The development of a standard is generally defined by the working procedure for standardization (DIN 820-4), however, it may vary in detail depending on the type of standard and the publishing organization. This is why only the main features of the process are explained here:

1.    Proposal for standards work

Anyone may submit a proposal for initiation of standards work. The competent standards committee – for the field of electrical engineering, i.e. the DKE – makes a decision on the acceptance of the proposal for standards work. If it is accepted, the working title of the proposed standards project is published in the DIN Gazette of Technical Rules. There are various means of appeal against initiation of a new standards project or rejection of a proposal.

2.    Handling from the draft proposal to the draft standard

Prior to finalization, the proposed version of a standard shall be submitted to the public for comment. This is generally done by publication of a draft standard. It is based on a text proposed by the applicant or prepared with him by a team of experts.

The vast majority of draft standards result from drafts prepared on the basis of International or European Standards to be included in the German standards collection. The DKE takes care of the editorial revision for the purpose of a uniform and consistent presentation.

In the case of electrotechnical safety standards of the DKE the document is identified with the VDE classification.
Before publication of the draft standard it is reviewed and released by a department specifically in charge of this task within DIN.

3.     Public enquiry procedure

The publication of a draft standard is publicly announced in the DIN Gazette of Technical Rules. Anyone may purchase draft standards or view them online in the DIN-VDE-Entwurfsportal (drafts portal) and submit proposals, comments or objections within the specified deadline and justify their position before the competent body.

All draft standards are examined on behalf of the Presidial Board of DIN and are available for assessment in the DKE steering bodies. DIN drafts with VDE classification are also submitted to the VDE Board for assessment and inclusion in the VDE Specifications Code of safety standards. Decisions on final provisions in German standards, or contributions to international or European standardization are generally made on the basis of consensus.

The DKE represents the resulting German opinion on the international and European standardization work in the responsible bodies at the international and European level.

If a consensus regarding the specification of the standard contents cannot be reached in the competent technical body, mediation and arbitration procedures which are held according to democratic rules defined in the statutes are at the disposal of objecting parties.

If major alterations result from the public enquiry procedure another draft standard will be published to give the public the opportunity to submit comments once more.

4.     Publication of a standard

Unless significant changes have been made to the draft standard, the competent technical committee adopts the manuscript for publication as a German standard. The publication and the corresponding inclusion in the German standards collection, and in the VDE Specifications Code of safety standards, if appropriate, is again preceded by detailed checking and release procedures, ensuring that the procedures for preparation of the standard have been correctly adhered to.