Critical assets
Asset Management – an anatomy, Version 4, published by The Institute of Asset Management in July 2024, defines a critical asset as an: ‘asset having potential to significantly impact on the achievement of the organization’s objectives Notes: (1) Assets can be safety-critical, environment-critical or performance-critical and can relate to legal, regulatory or statutory requirements. (2) Critical assets can refer to those assets necessary to provide services to critical customers. (3) Asset systems can be distinguished as being critical in a similar manner to individual assets.’
PAS 55-1:2008, Asset Management: Part 1: Specification for the optimized management of physical assets, written by the Institute of Asset Management, and published by BSi in September 2008, defines critical assets or critical asset systems as: ‘assets and/or asset systems that are identified as having the greatest potential to impact on the achievement of the organizational strategic plan NOTE The assets can be safety-critical, environment-critical and/or performance-critical, and can relate to legal, regulatory and/or statutory requirements.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Asset.
- Asset information model.
- Asset management.
- Asset management strategy.
- Asset management team.
- Creating an asset register for construction projects.
- Digital asset management.
- Economic Order Quantity EOQ.
- Enterprise asset management.
- Facilities management.
- Facilities management audit FMA.
- Facility condition assessment FCA.
- Facility condition index FCI.
- Knowledge asset management.
- Property management.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.




















