The ISO 55000 series defines asset management: how an organisation gets value from its assets over their whole life, balancing cost, risk and performance. ISO 55000 sets out the overview, principles and terms; ISO 55001 sets requirements for an asset management system; ISO 55002 gives guidance. For BIM people, it is the "why" behind the owner's information requirements.
At a glance
| Parts | ISO 55000 (overview, principles, terminology), ISO 55001 (requirements for a management system), ISO 55002 (guidance), plus related parts |
| Current edition | ISO 55000 and ISO 55001 were revised and published in 2024, replacing the 2014 editions |
| Changes in 2024 | Principles reworked, "outcomes" of asset management introduced, benefits widened, integration with other management systems, a maturity view |
| Who uses it | Owners and operators of large estates and infrastructure: utilities, transport, healthcare, universities, government |
| Link to BIM | ISO 19650 references asset management: information requirements come from the asset management system's needs |
Key ideas in plain language
- Value: assets exist to deliver value for the organisation; maintenance and replacement decisions are judged on that.
- Whole life: decisions at design (what to build, what materials) set most of the operating cost.
- Line of sight: from the organisation's objectives to the asset management plan to the work done on each asset.
- Risk-based decisions: not every asset gets the same care; critical assets get more.
- Information is an asset: the decisions need reliable data about assets, which is where BIM comes in.
How it connects to ISO 19650
| ISO 55000 world | ISO 19650 world |
|---|---|
| Organisational objectives, strategic asset management plan | Organisational information requirements (OIR) |
| Asset management plans and decisions | Asset information requirements (AIR) |
| Asset register, maintenance systems | Asset information model (AIM) |
| New assets created by projects | Project information model (PIM) handed over into the AIM |
Worked example
A water utility runs its asset management system to ISO 55001. Its plan prioritises pumping stations by criticality. When it commissions a new pumping station, its AIR asks for detailed information on the pumps, motors and control panels (critical assets) and only basic information on doors and fittings. The BIM team's effort goes where the owner's decisions need it.
Common mistakes
- Treating asset information requirements as a BIM exercise instead of an asset management one.
- Asking for the same detail on every asset regardless of criticality.
- Projects handing over data in a structure the asset management system can't use.
Where to read more
ISO publishes the ISO 55000 series; the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) explains the 2024 changes and publishes guidance. ISO 19650-1 and -3 describe how information requirements connect to asset management.