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APA 7th Style:  Building codes, Patents & Standards

UON Library guide for the APA 7th referencing style

Building Codes

Building codes are regulations for the building industry that dictate the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings to ensure public safety.

 

General Notes:

  • Titles of building codes should always be italicised.

  • If the author and publisher are the same, omit the publisher element.

  • Include the URL of the building code where possible.

  • Do not include a full-stop after the URL at the end of the reference.

  • APA allows for links to be either plain text or 'active'. See the official APA Style Blog for more information.

Format (Online)

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of building code: Subtitle. https://www...

Format (Print) Author, A. A. (Year). Title of building code: Subtitle. 

 

Reference list example:

Australian Building Codes Board. (2022). National Construction Code 2022 volume one. https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/editions/ncc-2022/adopted/volume-one 

Australian Building Codes Board. (2022). National Construction Code 2022 volume one.

 

 


In-text

Every time you paraphrase, or use an idea from another source you must include an in-text citation to that source.

Follow the general pattern:  (Corporate Author, Year)

Example:

The Australian Building Codes Board (2022) defines the above ground rainwater tank as a rainwater tank that is not in any way set into the ground.

An above ground rainwater tank is never set into the ground (Australian Building Codes Board, 2022).

 

Direct Quotations

If you include a direct quote, that is word-for-word from a source, add a page reference to your in-text citation if available, for example,

An above ground rainwater tank is "not in any way set into the ground" (Australian Building Codes Board, 2022).

NOTE: Use "p" when quoting from one page - for example (Smith, 2023, p. 2), and "pp" when quoting from more than one page - for example (Dawson & Black, 2022, pp. 5-6). If the item is not paginated as the example above, just omit the page cited element.

 

Patents

Patents are legal protections granted to inventors for their new and innovative creations, giving them exclusive rights to use and profit from their inventions for a certain period.

General Notes:

  • Titles of patents should always be italicised.

  • Provide the patent number in brackets after the title.

  • The publisher is the issuing patent office (e.g., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).

  • Include the URL of the patent where possible.

  • Do not include a full-stop after the URL at the end of the reference.

  • APA allows for links to be either plain text or 'active'. See the official APA Style Blog for more information.

Standards (online or print)

Inventor, A. A. (Year issued). Title of patent: Subtitle (Patent number). Publisher. https://www...

 

Reference list example:

Lawless, L. M., & Griffin, B. M. (2014). Composition and method for inhibiting corrosion of an anodized material (Aust. Patent No. 2014374136). IP Australia. http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2014374136

 

 


In-text

Every time you paraphrase, or use an idea from another source you must include an in-text citation to that source.

Follow the general pattern for the number or type of authors.  For the example shown shown above, we would use the '2 authors' rule:

(Lawless & Griffin, 2014)

 

Direct Quotations

If you include a direct quote, that is word-for-word from a source, add a page reference to your in-text citation, e.g.:

“Storage safety is the number one requirement” (Smith, 2008, p. 2).

NOTE: Use "p" when quoting from one page - for example (Smith, 2008, p. 2), and "pp" when quoting from more than one page - for example (Dawson & Black, 2014, pp. 5-6).

Standards

Standards are established guidelines or specifications that ensure consistency, safety, and quality in various industries.

General Notes:

  • APA 7 doesn’t specifically cover how to reference standards.  The information presented below has been constructed from general APA guidelines for similar resources.

  • Titles of standards should always be italicised.

  • Provide the standard number in brackets after the title.

  • For online standards: As the same standard may be available from multiple locations, do not include the access link for the online store or Library database, unless they are freely available on the web.

Standards (online or print)

Corporate Author. (Year). Title of standard (Standard number).

 

Reference list example:

 

Standards Australia. (2008). The storage and handling of corrosive substances (AS 3780-2008).

 


In-text

Every time you paraphrase, or use an idea from another source you must include an in-text citation to that source.

Follow the general pattern:  (Corporate Author, Year)

Example:

There is a procedure for internal visual inspection (Standards Australia, 2008) in which it is desirable ...

 

Direct Quotations

If you include a direct quote, that is word-for-word from a source, add a page reference to your in-text citation, e.g.:

“Storage safety is the number one requirement” (Standards Australia, 2018, p. 2).

NOTE: Use "p" when quoting from one page - for example (Standards Australia, 2018, p. 14), and "pp" when quoting from more than one page - for example (Standards Australia, 2018, pp. 53-54).