ISO launches auditing/certification guidance for energy management systems

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by Brianna Crandall — October 24, 2014—An effective energy management system is an essential business ingredient, and having it certified to a recognized standard can bring a number of benefits. Now the certification process is even better with a new standard for auditors and certification bodies who certify to ISO’s energy management system standards. Facilities owners and managers can benefit from the new document to become familiar with how the auditing or certification process will proceed.

Providing effective tools for auditing bodies

ISO 50003:2014, Energy management systems — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of energy management systems, is designed to assist bodies that offer audit and certification by providing the requirements to ensure competence, consistency and impartiality in the auditing and certification process.

Intended to be used with [ISO/IEC 17021:2011, Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, the new standard provides the specific technical areas needed to ensure the effectiveness of the audit and certification.

This includes the additional requirements necessary for the audit planning process, the initial certification audit, conducting the on-site audit, and ensuring the people conducting the audit have the right skills to do so.

Part of a growing range

ISO 50003:2014 is the latest in the energy management family of standards, which includes ISO 50001 for the development of an energy management system, and ISO 50002 that sets out the basic principles and requirements for carrying out energy audits. More to come in the range include:

  • ISO 50004 on guidance for the implementation, maintenance and improvement of an energy management system
  • ISO 50006 on measuring energy performance using energy baselines (EnB) and energy performance indicators (EnPI)
  • ISO 50015 on the measurement and verification of energy performance in organizations

ISO 50003:2014 and ISO/IEC 17021:2011 can be purchased from the ISO Store.