Question 1

What is an SIC & How is it Used?

Accepted Answer

The Standard Industrial Classification SIC is a system for classifying industries by the type of activity in which they are primarily engaged with a four-digit code. It is used by government agencies, as well as some in other countries, e.g., by the United Kingdom's Companies House.

The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) was originally developed in the 1930's to classify establishments by industry. The purpose of this task was to promote the comparability of establishment data to describe the US Economy.

In the United States the SIC code is being supplanted by the six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS code), which was released in 1997; however certain government departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) still use the SIC Codes.

Question 2

How Can I Purchase a Copy of the NAICS Manual?

Accepted Answer

We have both hard copy and electronic manuals available:

The NAICS Manual is the official hard copy reference containing all the NAICS codes, descriptions, and cross-references. It is the easy “desk-reference” for everything NAICS. You can also find downloadable reference files here.

Question 3

What is Title 13?

Joseph Pierone · Accepted Answer

Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9 (a) prohibits the U.S. Census Bureau from disclosing individual company activities including NAICS and SIC codes. The Census Bureau is bound by Title 13 of the United States Code. These laws not only provide authority for the work the census does, but also provides strong protection for the information collected from individuals and businesses. Title 13 provides the following protections to individuals and businesses: Private information is never published. It is against the law to disclose or publish any private information that identifies an individual or business such, including names, addresses (including GPS coordinates), Social Security Numbers, and telephone numbers. The Census Bureau collects information to produce statistics. Personal information cannot be used against respondents by any government agency or court. Census Bureau employees are sworn to protect confidentiality. People sworn to uphold Title 13 are legally required to maintain the confidentiality of your data. Every person with access to your data is sworn for life to protect your information and understands that the penalties for violating this law are applicable for a lifetime. Violating the law is a serious federal crime. Anyone who violates this law will face severe penalties, including a federal prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Title 13, U.S. Code is available to download from the Government Printing Office here [PDF 311KB].

Question 4

Can a Business Have More than One NAICS Code?

Joseph Pierone · Accepted Answer

The U.S. Census Bureau assigns and maintains only one NAICS code for each establishment based on its primary activity (generally the activity that generates the most revenue for the establishment). Since other federal government agencies, trade associations, and regulation boards maintain their own lists of business establishments and assign classification codes based on their own programmatic needs, this will vary by agency.

Yes, some agencies assign more than one NAICS codes to one establishment. For instance, the SAM (System for Award Management formerly CCR), where businesses register to become federal contractors, will accept up to 5 or 10 classification codes per establishment. You will need to contact the other agencies to find out what their policies are. For access to a list of federal government agencies, click here.

Question 5

How Can I Find Data (Payroll, Establishment, Sales Receipts, etc.) for a Specific NAICS Industry?

Joseph Pierone · Accepted Answer

How this data can be found has changed over time. You used to be able to obtain data for a specific NAICS industry by going to the 2007 Economic Census website. This website provided data at the sector level. As of the time of this writing, the Census Bureau has created a new subdomain to help people access this type of data: https://data.census.gov/

Question 6

What is the Relationship Between NAICS and the SBA Size Standards?

Joseph Pierone · Accepted Answer

The Small Business Administration (SBA) developed size standards for each NAICS category. To find more information about the SBA size standards, click here.

You may also contact SBA’s Office of Size Standards at 202-205-6618 or via email to sizestandards@sba.gov

Question 7

How Does NAICS 2017 Differ from NAICS 2012?

Accepted Answer

DOWNLOAD THE TABLE:

2017 NAICS U.S. Matched to 2012 NAICS U.S. (Full Concordance)

Highlights of NAICS Changes Include:

Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction (2012 NAICS Code 211111) will be broken into two new codes in 2017. These codes will be 211120, Crude Petroleum Extraction and 211130, Natural Gas Extraction.

Also, Natural Gas Liquid Extraction, (2012 NAICS Code 211112) will become NAICS Code 211130 in 2017.

The 2012 NAICS Code for Lead Ore and Zinc Ore Mining (2012 NAICS Code 212231) is expanding to cover Nickel Ore and Lead Ore Mining (2012 NAICS Code 212234) in one inclusive 2017 NAICS Code: 212230.

The NAICS Codes for Pump and Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (2012 NAICS Code 333911) and the Code for Measuring and Dispensing Pump Manufacturing (2012 NAICS Code 333913) will be combined in 2017 to become NAICS Code 333914, “Measuring, Dispensing and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing”.

The 2012 NAICS Codes 335221, 335222, 335224 and 335228 for Household Cooking Appliance, Household Refrigerator and Home Freezer, Household Laundry Equipment and Other Major Household Appliance Manufacturing are all being combined in 2017 to the single NAICS Code: 335220, “Major Household Appliance Manufacturing”.

