Is “ISO 6789” clear enough without a year or part number?
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
No; ask the supplier to add the year and, for the 2017 edition, specify Part 1, Part 2, or both. Without that information, you cannot determine which procedures and document requirements to check against. The omission does not, however, automatically invalidate the measurement results.
Start with the part number and the work it identifies
A reference to ISO 6789-1 or ISO 6789-2 identifies the 2017 edition, because the 2003 edition was not divided into parts. In practice, “ISO 6789” without a part number or year often refers to the 2003 edition or wording retained from earlier documents, but you cannot assume that. Ask the supplier to add the year; when placing an order, write “ISO 6789:2003” or “ISO 6789-1:2017” explicitly.
ISO 6789:2003 combined requirements for hand torque tools and calibration procedures in one standard. Following the 2017 split, Part 1 addresses conformance testing, marking, and declarations of conformance, while Part 2 addresses calibration and measurement uncertainty. “ISO 6789” alone does not tell readers what the document is intended to demonstrate.
For example, purchasing may need confirmation that the supplied tool conforms, while quality control needs results and uncertainty at each calibration point for that particular tool. If both simply request “ISO 6789 documentation,” a supplier may provide a document containing data that still leaves one party's question unanswered. A complete reference helps make the required evidence clear.
What should you ask the supplier to clarify?
The following checks are suggestions for purchasing and document review, rather than an additional set of mandatory fields imposed by the standard.
| What is unclear? | Suggested clarification |
|---|---|
| Which rules were used? | The complete standard number and year, including the part for the 2017 edition |
| What does the document demonstrate? | Whether it is a declaration of conformance or a calibration certificate; if both are supplied, the basis for each |
| Which tool do the results concern? | Whether the tool type, serial number, torque range or fixed value, and operating direction match the delivered tool |
| Does it meet the intended need? | Whether it includes the agreed conformance decision, measurement results, and uncertainty information |
Both a Part 1 declaration of conformance and a Part 2 calibration certificate must state that the document is based on the corresponding part. In practice, including the year avoids leaving the recipient to guess. If the supplier provides the full details in an attachment, also check that the attachment belongs to the main document.
Once clarified, check against that edition
If the supplier confirms the 2003 edition, first check whether the purchasing specification or customer agreement accepts it, then read the document against that edition. Do not reject an earlier document solely because it lacks information introduced in 2017 Part 2, and do not describe the 2003 edition as the current ISO edition.
If you need calibration to 2017 Part 2, confirm that the corresponding work and certificate content have been completed. Adding a standard reference only clarifies which edition the document is based on; procedures, tool identification, and results still need checking. The document's actual contents must support its correctness and suitability for the intended use.