How to Guides: Australian Standards

The WA Health Libraries Network has a single user login to Australian Standards Online, accessed via SAI Global. You may gain access from the site from the link below but if the licence is in use, you will not be able to download until the previous person logs out. You can check status from the top menu item called 'Tools', then 'Current licence usage'.

From 7 October 2023

Read the instructions further down BEFORE you go online to download a standard from the link below.

Click on this link for access.  The login credentials needed are pre-populated - just click 'Submit' to get in.

SAI Global has implemented a new digital rights management system for reading downloaded standards.  You will no longer need an Adobe FileOpen plugin to be installed.  The new system is called Vitrium and will require you to change two settings in Adobe Reader.

Go to Edit:  Preferences;  JavaScript:  Uncheck the box called Enable global object security Policy if it is checked.

When you see a pop-up security warning message - This document is trying to connect to doc.drm.saiglobal.com.  If you trust this site, choose Allow.  If you do not trust this site, choose Block.  Tick the box Remember this action for this site for all PDF documents.  Click Allow.

This is a link to a video describing what to do.     FAQs.

Once you have your Adobe Reader settings correct, the following information is all critical.

• When you click to open / download a standard, you will be prompted to register as an individual.  Be aware that confirmation emails to complete registration may end up in your junk email folder.
• Once downloaded, a standard can be opened on only one computer – not one at a time, but just one computer. 
• The PDFs will ONLY open in Adobe Reader so if your default setting is to open PDFs in Adobe Professional or in a browser tab, you will need to right click on the file in your downloads folder and select - Open with - to open with Adobe Reader.
• Although you can download the Standards in pdf format, the downloaded copies are encoded with a predetermined expiry date, after which they cease to be accessible. You either need to log back in to view the standard as you need it and / or print off a copy (but remember to check your print copy is still the most current version).
• International standards that are unlocked do not remain available indefinitely. They have a predetermined expiry date after which they need to be repurchased. You can see the list of those that have been added to the standard licence by clicking on the link called "My International Standards List" towards the top of the page. It is important to print off any that you rely on and check back to see if the version you have printed remains the most current version.
• Please logout once you have found what you need so others may gain access.

What's covered by the licence?

Australian standards are available, however the online site also references other international standards from organisations such as

AAMI - Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
ANSI - American National Standards Institute
ISO - International Organization for Standardization.

These online standards are 'locked' unless an additional purchase is made. The cost to unlock them is charged back to the part of WA Health that requires access.

When you click 'Request Unlock' you will need to fill in some details and then hit 'Submit Form'. The request will be sent to the NMHS Library to organise the purchase. Costs will be generally be charged to the department making the request. Approval is required from the head of department and the relevant business manager (and the cost centre is required) but the Library staff can organise the payment and alert you when it is available.