Code, Standard, and Specification - Differences

A code is a standard that has been adopted by one or more governmental bodies and has the force of law, or when it has been incorporated into a business contract.

• Codes are generally the governing documents, providing a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for manufactured, fabricated or constructed objects.
• Most codes will provide acceptance and rejection criteria for the required inspections but often refer to the ASTM performance standards for the methodology used in applying the best nondestructive testing (NDT) method and technique.
• ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Codes are legally enforceable in many US states. Whereas, in the other part of the world they are not legally enforceable but such countries have their own similar codes.

Examples of some commonly used Codes are:

1.ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC)

2. AWS D1.1/D1.1M => Structural Welding Code - Steel

3. API 570 => Piping Inspection Code: In-Service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping Systems

STANDARD

Standards are documents that establish engineering or technical requirements for products, practices, methods or operations.

• Standards are the documents, prepared by professional societies or committee, which are believed to be efficient engineering practices and which contain mandatory requirements.
• An inspection standard may include information on how to apply multiple testing techniques but usually does not include acceptance and rejection criteria, which is either specified by the governing code or the inspection purchaser's requirements.
• "Standardization" of certain items to prevent multiple version being used. Build confidence about quality in users.
• Lower the cost of production as requirements are standardized.
• Standards are usually created by individual companies, organizations or countries. They are not legalized.

1. ANSI/ASNT CP - 105 => ASNT Standard Topical Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel
2. ASTM E1444/E1444M => Standard Practice for Magnetic Particle Testing
3. ISO 9001:2015 => Quality Management System - Requirements
4. MIL-STD-2154 => Inspection, Ultrasonic, Wrought Metals, Process For (S/S By SAE-AMS-STD-2154)
5. IS 13311 (Part 1):1992 => Indian Standard - Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete - Methods of Test - Part 1-Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity

SPECIFICATION

Specifications provide specific requirements for materials, components or services and are often generated by private companies to address additional requirements applicable to a specific product or application.

• Specifications are often listed in procurement agreements or contract documents as additional requirements above and beyond code or standard requirements.
• They are set of instructions and/or requirements over and above requirements given in Code & Standard.
• Specifications are contractual documents that establish the parameters for the process and are used by engineering, management and purchasing personnel.
• Specifications establish the parameters for controlling specific processes.
• Specification may also contain acceptance criteria or the acceptance criteria may be in a separate specification, on the drawing or in another purchase order document.

1. SAE AMS2644G => Inspection Material, Penetrant [AMS-Aerospace Material Specification]
2. A Project Specification (or spec) is a comprehensive description of objectives for a development project.
3. MacBook Pro Technical Specifications

Source:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/code-standard-specification-differences-chandrashekhar-thiramdas/