ISO 15392:2019

Overview

ISO 15392:2019 - Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works - General principles defines the high‑level principles for integrating sustainable development into the full life cycle of construction works. Applicable to new and existing buildings, civil engineering works and related materials, products, services and processes, this ISO standard sets out a framework - not performance benchmarks - to guide decision‑making from project inception through end‑of‑life. It is a second‑edition, revised document by ISO/TC 59/SC 17 and underpins a suite of standards for sustainability in the built environment.

Key topics and technical principles

ISO 15392:2019 focuses on general, cross‑cutting topics rather than prescriptive technical criteria. Core elements include:

• Life‑cycle approach: consider environmental, economic and social impacts from design, construction, operation to end‑of‑life.
• Nine guiding principles: continual improvement; equity; global thinking and local action; holistic approach; involvement of interested parties; long‑term consideration and resilience; responsibility; risk management (including precaution, prevention, mitigation); and transparency.
• Integrated sustainability dimensions: balanced treatment of economic, environmental and social aspects in decisions and assessments.
• Guidance for application: practical explanations for applying each principle in project and asset management contexts.
• Scope limitations: the standard does not provide benchmarks for sustainability claims and is not intended as a conformity assessment tool for organizations.
• Informative annexes: Annex A lists the related suite of ISO documents; Annex B references ISO 15686 series for service life planning.

Practical applications

ISO 15392:2019 is designed to be used as a strategic framework to:

• Inform sustainable design and procurement policies for projects and portfolios.
• Guide life‑cycle thinking in materials selection, maintenance planning and end‑of‑life strategies.
• Support resilience and long‑term risk management for infrastructure and buildings.
• Structure stakeholder engagement and transparency practices during project delivery.
• Provide a common vocabulary and principles for sustainability-related standards and tools.

Who will use this standard

• Architects, civil and structural engineers, sustainability consultants and designers
• Project managers, asset owners and facility managers
• Contractors and suppliers involved in construction products and services
• Policy makers, regulators and public authorities developing sustainability frameworks
• Organizations implementing life‑cycle assessment, service life planning (see ISO 15686) or sustainability reporting in the built environment

Related standards

• ISO 15686 series - service life planning for buildings and constructed assets
• Other ISO/TC 59/SC 17 standards on sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works

By adopting ISO 15392:2019 principles, stakeholders can align building and infrastructure projects with global sustainability goals while tailoring solutions to local context and long‑term resilience.