Seven years after its initial introduction, the official starting signal for the revision of ISO 50001 was given on 21.08.2018. The version DIN EN ISO 50001:2018 is accordingly the most current international standard for energy management systems, on the basis of which companies can be certified and thus continuously realize energy and cost saving potentials. In contrast to other already revised and newly published management systems such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, however, the transition period in this case is not a full three years, but only 18 months - from 21.02.2020 certification bodies are no longer allowed to conduct audits in accordance with the 2011 version. If your company is still certified according to the previous standard, its validity will expire at the same time. It is therefore advisable to plan the changeover early.
What changes does the new version contain?
A major innovation is the adaptation of ISO 50001 to the so-called "High-Level-Structure" - this allows a problem-free integration with already existing management systems, especially by means of uniform definitions and numbering. This ensures a leaner, more efficient management of all relevant areas. Furthermore, the new version takes greater account of the involvement of interested parties and gives greater importance to top management: In the future, top management will be obliged to ensure that energy management goals are achieved. The organizational context also becomes more relevant: The company to be certified must determine internal and external influences that can have a positive or negative impact on energy management-related aspects. These include, for example, corporate strategy and financial resources, but also external factors such as CO2 emissions or climate change.
Bureau Veritas is ready to provide you with comprehensive support for all the necessary steps in the certification process - from preparation and training of your staff to final implementation. Visit our overview page for more information on ISO 50001 certification.
In order to get a compact overview of the changes of ISO 50001, to secure state subsidies and to save energy costs sustainably, we recommend our seminars on ISO 50001.