How do you choose the standard for an AGL item?
Ask what the regulator and the contract name, then choose by scope, and record the standard and its edition.
The standard-selection flowchart first asks whether the regulator names a standard, then whether the contract does. If neither does, the standard is chosen by scope: ICAO or FAA for layout and light performance, IEC for electrical safety, and BIS/IS for national product specifications.
Picking a standard by habit can mean designing to the wrong rule. Always check the edition, note any national differences, and write the choice and its source in the compliance matrix.
- Name the item. What needs a standard to design, build or test to.
- Ask the regulator. A named standard is mandatory.
- Ask the contract. A named standard is required by the client.
- Choose by scope. ICAO or FAA, IEC, or BIS/IS.
- Confirm and record. Edition, differences and source in the matrix; raise any conflict with the client and authority.
The standard, its edition and why it was chosen are written down, so the choice can be checked and repeated.
The usual standard is used without checking the regulator or contract, so the item may be built to the wrong rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1How do I choose which standard to use?
Start with what the regulator requires, because that is the standard you must use. If the regulator names none, use the one the contract names. If neither does, choose by scope: ICAO or FAA for layout and light performance, IEC for electrical safety and circuits, and BIS/IS for national product specifications. Then record the choice.
Q2What if the regulator and the contract name different standards?
Follow the regulator's requirement, and also meet the contract's if it adds to it. Where the two conflict, do not pick one silently. Raise it with the client and the authority, and record how it was settled.
Q3Why does the edition of a standard matter?
Standards are revised, and a requirement may differ between editions. The contract or the regulator usually fixes which edition applies. Check it before you rely on a clause, and write the edition in the compliance matrix.
Q4When are ICAO standards the right choice?
ICAO standards are the international baseline for aerodrome lighting, and many national rules are built on them with their own differences. Use them directly only where the regulator or contract says so, and otherwise use the national rule that adopts them.
Q5Can I mix standards on one project?
Yes, across different scopes, if each is chosen for a clear scope and the choices do not conflict. For example, layout may follow ICAO or FAA, the electrical work may follow IEC, and a product may be made to a BIS/IS specification. Do not mix limits or test methods from different documents for the same requirement, because each figure rests on its own test method. Record which standard governs each part.
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