How does ISO 6789:2003 differ from the 2017 edition?
Applies to: ISO 6789:2003, ISO 6789-1:2017, ISO 6789-2:2017 · Updated 2026-10-27
Technical review: Alston Hsiao (Chieh-Jen Hsiao), CTO, STAND
The 2017 edition split the single 2003 standard into two parts covering conformance requirements and traceable calibration, with changes to ranges, measurement procedures, and the reporting of results. The revision involved more than renaming documents. To compare a specification or report, first identify the edition, then use the questions below to find the relevant differences.
Which difference do you need to check?
| Your question | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Why did the document supplied with a new tool change its name? | The 2017 edition treats conformance evidence and calibration evidence separately. See Why did the document supplied with a new tool change from a “calibration certificate” to a “declaration of conformance”?. |
| Does the specified range still start at 20 % of maximum torque? | The 2003 range requirements differ from the 2017 approach, where the lower limit depends on the tool's Type and Class. See Is a torque tool always unusable below 20 % of its maximum torque?. |
| Where should I start when the 2003 edition is specified? | Check the device, environment, and measurement arrangements against that edition. See Where should calibration to ISO 6789:2003 begin?. |
| How are measurement points selected under the 2017 edition? | Identify the specified range and the tool's Type and Class before selecting target values. See At which torque points should tools be measured under the 2017 edition?. |
| Can I reuse the same percentage calculation? | Keep the roles of the quantities, signs, and denominators in Part 1 and Part 2 separate. See Are the percentage formulas in Part 1 and Part 2 interchangeable?. |
| Did the setting value for adjustable, non-graduated tools change? | Compare the earlier mean-value approach with the later use of a lowest limit value or nominal pre-set value. See How do the 2003 and 2017 editions define the setting value for adjustable, non-graduated tools?. |
| Why do 2017 calibration results include W and W′? | Part 2 addresses uncertainty in tool calibration. See What do w, W, and W′ mean?. |
State the complete reference before comparing results
Read a document marked “ISO 6789:2003” against that edition. For “ISO 6789-1:2017” or “ISO 6789-2:2017,” check the corresponding part. If it says only “ISO 6789,” ask the provider to specify the year and part so that the basis for its data or conclusions is clear.
The two 2017 parts replaced the 2003 edition. However, results for work that specifies 2003 still need to be assessed against the agreed requirements. Missing fields introduced in the later edition are not, by themselves, grounds for rejecting earlier results. Equally, changing the title of a report produced using an earlier procedure does not establish compliance with the later requirements.
The table is a guide to the differences, rather than a combined operating checklist for both editions. For actual work, choose the applicable edition and consult its procedures and calculations, preserving the original meaning of each result.