ISO 10903
(Main)Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy — Pipeline transportation systems — Pipeline geohazard monitoring processes, systems and technologies
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy — Pipeline transportation systems — Pipeline geohazard monitoring processes, systems and technologies
This standard provides guidelines for the selection and implementation of pipeline geohazards monitoring methods and strategies. It provides processes and principles applicable to various practical monitoring measures. Moreover, it describes the methods and procedures to be implemented and provides guidance for determining the: —type, significance grade and frequency of monitoring; —recommended monitoring objects and appropriate monitoring systems and methods; —components of the monitoring system; —threshold alarms, early warning level, criteria and response measures; —requirements of the early warning information system. This standard applies to onshore gathering and transmission pipelines used in the petroleum and natural gas industries.
Industries du pétrole et du gaz, y compris les énergies à faible teneur en carbone — Systèmes de transport par conduites — Processus, systèmes et technologies de surveillance des risques géologiques pour la conduite
Le présent document fournit des recommandations pour la planification, la sélection et la mise en œuvre de méthodes et de stratégies de surveillance des risques géologiques qui peuvent interagir avec des conduites. Le présent document s'applique à la surveillance des risques géologiques liés aux conduites de collecte et de transport terrestres, nouvelles et existantes, et à leur emprise. Les risques géologiques incluent toute caractéristique ou tout événement naturel qui peut avoir un impact négatif sur l'intégrité de l’emprise ou de la conduite. Il peut s'agir, entre autres, de tremblements de terre, de glissements de terrain, de coulées de débris, de chutes de rochers, d'un soulèvement dû au gel et d'un tassement dû au dégel, d'affaissements du sol dus à l'effondrement karstique ou à l'exploitation minière souterraine, de l'indentation des roches et de risques hydrotechniques, tels que l'érosion latérale ou verticale, l'affouillement, la migration ou l'avulsion de chenaux, etc. Bien que le présent document puisse être utilisé pour la surveillance de la plupart des risques géologiques, l'accent est mis sur les mouvements du sol ayant un impact sur les conduites ou leur emprise, tels que les glissements de terrain ou le tassement. Le présent document ne s'applique pas à la surveillance des risques géologiques de nature temporaire, tels que la stabilité des tas de déblais, les pentes de coupe temporaires destinées à faciliter la construction des conduites, la stabilité des excavations ou des tranchées des parois et des routes d'accès. L'un des objectifs du présent document est de décrire les processus et les étapes de l'élaboration d'un programme de surveillance des risques géologiques adapté. Par exemple, il convient que ce programme prenne en compte les éléments suivants : — les caractéristiques du risque géologique et le niveau de menace pour le système de conduites ; — les approches recommandées en matière de surveillance, les systèmes et méthodes de surveillance appropriés ; — la fréquence de surveillance, la mise en œuvre du programme de surveillance, l'exploitation, la maintenance et l'arrêt des activités ; — les composants des systèmes de surveillance ; — les alarmes et les niveaux de seuil, les critères et les mesures d'intervention.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 10903
ISO/TC 67/SC 2
Oil and gas industries including
Secretariat: UNI
lower carbon energy — Pipeline
Voting begins on:
transportation systems — Pipeline
2025-07-11
geohazard monitoring processes,
Voting terminates on:
systems and technologies
2025-09-05
Industries du pétrole et du gaz, y compris les énergies à faible
teneur en carbone — Systèmes de transport par conduites —
Processus, systèmes et technologies de surveillance des risques
géologiques pour la conduite
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en) © ISO 2025
FINAL DRAFT
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 10903
ISO/TC 67/SC 2
Oil and gas industries including
Secretariat: UNI
lower carbon energy — Pipeline
Voting begins on:
transportation systems — Pipeline
geohazard monitoring processes,
Voting terminates on:
systems and technologies
Industries du pétrole et du gaz, y compris les énergies à faible
teneur en carbone — Systèmes de transport par conduites —
Processus, systèmes et technologies de surveillance des risques
géologiques pour la conduite
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2025
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en) © ISO 2025
ii
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 1
3.1 Terms and definitions .1
3.2 Abbreviated terms .5
4 Key objectives and principles . 6
4.1 Objectives of geohazard monitoring .6
4.2 Monitoring process .6
4.2.1 General .6
4.2.2 Monitoring process during the preliminary engineering and route selection
phase .7
4.2.3 Monitoring process during the detailed design phase .8
