CalmCompliance
Adopting and Managing Standards

Adopt a standard from the library

Admins can adopt a standard from the Standards Library onto their site through a guided, step-by-step flow. After you complete the adoption wizard, the standard enters the Adopting status so you can configure requirements, link evidence, and track compliance before activating it.

Before you start

You need the Manager or Admin role for the Standards module at the site where you want to adopt the standard.

Available standards include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 14001:2026, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 45001:2018, ISO/IEC 42001:2023, and the SMAS Worksafe (SSIP) and SafeContractor (SSIP) readiness packs.

Start the adoption

  1. Open the Standards Library and select the standard you want to adopt.

  2. Click Adopt at This Site. The Adopt Standard wizard opens.

Step 1: Confirm Version

Choose the version of the standard you want to adopt at this site.

  1. Under Pick a Version to Adopt, select a version from the Standard version list. The latest version is recommended and shows its requirement count. Versions already adopted at this site are disabled. If you want to move an existing adoption to a newer version, use the upgrade wizard instead. For details, see Upgrade a site to a newer standard version.

  2. Click Next: Parameters.

Step 2: Adoption Parameters

Answer the adoption questions to configure applicability and defaults for this site. The answers determine which requirements apply and may pre-fill defaults.

  1. Under Answer Adoption Questions, fill in each parameter. Depending on the standard, you may see:

    • Yes/No toggles

    • Dropdown choices labeled Select {parameter name}

    • A staff group selector

    • Free text input

  2. Review the Default Owner section. This person or group will be pre-filled as the owner on each requirement when the standard is adopted. For help choosing between a site role and a direct user, see Set a default owner for a standard.

  3. Click Next: Grading.

Adoption parameters and scope

Some standards ask adoption questions that determine which requirements or controls are in scope for your site. For example, ISO/IEC 42001 asks whether your organisation develops AI systems, provides AI to third parties, or processes personal data in AI, which affects Annex A control applicability. For the full list of questions and their effects for each standard, see Available standards in the library.

Step 3: Grading Mode

Choose how overall compliance is calculated for this site.

  1. Under Choose Grading Mode, select a mode:

    • Worst wins — the overall grade reflects the worst requirement status.

    • Percentage thresholds — set percentage bands for the overall grade. If you choose this, enter the Green From (%) and Amber From (%) thresholds.

  2. Click Next: Review.

Step 4: Review & Adopt

Review your choices before confirming.

  1. Under Review Your Choices, check the summary:

    • Standard — name and version

    • Adoption Parameters — your answers and the default owner

    • Grading — mode and thresholds (if percentage thresholds were selected)

  2. If anything is wrong, click the relevant section to go back and edit it.

  3. Click Adopt Standard. While the standard is being created, the button shows Adopting…

What happens next

The standard is created on your site in the Adopting status. In this status, you configure requirements, assign roles, and link evidence. The dashboard shows setup progress (Not Started, In Progress, Ready) rather than compliance grades.

When setup is complete, a user with the Manager or Admin role can activate the standard. Once activated, it moves to Active and begins tracking compliance with Compliant, Non-compliant, or Remediating statuses.

To adopt another standard, return to the Standards Library and select the next standard.

What to do next

For the full end-to-end workflow from adoption through activation and monitoring, see Adopt and manage a standard at a site.

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