What is ISO?

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of

voluntary International Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for
products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective.
Developed through global consensus, they help to break down barriers to international trade.

What we do

ISO develops International Standards. We were founded in 1947, and since then have published
more than 19 500 International Standards covering almost all aspects of technology and business.
From food safety to computers, and agriculture to healthcare, ISO International Standards impact
all our lives.

Who we are
We are a network of national standards bodies. These national standards bodies make up the ISO
membership and they represent ISO in their country.

How we work
ISO is an independent, non-governmental organization made up of members from the national
standards bodies of 162 countries. We have a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that
coordinates the system.

Our story
The ISO story began in 1946 when delegates from 25 countries met at the Institute of Civil
Engineers in London and decided to create a new international organization ‘to facilitate the
international coordination and unification of industrial standards’. In February 1947 the new
organisation, ISO, officially began operations.

Since then,we have published over 19 500 International Standards covering almost all aspects of
technology and manufacturing.

Today we have members from 162 countries and 3 368 technical bodies to take care of standard
development. More than 150 people work full time for ISO’s Central Secretariat in Geneva,
Switzerland.

Our name

Because 'International Organization for Standardization' would have different acronyms in

different languages (IOS in English, OIN in French for Organisation internationale de
normalisation), our founders decided to give it the short form ISO. ISO is derived from the
Greek isos, meaning equal. Whatever the country, whatever the language, the short form of our
name is always ISO.

Founders of ISO,
London 1946

Read more about the history of ISO in the book Friendship Among Equals published to mark
ISO's 50th anniversary.

What are the benefits of ISO International Standards?

ISO International Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good
quality. For business, they are strategic tools that reduce costs by minimizing waste and errors
and increasing productivity. They help companies to access new markets, level the playing field
for developing countries and facilitate free and fair global trade.

How does ISO develop standards?

Our standards are developed by the people that need them, through a consensus process. Experts
from all over the world develop the standards that are required by their sector. This means they
reflect a wealth of international experience and knowledge.
ISO 9000 - Quality management
The ISO 9000 family addresses various aspects of quality management and contains some of
ISO’s best known standards. The standards provide guidance and tools for companies and
organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s
requirements, and that quality is consistently improved.

There are many standards in the ISO 9000 family, including:

 ISO 9001:2008 - sets out the requirements of a quality management system

 ISO 9000:2005 - covers the basic concepts and language
 ISO 9004:2009 - focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient
and effective
 ISO 19011:2011 - sets out guidance on internal and external audits of quality
management systems.

ISO 9001:2008
ISO 9001:2008 sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in
the family that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement). It can be used by any
organization, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. In fact ISO 9001:2008 is
implemented by over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries.

Quality Management Principles

The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer
focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual
improvement. These principles are explained in more detail in the pdf Quality Management
Principles. Using ISO 9001:2008 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality
products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits.

Audits

Checking that the system works is a vital part of ISO 9001:2008. An organization must perform
internal audits to check how its quality management system is working. An organization may
decide to invite an independent certification body to verify that it is in conformity to the
standard, but there is no requirement for this. Alternatively, it might invite its clients to audit the
quality system for themselves. Read more about certification to management system standards.

ISO 9001 Revision

ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems is under review and an updated version is expected by
the end of 2015. All ISO standards are reviewed every 5 years to make sure they remain as
helpful and relevant.

We expect to publish the new version of ISO 9001:2008 by the end of 2015. At that point there will be a
transition period (usually two years) before ISO 9001:2008 officially becomes out of date.

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national
standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is
normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a
subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on
that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with
ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives,
Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
ISO 9001 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 176, Quality management and quality
assurance, Subcommittee SC 2, Quality systems.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 9001:2000), which has been
amended to clarify points in the text and to enhance compatibility with ISO 14001:2004.
Details of the changes between the third edition and this fourth edition are given in Annex B.
This corrected version of ISO 9001:2008 incorporates the following corrections:

 — minor editorial errors in Tables А.1, A.2 and B.1 have been corrected.

Introduction
0.1 General
The adoption of a quality management system should be a strategic decision of an organization.
The design and implementation of an organization's quality management system is influenced by

 a) its organizational environment, changes in that environment, and the risks associated
with that environment,
  b) its varying needs,
 c) its particular objectives,
 d) the products it provides,
 e) the processes it employs,
 f) its size and organizational structure.

