ISO 50001 is an international standard that sets out requirements for an energy management system. It guides an organisation towards continual improvement of its energy performance and can be certified by an accredited body. The current edition is ISO 50001:2018.
What it is built on
The standard uses the PDCA cycle and a common structure shared with other management system standards (for example ISO 9001 and ISO 14001), so it is easy to integrate with them. It requires an energy policy, an energy review and the identification of significant energy uses, EnPI indicators and a baseline (EnB), objectives, action plans, internal audits and management review.
Certification
Certification is carried out by an accredited certification body. A typical process includes an initial audit, followed by regular surveillance audits and recertification after several years. Requirements for certification bodies are set out in ISO 50003. The page How much ISO 50001 costs describes what the costs consist of.
Link to legislation
Under Czech Act No. 406/2000 Coll. on Energy Management, a certified ISO 50001 system is mandatory for consumption above 85 TJ (23 611 MWh), and for lower consumption it replaces an energy audit. You can find out whether it applies to you in the obligation test.
Frequently asked questions
Is ISO 50001 mandatory?
The law requires it for consumption above 85 TJ (23,611 MWh). For lower consumption it is voluntary, and above 10 TJ it replaces the mandatory audit.
How does ISO 50001 differ from an energy audit?
An audit is a one-off assessment with a report. ISO 50001 is a permanent management system with objectives, measurement and regular improvement.