www.iso.org/standard/62085.html

National Standard

American National Standards Institute. (2019). ANSI/ASSP Z359.1-2019: Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems. American Society of Safety Professionals.

Industry-Specific Standard

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (2020). IEEE 802.11ax-2021: Enhanced throughput for wireless LANs. https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEESTD.2021.9442429

Key Elements

Standard Numbers

  • Include complete standard designation
  • Maintain original formatting (e.g., hyphens, periods)
  • Include version or year in standard number
  • Add part numbers if applicable

Organization Information

  • Use full organization name first time
  • Include subsidiary organizations if relevant
  • Note joint standards development
  • Specify national body for international standards

Publication Details

  • Use year of current version
  • Include revision or amendment information
  • Note superseded versions if relevant
  • Add publication location for older standards

Special Cases

Additional Guidelines

  • For draft standards, include "Draft" designation
  • Note withdrawn or superseded standards
  • Include supplement or addendum information
  • Specify language version for international standards

In-Text Citations

First Citation

Use the full organization name:

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO, 2015) specifies...

Subsequent Citations

Use the abbreviation and standard number:

According to ISO 9001:2015...

Access and Permissions

Standard Access

  • Note any purchase or subscription requirements
  • Include membership access information
  • Specify viewing restrictions
  • Document permission requirements

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't use unofficial abbreviations for standard numbers
  • Don't omit version years or revision information
  • Don't confuse similar standards from different organizations
  • Don't cite withdrawn standards without noting status
  • Don't ignore copyright and usage restrictions