It is not the intent of this International Standard to imply uniformity in the structure of quality
management systems or uniformity of documentation.
The quality management system requirements specified in this International Standard are
complementary to requirements for products. Information marked “NOTE” is for guidance in
understanding or clarifying the associated requirement.
This International Standard can be used by internal and external parties, including certification
bodies, to assess the organization's ability to meet customer, statutory and regulatory
requirements applicable to the product, and the organization's own requirements.
The quality management principles stated in ISO 9000 and ISO 9004 have been taken into
consideration during the development of this International Standard.

0.2 Process approach

This International Standard promotes the adoption of a process approach when developing,
implementing and improving the effectiveness of a quality management system, to enhance
customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
For an organization to function effectively, it has to determine and manage numerous linked
activities. An activity or set of activities using resources, and managed in order to enable the
transformation of inputs into outputs, can be considered as a process. Often the output from one
process directly forms the input to the next.
The application of a system of processes within an organization, together with the identification
and interactions of these processes, and their management to produce the desired outcome, can
be referred to as the “process approach”.
An advantage of the process approach is the ongoing control that it provides over the linkage
between the individual processes within the system of processes, as well as over their
combination and interaction.
When used within a quality management system, such an approach emphasizes the importance of

 a) understanding and meeting requirements,

 b) the need to consider processes in terms of added value,
 c) obtaining results of process performance and effectiveness, and
 d) continual improvement of processes based on objective measurement.

The model of a process-based quality management system shown in Figure 1 illustrates the
process linkages presented in Clauses 4 to 8. This illustration shows that customers play a
significant role in defining requirements as inputs. Monitoring of customer satisfaction requires
the evaluation of information relating to customer perception as to whether the organization has
met the customer requirements. The model shown in Figure 1 covers all the requirements of this
International Standard, but does not show processes at a detailed level.
NOTE In addition, the methodology known as “Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) can be applied to
all processes. PDCA can be briefly described as follows.

Plan: establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with
customer requirements and the organization's policies.
Do: implement the processes.
Check: monitor and measure processes and product against policies, objectives and requirements
for the product and report the results.
Act: take actions to continually improve process performance.
Figure 1 — Model of a process-based quality management system

Key
Value-adding activities
Information flow

0.3 Relationship with ISO 9004

ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 are quality management system standards which have been designed to
complement each other, but can also be used independently.
ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system that can be used for internal
application by organizations, or for certification, or for contractual purposes. It focuses on the
effectiveness of the quality management system in meeting customer requirements.
At the time of publication of this International Standard, ISO 9004 is under revision. The revised
edition of ISO 9004 will provide guidance to management for achieving sustained success for
any organization in a complex, demanding, and ever changing, environment. ISO 9004 provides
a wider focus on quality management than ISO 9001; it addresses the needs and expectations of
all interested parties and their satisfaction, by the systematic and continual improvement of the
organization's performance. However, it is not intended for certification, regulatory or
contractual use.

0.4 Compatibility with other management systems

During the development of this International Standard, due consideration was given to the
provisions of ISO 14001:2004 to enhance the compatibility of the two standards for the benefit
of the user community. Annex A shows the correspondence between ISO 9001:2008 and
ISO 14001:2004.
This International Standard does not include requirements specific to other management systems,
such as those particular to environmental management, occupational health and safety
management, financial management or risk management. However, this International Standard
enables an organization to align or integrate its own quality management system with related
management system requirements. It is possible for an organization to adapt its existing
management system(s) in order to establish a quality management system that complies with the
requirements of this International Standard.

1 Scope
1.1 General
This International Standard specifies requirements for a quality management system where an
organization

 a) needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer
and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and
 b) aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system,
including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of
conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

NOTE 1 In this International Standard, the term “product” only applies to

 a) product intended for, or required by, a customer,

 b) any intended output resulting from the product realization processes.

NOTE 2 Statutory and regulatory requirements can be expressed as legal requirements.

