CAD/BIM Tips & Tricks
ISO 19650: The Global Standard for Information Management in Construction
What It Is and Why It Matters
13 October 2025
If you’ve seen or heard references to ISO 19650 and wondered what it is or what it means, here’s a brief, simple explanation to put you in the know.
You’re all too aware that in the construction and infrastructure industries, digital collaboration is no longer optional. It’s essential. Projects involve multiple stakeholders of various types, vast amounts of data, and life cycles that stretch from design through operation.
To quote Winston Churchill, “Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge.”
To help manage this copious cross-collaboration, the ISO 19650 series provides a globally recognized framework for information management using Building Information Modelling (BIM). In a nutshell, it’s a comprehensive guide for organizing all that complexity to keep things (relatively) simple!
ISO 19650 ensures that everyone involved — designers, contractors, operators and owners — works with accurate, up-to-date and reliable data.
What Exactly Is ISO 19650?
ISO 19650 is an international standard that sets out the principles and processes for managing information across the entire life cycle of an asset.
ISO 19650 is a voluntary standard, meaning it is not a law but may be contractually required.
Whether it’s a skyscraper, a bridge or a utility network, the standard ensures that everyone involved — designers, contractors, operators and owners — works with accurate, up-to-date and reliable data.
The predecessors to ISO 19650 were two pioneering British standards:
- BS 1192, which provided a collaborative methodology for managing the production, distribution and quality of information in architecture, engineering and construction projects, and
- PAS 1192, which provided a framework for collaborative BIM and set the requirements for information management throughout a project’s lifecycle.
Building upon these basic principles, ISO 19650 sets the requirements for information management throughout a project’s entire lifecycle, extending the above British-based principles for a global audience.
A Brief History
ISO 19650 was first published in December 2018, with the release of parts 1 and 2, followed two years later by parts 3 and 5. Part 4, which is more technical than the foundational parts, was the last to be released in 2022.
- ISO 19650-1: Concepts and Principles — published in 2018
- ISO 19650-2: Delivery Phase of Assets — published in 2018
- ISO 19650-3: Operational Phase of Assets — published in 2020
- ISO 19650-5: Security-Minded Approach — published in 2020
- ISO 19650-4: Information Exchange — published in 2022
This timeline reflects the industry’s growing focus on not just delivery, but also long-term operation and security.
The Core Parts of ISO 19650
Most organizations adopting ISO 19650 will prioritize parts 1, 2, 3 and 5 before tackling part 4.
- ISO 19650-1: Concepts and Principles
Establishes the foundation, including terminology, roles and the philosophy of using a Common Data Environment (CDE). - ISO 19650-2: Delivery Phase
Focuses on the design and construction stages, guiding how information should be created, exchanged and validated during project delivery. - ISO 19650-3: Operational Phase
Addresses the long-term management of asset information once the project is complete and in use. - ISO 19650-5: Security-Minded Approach
Provides guidance on protecting sensitive data and mitigating risks associated with digital information-sharing. - ISO 19650-4: Information Exchange
Provides detailed guidance on how to exchange information requirements (EIRs) and deliverables in BIM projects.
Since its launch, it has been widely adopted and has quickly become the global benchmark for BIM information management.
Is Compliance Required?
ISO 19650 is a voluntary standard, meaning it is not a law. However, compliance often becomes contractually required when specified by clients or governments.
- In the United Kingdom, BIM compliance has been mandatory on public projects since 2016. ISO 19650 has replaced the earlier standards as the benchmark.
- Across the European Union, countries like Germany and Norway also require BIM on public projects, often aligning with ISO 19650.
- Elsewhere, adoption varies, but many large private-sector clients now expect compliance as a condition of contract.
Even when not legally mandated, organizations frequently choose ISO 19650 because it enhances collaboration, reduces risk and improves competitiveness.
Why It Matters
Adopting ISO 19650 helps organizations:
- Reduce risk by minimizing data errors and duplication.
- Increase efficiency through consistent processes and better collaboration.
- Improve decision-making with accurate and up-to-date information.
- Support digital transformation by standardizing BIM practices worldwide.
Conclusion
ISO 19650 is more than just a set of rules — it’s a roadmap for smarter, safer and more efficient projects. Since its launch, it has been widely adopted and has quickly become the global benchmark for BIM information management.
By following ISO 19650 principles, construction and infrastructure teams can unlock the full potential of BIM, delivering assets that are well-managed from concept to operation.
Ultimately, implementing ISO 19650 is about creating a shared language of trust, clarity and collaboration in the AEC industry. In a world where buildings outlive generations, the way we manage information today shapes the legacy we leave tomorrow.
