Is it normative if it is not a requirement?

[cmheazel]

Since only requirements are tested for conformance, how can any text which is not part of a requirement be normative? Can we say that only requirements are normative?

[dr-shorthair]

In IETF and ISO, recommendations ('SHOULD' statements) are considered normative, notwithstanding the difficulty in testing

Also permissions ('MAY' statements), though I agree these are likely to be testable.

[cmheazel]

This goes to the definition of Normative. By a strict definition, what is not testable is not normative. However, not everyone uses the strict definition. I'm OK with allowing SHOULD, MAY, etc. as long as we have standard text in the Conventions section of every Standard which explains how each term relates to conformance.