1.2 Application
All requirements of this International Standard are generic and are intended to be applicable to
all organizations, regardless of type, size and product provided.
Where any requirement(s) of this International Standard cannot be applied due to the nature of an
organization and its product, this can be considered for exclusion.
Where exclusions are made, claims of conformity to this International Standard are not
acceptable unless these exclusions are limited to requirements within Clause 7, and such
exclusions do not affect the organization's ability, or responsibility, to provide product that meets
customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

 ISO 9000:2005, Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 9000 apply.
Throughout the text of this International Standard, wherever the term “product” occurs, it can
also mean “service”.

ISO 14000 - Environmental management

The ISO 14000 family addresses various aspects of environmental management. It provides
practical tools for companies and organizations looking to identify and control their
environmental impact and constantly improve their environmental performance. ISO 14001:2004
and ISO 14004:2004 focus on environmental management systems. The other standards in the
family focus on specific environmental aspects such as life cycle analysis, communication and
auditing.

ISO 14001:2004

ISO 14001:2004 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and can be
certified to. It does not state requirements for environmental performance, but maps out a
framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental
management system. It can be used by any organization regardless of its activity or sector. Using
ISO 14001:2004 can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as
external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved.

The benefits of using ISO 14001:2004 can include:

  Reduced cost of waste management
 Savings in consumption of energy and materials
 Lower distribution costs
 Improved corporate image among regulators, customers and the public

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national

standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is
normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a
subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on
that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with
ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives,
Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
ISO 14001 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management,
Subcommittee SC 1, Environmental management systems.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 14001:1996), which has been
technically revised.

Introduction
Organizations of all kinds are increasingly concerned with achieving and demonstrating sound
environmental performance by controlling the impacts of their activities, products and services
on the environment, consistent with their environmental policy and objectives. They do so in the
context of increasingly stringent legislation, the development of economic policies and other
measures that foster environmental protection, and increased concern expressed by interested
parties about environmental matters and sustainable development.
Many organizations have undertaken environmental “reviews” or “audits” to assess their
environmental performance. On their own, however, these “reviews” and “audits” may not be
sufficient to provide an organization with the assurance that its performance not only meets, but
will continue to meet, its legal and policy requirements. To be effective, they need to be
conducted within a structured management system that is integrated within the organization.
International Standards covering environmental management are intended to provide
organizations with the elements of an effective environmental management system (EMS) that
can be integrated with other management requirements and help organizations achieve
environmental and economic goals. These standards, like other International Standards, are not
intended to be used to create non-tariff trade barriers or to increase or change an organization's
legal obligations.
This International Standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system to
enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account
legal requirements and information about significant environmental aspects. It is intended to
apply to all types and sizes of organization and to accommodate diverse geographical, cultural
and social conditions. The basis of the approach is shown in Figure 1. The success of the system
depends on commitment from all levels and functions of the organization, and especially from
top management. A system of this kind enables an organization to develop an environmental
policy, establish objectives and processes to achieve the policy commitments, take action as
needed to improve its performance and demonstrate the conformity of the system to the
requirements of this International Standard. The overall aim of this International Standard is to
support environmental protection and prevention of pollution in balance with socio-economic
needs. It should be noted that many of the requirements can be addressed concurrently or
revisited at any time.
The second edition of this International Standard is focused on clarification of the first edition,
and has taken due consideration of the provisions of ISO 9001 to enhance the compatibility of
the two standards for the benefit of the user community.
For ease of use, the subclause numbers in Clause 4 of the body of this International Standard and
in Annex A have been related. For example, 4.3.3 and A.3.3 both deal with objectives, targets
and programme(s), and 4.5.5 and A.5.5 both deal with internal audit. In addition, Annex B
identifies broad technical correspondences between ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2000 and
vice versa.
There is an important distinction between this International Standard, which describes the
requirements for an organization's environmental management system and can be used for
certification/registration and/or self-declaration of an organization's environmental management
system, and a non-certifiable guideline intended to provide generic assistance to an organization
for establishing, implementing or improving an environmental management system.
Environmental management encompasses a full range of issues, including those with strategic
and competitive implications. Demonstration of successful implementation of this International
Standard can be used by an organization to assure interested parties that an appropriate
environmental management system is in place.
Guidance on supporting environmental management techniques is contained in other
International Standards, particularly those on environmental management in the documents
established by ISO/TC 207. Any reference to other International Standards is for information
only.
Figure 1 — Environmental management system model for this International Standard
NOTE This International Standard is based on the methodology known as Plan-Do-Check-Act
(PDCA). PDCA can be briefly described as follows.

