This British Standard gives guidance on durability, design life and predicted service life of buildings, constructed assets and their parts. It applies to both new and existing buildings.
This standard also gives guidance on communicating and recording information on the service and design life of buildings, infrastructure and their components and/or assets when a detailed brief is being developed.
The principles of this British Standard are applicable to civil engineering projects and the guidance is written for all members of a construction project or facilities management team who provide or require information on durability, including clients, designers, contractors, specialists, manufacturers and those responsible for maintenance. It might also be relevant to funders, insurers and those undertaking due diligence assessments for investment purposes. It also applies to situations when new products offer better performance without a corresponding increase in cost.
This British Standard does not cover aspects of obsolescence and fashion, i.e. when buildings, infrastructure or assets are replaced or altered either to suit different needs and changing conditions including change of use and mandatory requirements.
NOTE1 A decision to replace or alter obsolete buildings or their assets might be influenced by a reassessment of their predicted service lives. BSISO15686‑1:2011, Clause 8 gives further guidance on obsolescence.
NOTE2 More durability guidance specific to individual sectors is available from bodies such as the Highways Agency and engineering institutions.