What is the involvement of ASME in codes and standards today?
Since the beginning of industrialization, ASME and many other standards developing organizations have worked to fulfill the growing need for standards in today’s world.  Through a voluntary, consensus process, ASME standards are developed to protect the health and welfare of the public.  In addition to developing these standards ASME provides conformity assessment processes which help to ensure the manufacturers are capable of complying with the relevant specifications and that certain personnel are properly qualified.

ASME publishes its standards; accredits users of standards to ensure that they are capable of manufacturing products that meet those standards; and provides stamps that accredited manufacturers place on their products, indicating the manufacturer's certification that a product was manufactured according to a standard. 

Where does a request for a new code or standard come from?
A request for a code or standard may come from individuals, committees, professional organizations, government agencies, industry groups, public interest groups, or from an ASME division or section.  The request is first referred to the appropriate supervisory board for consideration.  The board then assigns the request to an existing committee of knowledgeable volunteers or determines that a new standards committee must be formed.  Once an appropriate Committee has concluded that there is enough interest and need the standards developing process is initiated. 

What type of procedures do ASME Standards Committees follow?
Procedures must reflect openness, transparency, balance of interest, and due process.  Committee meetings addressing technical issues must be open to the public, and procedures are used to govern deliberations and voting.  Committees must represent a balance of interested parties, and all comments on technical documents during the final approval process must be considered.  Any individual may appeal any action or inaction of a committee relating to membership, or a code or standard promulgated by the committee.

What does "Consensus" mean?
Consensus [as defined by American National Standards Institute (ANSI)] means substantial agreement has been reached by directly and materially affected interest categories.  This signifies the concurrence of more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity.  Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that an effort be made toward their resolution

What type of voting procedures do ASME Standards Committees follow?
Voting procedures for the standards committee are designed to ensure consensus as defined by ANSI.  Voting is conducted at meetings and votes are also sent by mail, email and through the ASME web site.  Repeated voting may be necessary to resolve negative votes.  If an individual member feels that due process was not observed, appeals may be made to the standards committee, supervisory board, and subsequently, to the Board on Hearings and Appeals.

The proposed standard (or revision) is also subject to a public review in Mechanical Engineering magazine, and on the ASME web site, and usually in ANSI's Standards Action publication.  Anyone may submit comments during the public review period, to which the committee must respond.  The draft is also submitted for approval to the supervisory board and ANSI.  When all considerations have been satisfied, the document is approved as an American National Standard and published by ASME.

Why are codes and standards revised?
Codes and standards are living documents that are constantly revised to reflect new developments and technical advances (e.g., new materials, new designs and new applications).