The ISO 50001:2018 Update has been Published

23 August 2018

Reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency are at the forefront of the global climate change agenda. So the publication on the 21st August of adjustments to ISO 50001, the flagship International Standard for improving energy performance, is perfectly timed.

This revision has seen the Standard brought into line with the other recently revised standards and also include new processes and guidance which will allow businesses to use energy more efficiently and effectively. The framework is especially important for businesses concerned with reducing their environmental impact thorough the use of improved energy efficiency.

The ISO 50001 Standard gives organizations the tools and techniques needed to effectively manage and continually improve their energy performance, monitor energy costs and consequently contribute to meeting government-set emissions reduction targets.

Perhaps the largest change brought about by this 2018 update is to the Standard format. ISO 50001 now uses the Annex SL framework used by other ISO Standards such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018. The new structure makes it much easier for organizations that are already certified to other ISO Standards to implement ISO 50001 and work towards the use of a fully integrated Management System.

We at NQA recommend starting to prepare for the transition as early as possible and plan properly to incorporate needed changes into your management system.

Specifically we suggest that you:

Ensure that relevant staff within your organization are trained and understand the requirements and key changes to the standard.
Identify gaps which need to be addressed to meet the new requirements and establish an implementation plan. Implement those actions and update your management system to meet the new requirements.
Evaluate the effectiveness of implementation through internal audits and the NQA transition gap analysis form which will be available soon.

We are preparing ourselves for the changes and what will be required to transition from ISO 50001:2011 to ISO 50001:2018. We can support you in all phases of the transition, so that you can start preparing, assess your level of readiness and efficiently complete that transition.