4.2.4 Monitoring process during the construction phase .9
4.2.5 Monitoring process during the operation and maintenance phase .10
4.3 GHMP development .11
4.4 GHMP considerations . 12
5 Monitoring geohazards on pipeline projects .12
5.1 Monitoring project category . 12
5.2 Pipeline monitoring . 13
5.3 Geohazard monitoring .14
5.4 Earth pressure monitoring of pipeline .14
5.5 Geohazard triggering event monitoring .14
6 Geohazard monitoring program (GHMP) .15
6.1 General . 15
6.2 Monitoring requirements .16
6.3 Significance grade of monitoring .18
6.4 Monitoring methods .18
6.4.1 Overview .18
6.4.2 General considerations .18
6.4.3 Regional monitoring methods . 20
6.4.4 Site-specific monitoring methods . 20
6.4.5 Potential strategies for regional monitoring . 20
6.4.6 Potential strategies for site-specific monitoring .21
6.5 Monitoring frequency .21
6.6 Program implementation . 22
6.7 Threshold and alarm levels . 23
6.7.1 General . 23
6.7.2 Threshold levels .24
6.7.3 Regional monitoring alert thresholds . 25
6.8 Response to threshold exceedance . 26
6.8.1 Overview . 26
6.8.2 Establishing validity . 26
6.8.3 Response to alert threshold exceedance . 26
6.8.4 Response to action threshold exceedance . 26
6.8.5 Response to safety threshold exceedance .27
6.9 Operation and maintenance .27
6.10 GHMP termination . 28
7 Data acquisition and management systems .28
7.1 System composition . 28
7.2 Data acquisition system . 29
iii
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en)
7.2.1 Overview . 29
7.2.2 Manual data collection . 29
7.2.3 Automated data collection . . 29
7.2.4 Automated data collection with telemetry . 29
7.2.5 System requirements . 30
7.3 Data processing and management system . 30
7.3.1 Monitoring data management system . 30
7.3.2 Integrated geohazard and monitoring data management system . 30
7.3.3 Safety for data transmission.31
Annex A (informative) Monitoring methods and elements .33
Annex B (informative) Monitoring scheme design for three common geohazards .66
Bibliography .
...
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en)
Date: 2025-04-14
ISO/TC 67/SC 2
Secretariat: UNI
Date: 2025-06-27
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy — Pipeline
transportation systems— — Pipeline geohazard monitoring
processes, systems and technologies
Industries du pétrole et du gaz, y compris les énergies à faible teneur en carbone — Systèmes de transport par
conduites — Processus, systèmes et technologies de surveillance des risques géologiques pour la conduite
FDIS stage
ISO/DISFDIS 10903:20242025(en)
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication
may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO
at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
EmailE-mail: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ii
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en)
Contents
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 2
3.1 Terms and definitions . 2
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 6
4 Key objectives and principles . 6
4.1 Objectives of geohazard monitoring . 6
4.2 Monitoring process . 7
4.3 GHMP development . 14
4.4 GHMP considerations . 15
5 Monitoring geohazards on pipeline projects . 15
5.1 Monitoring project category . 15
5.2 Pipeline monitoring . 16
5.3 Geohazard monitoring . 17
5.4 Earth pressure monitoring of pipeline . 18
5.5 Geohazard triggering event monitoring . 18
6 Geohazard monitoring program (GHMP) . 19
6.1 General . 19
6.2 Monitoring requirements . 19
6.3 Significance grade of monitoring . 23
6.4 Monitoring methods . 23
6.5 Monitoring frequency . 27
6.6 Program implementation . 28
6.7 Threshold and alarm levels . 29
6.8 Response to threshold exceedance . 31
6.9 Operation and maintenance . 33
6.10 GHMP termination . 34
7 Data acquisition and management systems . 34
7.1 System composition . 34
7.2 Data acquisition system . 35
7.3 Data processing and management system . 37
Annex A (informative) Monitoring methods and elements . 40
Annex B (informative) Monitoring scheme design for three common geohazards . 75
Bibliography . 78
iii
ISO/DISFDIS 10903:20242025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of
ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights
in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s)
which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not
represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Oil and gas industries including lower carbon
energy, Subcommittee SC 2, Pipeline transportation systems.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
iv
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(en)
Introduction
In recognizing that pipelines transverse highly variable environments, this document provides an overview of
available technologies and techniques to monitor and manage geohazards rather than providing prescriptive
procedures. This document also recognizes that competent and appropriately qualified geohazard and
pipeline stress experts are an integral part of the process because they are best suited to assess system-wide
or site-specific needs for a geohazard monitoring program (GHMP).
