scope:

This practice presents a procedure for calculating and interpreting AHP scores of a project's/product's/process' total overall desirability when making capital investment decisions.³ Projects include design, construction, operation, and disposal of commercial and residential buildings and other engineered structures.⁴ Products include materials, components, systems, and equipment.⁵ Processes include procurement, materials management, work flow, fabrication and assembly, quality control, and services.

In addition to monetary benefits and costs, the procedure allows for the consideration of characteristics or attributes which decision makers regard as important, but which are not readily expressed in monetary terms. Examples of such attributes that pertain to the selection among project/product/process alternatives are: a construction projects's building alternatives whose nonmonetary attributes are location/accessibility, site security, maintainability, quality of the sound and visual environment, and image to the public and occupants; building products based on their economic and environmental performance; and sustainability-related issues for key construction processes that address environmental needs, while considering project safety, cost, and schedule.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

³ This practice presents a stand-alone procedure for performing an AHP analysis. In addition, an ASTM software product for performing AHP analyses has been developed to support and facilitate use of this practice. Software to Support ASTM E1765: Standard Practice for Applying Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to Multiattribute Decision Analysis of Investments Related to Buildings and Building Systems, MNL 29, ASTM, 1998.

⁴ Projects also include analytical studies that identify alternative means for achieving organizational objectives as well as research and development activities that support the deployment of new products and processes.

⁵ Typical construction-related products for each product type are: (1) materials-concrete; (2) components-structural steel members; (3) systems-heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system; and (4) equipment-heat pump.