mechanical engineering

DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung, the German Institute for Standardization, is a non-governmental organization recognized by the German government as the national standards body and represents German interests at international and European level.

DIN Standards promote rationalization, quality assurance, safety, and environmental protection as well as improving communication between industry, technology, science, government and the public domain. Standards work is carried out by 26,000 external experts serving as voluntary delegates in more than 4,000 committees. Draft standards are published for public comment, and all comments are reviewed before final publication of the standard. Published standards are reviewed for continuing relevance every five years, at least.

The over 12,000 DIN standards cover a wide range of topics including: physical quantities and units, fasteners, water analysis, building and civil engineering (including building materials, construction contract procedures (VOB), soil testing, corrosion protection of steel structures), materials testing (testing machines, plastics, rubber, petroleum products, semiconductors), steel pipes, machine tools, twist drills, roller and ball bearings, and process engineering. DIN Handbooks (covering subjects such as mechanical engineering, fasteners, steel, steel pipes, and welding), and most DIN standards are available as English versions, or as English translations.

DIN standards designation
The designation of a DIN standard shows its origin (# denotes a number):
* DIN # is used for German standards with primarily domestic significance or designed as a first step toward international status
* E DIN # is a draft standard and
* DIN V # is a preliminary standard
* DIN EN # is used for German edition of European standards
* DIN ETS # is used for standards prepared by European Telecommunications Standards Institute
* DIN ISO # is used for German edition of ISO standards
* DIN EN ISO # is used if the standard as also been adopted as a European standard

Examples - DIN Standards
* DIN 75078-1 Motor vehicle for the transport of persons with reduced mobility - Part 1: Terms and definitions, requirements, tests
* DIN V 4108-4 Thermal insulation and energy economy in buildings - Part 4: Hygrothermal design values
* DIN EN 126 Multifunctional controls for gas burning appliances
* DIN EN ISO 10042 Welding - Arc-welded joints in aluminum and its weldable alloys - Quality levels for imperfections (ISO/DIS 10042:2004)