Norwegian standards: designation, edition and scope
18 Norwegian standards with designation, edition, scope and a link to Standard Norge. The standards are copyright protected and sold by the publisher: this page carries metadata only, never the standard text.
Register
- Standards in the register
- 18
- Publisher
- Standard Norge
- Read date
- 2026-09-09
- Version
- no-standards-v1.0.0
Standards are not statute. They are purchased documents from Standard Norge that parties agree to, or that regulations refer to. We carry the designation, edition and scope, never the text.
Contract standards for construction
The standard contracts the parties to Norwegian construction projects actually agree to. They are private contract documents, not statute, but they govern notice, deadlines, variations and final settlement in most Norwegian construction work.
- Norwegian building and construction contract
NS 8405:2008Standard Norge
The general execution contract between client and contractor in larger projects. It governs the parties' obligations, variation orders, the duty to give notice and its deadlines, extensions of time, liquidated damages, payment, takeover and final settlement. Missing a notice deadline is the most common reason a claim is lost.
- Simplified Norwegian building and construction contract
NS 8406:2009Standard Norge
The simplified execution contract, made for smaller and less complex projects. It has fewer and milder notice rules than NS 8405 and suits parties who do not want a fully formalised notice regime. Many small trade businesses meet this one first.
- General contract provisions for design and build contracts
NS 8407:2011Standard Norge
The design and build contract, where the contractor is responsible for both design and execution. The standard allocates design risk and governs functional responsibility, variations, the client's cooperation, takeover and defect claims during the guarantee period.
- Norwegian subcontract for construction work
NS 8415:2008Standard Norge
The subcontract mirroring NS 8405 down the contract chain, so that the main contractor's duties and deadlines are passed on to the subcontractor. It matters to small suppliers, because notices must be given in time at both levels.
- General contract provisions for design and build subcontracts
NS 8417:2011Standard Norge
The design and build subcontract: the same risk allocation as NS 8407, but between the design and build contractor and a subcontractor carrying design responsibility. It is used where a trade contractor both designs and builds its part.
Building, design and condition
Standards for specification, design, condition assessment and information management in buildings. They are used alongside the Planning and Building Act and the technical building regulations.
- Specification texts for building, construction and installations, part 1
NS 3420-1:2024Standard Norge
The shared language for describing and pricing work in Norwegian construction projects: the code system, measurement rules and tolerance requirements. When the specification builds on NS 3420, both parties know what the price covers and disputes over scope become fewer.
- Technical condition analysis for the sale of dwellings
NS 3600:2018Standard Norge
The method for the condition report accompanying a home sale: which building elements are examined, how thoroughly, and how condition grades are set. The standard underpins the requirements for condition reports in the property sales rules.
- Acoustic conditions in buildings, sound classes for building types
NS 8175:2019Standard Norge
Sound classes for dwellings, schools, kindergartens, hospitals and offices. The technical building regulations point to class C as the minimum level, which makes the standard the practical yardstick in both design and defect claims.
- Criteria for passive houses and low energy buildings, non-residential
NS 3701:2012Standard Norge
Energy criteria for passive houses and low energy non-residential buildings: heat loss figures, heating demand and requirements for building elements. It is used in public procurement and grant schemes where an energy level must be documented.
- Information management using BIM, concepts and principles
NS-EN ISO 19650-1:2018Standard Norge
The framework for ordering, delivering and managing digital building information across a building's whole life cycle. Public clients refer to the series in tender documents, and it governs who owns and updates the model.
Management systems
Certifiable management systems for quality, environment and occupational health and safety. Certification is voluntary, but buyers and public purchasers often require it in tender documents.
- Quality management systems, requirements
NS-EN ISO 9001:2015Standard Norge
The requirements for a certifiable quality management system: context, leadership, risk-based planning, supplier control, nonconformities and improvement. The certificate is often a qualification requirement in public procurement.
- Environmental management systems, requirements
NS-EN ISO 14001:2015Standard Norge
The requirements for an environmental management system: identifying environmental aspects, compliance obligations, objectives, emergency preparedness and evaluation of compliance. It documents that the business knows and meets its environmental duties.
- Occupational health and safety management systems, requirements
NS-EN ISO 45001:2023Standard Norge
The requirements for systematic occupational health and safety work: hazard identification, worker participation, incident investigation and improvement. It is a method for meeting the Working Environment Act's requirement of systematic HSE work, but does not replace the Act.
Risk, compliance and continuity
Frameworks for risk assessment, compliance, anti-bribery and business continuity. They give a documentable method where the law only requires the business to be in control.
- Risk management, guidelines
NS-ISO 31000:2018Standard Norge
The principles and process for enterprise risk management: identification, analysis, evaluation, treatment, monitoring and reporting. It is guidance and cannot be certified, but it is used as a reference in internal control and board reporting.
- Compliance management systems, requirements with guidance
NS-ISO 37301:2021Standard Norge
The requirements for a compliance management system: mapping compliance obligations, roles and independence, training, a reporting channel, monitoring and reporting. It is the closest standard to what supervisory bodies mean by documented compliance.
- Anti-bribery management systems, requirements with guidance
NS-ISO 37001:2016Standard Norge
Measures against bribery: risk assessment, due diligence on business associates, gifts and hospitality, third-party controls and investigation. It is used alongside the customer due diligence duties of the Anti-Money Laundering Act in internationally exposed businesses.
- Requirements for risk assessments
NS 5814:2021Standard Norge
The Norwegian method for planning, conducting and documenting a risk assessment: purpose, scope, acceptance criteria, analysis and verifiable documentation. It is widely used in HSE work, emergency preparedness and public procurement.
- Business continuity management systems, requirements
NS-EN ISO 22301:2019Standard Norge
The requirements for continuity management: impact analysis, recovery times, continuity plans, exercises and review. Financial undertakings and public sector suppliers meet the same requirements again in supervisory rules on operational continuity and outsourcing.
Questions about Norwegian standards
What is a Norwegian standard?
A Norwegian standard is a voluntary, agreed set of rules published by Standard Norge, usually designated NS. It is not law in itself, but it becomes binding when a contract refers to it or a regulation points to it.
How does a Norwegian standard differ from a Norwegian act?
An act is passed by the Storting and binds everyone. A standard is an industry norm the parties choose to use. In construction it is usually the contract, not the act, that makes the NS standard binding between the parties.
Where do I buy an NS standard?
Standards are sold by Standard Norge. We do not reproduce the text. Here you find designation, edition, publisher, scope and a link on to Standard Norge for the 18 standards in the register, checked on 2026-09-09.
Which Norwegian standards matter most in construction?
NS 8405 and NS 8406 for execution contracts, NS 8407 for design and build, and NS 3420 for the description of works. The register shows the scope of each, so you can see which contract standard fits the project.
Norwegian law
Next step
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