Geohazards can adversely affect the operation or integrity of new and existing pipelines and their right-of-
way (RoW), as well as the design and construction of proposed pipelines. Monitoring systems are commonly
used for assessing and managing geohazard risk and the impact of geohazards on the integrity of pipelines. In
comparison with geohazard engineering mitigation measures, monitoring systems have significant cost-
benefit advantages in reducing economic, social, and environmental risks.
With the development of GHMP, this document brings about the following potential benefits:
— — technical benefits: it helps operators, regulators, consultants, and third parties determine appropriate
practices for monitoring geohazards and provides examples of current and emerging monitoring systems
and techniques;
— — risk reduction: it helps operators better assess the impact of the geohazard on the integrity of their
pipeline asset, which then allows for an assessment of the resulting consequences;
— — economic benefits: it helps operators define and develop physical intervention measures to prevent a
pipeline integrity incident by making forecasts of impacts and evaluating consequences in cases where a
pipeline system faces geohazards; it can help interested parties, especially operators of small- and
medium-scale pipelines, to properly use their available economic and operational resources among the
inventory of their geohazards;
— — social and environmental benefits: it provides the pipeline operators with sufficient time for physical
interventions by monitoring with early warning notifications; it can reduce the likelihood of integrity
issues or loss-of-containment incidents, avoiding or reducing negative social and environmental impacts
by early intervention.
Geohazard monitoring is part of a comprehensive geohazard management and pipeline integrity plan that
should be developed as part of operating any buried pipeline. ISO 20074 and ISO 19345-1 provide information
on preparing geohazard management plans and pipeline integrity requirements. Monitoring should not be
performed in isolation of these plans and requirements.
Geohazard monitoring is typically used to initially identify and characterize geohazards. It is a means to
confirm the presence of a geohazard and provide characterization of the feature so that engineering
assessment of the geohazard impact to the pipeline can be performed, and engineering mitigations can be
developed and implemented in a timely manner.
Geohazards include any natural feature, event, or process that can negatively impact the integrity of the RoW
or pipeline. These can include but are not limited to earthquakes, landslides, debris flows, rockfalls, frost heave
and thaw settlement, ground subsidence from karst collapse or underground mining, rock indentation, and
hydrotechnical hazards, such as lateral or vertical erosion, scour, channel migration or avulsion, and others.
Although the information in this document can be used for monitoring most geohazards, the focus herein is
on ground movements (e.g. landslides or subsidence) impacting pipelines or their RoW.
v
DRAFT International Standard
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy — Pipeline
transportation systems — Pipeline geohazard monitoring processes,
systems and technologies
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and guidance on planning, selecting, and implementing methods and
strategies for monitoring geohazards that can interact with pipelines.
