ISO 52000-1:2017

Overview

ISO 52000-1:2017 - Energy performance of buildings - Overarching EPB assessment - Part 1: General framework and procedures - defines a systematic, modular framework for assessing the energy performance of buildings (EPB). The standard applies to both new and existing buildings, enabling assessment by calculation or measurement, and supports evaluation in terms of primary energy, greenhouse gas metrics and other energy-related indicators. It is intended to integrate with the broader set of EPB standards as part of a modular assessment structure.

Key technical topics and requirements

ISO 52000-1:2017 organizes EPB assessment into clear procedural and data requirements. Major topics covered include:

• Scope and definitions: standardized terms for buildings, systems, energy and performance metrics (see clauses on terms and definitions).
• Symbols and abbreviations: consistent use of symbols, subscripts and abbreviations for calculation clarity.
• Overarching framework and procedures: routing of methods and selection criteria between measurement and calculation approaches.
• Preparation and classification: identification of building types, space categories, applications (design, as-built, use phase, renovation) and assessment types.
• Input data requirements: product data, system design data, operating conditions and constants required for calculations and measurements.
• Calculation and measurement procedures: calculation intervals, measurement intervals, treatment of exported energy, recovered gains/losses and overall energy balance.
• Normalization and assessment boundaries: rules for normalizing to building size, reference areas and handling multiple buildings.
• Weighting and factors: use of primary energy factors, greenhouse gas emission factors and additional weighting for exported energy or renewables.
• Zoning rules: thermal zoning, space subdivision and assignment procedures for consistent modeling.
• Energy performance indicators: indicators for whole buildings and technical building systems; guidance on BAC/TBM (building automation/control and technical building management) impacts.
• Reporting and comparison: methods to compare measured energy performance with calculated results.

Practical applications and users

ISO 52000-1:2017 is practical for:

• Energy assessors and certifiers performing building energy ratings and compliance checks.
• Architects and building engineers using EPB calculations during design and retrofit planning.
• Facility managers and building owners monitoring measured energy performance and comparing it with predicted values.
• Regulators and policymakers establishing performance-based regulations and certification frameworks.
• Energy modelers and product manufacturers ensuring consistent input data and reporting formats.

Typical applications: energy certification, design optimization, retrofit impact assessment, verification of measured vs. calculated energy use, and support for net-zero/renewable energy planning.

Related standards

ISO 52000-1:2017 is the overarching part of the ISO EPB modular series and is designed to be used alongside other EPB and component standards (standards for HVAC, building components, measurement and verification) that provide detailed calculation or measurement rules. For coherent implementation, consult the broader EPB standards set referenced in ISO 52000-1.