A-20 Construction wastes – screening and simplified LCA

Written by Anh-Migrate on 22. October 2012. Posted in Existing buildings, New buildings.

*Aspect*		A-20 Construction wastes – screening and simplified LCA
*Description*		The construction of a building generates considerable cutting waste. Should such waste be considered in the context of a screening or simplified LCA?
*Related study objective*		☒ stand-alone LCA		☒ comparative assertion
*Related study phase*		☒	☐	☐	☐	☐
		goal and scope definition	inventory analysis (LCI)	impact assessment (LCIA)	interpretation	reporting
*Relevant for*
	new buildings	existing buildings	building products	screening LCA	simplified LCA	complete LCA
*Provisions*	Construction waste may be included in a screening or simplified LCA if it is relevant for the goal and scope of the study (e.g. a construction company might have more interest than a building designer in this aspect).
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 8.5 Scenarios for the construction process stage (Modules A4-A5)* *EN 15804:* 6.2.3 A4-A5, Construction process stage, information modules
*Guidance*	In some EPDs, waste during installation into the building may be documented. The practitioner should use default values (e.g. ratios) for screening and simplified LCA. This information might be a default loss of product on site per type of product, or else the practitioner might use a global average, e.g. 5%, to see whether this aspect is significant in the final LCA results. If a construction waste is included, the impact of production related to the loss of product should be quantified within Module A5.WRAP has consulted with UK industry and has provided baseline and good practice wastage rates for most construction material types, which could be used in the absence of other data.