ISO 19650 Certification for BIM Information Management
ISO 19650 is the international series of standards for managing information on buildings and infrastructure using BIM. Certification shows clients that your team specifies, produces, checks, and hands over information in a controlled way. Organizations are audited against ISO 19650-2 for the role they play on projects, with senior-led audits and a fixed fee. Most teams certify in 6–12 weeks.
What Is ISO 19650 Certification?
ISO 19650 certification is independent confirmation that an organization manages project information in line with the standard, usually Part 2 for the delivery phase. The auditor checks how information requirements are set and how the delivery team plans to meet them. They also check how the common data environment controls each document and model. A successful audit leads to a certificate valid for three years.
The series is about information management, not software. You can meet it with any authoring tool or CDE platform, as long as the process is followed and the evidence exists.
The audit looks at how projects really run. We sample live or recent projects and follow information from the client's requirements to the final handover model.
Six Published Parts and a Revision in Progress
Six parts are published. Parts 1 and 2 came out in 2018, Parts 3 and 5 in 2020, and Part 4 in 2022. Part 6, on health and safety information, was published in January 2025.
Parts 1 and 2 are being revised. The draft merges the delivery and operational processes of Parts 2 and 3 into one whole-life process. It also moves the wording away from "BIM" and toward information management. The draft of Part 2 was balloted from March to June 2026, and ISO then decided on a further ballot. The new edition is therefore not yet published.
Your certificate is based on the published parts. Until a new edition is issued and a transition period is set, audits continue against ISO 19650-2:2018.
Sources: ISO/DIS 19650-2 status (ISO) · ISO 19650-6:2025 (ISO) · Proposed revisions (Plannerly) · Accredited ISO 19650-2 certification under ISO/IEC 17065 (LRQA)
Who Needs ISO 19650 Certification?
Anyone producing or receiving project information where the client asks for BIM to the standard.
Lead appointed parties managing the delivery team. See ISO for construction.
Design teams producing models and drawings.
MEP, steel, facade, and other task teams.
Rail, road, and utility owners. See ISO for railways.
Appointing parties on public projects. See ISO for the public sector.
Owners using handover data to run assets. See ISO for facility management.
The Six Parts of ISO 19650 Explained
Part 2 is the one most organizations are certified to. The others support it.
| Part | What it covers | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Concepts and principles | 2018 |
| Part 2 | Delivery phase of assets | 2018 |
| Part 3 | Operational phase of assets | 2020 |
| Part 4 | Information exchange | 2022 |
| Part 5 | Security-minded approach to information management | 2020 |
| Part 6 | Health and safety information | 2025 |
The parts work as a set. Part 1 gives the vocabulary and principles that every other part relies on. Part 2 applies them to design and construction, and Part 3 to running the asset afterward. Part 4 sets the rules for when and how information is exchanged. Part 5 protects sensitive information about buildings and infrastructure, and Part 6 makes sure health and safety risks are shared in a structured way. Check which parts your client's contract names. Parts 4 and 5 often shape how information moves through the CDE.
ISO 19650-2 Requirements: The Eight Delivery Activities
Part 2 sets out the information management process for each appointment. Auditors test each activity.
Everything starts with the client's requirements. Organizational information requirements describe what the business needs to know. Asset information requirements describe what the owner needs to run each asset. Project and exchange information requirements then turn these into what the delivery team must produce, in what form, and by when.
| Activity | What happens | What the auditor checks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Assessment and need | Client sets information requirements and standards | Project and exchange information requirements |
| 2. Invitation to tender | Requirements issued to bidders | Tender documents that include them |
| 3. Tender response | Bidders plan how they will deliver | A pre-appointment BIM execution plan |
| 4. Appointment | Plans confirmed and responsibilities set | Confirmed plan and delivery schedules |
| 5. Mobilization | Tools, CDE, and people made ready | Tested CDE and trained teams |
| 6. Collaborative production | Information produced, checked, and shared | Status changes and review records |
| 7. Information model delivery | Information reviewed and accepted | Client acceptance records |
| 8. Project close-out | Information archived and lessons captured | Archive and lessons learned |
How BIM Information Management Certification Works
From scoping to certificate. The ISO certification process guide explains each step.
Bidding on a project that asks for BIM to the standard? Tell us the tender date in your scoping review.
Book a free scoping reviewCommon BIM Information Management Audit Findings
The gaps that most often delay a certificate.
