Special types of document satisfy the needs presented by technological developments in fast-moving industries such as the IT sector, and the need for swift standardization of research results. These documents are published under the umbrella of standards organizations. They include DIN SPECs, VDE SPECs, VDE rules of application, CEN and/or CENELEC Workshop Agreements (CWAs) and International Workshop Agreements (IWAs). They can be developed and published significantly more quickly than standards.The growing number of fast-track standardization documents being produced is indicative of their increasing acceptance in the market, for example in the area of services and e-business. They are also being produced more and more frequently on topics relating to safety and the protection of health.
"Fast-track" standardization documents such as DIN SPECs and CWAs are however not subject to the full breadth of essential standardization principles, such as participation by all stakeholders in the process. In KAN's view, documents of relevance to occupational safety and health should be developed and adopted by committees subject in full to the rules for standardization work. In order for the German OSH lobby to carry its position through, at European and international as well as national level, KAN published a position paper (pdf, accessible) on the subject.
Recently, possible approaches to speeding up standardisation have also been discussed at European level. The European Commission is seeking to accelerate procedures in order to keep pace with rapid innovation cycles. With the instrument of common specifications, the Commission has created the option of a fallback solution for the event that harmonised standards are inadequate or do not exist at all. The Commission is also considering drawing on outcomes produced by standardisation organisations beyond those already established in Europe (ESOs). In 2024, KAN published a position paper on the instrument of Common Specifications:
With the European Agile Specification (EAS), CEN/CENELEC is seeking to introduce a new standardisation product that will enable technical specifications to be developed and made available within a short space of time. According to the proposal, the new format could potentially give rise to a presumption of conformity. The aim is to permit a swifter response to new market-related, technological and regulatory requirements. KAN also published a position paper on EASs:
