GETTING A COPY AND USING IT

Getting a copy of the standard

ISO requires that its standards be purchased. You can buy a copy directly from ISO or you can see if your country’s standards organization sells them. You can find standards to buy, as well as links to countries’ standards organizations, on the ISO store website.

Can I share the standard at work? And is there a discount for bulk purchases?

Your country’s standard organization will have a licensing agreement with ISO that sets out the rules for this. Please contact them directly to find out what that agreement is. You can find out what organization in your country is an ISO member in its member directory.

If your country doesn’t sell ISO standards, you can refer to ISO’s Customer Licence Agreement.

Can I print the standard for my students?

Your country’s standard organization will have a licensing agreement with ISO that sets out the rules about what you can do with the standard. Please contact them directly to find out what that agreement is. You can find out what organization in your country is an ISO member in ISO’s member directory.

Can I say that I use the standard or that my business is ISO compliant?

Anyone can mention that they use an ISO standard but you cannot make any claim about compliance without formal certification.

ISO lists some rules about using its name, logo, and certain terminology about its standards. According to this guidance, you are not allowed to say that you, your company, or your products and services are ISO certified, ISO registered or ISO compliant.

What about certification?

The current standard is for guidance only and is not intended to formally certify documents, individuals, organizations or training.

The International Plain Language Federation has established a certification committee that is exploring suitable systems and requirements to enable certification, and it will make further announcements as that work proceeds.

How can I get others to use the standard?

You can tell people about the benefits of using the standard. Here are some examples you can use, based on the audience:

  • This standard will help to increase your credibility.
  • This standard will help you build and enhance your brand. 
  • This standard will help to increase your profits/reduce expenses by:
      • supporting branding
      • increasing sales
      • decreasing complaints/correspondence/call centre costs

You can also follow the main plain language organizations on social media and share their posts: the Center for Plain Language, Clarity and PLAIN (Plain Language Association International).

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