This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for users regarding the development and
initiation of monitoring processes throughout the pipeline life cycle, including the following stages: 1)
preliminary engineering and route selection phase, 2) detailed design phase, 3) construction phase, and 4)
operation and maintenance phase.
a) preliminary engineering and route selection phase;
b) detailed design phase;
c) construction phase;
d) operation and maintenance phase.
This document also describes the processes and steps for developing a suitable geohazard monitoring
program (GHMP).
This document applies to geohazard monitoring of new and existing onshore gathering and transportation
pipelines and the right-of-way (RoW).
This document does not apply to monitoring geohazards that are temporary, such as the stability of spoil piles,
temporary cut slopes to facilitate pipeline construction, stability of excavation or trench wall, and access roads.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this docum
...
PROJET FINAL
Norme
internationale
ISO/FDIS 10903
ISO/TC 67/SC 2
Industries du pétrole et du gaz,
Secrétariat: UNI
y compris les énergies à faible
Début de vote:
teneur en carbone — Systèmes
2025-07-11
de transport par conduites —
Vote clos le:
Processus, systèmes et technologies
2025-09-05
de surveillance des risques
géologiques pour la conduite
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy — Pipeline
transportation systems — Pipeline geohazard monitoring
processes, systems and technologies
LES DESTINATAIRES DU PRÉSENT PROJET SONT
INVITÉS À PRÉSENTER, AVEC LEURS OBSERVATIONS,
NOTIFICATION DES DROITS DE PROPRIÉTÉ DONT ILS
AURAIENT ÉVENTUELLEMENT CONNAISSANCE ET À
FOURNIR UNE DOCUMENTATION EXPLICATIVE.
OUTRE LE FAIT D’ÊTRE EXAMINÉS POUR
ÉTABLIR S’ILS SONT ACCEPTABLES À DES FINS
INDUSTRIELLES, TECHNOLOGIQUES ET COM-MERCIALES,
AINSI QUE DU POINT DE VUE DES UTILISATEURS, LES
PROJETS DE NORMES
INTERNATIONALES DOIVENT PARFOIS ÊTRE CONSIDÉRÉS
DU POINT DE VUE DE LEUR POSSI BILITÉ DE DEVENIR DES
NORMES POUVANT
SERVIR DE RÉFÉRENCE DANS LA RÉGLEMENTATION
NATIONALE.
Numéro de référence
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(fr) © ISO 2025
PROJET FINAL
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(fr)
Norme
internationale
ISO/FDIS 10903
ISO/TC 67/SC 2
Industries du pétrole et du gaz,
Secrétariat: UNI
y compris les énergies à faible
Début de vote:
teneur en carbone — Systèmes
2025-07-11
de transport par conduites —
Vote clos le:
Processus, systèmes et technologies
2025-09-05
de surveillance des risques
géologiques pour la conduite
Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy — Pipeline
transportation systems — Pipeline geohazard monitoring
processes, systems and technologies
LES DESTINATAIRES DU PRÉSENT PROJET SONT
INVITÉS À PRÉSENTER, AVEC LEURS OBSERVATIONS,
NOTIFICATION DES DROITS DE PROPRIÉTÉ DONT ILS
AURAIENT ÉVENTUELLEMENT CONNAISSANCE ET À
FOURNIR UNE DOCUMENTATION EXPLICATIVE.
DOCUMENT PROTÉGÉ PAR COPYRIGHT
OUTRE LE FAIT D’ÊTRE EXAMINÉS POUR
ÉTABLIR S’ILS SONT ACCEPTABLES À DES FINS
© ISO 2025 INDUSTRIELLES, TECHNOLOGIQUES ET COM-MERCIALES,
AINSI QUE DU POINT DE VUE DES UTILISATEURS, LES
Tous droits réservés. Sauf prescription différente ou nécessité dans le contexte de sa mise en œuvre, aucune partie de cette
PROJETS DE NORMES
INTERNATIONALES DOIVENT PARFOIS ÊTRE CONSIDÉRÉS
publication ne peut être reproduite ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique,
DU POINT DE VUE DE LEUR POSSI BILITÉ DE DEVENIR DES
y compris la photocopie, ou la diffusion sur l’internet ou sur un intranet, sans autorisation écrite préalable. Une autorisation peut
NORMES POUVANT
être demandée à l’ISO à l’adresse ci-après ou au comité membre de l’ISO dans le pays du demandeur.
