FACTS are open ... CCI Notes are open ... PFM supplements and articles are open ... TPFG is open ... FATG standards are closed to members only ...
It seems to me that if there is merit in developing / enhancing recommended practices then they should be open...
Yes, "open" recommended practices would be nice. Trouble is, developing and maintaining the information costs some money.
Somebody has to pay. Corporate sponsors? OK, but then questions of bias and favoritism come up. Personally, I would prefer to have framing recommendations researched and developed by framers, and promoted by neutral publishers, such as the now-defunct Columba, or by a non-profit entity such as PPFA or FATG. Even our trade magazines are pretty good publishers of recommendations, although that is not their main province. They make no pretenses about the opinions of their writers, or about the motives of their advertisers.
Kudos to FATG for offering their framing recommendations free.
PPFA publishes books of guidelines.
PPFA Guidelines for Framing Works of Art On Paper was rewritten in 2008 by PPFA member-volunteers. Rewriting of
PPFA Guidelines for Framing Canvas Paintings will be finished soon by the same Guidelines Task Force. PPFA Guidelines books for objects, digital images, and textiles are in the works, as well. These are good books and worth the price, I think.
CCI Notes are not "open", but I suggest buying them because they are uniquely comprehensive and a good value. Here's what the CCI web site says:
The full set of CCI Notes in a three-ring binder is available at a cost of $122.00. If you prefer to purchase only selected Notes, they are available for $2.50 each (if purchasing less than 10), $2.25 each (for 10-19 Notes), and $1.50 each (for more than 20 Notes).
That pricing is for sales outside of Canada, but in Canadian funds.
While some PFM articles are "open" for free download, most are available as reprints for sale, upon request. I'm not sure, but I guess Decor has a similar policy for article reprints.