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- Note superseded versions if relevant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- Note withdrawn or superseded standards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- Don't cite withdrawn standards without noting status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