Process findings
- Execution plan copied from a template, not the project
- Delivery schedules not updated after changes
- Responsibility matrix missing or unclear
- Mobilization not tested before production
- No lessons learned at close-out
CDE findings
- Files shared by email outside the CDE
- Naming rules applied to some files only
- Status codes changed without a check
- Superseded models still in use on site
- No security review for sensitive assets
Before Stage 2, pick one model or drawing set and trace it backward. Find the requirement it answers, the plan that scheduled it, the check before it was shared, and the approval before it was published. If each step has a record, the process is working. If a step relies on someone's memory, close the gap before the auditor arrives.
ISO 19650 Certification Cost and Timeline
There is no price list. The audit man-days your scope needs set one fixed fee.
What sets the audit man-days
- People: staff working on BIM projects
- Offices: locations producing information
- Roles: appointing, lead appointed, or appointed party
- Projects: how many are sampled
- Integration: combined with ISO 9001
How long it takes
| Proposal | Days after scoping |
|---|---|
| To certificate | Usually 6–12 weeks |
| Surveillance | Every year |
| Recertification | Before the end of year three |
How to Choose an ISO 19650 Certification Body
What BIM managers usually ask us before signing.
| Question to ask | Accredify Global's answer |
|---|---|
| Who issues our certificate? | Your proposal names the certification body, before you commit. |
| Does our client need UKAS accreditation? | Check the tender. UKAS accredits this certification under ISO/IEC 17065. |
| Will you look at real projects? | Yes. We sample live or recent projects and the CDE. |
| Can clients check the certificate? | Yes. Certificates appear on our verification page. |
| Will you write our BIM standards? | No. We do not consult, so every audit stays impartial. |
| How is it priced? | A fixed fee, set by audit man-days, in a tailored proposal. |
Frequently Asked Questions About ISO 19650 Certification
Straight answers on the parts, the revision, the CDE, cost, and timeline.
What is ISO 19650 certification?
ISO 19650 certification is independent confirmation that an organization manages project information in line with the standard, usually Part 2 for the delivery phase. It shows clients that information is specified, produced, checked and handed over in a controlled way.
What is ISO 19650?
ISO 19650 is a series of international standards for managing information about buildings and civil engineering works using building information modelling (BIM). It sets out roles, information requirements and processes across the asset life cycle.
How many parts does the series have?
Six parts are published. Part 1 covers concepts and principles (2018) and Part 2 the delivery phase (2018). Part 3 covers the operational phase (2020), Part 4 information exchange (2022), Part 5 a security-minded approach (2020) and Part 6 health and safety information (2025).
Which part of the series is certified?
Most organization certification is against Part 2, the delivery phase, for the role you play: appointing party, lead appointed party or appointed party.
Is the standard being revised?
Yes. ISO is revising Parts 1 and 2, and the draft merges the delivery and operational processes of Parts 2 and 3. The draft of Part 2 went to ballot in 2026 and a further ballot has been decided, so the new edition is not yet published.
What is a common data environment?
A common data environment (CDE) is the agreed source of information for a project. Information moves through states such as work in progress, shared, published and archived, with checks at each step.
What is a BIM execution plan?
A BIM execution plan sets out how the delivery team will meet the client's information requirements. It is prepared at tender and confirmed after appointment.
Who needs ISO 19650 certification?
Clients, contractors, designers and engineers on projects where the client asks for BIM to the standard. It is common on UK public projects and is also used on international infrastructure work.
Is this certification accredited?
In the UK, accredited ISO 19650-2 certification is issued under ISO/IEC 17065. Your proposal names the certification body that will issue your certificate. If a client requires UKAS-accredited certification, tell us at scoping.
Is ISO 19650 the same as BIM Level 2?
The series replaced the UK's BS 1192 and PAS 1192-2 standards, which were known as BIM Level 2. The UK now uses ISO 19650 with a national annex and the UK BIM Framework guidance.
Can BIM certification be combined with ISO 9001?
Yes. Information management fits well with quality management, and the two can be audited together, which saves time for project teams.
How long does ISO 19650 certification take?
Most organizations that already work to the standard on live projects certify in 6 to 12 weeks. You need at least one project where the process can be seen in practice.
How much does ISO 19650 certification cost?
The cost follows the audit man-days your scope needs. Headcount, offices, the roles you play and the number of projects sampled set the time. A free scoping review gives you a tailored, fixed-fee proposal.
Do individuals get certified too?
Some schemes certify individuals as practitioners. Certification applies to organizations, not individuals.
Does Accredify Global write our BIM execution plan?
No. Certification must stay impartial, so neither we nor the certification body can write your plans, standards or templates.
Show Clients Your Project Information Is Under Control
Tell us about your role, projects, and tender dates. We'll confirm your certification scope and send a fixed-fee proposal.
Book your free scoping review →Last reviewed by the Accredify Global certification team.