European Standardisation
Currently in Europe a series of standards is being developed by
CEN/TC350 to support the sustainability assessment of construction
products and the built environment.
The purpose of the work of CEN/TC/350 is to provide a
framework with principles, requirements and guidelines for the
development of standards to support the sustainability assessment
of 'construction works'. A suite of standards will be produced
within this framework to provide a system for the assessment of the
aspects of sustainability of buildings (on the building level)
based on a life cycle approach and containing quantitative
assessment categories for the integrated performance of buildings,
which will enable comparability of the results of assessments.
Currently the proposed suite of standards covers environmental
performance, health and comfort performance and the life cycle cost
performance of buildings.
These standards are being developed in response to the EC
mandate M/350 taking into account the key aspects of the associated
ISO standards. The use of the ISO standards provides a means to
avoid potential barriers to trade.
The results of these assessments will help users to understand
the impact that a building, including its foundations and external
works within the area of building site, has on the environment and
on the user. Their aim is to allow the client, user, designer and
others involved in its construction and operation, to make rational
decisions and choices regarding the building.
Assessment results will contribute to strategies for the
mitigation of environmental impacts, such as climate change and the
unsustainable use of natural resources. Assessments are also
intended to lead to the optimization of the building's life cycle
costs, to reduce its impacts on the health of the user and to
increase user comfort.