ISO 21931-2:2019

Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Framework for methods of assessment of the environmental, social and economic performance of construction works as a basis for sustainability assessment — Part 2: Civil engineering works

This document provides a general framework for improving the quality and comparability of methods for assessing the contribution of civil engineering works and their related external works to sustainable development based on a life cycle approach. This document aims to bridge the gap between regional and national methods for the assessment of the sustainability performance of civil engineering works by providing a common framework for their expression. This document identifies and describes issues to be taken into account in the development and use of methods for the assessment of the sustainability performance for all types of civil engineering works, both new and existing, and it is relevant for the assessment of the environmental, social and economic performance of both new and existing civil engineering works over their entire life cycle. The object of assessment in this document is the civil engineering works itself and its area of influence. NOTE 1 For example, the assessment includes any local civil engineering works beyond the immediate area of the civil engineering works; the transportation of the users of the civil engineering works; and the use and exploitation of the civil engineering works itself. Assessments can be undertaken either for the whole civil engineering works, for a part of the civil engineering works, or for a combination of several civil engineering works. This document excludes environmental, social and economic risk assessment, but the results of a risk assessment can be taken into consideration. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with, and following the principles set out in, ISO 15392 and the ISO 14000 family of International Standards. The evaluation of technical and functional performance of the civil engineering works is outside the scope of this document, but the technical and functional characteristics are considered within this framework by reference to the functional equivalent. The functional equivalent takes into account the technical and functional requirements and forms the basis for comparisons of the results of the assessment. Assessment methods that consider only one or two of the three dimensions of sustainability are outside the scope of this document. This document does not set benchmarks or levels of performance relative to environmental, social and economic aspects and impacts. NOTE 2 Valuation methods, levels, classes or benchmarks can be prescribed in the requirements for environmental, social and economic performance in the client's brief, construction regulations, national standards, national codes of practice, civil engineering works assessment and certification schemes, etc. The rules for methods of assessment to consider in the assessment of environmental, social and economic aspects of operation practices are included within this framework, and the consequences of decisions or actions that influence the environmental, social and economic performance of the object of assessment are identified so that they can be taken into account.

Développement durable dans la construction — Cadre méthodologique de l'évaluation au sens du développement durable des performances environnementales, sociales et économiques des ouvrages de construction — Partie 2: Ouvrages de génie civil

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-May-2019
• ICS: 91.040.01 - Buildings in general
• ICS: 93.010 - Civil engineering in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 59/SC 17 - Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 59/SC 17/WG 5 - Civil engineering works

