Standards are established by authorities or by general consent as models, examples, or guides. Daily contact with many documents, products or materials that make reference to standards is the norm for contractors. Building materials, for example, are usually labeled to show compliance with a specific material manufacturing standard; construction specifications usually reference material installation and application standards. Standards used in the construction industry tend to define product manufacturing criteria, testing protocols, or material application procedures. Government documents—federal, state and local statutes—and building codes are also occasionally used as reference standards.
Standards are generally developed using one of several diverse, yet similar, standards development methods. In the gypsum industry, the primary standards development procedure is the process defined by ASTM International, of West Conshohocken, Pa.