ISO 13824:2020

Overview

ISO 13824:2020 - "Bases for design of structures - General principles on risk assessment of systems involving structures" - specifies a general framework and procedures for risk assessment of systems that include structural elements. The standard focuses on strategic and operational decision-making across the lifecycle: design, assessment, maintenance and decommissioning. It supports formulation and calibration of design codes and helps set reasonable target-reliability levels (e.g., in line with ISO 2394). The 2020 edition introduces a risk‑informed approach and strengthens requirements for uncertainty treatment, sensitivity analysis, optimization of risk treatment and emergency preparedness.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & context setting: Define the structural engineering context, design basis, and system boundaries for risk assessment (Sections 4–6).
• Hazard identification and scenario development: Systematic identification of natural, technological and human‑induced hazards and resulting undesirable consequences (Section 7).
• Risk estimation methods: Supports qualitative, semi‑quantitative and quantitative estimation techniques, including data collection and modelling of uncertainty (Section 8).
• Probability and consequence estimation: Procedures for estimating occurrence probabilities and structural failure probabilities, and for quantifying consequences (Sections 8.4–8.5).
• Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis: Explicit treatment of uncertainty with sensitivity and bounding analyses to inform robust decisions.
• Risk evaluation and acceptance: Use of risk criteria and guidance on risk acceptance decisions and optimization (Section 9).
• Risk treatment options: Risk avoidance, reduction, sharing, retention and emergency preparedness; assessment and implementation of treatment measures (Section 10).
• Documentation and transparency: Requirements for recording methods, assumptions and results to support transparent decision-making (Section 11).
• Informative annexes: Practical examples, estimation formulae, techniques for expert elicitation, exceptional structures and malevolent events (Annexes A–K).

Practical applications

ISO 13824 is used to:

• Inform design codes and reliability targets for new structures.
• Assess and prioritize risks for existing structures, including risks from changed use or previously unconsidered events.
• Support lifecycle decision-making for maintenance, retrofit, decommissioning and emergency planning.
• Develop cost‑effective mitigation, monitoring and emergency response strategies.
• Adapt risk assessment for exceptional or novel structures not covered by typical codes.

Who should use ISO 13824

• Structural engineers, risk engineers and designers
• Code writers and standards committees
• Asset owners, facility managers and operators
• Regulators and public authorities responsible for safety and resilience
• Consultants conducting structural risk assessments and forensic studies

Related standards and keywords

Related: ISO 2394 (target reliability), ISO 31000 (risk management).
Keywords: ISO 13824, risk assessment, systems involving structures, hazard identification, probability estimation, uncertainty, sensitivity analysis, risk treatment, emergency preparedness, structural reliability.