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Mechanical Engineering: Standards

Guide to resources in Mechanical Engineering.

Kresge Engineering Library closed until 2025

The Kresge Engineering Library is temporarily closed due to the Bechtel Engineering Center renovation. We plan to re-open in 2025 when the new Engineering Student Center opens its doors.

Read about the closure here.

Questions? Send us a message and one of our engineering librarians will reach out. 

How to find standards

Engineers will often need to locate standards or specifications in the course of their work. A standard is a document

established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context (definition from the ISO/IEC Guide 2:2004).

Standards may be developed by a variety of groups, such as government agencies, technical or trade associations, professional societies or associations, or international or national organizations.

Copies of standards can be difficult to locate. The Engineering Library owns some in print and online, and these are findable in UC Library Search. 

If you do not find the standard you need, please ask us for assistance.

UC Berkeley faculty, graduate students and research staff may request individual standards not currently owned by the library. Contact the Engineering Library for more information. 

Industry standards

This is a selective list. To find additional standards or to find the most up-to-date library copy, please search in UC Library Search or contact us.

  • American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI standards.
    Selected titles available in various libraries - search UC Library Search.
  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Annual book of ASTM standards. Current and Redline.
    Online via ASTM Standards Online. UCB access only.
  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). ASHRAE standards.
    Current and redline standards available online via Techstreet Enterprise. UCB access only. 
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
    • 2013 ASME boiler and pressure vessel code
      TJ289.A63 2013 Engineering Library (Library Use Only)
    • Current Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) online via ASME Standards Collection. UCB access only. (Click on "Click here to access via institutional account" in upper right). (Access to this resource online will be discontinued effective 2024 due to library budget cuts.)
    • Complete ASME Standards Collection online via ASME Standards Collection. UCB access only. (Click on "Click here to access via institutional account" in upper right). (Access to this resource online will be discontinued effective 2024 due to library budget cuts.)
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE standards.
    Titles available online via IEEE Xplore. UCB access only.
  • NASA Standards. 
    Free online via NASA Technical Standards System.
  • National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA).
    Free online via NFPA.
  • National Information Standards Organization (NISO).
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). 
    • Online via SAE Mobilus. UCB access only. Includes:
      • Ground Vehicle Standards (current)
      • Aerospace Standards (current)
      • Aerospace Material Specifications (current)

More information about standards can be found on our Standards guide. 

International standards

  • International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). 
    Selected titles available in print in various libraries - search UC Library Search.
    Selected standards available online via Techstreet Enterprise. UCB access only. 
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO). International standards.
    Available online via ASTM Digital Library. UCB access only. 
    Selected titles available in print in various libraries - search UC Library Search.