 — Plan: establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance
with the organization's environmental policy.
 — Do: implement the processes.
 — Check: monitor and measure processes against environmental policy, objectives,
targets, legal and other requirements, and report the results.
 — Act: take actions to continually improve performance of the environmental
management system.

Many organizations manage their operations via the application of a system of processes and
their interactions, which can be referred to as the “process approach”. ISO 9001 promotes the use
of the process approach. Since PDCA can be applied to all processes, the two methodologies are
considered to be compatible.
This International Standard contains only those requirements that can be objectively audited.
Those organizations requiring more general guidance on a broad range of environmental
management system issues are referred to ISO 14004.
This International Standard does not establish absolute requirements for environmental
performance beyond the commitments, in the environmental policy, to comply with applicable
legal requirements and with other requirements to which the organization subscribes, to
prevention of pollution and to continual improvement. Thus, two organizations carrying out
similar operations but having different environmental performance can both conform to its
requirements.
The adoption and implementation of a range of environmental management techniques in a
systematic manner can contribute to optimal outcomes for all interested parties. However,
adoption of this International Standard will not in itself guarantee optimal environmental
outcomes. In order to achieve environmental objectives, the environmental management system
can encourage organizations to consider implementation of the best available techniques, where
appropriate and where economically viable, and fully take into account the cost-effectiveness of
such techniques.
This International Standard does not include requirements specific to other management systems,
such as those for quality, occupational health and safety, financial or risk management, though
its elements can be aligned or integrated with those of other management systems. It is possible
for an organization to adapt its existing management system(s) in order to establish an
environmental management system that conforms to the requirements of this International
Standard. It is pointed out, however, that the application of various elements of the management
system might differ depending on the intended purpose and the interested parties involved.
The level of detail and complexity of the environmental management system, the extent of
documentation and the resources devoted to it depend on a number of factors, such as the scope
of the system, the size of an organization and the nature of its activities, products and services.
This may be the case in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises.

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system to
enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account
legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information
about significant environmental aspects. It applies to those environmental aspects that the
organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence. It does not
itself state specific environmental performance criteria.
This International Standard is applicable to any organization that wishes to

 a) establish, implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system,

 b) assure itself of conformity with its stated environmental policy,
 c) demonstrate conformity with this International Standard by
o 1) making a self-determination and self-declaration, or
o 2) seeking confirmation of its conformance by parties having an interest in the
organization, such as customers, or
o 3) seeking confirmation of its self-declaration by a party external to the
organization, or
o 4) seeking certification/registration of its environmental management system by
an external organization.

All the requirements in this International Standard are intended to be incorporated into any
environmental management system. The extent of the application depends on factors such as the
environmental policy of the organization, the nature of its activities, products and services and
the location where and the conditions in which it functions. This International Standard also
provides, in Annex A, informative guidance on its use.

2 Normative references
No normative references are cited. This clause is included in order to retain clause numbering
identical with the previous edition (ISO 14001:1996).

