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                        Standards

	  			
  Overview
				When we talk about standards in our personal lives, we might think about the quality we expect in things such as restaurants and first dates. But the standards that exist in science and technology have an even greater impact on our lives. Technical standards keep us safe, enable technology to advance, and help businesses succeed. They quietly make the modern world tick and prevent technological problems that you might not realize could even happen.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been deeply devoted to efforts in this area for more than 120 years. NIST has brought about improvements to everyday life you may take for granted, and solved problems that have advanced everything from manufacturing to public safety.

Take fire hydrants. If you ever have to call 911 to report a fire, you don’t have to worry about the hoses that firefighters bring when they arrive.

But that wasn’t the case in the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, which burned for more than a day and destroyed 1,500 buildings. Starting on a quiet Sunday morning, the fire spread quickly and overwhelmed the city’s ability to fight it alone. Fire companies from New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Harrisburg and elsewhere swiftly rushed in to help. They had more than enough water and people to fight the fire, but there was a problem: Most of their fire hoses wouldn’t fit the hydrants, prolonging the fire to 30 hours and damaging an area the size of 70 blocks in the city’s business district.

      Old Photo of 1904 Baltimore Blaze with red fire hydrant and hose images at the bottom.
The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 led to standards for fire hydrants and hoses.Credit:
          
  Grigvovan/Shutterstock, Nerthuz/Shutterstock, black and white photo: public domainA NIST study found more than 600 variations in firehose fittings across the U.S. NIST worked with the National Fire Protection Association to usher in a national standard for fire hydrant connections. Thanks to this standard, firefighters from different companies could work together more easily to extinguish large fires and prevent another disaster like the 1904 Baltimore blaze.

NIST also looks toward the future in order to avert technological catastrophes. As a prime example, all personal and financial information on the internet faces a grave threat of being exposed by future versions of so-called quantum computers. Such powerful computers could break the current encryption schemes that are used to protect everything from online banking to our email accounts. Thankfully, however, decades of basic research by mathematicians have led to forms of encryption that even quantum computers would have trouble breaking. Using these “quantum-resistant” mathematical functions, NIST has been working with the academic and industrial communities to develop a “post-quantum cryptography” standard, with the initial release in 2022.

Standards are everywhere if you look for them. NIST helped to specify the standard color of school buses to help drivers recognize them instantly. Medical procedures deliver accurate amounts of X-rays and other radiation thanks in part to NIST’s national standards for ionizing radiation and radioactivity. We can use credit cards seamlessly in most places around the world thanks to standards.

Learn more about NIST's history and present activities in standards.
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                                        U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology
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			Standards Topics
  
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	The Research
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Documentary Standards: IEC 62755 Standard N42 Data Format
                  OngoingThe purpose of the IEC 62755 standard N42 data format is to facilitate manufacturer-independent transfer of information from radiation measurement instrumentsDevelopment of Reference Measurement Procedures and Reference Materials for Creatinine
                  OngoingChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem in the U.S., and current estimates suggest that more than 20 million Americans are affected by this diseaseDepartment of Homeland Security Response Robot Performance Standards
                  OngoingFEMA Responders often face daunting challenges during search and rescue tasks in dangerous environments. As such, the concept of including robots as a part ofDevelopment of a Reference Measurement Procedure for C-Reactive Protein in Human Serum
                  CompletedC-reactive protein (CRP) levels in serum or plasma have been used as an indicator of inflammation and infection. Recent evidence also suggests that CRP levelsView All Projects/Programs
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  U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology
              Standards are essential to commerce, allowing technology to work seamlessly and business to operate smoothly. They provide industries and innovators with a common language that facilitates trade, simplifies transactions, and enables people to work together toward greater common goals that cut across disciplines and borders.

The U.S. Government will strengthen its support for standards development in order to promote standards that are technologically sound and help American industry compete on a level playing field.
            Learn more

  News
      Organic, Vegetarian or Carnivore: Whatever You Eat, My Lab Is Working to Keep It Safe
        The levels of contaminants in our food supply are, generally, decreasing, but we still need to make sure our food is safe. And measuring tiny things (and big things) is what we do best here at NIST.
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  NIST-Led Working Group Developing Standards for Organ-on-a-Chip Research
            Read more

  New IEC/ISO Joint Technical Committee on Quantum Technologies—Inviting Participants for the U.S. National Committee Technical Advisory Group
            Read more

  Spotlight: Disseminating Time Signals Far and Wide With NIST’s Radio Stations
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  Upcoming Events
        CHIPS R&D Semiconductor Supply Chain Trust and Assurance Data Standards Workshop
                        Tue, Apr 2 - Wed, Apr 3 2024The CHIPS Research and Development Office’s Semiconductor Supply Chain Trust and Assurance Data Standards Workshop will
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                        Thu, Apr 4 - Fri, Apr 5 2024The CHIPS Research and Development Office’s Digital Twin Data Interoperability Standards Workshop will be held as a
  5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit
                        Tue, Jun 25 - Thu, Jun 27 20245x5 ― the confirmation of a strong and clear signal ― and the place to make your voice heard and drive public safety

    

  
  

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