These documents are easy-to-read guides to standardization. They outline, in a simplified way, how the standardization process works and what needs to be taken into account when drafting standards.
They may be especially useful for those experts and observers that are participating in European standardization for the first time.
It is important you know which type of group you are participating in, as the documents below deal with different processes.
Hands on standardization
Is aimed at participants in Technical Committees and Project Committees. The guide focuses mainly on the kinds of documents that are developed by these two groups, i.e. Technical Reports (TRs), Technical Specifications (TSs) and European Standards (ENs).
Hands on CWAs
Is aimed at participants in CEN Workshops. The guide focuses on CEN Workshop Agreements (CWAs).
Guidelines to assist members of standards committees in preparing user-oriented European Standards
Is aimed at experts participating in European standardization as a national delegate.
The standards you prepare will be used, for example, by people in the engineering and purchasing departments from companies that can range in size from very small enterprises to large groups, and may belong to different industry sectors. Since you are an expert in the subject to be standardized, you have much more background information than the normal standards user. Therefore, the resulting standards may concentrate too much on the technical details of the subject, often neglecting the application aspects.
The guidelines are prepared by the International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN) and support you in your role as a standards developer. The mission of IFAN is to make European Standards as user-friendly as possible, while maintaining a high quality.
Detailed information on the CEN procedures and rules can be found in the BOSS - CEN Business Operations Support System. The BOSS is the on-line source of reference for all operational rules of the CEN system.