Reducing complexity in building design standards using network analysis - Case study: Structural design standard ISO 22156

The utility and complexity of building design standards is a growing concern amongst construction professionals. Standards for emerging and non-conventional materials and technologies are developing rapidly in response to market and societal pressures. As design standards swell with updates, ensuring all requirements are satisfied becomes increasingly complex for users, potentially effecting design safety or slowing standard adoption. This study applies network analysis to assess navigational complexity in a developing standard. The authors assume complexity to broadly mean the inability of the standard to effectively meet the users' needs. A case study is presented of the International Standard Organization (ISO) 22156 bamboo structural design standard. The standard's networks from the initial intent-signifying version of the standard (ISO 22156:2004) and the recent technical revision and reorganization (ISO 22156:2021) are analysed assuming that forward flow improves the user experience and reduces complexity. Evidence of complexity are identified from each networks' fundamental features, centrality metrics, clustering tendencies, recurring motifs, and geodesic paths. Guidance and specific interventions are proposed to reduce navigational complexity and allow for continued growth in future editions of ISO 22156:2021.