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
auditor
person with the competence to conduct an audit
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2000, 3.9.9]
3.2
continual improvement
recurring process of enhancing the environmental management system (3.8) in order to achieve
improvements in overall environmental performance (3.10) consistent with the organization's
(3.16)environmental policy (3.11)
Note 1 to entry: The process need not take place in all areas of activity simultaneously.
3.3
corrective action
action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity (3.15)
3.4
document
information and its supporting medium
Note 1 to entry: The medium can be paper, magnetic, electronic or optical computer disc,
photograph or master sample, or a combination thereof.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2000, 3.7.2.
3.5
environment
surroundings in which an organization (3.16) operates, including air, water, land, natural
resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation
Note 1 to entry: Surroundings in this context extend from within an organization (3.16) to the
global system.
3.6
environmental aspect
element of an organization's (3.16) activities or products or services that can interact with the
environment (3.5)
Note 1 to entry: A significant environmental aspect has or can have a significant environmental
impact (3.7).
3.7
environmental impact
any change to the environment (3.5), whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting
from an organization's (3.16)environmental aspects (3.6)
3.8
environmental management system
EMS
part of an organization's (3.16) management system used to develop and implement its
environmental policy (3.11) and manage its environmental aspects (3.6)
Note 1 to entry: A management system is a set of interrelated elements used to establish policy
and objectives and to achieve those objectives.
Note 2 to entry: A management system includes organizational structure, planning activities,
responsibilities, practices, procedures (3.19), processes and resources.
3.9
environmental objective
overall environmental goal, consistent with the environmental policy (3.11), that an organization
(3.16) sets itself to achieve
3.10
environmental performance
measurable results of an organization's (3.16) management of its environmental aspects (3.6)
Note 1 to entry: In the context of environmental management systems (3.8), results can be
measured against the organization's (3.16)environmental policy (3.11), environmental objectives
(3.9), environmental targets (3.12) and other environmental performance requirements.
3.11
environmental policy
overall intentions and direction of an organization (3.16) related to its environmental
performance (3.10) as formally expressed by top management
Note 1 to entry: The environmental policy provides a framework for action and for the setting of
environmental objectives (3.9) and environmental targets (3.12).
3.12
environmental target
detailed performance requirement, applicable to the organization (3.16) or parts thereof, that
arises from the environmental objectives (3.9) and that needs to be set and met in order to
achieve those objectives
3.13
interested party
person or group concerned with or affected by the environmental performance (3.10) of an
organization (3.16)
3.14
internal audit
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it
objectively to determine the extent to which the environmental management system audit criteria
set by the organization (3.16) are fulfilled
Note 1 to entry: In many cases, particularly in smaller organizations, independence can be
demonstrated by the freedom from responsibility for the activity being audited.
3.15
nonconformity
non-fulfilment of a requirement
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2000, 3.6.2]
3.16
organization
company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof,
whether incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration
Note 1 to entry: For organizations with more than one operating unit, a single operating unit may
be defined as an organization.
3.17
preventive action
action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity (3.15)
3.18
prevention of pollution
use of processes, practices, techniques, materials, products, services or energy to avoid, reduce or
control (separately or in combination) the creation, emission or discharge of any type of pollutant
or waste, in order to reduce adverse environmental impacts (3.7)
Note 1 to entry: Prevention of pollution can include source reduction or elimination, process,
product or service changes, efficient use of resources, material and energy substitution, reuse,
recovery, recycling, reclamation and treatment.
3.19
procedure
specified way to carry out an activity or a process


Environmental management systems -- Requirements with guidance for use
 ISO 14004:2004
Environmental management systems -- General guidelines on principles, systems and
support techniques
 ISO 14006:2011
Environmental management systems -- Guidelines for incorporating ecodesign
 ISO 14064-1:2006
Greenhouse gases -- Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for
quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals

ISO 14001:2004 and SMEs

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) also benefit from ISO 14001:2004. However,
implementing an environmental management system in SMEs can be challenging. The
publication ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems - An easy to use checklist for small
business, will help SMEs to achieve the benefits of implementing an environmental management
system based on ISO 14001.
ISO 50001 - Energy management
Using energy efficiently helps organizations save money as well as helping to conserve resources
and tackle climate change. ISO 50001 supports organizations in all sectors to use energy more
efficiently, through the development of an energy management system (EnMS).

ISO 50001:2011 – Energy Management System

ISO 50001 is based on the management system model of continual improvement also used for
other well-known standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. This makes it easier for
organizations to integrate energy management into their overall efforts to improve quality and
environmental management.

ISO 50001:2011 provides a framework of requirements for organizations to:

 Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy

 Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy
 Use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use
 Measure the results
 Review how well the policy works, and
 Continually improve energy management.

Certification to ISO 50001

Like other ISO management system standards, certification to ISO 50001 is possible but not
obligatory. Some organizations decide to implement the standard solely for the benefits it
provides. Others decide to get certified to it, to show external parties they have implemented an
energy management system. ISO does not perform certification.

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national
standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is
normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a
subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on
that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with
ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives,
Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
ISO 50001 was prepared by Project Committee ISO/PC 242, Energy Management.

