ISO 55000 and ISO 55002 explained alongside ISO 55001

ISO 55000, ISO 55001 and ISO 55002 together form the standards family for asset management. Asset management is the systematic management of your physical possessions, such as pipes, buildings, transformers or roads, over their entire lifespan. Only ISO 55001 is the standard you certify against. ISO 55000 and ISO 55002 help you understand and apply that standard.

ISO 55000 describes the terms and basic principles. You can find the standard on iso.org . ISO 55002 provides guidance on the requirements of ISO 55001, with explanations and examples. The difference between the three is mainly what they mean for you. For the requirements you must meet, see the requirements per chapter.

What is ISO 55000?

ISO 55000 is the introduction to the family. The standard explains what asset management is and why it pays off. It describes the principles, the terms and the structure of a management system for assets. You will find many of the terms used in the other two standards here, with a definition.

ISO 55000 cannot be certified. A certification body does not audit your system against this text. It is a reference work, useful for anyone new to the subject.

What is ISO 55001?

ISO 55001 is the standard with the requirements. It describes what your organisation must do to establish, implement, maintain and improve an asset management system. Each requirement is written with the word “shall”. That is what makes the standard auditable.

The current version is ISO 55001:2024, the second edition. ISO published it in July 2024. Dutch certification schemes often refer to the standard as NEN-ISO 55001. You can read more about the changes on ISO 55001:2024: what has changed?. Check whether a standard is available in Dutch on nen.nl .

What is ISO 55002?

ISO 55002 provides guidance on ISO 55001. It follows the same chapter structure as ISO 55001. Where ISO 55001 says “shall”, ISO 55002 says “should”. These are recommendations, not requirements.

The current edition is ISO 55002:2018. Check on iso.org whether a newer edition has been published. For the SAMP, read the requirements of ISO 55001 first and then the guidance in ISO 55002.

Which standard do you use for what?

The three standards each have their own role. That makes the choice simpler than it may seem.

Standard	What it contains	Certifiable	Wording in the text	Use it to
ISO 55000	Terms, principles, overview	No	Explanation	Help everyone in the organisation understand what asset management is
ISO 55001	Requirements for the management system	Yes	”shall”	Obtain and maintain a certificate
ISO 55002	Guidance on the requirements	No	”should”	Decide how to put a requirement into practice

Take the fictional municipality of Dorpsveld. The municipality manages roads, bridges and sewers. Policy staff read ISO 55000 to share the terms. The department that builds the system uses ISO 55002 as a manual. The certification covers ISO 55001 only. This keeps the scope clear and means you pay for the audit against the right standard.

There is no certificate for ISO 55000 or ISO 55002. Anyone who says they are “ISO 55000 certified” most likely means ISO 55001. Ask the certification body to confirm this.

Frequently asked questions about ISO 55000 and ISO 55002

Do I need to read ISO 55000 and ISO 55002 before I tackle ISO 55001?

That is not required, but it is sensible. ISO 55000 gives you the terms and ISO 55002 the practical explanation. Start with ISO 55000 if the subject is new to you.

Can I use ISO 55002 as a checklist for the audit?

No, the auditor checks you against ISO 55001. ISO 55002 does help you fill in the requirements properly. Use it as a reference, not as a checklist.

Is ISO 55000 the same as ISO 55001?

No. ISO 55000 explains the terms, ISO 55001 sets the requirements. Do not confuse them in a quote or a certification enquiry.