Standards, Codes, & Specifications

When you have a question about access to industry standards, please contact Larayne Dallas for assistance --- with Ask a Librarian as a back-up. 

• Subscriptions.  We subscribe to standards from several of the major U.S. standards-issuing organizations. 
• Known standard.  To find a standard from one of those groups, locate the right database (below) and note any special instructions for accessing and using the product.
• Identifying a standard when you don't already know which one it is.  If you wish to search across the standards of multiple issuing organizations, try the IHS database (entering through the ACI Standards, for example) but remember that access to the text of a standard you identify may be through another database --- for example, through the ASTM database.  Another option for broad searching is the Standards Store.
• When the Libraries don't have the standard.  And, if the UT Libraries don't have the standard you need:
  • Please request it through interlibrary loan.  Staff can't always get a copy but will try. 
  • Sometimes, buying through a commercial provider is the only option.

To gain access to standards from a known organization, use the table below and click on the title link to go directly to the appropriate database.  Please read the corresponding notes.

BEFORE using the Accuris (formerly IHS) databases --- ACI, ASCE, ASHRAE, ASME, ICC, IESNA, or NFPA:

• These subscriptions only include current standards [although for some Codes we do have earlier editions --- usually that would be in print.]
   
• ICC requires users to download and use a free Adobe Acrobat plug-in to view their secure PDF standards. Once in the database, click on the yellow lock icon for more information. The plug-in may not work properly in Chrome.

Please Note: International Standards (ISO, IEC, ITU, DIN, etc.) are not collected by the University of Texas Libraries. Go to the Standards Store to purchase copies of standards from all national or international organizations and many companies.

ALSO: We don't subscribe to ANSI standards, UNLESS they are co-sponsored by one of the following groups: