NanoKTN to Assist British Standards Institution in Review of Nanotechnology Standard

In the commercialisation of nanotechnology, standards often play a crucial role in embedding best practise into concise and clear documents which can be used by all players within the supply chain. Defining basic terminologies is an essential function to enable clear communications between potential business partners and with significant investment in nano-science in the UK over the past ten years, it is crucial to put structure in place and lead the commercialisation and standardisation effort.

BSI, with support from the former Department of Trade and Industry, DTI (now Business Innovation and Skills, BIS) has already developed a publically available specification for nanoparticle terminology which was published in 2005. The document gives guidance on the basic terminologies of ‘nanoparticles’ or ‘ultrafines’ and also some of the instrumental techniques that are used to routinely characterise such materials. Since this time, this freely available document has been downloaded over 1,000 times and has led to the establishment of an International standards committee (ISO TC 229), clearly demonstrating the demand and interest for standards in new and emerging technologies.

Peter Hatto, Chairman of BSI Technical Committee NTI/1, Nanotechnologies comments. “Since the publication of PAS 71 in 2005, BSI has led the world in developing terminology documents for nanotechnologies to support science, industry, government and other stakeholders. The revision of PAS 71 will take account of those developments and of work undertaken in the international arena, which has, in many cases, been led by the UK.”

Now that five years have elapsed, it is time to review and update that standard with the help of UK nanotechnology organisations.

The revision will ensure:

• the terms and definitions in PAS 71 are aligned with the terms and definitions contained within new nanotechnology terminologies developed and published by BSI, CEN and ISO;

• PAS 71 continues to provide usable terms for the nanotechnologies industry in the continuing absence of a full suite of internationally agreed terms; and

• the continued availability of a current UK document that can contribute to the ongoing development of nanoparticle-related terminology internationally.

Experts in several areas are required to comment, namely those who have expertise in the nomenclature of nanotechnologies and also the field of measurement and characterisation of nanoparticles.

As the NanoKTN will be assisting in the review process and sitting on the PAS 71 Steering Group, we are encouraging UK organisations to get involved and help shape the future direction of BSI nanotechnology standards.


The consultation period for the standard is open for one month from the 22nd September.