ISO/TS 12720:2024

Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Guidelines on the application of the general principles in ISO 15392

This document provides guidance for the application of the nine general principles of sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works as specified in ISO 15392:2019, 5.3. It shows the different actors involved with the construction works how to take these principles into account in their decision-making processes in order to increase the contribution of the construction works to sustainability and sustainable development. This document provides a step-by-step approach for: — encouraging the application of the general principles by all stakeholders at each stage of the project and its use, from the decision to build and the initial development of the project brief until the end-of-life of the construction works; — helping interested parties to consider and/or incorporate sustainability thinking in all phases of the building’s or civil engineering works’ life cycle, for all relevant issues of concern, by raising key questions in relation to the general principles; — understanding the outcome (effect) of the application of the general principles; — building on acquired experience to develop best practices and engendering a continuous improvement process.

Développement durable dans les bâtiments et les ouvrages de génie civil — Lignes directrices pour l'application des principes généraux de développement durable

L'ISO/TS 12720.2014 fournit des lignes directrices pour l'application des principes généraux de développement durable dans les bâtiments et les ouvrages de génie civil définis dans l'ISO 15392. Elle indique aux différents acteurs impliqués dans les ouvrages de construction comment prendre en compte ces principes dans leurs processus décisionnels afin d'accroître la contribution des ouvrages de construction au développement durable. La présente Spécification technique fournit une approche étape par étape pour ? encourager l'application des principes généraux par toutes les parties prenantes à chaque phase du projet et de son exploitation, depuis la décision de construire et l'établissement initial du programme relatif au projet jusqu'à la fin de vie des ouvrages de construction, ? aider les parties intéressées à prendre en compte et/ou intégrer le concept de développement durable dans toutes les phases du cycle de vie du bâtiment ou de l'ouvrage de génie civil, pour tous les sujets de préoccupation pertinents, en soulevant des questions clés en rapport avec les principes généraux, ? comprendre le résultat (effet) de l'application des principes généraux, et ? s'appuyer sur l'expérience acquise pour développer de meilleures pratiques et engendrer un processus d'amélioration continue. NOTE Voir l'Annexe A pour la liste des neuf principes généraux.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Nov-2024
• 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 - Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 12-Nov-2024
• Due Date: 12-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 12-Nov-2024

Relations

• Revises: ISO/TS 12720:2014 - Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Guidelines on the application of the general principles in ISO 15392
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

Technical
Specification
ISO/TS 12720
Second edition
Sustainability in buildings and civil
2024-11
engineering works — Guidelines
on the application of the general
principles in ISO 15392
Développement durable dans les bâtiments et les ouvrages de
génie civil — Lignes directrices pour l'application des principes
généraux de développement durable
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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
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or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: [phone]
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Elements of the framework . 2
5 Methodological approach . 5
5.1 General .5
5.2 Grouped sustainability objectives .7
5.2.1 General .7
5.2.2 Provision of base requirements .8
5.2.3 Application of life cycle thinking .8
5.2.4 Efficient and responsible management .9
5.2.5 Improvement of the construction sector and the built environment.10
6 Application guidance .11
Bibliography .38

