NEN 2767-4: infrastructure condition assessment

NEN 2767-4 is the part of the NEN 2767 standard that covers infrastructure. Think of roads, bridges, structures, green spaces and street furniture. The standard has its own defect lists for infrastructure, so you assess a bridge differently from an office building. The basis of the method stays the same: you measure per component and give a score from 1 to 6.

For what the standard does for buildings, read what NEN 2767 is. The difference with infrastructure lies mainly in how the object is divided and in the defects you look for. That division is called decomposition, and we explain it on decomposition in NEN 2767.

Fictional example: the municipality of Hoogveld manages 14 kilometres of road and three bridges. The municipality assesses the roads on asphalt and gutters, and the bridges on the load-bearing structure and the railings. These are different components with different defects from a façade or a roof.

What part 4 covers

NEN 2767-4 covers the condition assessment of infrastructure. It contains the defect lists for infrastructure. You find the current edition and status at NEN.

The part does not only cover roads. If you are unsure whether your object fits the standard, check this before you request a quote.

Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch national authority for roads and waterways) works with the standard and has its own rules for decomposition. Ask your manager which rules they follow.

Part 4 is a separate standard within the NEN 2767 family. Use the defect lists of part 4 for infrastructure, not the ones for buildings.

How infrastructure differs

A building is measured per building part, such as roof, façade and installations. Infrastructure has a different structure. A road consists of a carriageway, a cycle path, a verge and gutters. A bridge has a load-bearing structure, a deck and railings. The division follows the object as the manager manages it.

The division into management objects, elements and building parts follows the manager. Ask which division they use.

Topic	Building (part 2)	Infrastructure (part 4)
Division	Elements and building parts of the building	Management objects with elements and building parts
Defects	Lists for buildings, such as cracks or leaks	Own lists, for example cracks in the load-bearing structure or wear of the carriageway
Scale	Score 1 to 6 per building part	Score 1 to 6, with the scores per component of the object
Source	NEN 2767	NEN 2767-4

The defect lists are the biggest difference. A defect in a façade says nothing about a railing on a bridge. That is why you always read an infrastructure score together with the list for that object.

Check in the standard which method for scores from part 1 you also use for infrastructure. The defect lists of part 4 are in any case different.

Fictional example: a bridge scores 4 on the load-bearing structure because of cracks in the concrete. The carriageway gets a 2, because it still looks good. The management object is therefore the bridge, but the interventions are on different elements.

Who part 4 is relevant for

Part 4 is relevant for parties that manage infrastructure. Think of municipalities with roads and bridges, water boards with structures, and managers of green spaces or street furniture. Contractors who carry out maintenance contracts also often work with it.

A comparison of decompositions for infrastructure is under way. Ask NEN or Rijkswaterstaat whether that comparison has already been completed. If you are unsure, ask your inspector which version of the defect lists they use.

For a municipality, this means in practice: ask for an assessment under part 4 and for the decomposition in advance when you tender. That way you know what you get, and you can compare the quotes.

Frequently asked questions

Is NEN 2767-4 mandatory for a municipality?

The standard itself is not mandatory. A municipality or manager can, however, require the assessment in a contract or tender. Read the mandatory page for what a client can ask.

Is a bridge an element or a management object?

That depends on how the manager divides the object. A bridge can be a management object, with the load-bearing structure, the deck and the railings as elements. Ask your inspector whether the manager’s decomposition matches this.

Can a building inspector also assess infrastructure?

Only if they know the defect lists of part 4 and have experience with them. A building assessment and an infrastructure assessment require different knowledge. Ask the inspector which infrastructure qualifications they hold. See inspector and training.