Apr 22, 2024

ASTM International’s environmental assessment, risk management, and corrective action committee (E50) has made over 140 revisions to its Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments (PCA): Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process (E2018). A 2023 and 2024 version replace the initial 2015 publication of the guide.

The revision places more emphasis on the user, establishing objectives for each PCA to refine their scope of work according to need and resources. New sections compile the documents referenced in the guide and emphasize the user’s options and responsibilities. Numerous other revisions improve readability, add clarity, and respond to general industry-wide feedback.

According to Jim Bartlett, chair of ASTM’s real estate assessment and management subcommittee (E50.02), E2018 is the most cited standard in the U.S. for transactional scopes of work to support commercial real estate acquisitions, financing, investments, and capital expenditure planning. The guide provides a framework for evaluating improvements and identifying material deficiencies at commercial real estate properties.

“An E2018 PCA is essentially like a residential home inspection, except that it’s used for commercial buildings and facilities,” notes Bartlett. “The PCA process includes a visual evaluation of primary building systems and components such as structures, roofs, fire/life safety, and other elements. The assessment is useful for conveying general conditions, but its main goal is to identify deficiencies that need to be addressed immediately or in the short term.”

E2018 indirectly supports UN Sustainable Development Goals #7 on affordable and clean energy and #9 on industries, innovation, and infrastructure.

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Release #11818

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