These are commonly called voluntary consensus standards and are written by industry professionals from both the public and private sectors. The voluntary process requires full cooperation by all parties. It depends upon data gathering and compromises among a diverse range of stakeholders. When due process is followed the resulting standards provide economic benefit to the many rather than the few. Any person may participate by expressing a position and its basis, having that position considered, and appealing if adversely affected.
Due process allows for equity and fair play.
Any materially affected and interested party has the opportunity to participate in the consensus process. The standards development activity should have a balance of interests and shall not be dominated by any single interest category. Although participation is open to all interested parties, members of the association or society often participate as members in the consensus body. Accredited Standards Committee , used when a standard affects a broad range of diverse interests or where multiple associations or societies with similar interests exist. These committees are administered by a secretariat, an organization that takes responsibility for providing administrative oversight of the committee's activities and ensuring compliance with the pertinent operating procedures.