Is ISO 55001 mandatory?

No, ISO 55001 is a voluntary standard. Nobody forces you to set up an asset management system, unless another rule requires it. That rule usually comes from outside the standard: a law, a regulator, a client or a contract. You can read more about what the standard covers on What is ISO 55001?.

You can find the standard itself at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) . The Dutch version is available from NEN . A standard does not become mandatory because you know it exists. It becomes mandatory through an agreement or a rule that refers to it. Always check the document that sets the requirement.

A law usually does not name a standard. It often asks for a result, such as demonstrably safe management. ISO 55001 is then one way to prove that result.

Four routes to a requirement

There are four ways in which ISO 55001 moves from voluntary to mandatory. The table below lists them.

Route	How it works	Where to check
Laws and regulations	A law or decision asks you to demonstrably manage your assets	The text of the law on wetten.overheid.nl and the decision of your regulator
Regulator	The regulator asks for evidence of good management	Your own correspondence with the regulator
Public tender	A certificate is listed in the tender specification as a requirement or as an award criterion	The tender document, with the buyer
Contract	A maintenance contract requires an AMS	The contract terms

The requirement from a public tender is the most visible. The specification asks for evidence, and without that evidence you cannot submit a bid.

What applies per sector?

The rules differ by sector. Below, each sector lists the route that usually applies. Always check this with the body that sets the rules.

Grid operators (netbeheerders). Ask your regulator whether your regulation includes a requirement on managing networks. Put that question in writing, so you have the answer on paper.
Water boards and municipalities (waterschappen and gemeenten). The public tender and your own policy often play a role here. Ask your own procurement or policy department which requirements appear in tender specifications.
Infrastructure managers (infrabeheerders). Clients sometimes ask for a certificate in the bid documents. Read the bid requirements for current and upcoming projects.
Industrial companies. This is often about client contracts and the expectations of your insurer. Ask your clients and insurer what they expect from you.

Kiwa, a certification body, states on its website that regulators may accept ISO 55001 as a basis, which could mean fewer audits. This is Kiwa’s own claim. Ask your regulator whether they share that view.

Example: a municipal tender

This is a fictional example. A municipality wants to have its sewers and bridges maintained over the next five years. The tender specification requires the contractor to hold a valid ISO 55001 certificate. Van der Berg Bouwbedrijf (fictional) does not hold one. The company cannot submit a bid, even if its work is good.

For Van der Berg, the requirement is therefore mandatory, but only for this project. The company has a choice: obtain the certificate, or do not bid on this tender.

What does this mean for an organisation without a requirement?

If there is no requirement, ISO 55001 is a choice. That is not unusual. Many organisations use the standard as a guide without a certificate. They address the requirements and document the system, without the cost of an audit.

Getting a certificate when you do not need one costs money and time. First find out what the requirement actually asks for, then decide.

If you want to start without a certificate, the step-by-step plan helps you set the order of work.

How do you find out what applies to you?

Read the requirement yourself

Search your permit, law or contract for words such as “certificate”, “management system” and “asset management”.

Ask your client or regulator

Ask in writing whether an ISO 55001 certificate is required, and what minimum evidence is needed.

Record the decision

Note what you asked and what the answer was. This lets you explain later why you did or did not certify.

Frequently asked questions about the ISO 55001 requirement

Can a law make ISO 55001 mandatory?

Yes, indirectly. A law usually does not name the standard, but it can require a result. If you can only demonstrate that result with ISO 55001, the standard becomes mandatory in practice. Check this with the regulator.

Is a certificate the same as a requirement?

No. A certificate proves that you meet the standard. It is only mandatory if a law, regulator, client or contract requires it.

What do I do if my client requires it, but I do not think I need it?

Then it is an agreement in the contract. You can discuss the requirement before you submit a quote. If the requirement stays, you choose between getting the certificate and dropping the project.