diff --git a/plugin-api/src/main/java/org/sonar/api/measures/SeverityValues.java b/plugin-api/src/main/java/org/sonar/api/measures/SeverityValues.java
index 7b7d93c7..342115b5 100644
--- a/plugin-api/src/main/java/org/sonar/api/measures/SeverityValues.java
+++ b/plugin-api/src/main/java/org/sonar/api/measures/SeverityValues.java
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
  */
 package org.sonar.api.measures;
 
+import org.sonar.api.issue.impact.Severity;
+
 /**
  * Integer values that map to severity levels used by severity-based metrics.
  * Severities increase in numeric value; a higher value means a worse severity.
@@ -43,4 +45,49 @@ public final class SeverityValues {
   private SeverityValues() {
     // constants only
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Maps a rule severity string (see {@link org.sonar.api.rule.Severity}) to a {@link SeverityValues} integer.
+   *
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the severity string is not recognised
+   * @since 13.6
+   */
+  public static int fromRuleSeverity(String severity) {
+    switch (severity) {
+      case org.sonar.api.rule.Severity.INFO:
+        return INFO;
+      case org.sonar.api.rule.Severity.MINOR:
+        return LOW;
+      case org.sonar.api.rule.Severity.MAJOR:
+        return MEDIUM;
+      case org.sonar.api.rule.Severity.CRITICAL:
+        return HIGH;
+      case org.sonar.api.rule.Severity.BLOCKER:
+        return BLOCKER;
+      default:
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown rule severity: " + severity);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Maps impact severity (see {@link org.sonar.api.issue.impact.Severity}) to a {@link SeverityValues} integer.
+   *
+   * @since 13.6
+   */
+  public static int fromImpactSeverity(Severity severity) {
+    switch (severity) {
+      case INFO:
+        return INFO;
+      case LOW:
+        return LOW;
+      case MEDIUM:
+        return MEDIUM;
+      case HIGH:
+        return HIGH;
+      case BLOCKER:
+        return BLOCKER;
+      default:
+        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown impact severity: " + severity);
+    }
+  }
 }