A great amount of time and effort is put into the writing of standards. Rigorous procedures ensure the correctness and consensus of those standards. There are tensions among customers, clients, government, researchers, politicians, designers, manufacturers, researchers, installers, commissioning agents, financial controllers and litigators. Low energy, reliability, sustainability, and familiarity are set against costs of manufacture, construction, operation, and general productivity. Does a slavish following of standards prevent or inhibit innovation. Does lazy design result?