ISO 22310:2006

Overview - ISO 22310:2006 and records management requirements in standards

ISO 22310:2006 provides guidance for standards drafters on how to state records management requirements in standards. It helps incorporate records-related obligations - aligned with ISO 15489 and ISO 23081‑1 - into other ISO deliverables and sector-specific standards. The standard promotes consistency, interoperability and clarity where requirements lead to the creation, retention, access or preservation of records. It is supplemental to the ISO/IEC Directives and is intended for ISO technical committees, standards drafters and other standards development organizations.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 22310:2006 focuses on the structure and content drafters should use when defining records management requirements. Main technical topics include:

• Records creation requirements: specify which records must be created, what information they contain and required metadata.
• Retention requirements: define how long records must be kept, transfer and disposition arrangements.
• Access requirements: specify who may access records and how access is controlled to protect integrity and confidentiality.
• Preservation requirements: rules for maintaining legibility, usability and retrievability over time (including migration and format considerations).
• Systems requirements: qualities expected of systems that make and manage records (reliability, integrity, compliance).
• Records management tools and procedures: metadata schemes, classification and indexing rules, security/access classifications, retention schedules and disposition authorities.
• Sector-specific guidance and deviations: how to add sector-specific requirements while maintaining compatibility with ISO 15489, and how to document/justify deviations.

ISO 22310 emphasizes consistent terminology, common elements across standards, and alignment with recognized records management models to facilitate combined implementation.

Practical applications and who should use it

Who uses ISO 22310:2006:

• ISO technical committees and standards drafters drafting standards that create or require records.
• Non‑ISO SDOs (regional/national) developing records requirements in standards or comparable documents.
• Organizational compliance and records managers who implement standards-driven recordkeeping practices and need interoperable rules. Practical uses:
• Embedding clear, interoperable records management clauses into product, service or management system standards.
• Designing retention schedules, metadata requirements and access controls that align with ISO 15489.
• Ensuring sector-specific standards remain compatible with generic records management principles.

Related standards

• ISO 15489‑1 / ISO/TR 15489‑2 - Records management (general and guidelines)
• ISO 23081‑1 - Metadata for records - principles
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 - Rules for structure and drafting of International Standards
• IEC 82045‑1 - Document management - principles and methods

Using ISO 22310:2006 helps ensure records management requirements in standards are consistent, usable and aligned with established best practice for metadata, retention, access and preservation.