Tag: Lifecycle stage: A (all modules)

A-21 Construction wastes – complete LCA

Written on 22. October 2012.

*Aspect*		A-21 Construction wastes – complete LCA
*Description*		The construction of a building generates considerable cutting waste. Should such waste be considered in the context of a complete 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 should be included in a complete LCA if it is relevant for the goal and scope of the study, provided it does not fall under cut-off-rules (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*	Site wastage may be considerable, and has impacts both from manufacture and transport of the material and from transport and waste processing and disposal of the wastes.In some EPDs, wastes during installation into the building may be documented (e.g. in the current French EPDs, loss of product on site is reported). The practitioner should use detailed calculations for complete LCA. If a construction waste is included, the impact of production related to the loss of product should be quantified within he Module A5. Similarly, the scenario for the type of waste disposal and wastage rate used should be considered relative to the building situation.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.

A-22 Prefabrication of building products – screening and simplified LCA

Written on 22. October 2012.

*Aspect*		A-22 Prefabrication of building products – screening and simplified LCA
*Description*		This aspect refers to the off-site construction assembly of prefabricated products such as reinforced concrete. Should the off-site construction 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*	Prefabrication should be considered in the context of a screening or simplified LCA. The manufacture of building products should be included in Modules A1–A3, and their transport in Module A4. Only the impacts of their installation (waste, machinery etc.) are included in Module A5, based on cut-off rules.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978:* 8.5 Scenarios for the construction process stage (Modules A4-A5)
*Guidance*	The practitioner should use default values (e.g. based on generic data or ratios) for screening or simplified LCA. Such data can be defined with stakeholders.

A-23 Prefabrication of building products – complete LCA

Written on 22. October 2012.

*Aspect*		A-23 Prefabrication of building products – complete LCA
*Description*		This aspect refers to the off-site construction assembly of prefabricated product such as reinforced concrete. Should the off-site construction be included in the context of a complete 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*	Preprocessing should be considered in the context of a complete LCA. The manufacture of prefabricated building products should be included in Modules A1–A3, and their transport in Module A4. The impacts related to their installation (waste, machinery etc.) should be included in Module A5.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978*: 8.5 Scenarios for the construction process stage (Modules A4-A5)
*Guidance*	The practitioner should use detailed calculation for a complete LCA, based on specific data (e.g. EPD information for Module A5).

6.4 Module A5 – Construction installation process

Written on 22. October 2012.

No specific aspects are given for module A5 for products. Please refer to EN 15804 for information concerning this module.

A- 22. “Packaging waste”

Written on 17. October 2012.

*Aspect*		A- 22. “Packaging waste”
*Description*		What and how to allow for?
*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	construction products	screening LCA	simplified LCA	complete LCA
*Provisions*	A5 should include the processing of the waste from product packaging in complete LCA studies, unless in falls under cut-off rules.
*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*	Cut-off rules may apply and it should be noted that for most construction projects, this aspect is likely to fall under the cut-off-rules.Use detailed calculation (based on LCI) for complete LCA.Scenarios for processing of packaging waste should be based on specific national data.

Back to 4.4. Module A5