Guide · ISO 19650 series

ISO 19650 explained: the six parts and the standards around them

A plain-English guide to the international standards for managing information about buildings and infrastructure, across their whole life.

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What it isThe six partsRelated standardsFAQsHow we help
A project team agreeing information requirements around a table

What is ISO 19650?

ISO 19650 is an international series of standards for managing information about built assets: buildings, bridges, railways, water networks and more. It sets out who needs which information, when, and how it is produced, checked and shared, so people can make better decisions across the whole life of the asset.

Information management, not ITIt considers people, process, data and technology together. It is not a software standard.
Not just BIMBuilding information modelling is part of it, but the series is about managing information as a whole, for the whole life of the asset.
ProportionateIt applies to a single building or a major programme. You apply it appropriately to the size and risk of the work.

Experts in the standards. The GeoEnable Group team behind BimEnable are BSI Associate Consultants and a BSI Affiliate, advising organisations on the ISO 19650 series and the ISO 55000 asset management series.

The six parts of ISO 19650, and how they fit together

Part 1 sets the concepts and principles. Parts 2 and 3 apply them while assets are delivered and while they are in use. Parts 4, 5 and 6 support every stage: how information is exchanged and checked, kept secure, and how health and safety information is handled.

A site team at a power stationPART 1

Concepts and principles

The foundation: shared terms and principles for managing information, starting with why the information is needed.
Benefit: everyone, client and supply chain, works from the same language and principles.
Whole-life information managementPART 2

Delivery phase of assets

How information is required, planned, produced and delivered while assets are designed and built: appointments, responsibilities and the common data environment.
Benefit: clear requirements and responsibilities, so the right information arrives at the right time.
An asset changing over its lifePART 3

Operational phase of assets

Managing information while assets are in use, so owners and operators have what they need to run, maintain and improve them.
Benefit: owners and operators get information they can actually run and maintain assets with.
Information containers linked to an assetPART 4

Information exchange

The quality criteria for checking information before it is shared or accepted, and how exchanges are managed.
Benefit: less rework at handover, and information people can trust.
A fenced electricity substationPART 5

Security-minded approach

Deciding who can see which information, and protecting sensitive information about assets and the people who use them.
Benefit: share what's needed without exposing what shouldn't be.
A bridge inspector wearing a safety harnessPART 6

Health and safety information

How health and safety information is structured and shared, including a schema (data model), so it can be found and reused.
Benefit: safety information and lessons learnt become accessible, not buried in documents.

Looking ahead

The standards are kept up to date. Parts 1, 2 and 3 are being revised, with draft versions published for comment. The principles you learn today still apply. The main ideas in the drafts:

Drafts can change before they are published. Our course covers what's changing, clearly marked, once you're confident with the principles.

ISO 19650 FAQs

What is ISO 19650?

An international series of standards for managing information about built assets across their whole life. It is an information management standard, not an IT standard, and it applies proportionately to projects and assets of any size.

How many parts does ISO 19650 have?

Six: Part 1 concepts and principles, Part 2 the delivery phase of assets, Part 3 the operational phase of assets, Part 4 information exchange, Part 5 a security-minded approach to information management, and Part 6 health and safety information.

Is ISO 19650 just BIM?

No. Building information modelling is one part, but the series is about managing information as a whole: people, process, data and technology, across the whole life of the asset.

Is my project too small for ISO 19650?

No. The series is proportionate. You can apply it appropriately to a single building or a major programme.

What do the UK and Ireland require?

Both countries have national annexes, and public clients in both expect an ISO 19650 approach on public work: in Ireland it is being phased in by project value from 2024. Always check your client's own requirements.

How BimEnable can help

From a first awareness session to information flowing through your organisation's systems: we help at every stage.

A team working safely on scaffoldingTRAINING AND AWARENESS

Build the know-how

Help your people understand ISO 19650 and what it means for their role.
  • The free 10-minute guide
  • The online ISO 19650 Foundations course, with 12 months in the BimEnable community
  • Awareness sessions for leaders and teams
A pumping stationIMPLEMENTATION

Put it into practice

Make ISO 19650 work on your projects and across your organisation.
  • Gap analysis and a practical roadmap
  • Information requirements, appointments and processes
  • Assurance that information is right, secure and usable
Connected buildings and utilitiesTECHNOLOGY AND INTEGRATION

Connect your systems

Information only creates value when it reaches the systems that run your assets. We go beyond the common data environment, drawing on a long background in systems integration.
  • Enterprise asset management (EAM) systems
  • Computer-aided facility management (CAFM) systems
  • Geographic information systems (GIS), where we have extensive experience

Experts in the standards. The GeoEnable Group team behind BimEnable are BSI Associate Consultants and a BSI Affiliate, advising organisations on the ISO 19650 series and the ISO 55000 asset management series.

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Get the big picture in 10 minutes

Watch our free 10-minute guide to ISO 19650, a fast version of Module 1 of the ISO 19650 Foundations course. Then go as deep as you need: the full course comes with 12 months in the BimEnable community.

Watch the 10-minute guide, freeSee the full course