French standardization

The French standardization system is organised by the ordinance N. 84-74 of the 26th January 1984. The French association for standardization (AFNOR - 11, avenue Francis de Pressensé - 93571 Saint-Denis La Plaine Cedex, phone number : +33 1 41 62 80 00, n° fax : +33 1 49 17 90 00) coordinates and convenes the French system of standardization. AFNOR pilots all the standardization works within 16 Great Programmes of standardization (GPN). Each GPN is conducted by a Strategic Orientation Committee (COS) which gathers the main representatives of the socio-economical sector who take the decisions. The COS's define the strategic orientations of the standardization at medium or long-term, endorse the work programs and allocate the ressources needed for their realization. The standards are produced, in a practical way, by about 2 600 Standardization Committees in which experts representing the interests of the different concerned socio-economical actors work. The standardization works are conducted, in complement to AFNOR, by 27 Standardization Offices (BN), frequently connected to a professional sector. BN's are in their field of competence in charge of : - the chairmanship of the standardization committees, - the preparation of the French technical positions to be transmitted to the European or International standardization organisations, - the preparation and drafting of the standards. BN ACIER is one of these above mentioned 27 BN's. They collaborate to the works of COS 8 “Materials and their transformation”. Furthermore BN ACIER has been authorized by AFNOR since July 1999 to ensure the role of French committee member ; it means that they directly intervene to the European and International partners for most of the operations of the standardization process. BN ACIER manages about 500 French standards prepared within about thirty standardization committees. Their work programme presently include about 250 draft standards.