Standards Status from SB2022.1

The Standardisation Board (SB) released its 2022.1 update to provide a clear picture of the lifecycle stage of every standard under its remit. The Standards Status table introduced in SB2022.1 classifies standards into four primary categoriesActive, Draft, Withdrawn, and Deprecatedand adds a set of substatuses that describe transitional states such as Under Review or Pending Publication. Understanding these categories is essential for manufacturers, testing laboratories, and regulatory bodies that rely on uptodate technical specifications.

Why a Status Framework Matters

In fastmoving sectors like automotive, aerospace, and medical devices, a single standard can affect product design, testing, certification, and market access. The SB2022.1 framework helps stakeholders:

• Identify compliance obligations quickly.
• Reduce the risk of using superseded or withdrawn documents.
• Plan product roadmaps with confidence, knowing when a standard will become mandatory or drop out of use.
• Facilitate crossindustry communication by using a common terminology for the state of a standard.

Core Status Categories

Active

An Active standard is currently recognised by the SB as the authoritative reference for its scope. It may be cited in regulations, contracts, or certification schemes. Active standards can be further qualified as:

• Fully Implemented All required technical provisions have been published and are supported by test methods.
• Under Review A scheduled review is in progress; the standard remains valid, but users should anticipate possible amendments.

Draft

Draft standards are documents that have passed the initial proposal stage and are undergoing public consultation or technical development. They are not yet enforceable, but many organisations use them to align future designs with emerging requirements. Drafts are marked with one of the following modifiers:

• Committee Draft (CD) Circulated within the responsible technical committee for internal review.
• Public Draft (PD) Available for comment from external stakeholders.
• Final Draft (FD) All comments have been addressed; the document is awaiting formal approval.

Withdrawn

A Withdrawn status indicates that the standard has been formally removed from the SB catalogue. Reasons include:

• Obsolescence due to technology changes.
• Replacement by a newer standard that covers the same scope.
• Lack of industry uptake.

When a standard is withdrawn, the SB publishes a transition note linking to the recommended replacement, if one exists.

Deprecated

Deprecated standards are still technically valid but are no longer recommended for new projects. They remain in the catalogue for legacy support and to allow existing certified products to retain their status until a migration path is completed. Deprecation is usually announced at least two years before a standard is withdrawn.

Supplementary SubStatuses

Beyond the four main categories, SB2022.1 introduces several substatuses that provide finer granularity:

• Pending Publication The final version has been approved but is awaiting printing or digital release.
• Amended A previously active standard has been updated; the amendment is identified by an A suffix (e.g., ISO12345A).
• Technical Corrigendum (TC) Minor errors corrected without altering the overall content.
• Retired A special form of withdrawal where the standard is kept on the record for historical reference but holds no regulatory value.

How to Locate the Status of a Standard

The SB website now hosts an interactive Status Dashboard. The process to locate a specific standard is:

1. Enter the standard number or title into the search bar.
2. Review the summary box that displays the current main status and any applicable substatuses.
3. Click the View History link to see the complete lifecycle, including dates of adoption, review cycles, and withdrawal.

Impact on Key Industries

Automotive

For automotive manufacturers, the distinction between Active and Deprecated is critical for typeapproval processes. The SB2022.1 update clarified that the UN/ECE Regulation 79 (electromagnetic compatibility) will transition from Active to Deprecation in 2025, with UN/ECE Reg792 as its replacement. Companies are therefore required to begin integrating the new test methods by the end of 2024.

Aerospace

Aerospace suppliers often rely on standards such as AS 9100. SB2022.1 marked the upcoming revision of AS9100D as a Draft (Public Draft) with a targeted publication date of Q32023. Early adoption is encouraged for futureproofing certification audits.

Medical Devices

Regulations in the EU and the United States reference ISO standards for risk management and biocompatibility. The 2022.1 rollout announced that ISO109935 (Cytotoxicity) will be Withdrawn after December2024, superseded by a new series of tests under ISO109935A. Manufacturers should adjust their validation plans accordingly.

Governance and Review Cycle

Each standard follows a defined governance loop:

• Proposal Initiated by a stakeholder or the SB steering committee.
• Development Workgroup drafting, followed by internal committee review.
• Public Consultation Publication as a Public Draft for a minimum 60day comment period.
• Approval Formal vote by the SB plenary.
• Maintenance Periodic review (normally every 5years) to decide whether to keep, amend, or withdraw the standard.

The SB2022.1 document also introduced a new Rapid Review pathway for standards that address emerging technologies such as electricvehicle charging, AIdriven diagnostics, and quantumsecure communications. These standards can move from Draft to Active within 12months, provided they meet a set of predefined criteria.

Resources and Further Reading

• SB Status Dashboard Realtime view of all standards
• Full SB2022.1 publication (PDF)
• ISO Catalogue Crossreference for ISO standards
• UN/ECE Standards Automotive and transport focus

Conclusion

The Standards Status framework introduced in SB2022.1 brings transparency and predictability to the lifecycle of technical standards. By categorising documents as Active, Draft, Withdrawn, or Deprecatedand by adding precise substatusesthe SB equips all stakeholders with the information needed to manage compliance, plan product development, and minimise the risk of using outdated specifications. Regular consultation of the interactive dashboard and subscription to SB updates ensures that organisations stay aligned with the latest requirements and can respond promptly to any changes that affect their market participation.