Metanorma: Aequitate Verum

Metanorma for GB

Chinese standard types supported by Metanorma-GB

There are 6 major types of standards in China, namely:

  • National standards

  • Local standards

  • Sector standards

  • Social standards

  • Enterprise standards

  • Professional standards

National standards

National standards are standards authorized and published by SAC (Standards Administration of China).

These are standards with the document identifier prefix of “GB” standing for “guobiao”, the abbreviation of “guoji biaozhun” (“national standard” in Mandarin).

Prefixes:

  • GB (national e.g. GB/T, GB/Z)

  • GBn (confidential)

  • GJB (military)

  • GSB (physical)

See the GB National Standard Prefixes list for all prefixes.

Sector standards

Sector standards are standards developed by the sector standardization body as authorized by SAC.

These are standards with a two-character document identifier prefix of various sorts. Each of these prefixes, clearly, stand for some abbreviation.

For example, cryptographic standards are prefixed as “GM” for “guo’mi”, the abbreviation of “guojia mima” (“national cryptography” in Mandarin). Agricultural standards are prefixed as “NY” for “nong’ye” (“agricultural sector” in Mandarin).

Prefixes:

  • NY Agriculture

  • SC Aquatic

  • SL Water Resources

  • QB Light Industry

  • FZ Textile

  • YY Medicine

  • MZ Civil Affairs

  • JY Education

  • YC Tobacco

  • YB Ferrous Metallurgy

  • YS Nonferrous Metallurgy

  • SY Natural Gas

  • HG Chemical Industry

  • SH Petrochemical

  • JC Building Materials

  • DZ Geological

  • TD Land Management

  • CH Surveying

  • JB Mechanical

  • QC Automotive

  • MN Civil Aviation

  • WJ Ordnance

  • CB Ships

  • HB Aviation

  • QJ Aerospace

  • EJ Nuclear Industry

  • TB Rail Transport

  • JT Traffic

  • LD Work Safety

  • SJ Electronics

  • YD Communication

  • GY Media

  • DL Electricity

  • JR Financial

  • HY Oceanic

  • DA Archiving

  • SN Inspection

  • WH Culture

  • TY Sports

  • SB Business

  • WB Materials Management

  • HJ Environment Protection

  • XB Rare Earth

  • CJ Town Construction

  • JG Construction Industry

  • CY News Publishing

  • MT Coal

  • WS Health

  • GA Public Safety

  • BB Packaging

  • DB Seismology

  • LB Tourism

  • QX Meteorological

  • WM Foreign Trade

  • HS Customs

  • YZ Postal

  • GM Cryptography

  • AQ Production Safety

  • GH Supply Marketing

  • LS Food

  • TJ Railway Traffic

  • ZY Chinese Medicine

  • LY Forestry

See the GB Sector Standard Prefixes list for all prefixes.

Local standards

Regional standards are standards developed by the regional standardization body, at the provincial or city level.

These are standards with the document identifier prefix of “DBnn” standing for “dibiao”, the abbreviation of “difang biaozhun” (“regional standard” in Mandarin).

The “nn” prefix is the location code of the region, these codes are defined in ISO 3166-2 as subdivision codes of China.

Prefixes:

  • DB prefix with locality code

See the GB Local Standard Prefixes list for all prefixes.

Societal standards

Societal standards are standards developed by societal organizations. These organizations are government-affiliated organizations carrying a specific designation.

These are standards with a 4-character document identifier prefix. The prefix starts with “T”, with a 3-character “group code” identifying the societal organization. “T” is an abbreviation of “tuanbiao”, itself an abbreviation of “tuanti biaozhun” (“group standard” in Mandarin).

Prefixes:

  • T prefix with three-character group code

See the GB Social and Enterprise Standard Prefixes for more information.

Enterprise standards

Enterprise standards are standards developed by enterprises. There is no restriction on publication of enterprise standards, but the SAC offers a voluntary website for the registration of them.

These are standards with a document identifier prefix that starts with “Q”, followed by an enterprise identification code. There is no specific scheme for the enterprise identification code, there are digits, letters and even a mix of them. (Technically there is a requirement, but perhaps not enforced).

The prefix “Q” is an abbreviation of “qibiao”, itself an abbreviation of “qiye biaozhun” (“enterprise standard” in Mandarin).

See the GB Social and Enterprise Standard Prefixes for more information.

Prefixes:

  • Q prefix with enterprise identifier code

Professional standards

Professional standards are standards developed by professional organizations. There is no restriction on publication of professional standards.

These standards have a document identifier prefix that starts with “ZB”, followed by a professional sector categorization code.

The prefix “ZB” is an abbreviation of “zhuanbiao”, itself an abbreviation of “zhuanye biaozhun” (“professional standard” in Mandarin).

Prefixes:

  • ZB prefix with supplied category code