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21931-2
First edition
2019-05
Sustainability in buildings and civil
engineering works — Framework
for methods of assessment of the
environmental, social and economic
performance of construction
works as a basis for sustainability
assessment —
Part 2:
Civil engineering works
Développement durable dans la construction — Cadre
méthodologique de l'évaluation au sens du développement durable
des performances environnementales, sociales et économiques des
ouvrages de construction —
Partie 2: Ouvrages de génie civil
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 2
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Principles for the sustainability performance assessment of civil engineering works .7
5 Framework for methods of assessment of sustainability performance of civil
engineering works . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Assessment method documentation . 9
5.3 Purpose of the method .10
5.4 System boundary .10
5.5 Statement of assumptions and scenarios .11
5.6 Establishing assessment categories .12
5.7 Civil engineering works life cycle.13
5.8 Methods for quantification of sustainability performance of civil engineering works .17
5.8.1 General.17
5.8.2 Data quality .17
5.8.3 Traceability and transparency .17
5.8.4 Double-counting .18
5.8.5 Functional equivalent .18
5.8.6 Reference levels .19
5.8.7 Aggregation .19
5.8.8 Weighting .19
5.9 Sources of information .19
5.10 Evaluation of assessment results .20
5.10.1 General.20
5.10.2 Comparability of the results . .20
5.11 Assessment report .20
Annex A (informative) Levels of aggregation .23
Bibliography .25
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso
.org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 59, Buildings and civil engineering works,
Subcommittee SC 17, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works.
A list of all parts in the ISO 21931 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/members .html.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Introduction
It is important to measure and understand the sustainability performance of civil engineering works in
order to assess, communicate and improve their potential impacts on sustainable development.
This document establishes a framework for methods of assessment of the sustainability performance
of civil engineering works and related external works, which is a central part of the process. The
sustainability performance assessment evaluates aspects and impacts to assess the environmental,
social and economic performance of civil engineering works using qualitative and quantitative
indicators measured without value judgements. One of the primary purposes of this document is to
improve the quality of the methods of assessment, which can enable greater comparability of the results
of assessments. Such assessments can be used for benchmarking performance and monitoring progress
towards improvement of performance.
Although there are not as many assessment methods for civil engineering works as there are for
buildings, some can be found. The existence of these methods indicates a trend towards construction
that contributes to sustainable development, whose main objectives are to minimize negative impacts
and maximize positive direct and indirect impacts on sustainability, especially through a focus on
— use of resources (materials, water and energy) and waste generation,
— discharges into water, atmosphere and soil,
— biodiversity and ecosystems,
— social impacts, throughout the value chain, and
— innovative and proactive approach towards selecting the most beneficial and economical
alternatives.
Methods of assessment of the sustainability performance of civil engineering works provide a basis
for demonstrating and communicating the result of efforts to improve sustainability performance
in construction works. The methods typically establish a means of assessing a broad range of
considerations related to sustainability against explicitly declared criteria, and give a summary of
sustainability performance.
Methods of assessment of the sustainability performance of civil engineering works provide:
— a common and verifiable set of references, so that civil engineering works owners, striving for
increasing their beneficial contribution to sustainable development, have a means of measuring,
evaluating and demonstrating that effort;
— a reference, for use as a common basis, by which the civil engineering works owners/managers,
design teams, contractors and suppliers can formulate effective strategies regarding the design,
construction and operation of civil engineering works, with the intent to improve sustainability
performance;
— detailed information on the civil engineering works gathered and organized in such a way that it can
be used to lower operating, financing and insurance costs and increase operating efficiency and life;
— a clear description of the factors considered to be the key sustainable considerations and their
relative importance, thereby assisting the design process.
To achieve the practical goals noted above, methods of assessment of the sustainability performance of
civil engineering works refer to limited criteria and seek a balance between rigor and practicality. The
sustainability performance assessment of civil engineering works uses different types of information.
The results of a sustainability performance assessment of a civil engineering works provide information
on the different types of indicators, the related civil engineering works scenarios and the life cycle
stages included in the assessment. Life-cycle based approaches play an increasingly significant role
for setting performance criteria within methods of assessment of sustainability performance of civil
engineering works. In carrying out assessments, scenarios and a functional equivalent are determined
at the civil engineering works level. Assessment at the civil engineering works level means that the
descriptive model of the works, along with the major technical and functional requirements, has been
defined in the client’s brief or in the regulations.
However, the collection and maintenance of current data sets for the multitude of civil engineering
works systems and elements may not be practically achievable at the moment. Also, the context of
overall civil engineering works performance is important for considering each sustainable criterion.
Considering all these issues, the purpose of this document is to describe the framework and the
principles that apply in the sustainability performance assessment of new and existing civil engineering
works and their related site works, taking into account the various effects these civil engineering works
are likely to have.
Practical relevant rules and recommendations concerning methods for the assessment of the
sustainability performance of civil engineering works, which can exist on either a national or regional
basis, can be examined and improved by the use of a framework for methods of assessment, which is
the basis of this document.
An improvement
