scope:

This document provides principles and requirements for the assessment of environmental, social and economic performance of buildings and civil engineering works taking into account their technical characteristics and functionality. Assessments of environmental, social and economic performance are the three aspects of sustainability assessment of buildings and civil engineering works, or combination thereof, (hereafter referred to as "construction works").

The framework applies to all types of construction works, both new and existing, and it is relevant for the assessment of the environmental, social and economic performance of new construction works over their entire life cycle, and of existing construction works over their remaining service life and end of life stage.

The sustainability assessment of construction works concentrates on the assessment of environmental, social and economic aspects and impacts of construction works expressed with quantifiable indicators. It includes the assessment of a construction works' influence on the environmental, social and economic aspects and impacts on the local area (area of influence) and of the local infrastructure beyond the curtilage of the building and the civil engineering works. It excludes environmental, social and economic risk assessment.

The European Standards developed under this framework do not set the rules for how the different assessment methodologies may provide valuation methods; nor do they prescribe levels or classes for measuring performance.

NOTE 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, construction works assessment and certification schemes, etc.

The rules for assessment of environmental, social and economic aspects of organizations, such as management systems, are not included within this framework. However, the consequences of decisions or actions that influence the environmental, social and economic performance of the object of assessment are taken into account.