iii
Foreword
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bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
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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).
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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.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/TS 12720:2014), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— reflection of the revised sustainability objectives as published in ISO 15392:2019;
— the increased number and realignment of sustainability objectives from ten in ISO 15392:2008 to 18
in ISO 15392:2019;
— inclusion of text in Clause 6 describing the categorising of the 18 sustainability objectives into 4 grouped
objectives as well as the descriptions, purposes and anticipated outcomes for each of those groupings;
— removal of Annex A.
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
Introduction
This document is intended for use by stakeholders involved during the life cycle of a construction works.
More and more decision makers involved in construction projects are establishing goals to improve the
sustainability performance of a construction works.
Decision-making typically relates to the planning, design, construction, use and operation, and end-of-life
processes. The planning and design phases usually include the project inception/initiation, conception
of need and feasibility, and initial and detailed design, all of which lead to the actual construction and
occupancy of the building.
This document aims to demonstrate to each actor at each phase of the construction project a way to
implement the nine general principles of sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works, as described
in ISO 15392.
Although the following topics are currently outside the scope of this document, the guidelines in this
document can also facilitate the different actors in
— identifying and setting performance targets,
— elaborating relevant practical tools (criteria, indicators, measurement methods) for assessing/measuring
the actual performance levels, and
— formalizing a management system based on the general principles of sustainability, which can be
monitored, assessed, and improved.
Application of the nine general principles to the life cycle of construction works introduces a multidimensional
puzzle leading to a complex framework. Clause 4 presents the different primary elements of the framework
and the related facets to be considered regarding each element. Clause 5 introduces the methodological
approach for applying sustainability thinking to the development of the construction works and identifies
six phases of the decision-making process and 18 sustainability objectives. Clause 6 gives application
guidance developed on the basis of these objectives and related issues of concern (see Table 3) and detailed
recommendations attached to each issue (see Table 4).

v
Technical Specification ISO/TS 12720:2024(en)
Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works —
Guidelines on the application of the general principles in
ISO 15392
1 Scope
This document provides guidance for the application of the nine general principles of sustainability in
buildings and civil engineering works as specified in ISO 15392:2019, 5.3. It shows the different actors
involved with the construction works how to take these principles into account in their decision-making
processes in order to increase the contribution of the construction works to sustainability and sustainable
development.
This document provides a step-by-step approach for:
— encouraging the application of the general principles by all stakeholders at each stage of the project and
its use, from the decision to build and the initial development of the project brief until the end-of-life of
the construction works;
— helping interested parties to consider and/or incorporate sustainability thinking in all phases of the
building’s or civil engineering works’ life cycle, for all relevant issues of concern, by raising key questions
in relation to the general principles;
— understanding the outcome (effect) of the application of the general principles;
— building on acquired experience to develop best practices and engendering a continuous improvement
process.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 6707-1, Buildings and civil engineering works — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
ISO 14050, Environmental management — Vocabulary
ISO 15392:2019, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — General principles
ISO/TR 15686-11, Buildings and constructed assets — Service life planning — Part 11: Terminology
ISO/TR 21932, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — A review of terminology
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 6707-1, ISO 14050, ISO 15392,
ISO/TR 15686-11 and ISO/TR 21932 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/

4 Elements of the framework
Sustainability related to buildings and civil engineering works is a complex issue, and the application of
a holistic approach is one of its general principles. When incorporating sustainability thinking into the
different processes involved in the development of a construction works, it is relevant to keep in mind the
elements presented in Table 1, as pieces of a multidimensional puzzle to be assembled. It should be noted
that, often, different individual aspects will interrelate with one another.
Table 1 — Primary elements for consideration
Primary elements Facets to be considered
— environmental protection
Primary aspects of sustainability — economic efficiency
— social needs
— continual improvement
— equity
— global thinking and local action
— holistic approach
General principles of sustainability related — involvement of interested parties
to construction works (ISO 15392:2019,
— long-term consideration and resilience
5.3)
— risk management
— responsibility
— transparency
— provision of functionality, health, comfort, safety and accessibility;
— performance management during operation;
— application of life cycle thinking;
— provision of economic value over time;
— provision of social and cultural value over time and for all;
— minimization of adverse end-of-life impacts;
— limitation of adverse environmental impacts and where possible,
maintenance or provision of environmental value over time;
— adaptability;
— efficient and responsible management throughout the process;
— integration into the relevant planning schemes and policies
(including sustainability planning) related to local building / town-
planning and infrastructure;
Sustainability objectives (ISO 15392:2019,
5.2) — involvement of interested parties and consideration of their needs;
— reconciliation of contradictory interests or requirements arising
from short-term and long-term planning or decision-making;
— stimulation of innovation;
— stimulation of a pro-active approach;
— improvement of the construction sector and the built environment;
a
For each type of works (buildings or civil engineering works) the issues of concern should be studied from a relevance and
significance point of view. It is not in the scope of this document to elaborate more on the types of
...