Introduction
The purpose of this International Standard is to enable organizations to establish the systems and
processes necessary to improve energy performance, including energy efficiency, use and
consumption. Implementation of this International Standard is intended to lead to reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions and other related environmental impacts and energy cost through
systematic management of energy. This International Standard is applicable to all types and sizes
of organizations, irrespective of geographical, cultural or social conditions. Successful
implementation depends on commitment from all levels and functions of the organization, and
especially from top management.
This International Standard specifies energy management system (EnMS) requirements, upon
which an organization can develop and implement an energy policy, and establish objectives,
targets, and action plans which take into account legal requirements and information related to
significant energy use. An EnMS enables an organization to achieve its policy commitments,
take action as needed to improve its energy performance and demonstrate the conformity of the
system to the requirements of thisInternational Standard. This International Standard applies to
the activities under the control of the organization, and application of this International Standard
can be tailored to fit the specific requirements of the organization, including the complexity of
the system, degree of documentation, and resources.
This International Standard is based on the Plan - Do - Check - Act (PDCA) continual
improvement framework and incorporates energy management into everyday organizational
practices, as illustrated in Figure 1.

NOTE In the context of energy management, the PDCA approach can be outlined as follows:

 — Plan: conduct the energy review and establish the baseline, energy performance
indicators (EnPIs), objectives, targets and action plans necessary to deliver results that
will improve energy performance in accordance with the organization's energy policy;
 — Do: implement the energy management action plans;
 — Check: monitor and measure processes and the key characteristics of operations that
determine energy performance against the energy policy and objectives, and report the
results;
 — Act: take actions to continually improve energy performance and the EnMS.

Figure 1 — Energy management system model for this International Standard

Worldwide application of this International Standard contributes to more efficient use of
available energy sources, to enhanced competitiveness and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and other related environmental impacts. This International Standard is applicable irrespective of
the types of energy used.
This International Standard can be used for certification, registration and self-declaration of an
organization's EnMS. It does not establish absolute requirements for energy performance beyond
the commitments in the energy policy of the organization and its obligation to comply with
applicable legal requirements and other requirements. Thus, two organizations carrying out
similar operations, but having different energy performance, can both conform to its
requirements.
This International Standard is based on the common elements of ISO management system
standards, ensuring a high level of compatibility notably with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

NOTE Annex B shows the relationship between this International Standard and ISO 9001:2008,
ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 22000:2005.

An organization can choose to integrate this International Standard with other management
systems, including those related to quality, the environment and occupational health and safety.
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining
and improving an energy management system, whose purpose is to enable an organization to
follow a systematic approach in achieving continual improvement of energy performance,
including energy efficiency, energy use and consumption.
This International Standard specifies requirements applicable to energy use and consumption,
including measurement, documentation and reporting, design and procurement practices for
equipment, systems, processes and personnel that contribute to energy performance.
This International Standard applies to all variables affecting energy performance that can be
monitored and influenced by the organization. This International Standard does not prescribe
specific performance criteria with respect to energy.
This International Standard has been designed to be used independently, but it can be aligned or
integrated with other management systems.
This International Standard is applicable to any organization wishing to ensure that it conforms
to its stated energy policy and wishing to demonstrate this to others, such conformity being
confirmed either by means of self-evaluation and self-declaration of conformity, or by
certification of the energy management system by an external organization.
This International Standard also provides, in Annex A, informative guidance on its use.

2 Normative references
No normative references are cited. This clause is included in order to retain clause numbering
identical with other ISO management system standards.

