[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/UK Designated Standards Designated StandardsUKCA # UK Designated Standards: How to Find, Select, and Apply Them for UKCA Marking UK-designated standards are the backbone of UKCA marking. Applying the right designated standards correctly gives you legal presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the applicable UK regulations — the most efficient path to UKCA compliance. This guide explains how the system works, where to find the current lists, and how to avoid the common errors that undermine technical file quality. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fuk-designated-standards) ## How designated standards work ### What is a designated standard? A designated standard is a technical standard that the UK government has formally referenced in UK regulations. Applying a designated standard correctly gives a 'presumption of conformity' — a legal shorthand that your product meets the essential requirements covered by that standard, without needing to separately prove compliance with each requirement. ### Where are they published? UK-designated standards are published in the Official Journal equivalent on legislation.gov.uk. Each regulation (e.g., Radio Equipment Regulations, EMC Regulations) has its own list of designated standards, maintained by the responsible government department and accessible on gov.uk. ### How do they differ from EU harmonised standards? UK-designated standards are technically very similar (often identical) to EU harmonised standards because they were largely taken from the same BSI/EN standards base. The key difference is the legal reference: UK-designated standards give presumption of conformity under UK law; EU harmonised standards give it under EU law. Using a UK-designated standard for CE marking does not grant presumption of conformity for EU purposes. ### What if no designated standard exists? If no designated standard covers part of your product's risks, you must demonstrate conformity with the essential requirements directly — for example, through testing to non-designated standards, technical analysis, or engagement with a UK Approved Body. This direct demonstration route requires more comprehensive technical documentation. ## Standard selection process 01 ### Identify all applicable UK regulations A single product may be covered by multiple regulations — e.g., a Wi-Fi product may simultaneously need Radio Equipment Regulations, EMC Regulations, and LVD compliance. Each regulation has its own list of designated standards. 02 ### Access the designated standards list on gov.uk Search gov.uk for '\[regulation name\] designated standards'. The government publishes updated lists — check the date of the list you are using and verify it is the current version. Standards are added, amended, and withdrawn regularly. 03 ### Check the standard's scope applies to your product Each designated standard has a defined scope. EN 300 328, for example, covers wideband data transmissions in the 2.4 GHz ISM band — but does not cover Wi-Fi 5 GHz (EN 301 893) or Bluetooth Long Range mode. Review the standard scope before applying it. 04 ### Purchase and apply the current edition BSI (British Standards Institution) publishes UK standards. Always apply the current edition of a standard — using a withdrawn or superseded edition means your presumption of conformity claim may be invalid. Purchase through BSI Knowledge (bsigroup.com). 05 ### Document standard application in technical file Your technical file must list the designated standards applied, the edition/date of each standard, the essential requirements covered, and cross-references to the test reports that demonstrate conformity to each standard. ## Learn this properly, not just for one product In-depth courses and books that teach the process — not a one-off answer you'll need to look up again next time. [Start the course — $149](/courses/09-ukca-marking-for-electronics-products)See your free roadmap [Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/09-ukca-marking-for-electronics-products) ## Frequently asked questions ### Are UK designated standards and BS EN standards the same thing? Often yes, but not always. Most UK-designated standards are published by BSI (British Standards Institution) as BS EN standards — British Standards that adopt European standards. For example, EN 300 328 is published by BSI as BS EN 300 328. The technical content is identical. However, 'BS EN' prefix simply means it is a British publication of a European standard; it does not automatically mean it is a UK-designated standard for UKCA purposes. The standard must appear on the specific UK-designated standards list for the relevant regulation. ### If I apply a designated standard, do I still need to test my product? Applying a designated standard means using it as the conformity assessment basis — you still need to test the product against the standard's test methods to demonstrate compliance. Presumption of conformity means that if your product passes all the tests required by the standard, it is presumed to meet the essential requirements of the regulation covered by that standard. Testing may be done in-house (for self-assessment under Module A) or at an accredited external laboratory. 🇬🇧 UK roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇬🇧 UK compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/09-ukca-marking-for-electronics-products)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/09-ukca-marking-for-electronics-products) Related guides * [UKCA Marking: Complete GuideComplete guide to UKCA marking for the Great Britain market: requirements, timeline, costs, GB vs NI differences, and how to tr…](/guides/ukca-marking) * [UK Conformity Assessment RoutesComplete guide to UK conformity assessment routes for UKCA marking: when self-declaration (internal production control) is perm…](/guides/uk-conformity-assessment-routes) * [UK Approved Body vs EU Notified BodyComplete guide to UK Approved Bodies vs EU Notified Bodies: what changed after Brexit, which products require third-party asses…](/guides/uk-approved-body-vs-notified-body) * [UK Radio Equipment RegulationsComplete guide to UK Radio Equipment Regulations for GB market: UKCA marking, designated standards, testing requirements, and t…](/guides/uk-radio-equipment) * [CE to UKCA Transition GuideStep-by-step guide to transitioning from CE marking to UKCA marking for the Great Britain market: what changes, what stays the …](/guides/ce-to-ukca-transition) Educational resource only. UK designated standards lists are updated periodically. Always verify the current list on gov.uk before preparing technical documentation.