1. Journal of Research (NIST JRES)

NIST JRES, issued bimonthly, covers a broad range of subjects, with major emphasis on measurement methodologies and the basic technologies underlying standardization. This periodical also includes articles on topics closely related to the Institute's technical and scientific programs.

2. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data (JPCRD)

The JPCRD is the principal outlet for the evaluated data of the National Standard Reference Data System. It contains critically evaluated physical and chemical property data, fully documented as to the original sources and the criteria used for evaluation. It also includes critical reviews of measurement techniques used to assess the accuracy of available data in specific technical areas.

The JPCRD is not a publication outlet for original experimental measurements such as those that normally are reported in the primary research journals, nor for review articles of a descriptive or primarily theoretical nature. (See also National Standard Reference Data Series.)

The JPCRD is published bimonthly for NIST by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Composition costs are supported by the Standard Reference Data Program.

Authority: Public Law 90-396; 15 U.S.C. 290.

3. Monographs (NIST MN)

NIST MN's contain complete and extensive reports on research projects or on major subjects of interest in the various areas related to NIST's scientific and technical research.

4. Handbooks (NIST HB)

NIST HB's contain information of a specialized nature dealing directly with scientific and engineering disciplines. Subjects vary from handbook practices for weights-and-measures officials to recommended guidelines for radiation protection, noise control, and energy conservation.

NIST HB's include recommended codes of engineering and industrial practice (including safety codes) developed in cooperation with interested industries, professional organizations, and regulatory bodies.

5.  National Construction Safety Team Act Reports (NIST NCSTAR)

This series comprises the reports of investigations carried out under Public Law 107-231, the technical cause(s) of the building failure investigated; any technical recommendations for changes to or the establishment of evacuation and emergency response procedures; any recommended specific improvements to building standards, codes, and practices; and recommendations for research and other appropriate actions to help prevent future building failures.

6. Building Science Series (NIST BSS)

The NIST BSS disseminates technical information developed at NIST on building materials, components, systems, and whole structures. Publications include research results, test methods, and performance criteria related to the structural and environmental functions and the durability and safety characteristics of building elements and systems.

7. Technical Notes (NIST TN)

NIST TN's include studies or reports which, while complete in themselves, are restrictive in their treatment of a subject. They are similar to monographs but not as comprehensive in scope or definitive in treatment of a subject. They often serve as a vehicle for final reports of work performed at NIST under the sponsorship of other government agencies.

8. Special Publications (NIST SP)

NIST SP's report technical and programmatic information not suitable for other NIST publication series. SP's include proceedings of conferences sponsored by NIST, NIST annual reports, and other special publications such as wall charts, pocket cards, and bibliographies. Subseries of NIST Special Publications may be used for the publication of specific areas of information of a specialized kind; for example:

SP 250-XX: Calibration Services
SP 260-XX: Standard Reference Materials
SP 300-XX: Precision Measurement and Calibration
SP 400-XX: Semiconductor Measurement Technology
SP 480-XX: Law Enforcement Technology
SP 500-XX: Computer Systems Technology
SP 700-XX: Industrial Measurement Series
SP 800-XX: Computer Security Series
SP 823-XX: Integrated Services Digital Network Series

9. National Standard Reference Data Series (NIST NSRDS)

The NIST NSRDS series provides quantitative data on the physical and chemical properties of materials, compiled from the world's literature and critically evaluated. It contains critically evaluated physical and chemical property data of material properties fully documented as to original sources and the criteria that are used for evaluation. Also included are critical reviews of measurement techniques, whose aim is to assess the accuracy of available data in a given technical area. (See also Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data.)

Authority: The NIST NSRDS is developed under a worldwide program coordinated by NIST under the authority of the Standard Reference Data Act of 11 July 1968 (Public Law 90-396).

10. Federal Information Processing Standards (NIST FIPS)

NIST FIPS publications contain standards and guidelines for improving the use and management of computer and related telecommunications systems in the federal government. They serve as the official source of information in the federal government regarding standards issued by NIST. Proposed FIPS Federal Standards are published in the Federal Register (FR) for public comment and review prior to final publication.

Authority: This series constitutes the FIPS Register as required by Public Law 100-235, Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987. FIPS standards are approved by the Secretary of Commerce.

11. Voluntary Product Standards (NIST VPS)

NIST VPS's establish nationally recognized requirements for products and provide a basis for understanding the common characteristics of products. The series includes classifications, definitions, requirements, and inspection and testing procedures used in manufacturing, marketing, and purchasing of products, processes, or procedures.

Note: The requirements of the Voluntary Product Standards Program are now met through activities of private-sector standards organizations with the participation of NIST; the NIST VPS series of publications is used infrequently only for very special purposes and in connection with the maintenance of active VPS standards developed in the past.

12. Interagency or Internal Reports (NISTIR)

NISTIR's include interim or final reports on work performed by NIST for outside sponsors (both government and nongovernment). In general, initial distribution is handled by the sponsor and distribution to the public is handled by sales through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), in hardcopy, electronic media, or microfiche form. NISTIR's may also report results of NIST projects of transitory or limited interest, including those that will be published subsequently in more comprehensive form.

Technical Notes and other series may also be used for this purpose when acceptable to the sponsor.

NISTIR publications have the following special characteristics:

a. Primary (initial) distribution is limited to those persons who have a definite interest in the subject. The distribution is determined by the sponsor and NIST jointly and carried out by either agency. By mutual agreement, secondary distribution is accomplished by sending the reports to NTIS for public announcement and sale. In some instances, NIST and the sponsor may agree on a restricted distribution because the report contains proprietary information, preliminary and fragmentary results, or policy recommendations for further consideration by the sponsor. If so, the appropriate block on Form NIST-114, Manuscript Review and Approval, should be checked. (This block reads: "For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS.") The reason for restricting distribution may be further explained in a "special notice," the text for which may be provided by the sponsor or NIST (see Appendix F).

b. Limited or restricted NISTIR's must be made available to all interested parties upon request under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act unless the documents fall within one of the exemptions clearly specified in that act. The possibility of distribution to the general public should be kept in mind when such reports are written, reviewed, and approved. Freedom of Information inquiries and other public requests for the release of limited or restricted reports containing sensitive matters and trade name identification should be directed to the NIST Deputy Chief Counsel for coordination with the Editorial Review Board and the Operating Unit. This also applies to requests for the trade name identification key for both restricted and unlimited reports in which trade products or commercial organizations are coded (see Appendix K).

c. As with other publications, trade names should be avoided, except as prescribed in this subchapter.

d. Reproduction is usually handled by Printing and Duplicating, Facilities Services Division, at Gaithersburg or the Publications Group at Boulder. The time between submission and reproduction is usually one to three days (see Appendix K).

13. Grant/Contract Reports (NIST GCR)

This series reports work of an outside person or organization working under grant or contract from NIST. It is used when the scientific project officer decides that a contract report has sufficient technical merit to be made publicly available through NTIS. When justified and so recommended by the project officer, grant/contract reports can be incorporated into a formal NIST series.

14. Patents

Patents constitute an important form of publication that is available to NIST staff scientists and engineers, guest researchers, and research associates when invention is a result of their work. Policy and procedures to be used in the disclosure of inventions and the preparation of patent applications are defined in Subchapter 2.10.

It is NIST policy to encourage inventive activity within all technical programs. Patents potentially have, through licensing, a high level of value to the United States Government and can lead to significant rewards for the inventor.