The Evolution of Standards

Why Change Is a Good Thing

Imagine for a moment that we’re back in the 1950s. You hop into a sleek, chrome-adorned car, turn the key, and roll down the highway. There are no seatbelts to fasten, no airbags hidden in the dashboard, and certainly no rearview cameras.

Now, fast-forward to today—cars practically look out for you, with lane departure warnings, automatic braking, and even self-driving capabilities becoming mainstream.

The difference? Standards have changed.

A Moving Target: Why Standards Change

Standards evolve in every aspect of life—from the products we use to the way we communicate and even how we work. Sometimes, these changes are so gradual that we hardly notice them. Other times, they spark resistance—"Why fix what isn’t broken?"

But when we take a step back, we see that updated standards almost always lead to improvements in safety, efficiency, and quality of life.

Change isn’t always comfortable, but it’s necessary. Standards are updated in response to new discoveries, advancements in technology, and shifts in societal expectations. In many cases, these changes save lives, improve reliability, and make life just a little bit easier.

Take building codes, for example. A home built in 1920 wouldn’t meet today’s requirements for electrical wiring, insulation, or earthquake resistance. While updating a home to meet modern codes can feel like a hassle (why does every renovation require so many permits?), these evolving standards help prevent fires, improve energy efficiency, and keep buildings standing longer.

My Heart Will Go On, But Perhaps Current Standards Shouldn’t

Back in 1998, Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On became a Titanic-sized hit. Coincidentally, 1998 was also the year ISO 12944 standards were first released. Sure, there have been two updates since then, but just like automobiles and building codes, regularly updating standards is simply the right and wise thing to do.

At PowderCoil, all of our coatings meet or exceed the current standard—and frankly, we’re pushing to go well beyond that. After all, the standard represents the minimum requirement, and we know that’s no place our customers want to stay.

Embracing the Future

Change isn’t always easy, and we don’t always appreciate it in the moment. But history shows that progress tends to move in a positive direction. When standards evolve, they do so with the intent of making things safer, smarter, and more efficient.

So, to all the architects, builders, engineers, designers, foremen, and quality control specialists out there—demand more. Demand better. Demand coated metal standards that allow you to dream about what could be instead of settling for what has been.

Because while progress might not always be convenient, it’s almost always worth it.