You can access SAI Global through the catalogue page
First-time use registration may be required
When you click 'View Document', you will be prompted to log in or register. Click New Registration:
Type your first and last name and use your university email as username address to register, then click Verify Email.
A code will be sent to your university email address. Enter the code and click Submit
You will be prompted to create a password. This should differ from your university password, and should be unique. Create your password and click 'Continue'.
You then will be prompted to login with the details you set up. Your username = your university email address.
This is a brief video explaining the basics of how to search standards with SAI Global
Enter the standard prefix (AS, ISO or similar) followed by the standard number, separating the two with a space. The search option defaults to Australian standards so if you are searching for an international standard, ensure that "all" is selected in the list of publishers.
Some standard numbers include decimal places or a date at the end of the number. If a search is not working, try using the numbers prior to the decimal place only. The results will include the standards that begin with this number in addition to those with decimal places and dates.
Searching by title or keyword is useful If you need to do a broad search just to get a sense of the resources available. It may also prove useful in understanding the types of options available.
Clicking the option 'Search within subscription only' will show standards that are included in the University of Melbourne subscription.
International standards are sometimes adopted by Standards Australia. This means that the Australian adoptions can be used instead of the international versions. Some of these Australian adoptions have been modified or altered to suit Australian conditions, but most are identical to the international version. You can search the International Equivalents standards whether you have the AS Number or the International Standard Number.
In this list, the standard numbers are hyperlinked and clicking on them will open a window with further information
When a standard is located, access options will display. These include:
Hopefully, our subscription will already include the material you require, but if you need a standard unlocked, click on the "request unlock" option and fill out the webform. This will be sent to our staff for review and access will be enabled if possible.
When there is only a "buy" option, this is usually because it is an older standard and not available electronically. Please check the library catalogue for these standards as we may have physical copies in our collection.
To the right of the access options, the following icons may display:
These services are not included in our subscription but they refer to "standards registered in legislation" and "standards registered in codes of practice".
The listing will also show whether the standard is current or superceded.
SAI Global supplies Standards from many different publishers. Some publishers have specific requirements around the way their intellectual property is distributed and how their copyright is protected. As a result, SAI has implemented DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology that will assist the library to meet the publisher requirements and not commit unintended copyright license violations.
At this stage all AS, ISO and IEC documents are only required to have the DRM. Access of all other publishers (eg NSAI, JSA, API etc) through the Standards On-Line portal will remain as before with no change. To make this distinction easier for you, a DRM Enabled document will always have detailed access instructions clearly displayed whereas a non-DRM enabled one will not have any.
You will only be able to access DRM protected PDFs by using a supported PDF reader (SAI recommends Adobe Reader) as well as the FileOpen plugin. This will need to be installed on your computer or device. Student IT have added FileOpen added to all the student login computers and now available to install for all staff via the Software Center.
To download FileOpen click on this link: https://plugin.fileopen.com/
Adobe Reader can be downloaded by selecting it at the Software Centre here: https://studentit.unimelb.edu.au/software. Again, if you try to download FileOpen directly from the website on a UoM managed computer you will just get an error message.
PDF Documents encrypted using the FileOpen software can be opened in several viewers other than Adobe Acrobat/Reader.
You can find them listed here https://www.fileopen.com/products/3rd-party-viewers.
You can save and then open the PDF on your computer or device, but it will then be locked to that device. Should you wish to access it on another device, you must download it there as well.
This process remains exactly as before. The changes come into effect when you begin to access/download the document (Specifically all AS, ISO and IEC documents)
1. On clicking “View Document” you will be presented with a screen as below. This will continue for a couple of seconds until the Watermarking has been supplied
Once downloaded, the PDF of the standard should be located in the folder you have preferences for downloads.
There is no single correct way to cite standards. Most citation styles do not have a category for standards, so it is important to be consistent when citing standards. Before choosing a style, check with your lecturer to see if they have any guidelines or preferences.
Most standard citations include:
Citation information | Example |
Standard number (also known as code, designation, etc.) | E170 - 10 |
Standard title | Standard Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry |
Publisher | ASTM |
Version (if needed) | - |
Some standard citations include:
Citation information | Example |
Place of publication . | Conshohocken (PA) |
DOI (if there is one) | 10.1520/E0170-10 |
URL | http://enterprise.astm.org . |
The following examples are provided as a guide for how to cite standards. However, always check with your lecturer first to see if they have any guidelines or preferences.
APA 7
Entry in reference list - Standards filed online
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of standard (Standard No. xxx). Name of provider or Agency. URL
Entry in reference list - Standards in print
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of standard (Standard No. xxx). Publisher.
Example - reference list
Standards Australia & Standards New Zealand. (2020). Helmets for use on bicycles and wheeled recreational devices (AS/NZS 2063:2020). SAI Global. https://www-saiglobal-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/online/autologin.asp
Examples in text citations
This is evident in guidelines provided about scooters and tricycles (Standards Australia & Standards New Zealand, 2020).
Or
Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand (2020) provide the following guidelines:
For more information refer to the library's guide on referencing ReCite: https://library.unimelb.edu.au/recite/apa7/patents-and-standards
IEEE
(Source: IEEE Standards Style Manual)
Format: [Citation number] Title of standard, Standard number, Date
Example: [1] Letter Symbols for Quantities, ANSI Standard Y10.5-1968.
ASME
(Source: ASME Style Citation Guide)
Format: [Citation number] Year, Standard issuing body/Standard number: Title of Standard.
Example: [2] 2001, ASTM 905: Standard Test Method for Determining Thermal Performance of Tracking Concentrating Solar Collections.
ASTM
Source (Referencing ASTM Standards)
Format: Standard issuing body/Standard number, Edition/version, "Title," Publisher, City, State or Province, Publication year, DOI, Publisher website.
Example: ASTM Standard C33, 2003, "Specification for Concrete Aggregates," ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2003, DOI: 10.1520/C0033-03, www.astm.org
Chicago (recommended by ANSI)
Source: Chicago Manual of Style (section 14:249 on "Pamphlets and the Like") and OWL Purdue Writing Lab: General Citation
Format: Chicago does not mention how to cite standards explicitly, but they will be treated like a book, journal, or book series (depending on the situation and where it's published). Section 14:249 notes that "[d]ata on author and publisher may not fit the normal pattern, but sufficient information should be given to identify the document." Make sure you provide enough information that someone can track down the document later; namely, identify it as a standard, and provide the issuing agency/publication name, the standard number, and the standard title, and publication date (if not obvious from the standard number).
Would you like help with expert searching?
Do you want assistance with managing your data or understanding how to maximise your research’s impact?
Is reference management your weak spot?
Librarians can help.
Researchers and graduate research students are eligible for a one-on-one 1-hour online Zoom consultation with one of our subject specialist librarians.
SciEng-librarians@unimelb.edu.au