The 2012 NAICS Code 452112 is being split into two NAICS Code Classifications. The first category under 452112, Discount Department Stores (insignificant perishable grocery sales) is becoming part of NAICS code 452210, “Department Stores”, along with 2012 NAICS Code 452111 for Department Stores (except Discount Department Stores). The Second Category under 452112, (for significant perishable grocery sales) is becoming NAICS Code 452311 “Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters”, along with 2012 NAICS Code for that same category, NAICS Code 452910.

2012 NAICS Codes 454111, 454112 and 454113 for Electronic Shopping, Electronic Auctions and Mail-Order Houses are to be classified under 2017 NAICS Code 454110.

The 2012 NAICS Code 541711 will no longer encompass “Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)”. Also, the 2012 NAICS Code 541712 will no longer encompass “Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)”. Instead, these will each be classified under the 2017 NAICS Code 541715, “Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)”

NAICS CODE CHANGES WHERE THE INDUSTRY TITLE AND DESCRIPTION ARE UNCHANGED:

2017 NAICS Codes	2017 NAICS Descriptions	2012 NAICS Codes	2012 NAICS Descriptions
452319	All Other General Merchandise Stores	452990	All Other General Merchandise Stores
517311	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	517110	Wired Telecommunications Carriers
517312	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	517210	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
532281	Formal Wear and Costume Rental	532220	Formal Wear and Costume Rental
532282	Video Tape and Disc Rental	532230	Video Tape and Disc Rental
532283	Home Health Equipment Rental	532291	Home Health Equipment Rental
532284	Recreational Goods Rental	532292	Recreational Goods Rental
532289	All Other Consumer Goods Rental	532299	All Other Consumer Goods Rental

Question 8

How does NAICS 2012 Differ from NAICS 2007?

Accepted Answer

There were 1,175 industries in 2007 NAICS United States and in 2012 NAICS United States there are 1,065 industries. For 2012, revisions were made to address changes in the economy. These included content revisions for selected areas, several title changes, and clarification of a few industry definitions. Specifically, the changes include: (1) collapsing detail in the Manufacturing sector to reduce statistical product production costs and respondent burden; (2) adding new and emerging industries; (3) the classification of distribution centers, publishers' sales offices, and logistics service providers; (4) the classification of units that outsource all transformation activities.

Noticeable changes were made to six of the twenty NAICS sectors during the 2012 revision of NAICS. These sectors are listed below:

1. Sector 22, Utilities - 2007 NAICS code 221119, Other Electric Power Generation, was deleted and portions of it were reclassified, resulting in the addition of five new 6-digit industries: 221114, Solar Electric Power Generation; 221115, Wind Electric Power Generation; 221116, Geothermal Electric Power Generation; 221117, Biomass Electric Power Generation; 221118, Other Electric Power Generation.
2. Sector 23, Construction - Building fireproofing contractors and fireproofing flooring construction contractors were moved to 238310, Drywall and Insulation Contractors.
3. Sector 31-33, Manufacturing - Major changes were made in the Manufacturing sector, with the collapsing of detail. Digital camera manufacturing was moved to newly created industry, 333316, Photographic and Photocopying Equipment Manufacturing.
4. Sector 42, Wholesale Trade - Electric water heaters was moved to 423720, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers. Gas household appliances (except gas water heaters) was moved to newly titled 423620, Household Appliances, Electric Housewares, and Consumer Electronics Merchant Wholesalers.
5. Sector 44-45, Retail Trade - 2007 NAICS codes 441221, Motorcycle, ATV, and Personal Watercraft Dealers, and 441229, All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers, were collapsed into a new 6-digit industry, 441228, Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers. 2007 NAICS codes 454311, Heating Oil Dealers; 454312, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bottled Gas) Dealers; 454319, Other Fuel Dealers, were collapsed into a new 6-digit industry, 454310, Fuel Dealers. Subsector 443, Electronics and Appliance Stores, was restructured.

Sector 72, Accommodation and Food Services - Industries in Subsector 722, Food Services and Drinking Places, were restructured, resulting in new Industry Group 7225, Restaurants and Other Eating Places.

Question 9

How Does NAICS Handle Market-Based Rather than Production-Based Statistical Classifications?

Joseph Pierone · Accepted Answer

A new North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) is under development, starting in nine service sectors. Whereas NAICS focuses on the input and production processes of industries, NAPCS will classify all the output of the industries of NAICS.

The long-term objective of NAPCS is to develop a market-oriented, or demand-based, classification system for products that (a) is not industry-of-origin based but can be linked to the NAICS industry structure, (b) is consistent across the three NAICS countries, and (c) promotes improvements in the identification and classification of service products across international classification systems, such as the Central Product Classification System of the United Nations.

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