BS (British Standards) are published by BSI, the United Kingdom’s national standards body. They are widely used for materials, construction, and mechanical testing, and most current test methods are adopted from European and international standards.
Why BS standards matter in testing
A BS standard gives the recognized UK method for a test. In mechanical testing, current documents are usually dual-numbered as BS EN ISO, so the same procedure is shared across the UK, Europe, and internationally.
What BS standards cover
BS covers metals, plastics, composites, and construction materials, with tensile, flexural, compression, impact, and bend methods.
How to read a BS designation
BS numbers may be national or adopted:
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| BS <n> | BS 18265 | A British Standard (national) |
| BS EN | BS EN 10002 | A European Standard adopted in the UK |
| BS EN ISO | BS EN ISO 6892-1 | An ISO method adopted via EN into the UK catalogue |
Browse all BS standards
- BS 1006 NEXT 2, 3, 5 (Colour Fastness to Washing & Dry Cleaning)
- BS 131-1 (Izod impact test on metals)
- BS 131-6: Notched bar tests — precision Charpy V-notch impact energies (metals)
- BS 18:1987 — Tensile Testing of Metals (Room Temperature)
- BS 3084: Slide fasteners (zips) — specification
- BS 4449 (BS 4449:2005+A3:2016) – Weldable reinforcing steel for concrete
- BS 4482: Steel wire for reinforcement of concrete products
- BS 4483 steel fabric for the reinforcement of concrete (specification)
- BS 5896: High tensile steel wire and strand for prestressing concrete
- BS 6746:1990 — PVC insulation and sheath materials for electric cables
- BS EN 1337-5 Pot Bearings (Structural Bearings)
- BSS 7260 (Boeing) — Composite Laminate Compression & CAI Testing
- BSS 7273 — Interlaminar fracture toughness (DCB / ENF) for fiber‑reinforced composites