Condition scores 1 to 6 under NEN 2767 explained

The condition score is a number from 1 to 6 that expresses the technical condition of a building component. A 1 means new-build condition. A 6 means the worst conceivable condition. That is the core of the scale in NEN 2767-1 , the method for condition measurement.

The score is the result of a measurement, not a judgement of value or age. You can read how to record the scores on Defects in NEN 2767. You can find the requirements that the measurement must meet on Requirements for the measurement.

Score 5 is poor, not score 4. Score 4 is called moderate. Do not confuse the two in a report or in a plan.

The scale from 1 to 6

Each score has a fixed description in the standard. The exact description for each score is in NEN 2767-1. This page gives the main idea and a practical example. The examples are fictional.

Score	Description	Practical example (fictional)
1	New-build condition	A roof covering that has just been laid, with no defects
2	See NEN 2767-1 for the exact description	A window frame with light paint wear, otherwise fully in order
3	See NEN 2767-1 for the exact description	A facade where the pointing is starting to weather
4	Moderate: the function is occasionally at risk	A central heating boiler that occasionally fails in winter
5	Poor: the ageing has become more or less irreversible	A lift that regularly stops, with parts that are no longer available
6	The worst conceivable condition	A balcony with rotten timber that can no longer be safely used

How is the score per element determined?

You do not get a score in one step. First you determine the score for each defect. Then those defects combine into a score per element. An element is a part of a building, such as the roof, the facade or the central heating installation.

For each defect, the inspector looks at three things: the severity, the intensity and the extent. Together, these three determine the score of the element. See Defects in NEN 2767 for the full example.

The element scores are then combined into a score for the whole building object. That combination is set out in NEN 2767-3. The scores per element stay visible, so you can see where the problem lies.

Example: a school with four elements

De Wegwijzer primary school (fictional) has a condition measurement. The inspector gives the following scores per element:

Element	Score	What it means
Roof	4	Moderate. There are leaks in one spot
Facade	2	Light wear, no action needed in the short term
Window frames	3	Pointing and paint are starting to weather
Central heating installation	5	Poor. Parts are almost worn out

The overall picture shows that the central heating installation gets the highest priority. The school puts it at the top of the schedule. The roof follows. Without the scores per element, you would only see an average, and that hides the problem.

What does a score mean for planning?

Scores 4, 5 and 6 usually call for action. That needs a plan, because an element with score 4 would otherwise wait until the next major cycle.

You set the timeframe for “short term” yourself, in your policy or in your multi-year maintenance plan (MJOP). See MJOP based on NEN 2767 for how scores return in the plan.

A score says something about the technical condition. It says nothing about the risk to users. An element with a high score may carry little risk, and an element with a low score may carry a lot of risk if it sits in a dangerous place. That is why you combine the score with a risk analysis.

Where the standard leaves room

The exact description of scores 2 and 3. That is in NEN 2767-1. Read that text before you report.
The timeframe for action. The score shows that something must happen. You decide when.
The risk. The score measures the condition, not the danger.

Frequently asked questions about condition scores under NEN 2767

Is a score of 6 the same as fully depreciated?

No. The score says something about the technical condition at the moment of measurement. Depreciation is a financial choice in your accounts. The two sometimes match, but not always.

Can an element with score 4 wait a few more years?

That depends on the risk, the planning and the cost of delay. The score alone is not enough to answer that question. Record the decision in your multi-year maintenance plan, so you can later see why you postponed something.

What is the difference between a defect and a condition score?

A defect is a single deviation in one place, such as rot in a window frame. The condition score applies to the element as a whole. One element can have several defects, and the scores of those defects together determine the score of the element.