A network asset is an asset that is considered to be part of a network. Network assets are interconnected assets that rely on each other to provide a service. If a network asset is removed the system may not function to full capacity.
There is a school of thought that network assets should not be subject to a "financial capitalisation threshold".
Roads, drainage, sewerage & water reticulation are examples of network assets.
Alternate Definitions
The Australian Infrastructure Financial Management Guidelines have a quite different take on network assets, suggesting that a network asset is "a grouping of assets or components that are individually below the entity's capitalisation policy threshold." It suggests that large groups of small value items of plant, property & equipment with a significant total value should be recognised as a single "network asset" in an entity's financial asset register.
It lists a number of examples of network assets, including;
- road directional signs
- traffic and parking regulatory signs
- street name signs
- tourist information signs
- street furniture
- bus shelters
- street seats
- park seats and tables, etc.