SERVIR DE RÉFÉRENCE DANS LA RÉGLEMENTATION
NATIONALE.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Genève
Tél.: +41 22 749 01 11
E-mail: copyright@iso.org
Web: www.iso.org
Publié en Suisse Numéro de référence
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(fr) © ISO 2025
ii
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(fr)
Sommaire Page
Avant-propos .v
Introduction .vi
1 Domaine d'application . 1
2 Références normatives . 1
3 Termes, définitions et abréviations . 2
3.1 Termes et définitions .2
3.2 Abréviations.6
4 Objectifs et principes clés . 6
4.1 Objectifs de la surveillance des risques géologiques.6
4.2 Processus de surveillance .7
4.2.1 Généralités .7
4.2.2 Processus de surveillance pendant la phase d'ingénierie préliminaire et de
sélection du tracé .7
4.2.3 Processus de surveillance pendant la phase de conception détaillée .8
4.2.4 Processus de surveillance pendant la phase de construction .9
4.2.5 Processus de surveillance pendant la phase d'exploitation et de maintenance .10
4.3 Élaboration du GHMP .11
4.4 Considérations relatives au GHMP . 12
5 Surveillance des risques géologiques dans les projets de conduites .13
5.1 Catégorie de projet de surveillance. 13
5.2 Surveillance des conduites . 13
5.3 Surveillance des risques géologiques .14
5.4 Surveillance de la pression de la terre sur les conduites . 15
5.5 Surveillance des événements déclencheurs des risques géologiques . 15
6 Programme de surveillance du risque géologique (GHMP).16
6.1 Généralités .16
6.2 Exigences de surveillance .16
6.3 Degré d'importance de la surveillance .19
6.4 Méthodes de surveillance .19
6.4.1 Vue d'ensemble.19
6.4.2 Considérations générales .19
6.4.3 Méthodes de surveillance régionale .21
6.4.4 Méthodes de surveillance spécifique au site .21
6.4.5 Stratégies potentielles de surveillance régionale . 22
6.4.6 Stratégies potentielles de surveillance spécifique au site . 22
6.5 Fréquence de surveillance . 23
6.6 Mise en œuvre du programme .24
6.7 Seuils et niveaux d'alarme . 25
6.7.1 Généralités . 25
6.7.2 Niveaux de seuil. 26
6.7.3 Seuils d'alerte pour la surveillance régionale .27
6.8 Réponse au dépassement du seuil . 28
6.8.1 Vue d'ensemble. 28
6.8.2 Établissement de la validité . 28
6.8.3 Réponse en cas de dépassement du seuil d'alerte . 28
6.8.4 Réponse au dépassement du seuil d'action . 29
6.8.5 Réponse au dépassement du seuil de sécurité . 29
6.9 Exploitation et maintenance . 30
6.10 Arrêt du GHMP. 30
7 Systèmes d'acquisition et de gestion des données .31
7.1 Composition du système .31
7.2 Système d'acquisition de données .31
iii
ISO/FDIS 10903:2025(fr)
7.2.1 Vue d'ensemble.31
7.2.2 Collecte manuelle de données .32
7.2.3 Collecte automatisée de données .32
7.2.4 Collecte automatisée de données par télémétrie .32
7.2.5 Exigences relatives au système .32
7.3 Système de traitement et de gestion des données . 33
7.3.1 Système de gestion des données de surveillance . 33
7.3.2 Système intégré de gestion des risques géologiques et des données de
surveillance . 33
7.3.3 Sécurité pour la transmission des données . 34
Annexe A (informative) Monitoring methods and elements .36
Annexe B (informative) Monitoring scheme design for three common geohazards .70
Bibliographie .73
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.