With the growth in the number of international construction projects and the development of the international market in construction products, there is an increasing need for agreement on a common language.
ISO 6707-1 defines general terms related to building and civil engineering. This part of ISO 6707 defines terms related to sustainability for buildings and other types of construction works. Communication is important to the implementation and operation of the concept of sustainable development related to building and civil engineering. In the interest of common understanding and standardization, consistent word usage is encouraged to help eliminate the major barrier to effective technical communication.
This standard does not contain a complete list of terms of relevance to the thematic field, but focuses on concepts that have been standardized and/or applied through publication of individual standards within ISO/TC 59/SC 17 and on terms and definitions of concepts frequently encountered in the literature related to sustainability in buildings and other types of construction works. Attention has been paid to how the terms selected have been used in ISO standards and European standards so as to maintain the original intention.
ISO/TR 21932:2012 Building construction – Sustainability in building construction – Terminology was one of the principle sources employed. Although informative in nature, it contains terms and definitions of concepts that have been applied and standardized in the documents developed to date under SC 17, as well as other terms and definitions that constitute work in progress within SC 17 or established within CEN/TC 350 Sustainability of construction works.
The project is administered by SC 2 Terminology and harmonization of languages, but the development work is being undertaken in a joint working group between SC 2 and SC 17 Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works.