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 21931-2
First edition
2019-05
Sustainability in buildings and civil
engineering works — Framework
for methods of assessment of the
environmental, social and economic
performance of construction
works as a basis for sustainability
assessment —
Part 2:
Civil engineering works
Développement durable dans la construction — Cadre
méthodologique de l'évaluation au sens du développement durable
des performances environnementales, sociales et économiques des
ouvrages de construction —
Partie 2: Ouvrages de génie civil
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 2
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Principles for the sustainability performance assessment of civil engineering works .7
5 Framework for methods of assessment of sustainability performance of civil
engineering works . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Assessment method documentation . 9
5.3 Purpose of the method .10
5.4 System boundary .10
5.5 Statement of assumptions and scenarios .11
5.6 Establishing assessment categories .12
5.7 Civil engineering works life cycle.13
5.8 Methods for quantification of sustainability performance of civil engineering works .17
5.8.1 General.17
5.8.2 Data quality .17
5.8.3 Traceability and transparency .17
5.8.4 Double-counting .18
5.8.5 Functional equivalent .18
5.8.6 Reference levels .19
5.8.7 Aggregation .19
5.8.8 Weighting .19
5.9 Sources of information .19
5.10 Evaluation of assessment results .20
5.10.1 General.20
5.10.2 Comparability of the results . .20
5.11 Assessment report .20
Annex A (informative) Levels of aggregation .23
Bibliography .25
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso
.org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 59, Buildings and civil engineering works,
Subcommittee SC 17, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works.
A list of all parts in the ISO 21931 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/members .html.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Introduction
It is important to measure and understand the sustainability performance of civil engineering works in
order to assess, communicate and improve their potential impacts on sustainable development.
This document establishes a framework for methods of assessment of the sustainability performance
of civil engineering works and related external works, which is a central part of the process. The
sustainability performance assessment evaluates aspects and impacts to assess the environmental,
social and economic performance of civil engineering works using qualitative and quantitative
indicators measured without value judgements. One of the primary purposes of this document is to
improve the quality of the methods of assessment, which can enable greater comparability of the results
of assessments. Such assessments can be used for benchmarking performance and monitoring progress
towards improvement of performance.
Although there are not as many assessment methods for civil engineering works as there are for
buildings, some can be found. The existence of these methods indicates a trend towards construction
that contributes to sustainable development, whose main objectives are to minimize negative impacts
and maximize positive direct and indirect impacts on sustainability, especially through a focus on
— use of resources (materials, water and energy) and waste generation,
— discharges into water, atmosphere and soil,
— biodiversity and ecosystems,
— social impacts, throughout the value chain, and
— innovative and proactive approach towards selecting the most beneficial and economical
alternatives.
Methods of assessment of the sustainability performance of civil engineering works provide a basis
for demonstrating and communicating the result of efforts to improve sustainability performance
in construction works. The methods typically establish a means of assessing a broad range of
considerations related to sustainability against explicitly declared criteria, and give a summary of
sustainability performance.
Methods of assessment of the sustainability performance of civil engineering works provide:
— a common and verifiable set of references, so that civil engineering works owners, striving for
increasing their beneficial contribution to sustainable development, have a means of measuring,
evaluating and demonstrating that effort;
— a reference, for use as a common basis, by which the civil engineering works owners/managers,
design teams, contractors and suppliers can formulate effective strategies regarding the design,
construction and operation of civil engineering works, with the intent to improve sustainability
performance;
— detailed information on the civil engineering works gathered and organized in such a way that it can
be used to lower operating, financing and insurance costs and increase operating efficiency and life;
— a clear description of the factors considered to be the key sustainable considerations and their
relative importance, thereby assisting the design process.
To achieve the practical goals noted above, methods of assessment of the sustainability performance of
civil engineering works refer to limited criteria and seek a balance between rigor and practicality. The
sustainability performance assessment of civil engineering works uses different types of information.
The results of a sustainability performance assessment of a civil engineering works provide information
on the different types of indicators, the related civil engineering works scenarios and the life cycle
stages included in the assessment. Life-cycle based approaches play an increasingly significant role
for setting performance criteria within methods of assessment of sustainability performance of civil
engineering works. In carrying out assessments, scenarios and a functional equivalent are determined
at the civil engineering works level. Assessment at the civil engineering works level means that the
descriptive model of the works, along with the major technical and functional requirements, has been
defined in the client’s brief or in the regulations.
However, the collection and maintenance of current data sets for the multitude of civil engineering
works systems and elements may not be practically achievable at the moment. Also, the context of
overall civil engineering works performance is important for considering each sustainable criterion.
Considering all these issues, the purpose of this document is to describe the framework and the
principles that apply in the sustainability performance assessment of new and existing civil engineering
works and their related site works, taking into account the various effects these civil engineering works
are likely to have.
Practical relevant rules and recommendations concerning methods for the assessment of the
sustainability performance of civil engineering works, which can exist on either a national or regional
basis, can be examined and improved by the use of a framework for methods of assessment, which is
the basis of this document.
An improvement
...