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
boundaries
physical or site limits and/or organizational limits as defined by the organization
EXAMPLE:
A process; a group of processes; a site; an entire organization; multiple sites under the control of
an organization.
3.2
continual improvement
recurring process which results in enhancement of energy performance and the energy
management system
Note 1 to entry: The process of establishing objectives and finding opportunities for
improvement is a continual process.
Note 2 to entry: Continual improvement achieves improvements in overall energy performance,
consistent with the organization's energy policy.
3.3
correction
action to eliminate a detected nonconformity (3.21)
Note 1 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.6.
3.4
corrective action
action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity (3.21)
Note 1 to entry: There can be more than one cause for a nonconformity.
Note 2 to entry: Corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence whereas preventive action is
taken to prevent occurrence.
Note 3 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.5
3.5
energy
electricity, fuels, steam, heat, compressed air, and other like media
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this International Standard, energy refers to the various
forms of energy, including renewable, which can be purchased, stored, treated, used in
equipment or in a process, or recovered.
Note 2 to entry: Energy can be defined as the capacity of a system to produce external activity or
perform work.
3.6
energy baseline
quantitative reference(s) providing a basis for comparison of energy performance
Note 1 to entry: An energy baseline reflects a specified period of time.
Note 2 to entry: An energy baseline can be normalized using variables which affect energy use
and/or consumption, e.g. production level, degree days (outdoor temperature), etc.
Note 3 to entry: The energy baseline is also used for calculation of energy savings, as a reference
before and after implementation of energy performance improvement actions.
3.7
energy consumption
quantity of energy applied
3.8
energy efficiency
ratio or other quantitative relationship between an output of performance, service, goods or
energy, and an input of energy
EXAMPLE:
Conversion efficiency; energy required/energy used; output/input; theoretical energy used to
operate/energy used to operate.
Note 1 to entry: Both input and output need to be clearly specified in quantity and quality, and be
measurable.
3.9
energy management system
EnMS
set of interrelated or interacting elements to establish an energy policy and energy objectives,
and processes and procedures to achieve those objectives
3.10
energy management team
person(s) responsible for effective implementation of the energy management system activities
and for delivering energy performance improvements
Note 1 to entry: The size and nature of the organization, and available resources, will determine
the size of the team. The team may be one person, such as the management representative.
3.11
energy objective
specified outcome or achievement set to meet the organization's energy policy related to
improved energy performance
3.12
energy performance
measurable results related to energy efficiency (3.8), energy use (3.18) and energy consumption
(3.7)
Note 1 to entry: In the context of energy management systems, results can be measured against
the organization's energy policy, objectives, targets and other energy performance requirements.
Note 2 to entry: Corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence whereas preventive action is
taken to prevent occurrence.
3.13
energy performance indicator
EnPI
quantitative value or measure of energy performance, as defined by the organization
Note 1 to entry: EnPIs could be expressed as a simple metric, ratio or a more complex model.
3.14
energy policy
statement by the organization of its overall intentions and direction of an organization related to
its energy performance, as formally expressed by top management
Note 1 to entry: The energy policy provides a framework for action and for the setting of energy
objectives and energy targets.
3.15
energy review
determination of the organization's energy performance based on data and other information,
leading to identification of opportunities for improvement
Note 1 to entry: In other regional or national standards, concepts such as identification and
review of energy aspects or energy profile are included in the concept of energy review.
3.16
energy services
activities and their results related to the provision and/or use of energy
3.17
energy target
detailed and quantifiable energy performance requirement, applicable to the organization or parts
thereof, that arises from the energy objective and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve
this objective
3.18
energy use
manner or kind of application of energy
EXAMPLE:
Ventilation; lighting; heating; cooling; transportation; processes; production lines.
3.19
interested party
person or group concerned with, or affected by, the energy performance of the organization
3.20
internal audit
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it
objectively in order to determine the extent to which requirements are fulfilled
SEE:
3.21
nonconformity
non-fulfilment of a requirement
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.2 ]
3.22
organization
company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof,
whether incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration and
that has the authority to control its energy use and consumption
Note 1 to entry: An organization can be a person or a group of people.
3.23
preventive action
action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity (3.21)
Note 1 to entry: There can be more than one cause for a potential nonconformity.
Note 2 to entry: Preventive action is taken to prevent occurrence, whereas corrective action is
taken to prevent recurrence.
Note 3 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.4.
3.24
procedure
specified way to carry out an activity or a process
Note 1 to entry: Procedures can be documented or not.
Note 2 to entry: When a procedure is documented, the term “written procedure” or “documented
procedure” is frequently used.
Note 3 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.4.5.
3.25
record
document stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed
Note 1 to entry: Records can be used, for example, to document traceability and to provide
evidence of verification, preventive action and corrective action.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.7.6.
3.26
scope
extent of activities, facilities and decisions that the organization addresses through an EnMS,
which can include several boundaries
Note 1 to entry: The scope can include energy related to transport.
3.27
significant energy use
energy use accounting for substantial energy consumption and/or offering considerable potential
for energy performance improvement
Note 1 to entry: Significance criteria are determined by the organization.
3.28
top management
person or group of people who directs and controls an organization at the highest level
Note 1 to entry: Top management controls the organization defined within the scope and
boundaries of the energy management system.
Note 2 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.2.7.