1.1This guide describes a generic economic methodology for evaluating investment decisions aimed to improve the ability of communities to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from, disruptive events. The methodology describes a framework for developing cost-effective community resilience strategies for new and existing constructed facilities—buildings, industrial facilities, and other critical infrastructure. This guide provides owners and managers of constructed facilities, architects, engineers, constructors, other providers of professional services for constructed facilities, and researchers and analysts with an approach for planning and comparing resilience strategies.

1.2This guide frames the economic decision process by identifying and comparing the relevant present and future streams of costs and benefits to a community—the latter realized through cost savings and damage loss avoidance—associated with new capital investment into resilience to those generated by the status-quo.

1.3This guide provides a means to increase the capacity of communities to objectively and effectively compare and contrast capital investment projects through consideration of benefits and costs while maintaining an awareness of system resilience. Topics related to non-market values and uncertainty are also explored.

1.4This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.