The SABS Training Academy provides a range of standardisation courses delivered by expert facilitators at our four regional centres or at our clients’ premises. We have recently launched our new, fast, convenient online booking platform
The SABS Design Institute actively responds to the country’s need for design capability which effectively translates research, development and invention into sustainable economic opportunities and market successes.It acts as a national change agent facilitating valuable socio - economic impact. Visit our website
Technical Committees (TCs) develop new standards, and revise and amend published national standards. These TCs can have sub-committees (SCs) and both TCs and SCs can form working groups (WGs). Organisations and association are members of TCs and SCs, while experts are members of the WGs:
Standards are developed by using a consensus building process within a balanced technical committee, followed by a 60 day public comment period. Once all comments have been addressed, a standard is reviewed for approval by the Standards Approvals Committee (SAC). Once approved, a South African National Standard (SANS) is published, and then becomes available for sale from the SABS Web Store
PWI - Preliminary Work Item
WG – Working group
WD - Working draft
CD - Committee draft
DSS - Draft South African Standard
SANS - South African National Standard
A homegrown (HG) standard is a standard developed by South African experts based on South African experience and best practice. It addresses a South African need.
If the need for a standard can be addressed by using an international standard, it can be nationalised through an adoption process. An adopted standard is an international or foreign national standard that has been identified by South African experts, based on their experience, that will address one or more South African needs. For example, if the international standard for standards atmospheres can address all prescriptions for test conditions in South Africa, and our experts decide it should also be our national standard, then we can adopt ISO 139 to become SANS 139. In the case of an international adoption we will use a dual number i.e. SANS 139:20xx ISO 139 : 20xx.
Become a member of the SABS technical committees and contribute to development of national standards either as a professional, organisation or representative of government.
Standards are found in virtually every aspect of our daily lives, from the towering sky scraper, the cars that we drive, electronics we use and the houses we live in.
