BS EN 15643:2021

What is BS EN 15643 - Sustainability of construction works about? 

BS EN 15643 provides principles and requirements for the assessment of the environmental, social, and economic performance of buildings and civil engineering works taking into account their technical characteristics and functionality. 

BS EN 15643's framework applies to all types of construction works and it is relevant for new construction works over their entire life cycle, and of existing construction works over their remaining service life and end of life stage. 

The sustainability assessment of construction works covers aspects and impacts of construction works expressed with quantifiable indicators. It includes the assessment of the construction works’ influence on the environmental, social, and economic aspects and impacts on the local area (area of influence) and the local infrastructure beyond the curtilage of the building and the civil engineering works. 

The assessment of environmental, social, and economic aspects of organizations, such as management systems, are not included in the standards developed under this framework. However, the decisions or actions that influence the environmental, social and economic performance of the object of assessment can be taken into account where the assessment includes management process-related aspects. 

Who is BS EN 15643 - Sustainability of construction works for?  

BS EN 15643 on the sustainability of construction works is useful for: 

• Civil engineer 
• Construction industry 
• Researcher of product life cycle 
• Architect  
• Manufacture of building products 
• Regulatory authority 
• Building contractor 

Why should you use BS EN 15643 - Sustainability of construction works?  

The sustainability assessment quantifies aspects and impacts to assess the environmental, social, and economic performance of buildings and civil engineering works using quantifiable indicators measured without value judgments.

BS EN 15643 provides you with a system for the sustainability assessment of buildings and civil engineering works using a life cycle approach. The purpose of the standards developed under this framework is to enable comparability of the results of assessments. The European Standards developed under this framework do not set actual benchmarks.  

BS EN 15643 enables you to determine the sustainability aspects and impacts of the object of assessment concerning its area of influence to enable you to make decisions and choices that will help to address the need for sustainability of construction work at each phase of the construction project, according to the assessment of environmental, social and economic performance, provide a basis to demonstrate or communicate the environmental, social and economic performance of the construction works to third parties and also to provide a basis for continuous improvement of environmental, social and economic performance as a contribution to a sustainable built environment and sustainable development. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN 15643:2021 supersedes BS EN 15643‑1:2010, BS EN 15643‑2:2011, BS EN 15643‑3:2012, BS EN 15643‑4:2012, and BS EN 15643‑5:2017, which are withdrawn. 

In comparison with the previous versions, this document: 

• Consolidates and develops the content of the previous standards (EN 15643-1 to -5) into a single common framework for the assessment of the environmental, social and economic performance assessment of all construction works (buildings and civil engineering works), while continuing to recognize the distinction between, and differences of approach, that are appropriate for the separate assessment of buildings and the assessment of civil engineering works 
• Reflects the changes required under the revised Mandate M350, particularly the changes already introduced in response to the Mandate in the amendment of EN 15804 (EN 15804+A2:2019)  
• Expands and consolidates the main Terms and definitions that are used across the standards of CEN TC350 
• Expands the modular structure of the assessment (adding Module B8) to include for the assessment of users’ activities associated with the object of assessment and expands the scope of Module D to cover “exported utilities” for both buildings and civil engineering works 
• Includes for the assessment of the technical feasibility for the sustainable refurbishment of existing buildings