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Tag: Related study phase: Goal and scope definition

A-19 Water and energy demand during construction – complete LCA

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Aspect

A-19 Water and energy demand during construction – complete LCA
Description
 This aspect concerns the water and energy demand on the construction site. Energy and water are consumed both for the construction of the building and for the workers’ accommodation.

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 The water and energy demand may be included in complete 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).Water and energy consumption on the construction site should be considered for a complete LCA, if it does not fall under the cut-off rules.
Rules from:
 EN 15978: 8.5 Scenarios for the construction process stage (Modules A4-A5)

EN 15804: 

6.3.4.3 Construction stage
Guidance
 The practitioner should use detailed calculations based on the amount of water and energy consumption from meter readings on site. These experimental data should be linked to LCA data covering upstream (potabilization) and downstream (waste water treatment) processes for the water-related impacts, and upstream processes for the energy consumption (supply) for complete LCA. Refer to the cut-off rules guidance if relevant.

A-20 Construction wastes – screening and simplified LCA

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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.

A-21 Construction wastes – complete LCA

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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

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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

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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).

B-02 Release of dangerous substances to soil and water during the use stage

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Aspect B-02 Release of dangerous substances to soil and water during the use stage
Description
 The release of dangerous substances to soil and water during the use stage concern the on-site water pollution induced by leaching (water contact with the built environment). These are expressed in mg of the released substance per m2 or kg of the exposed product, per time unit (e.g. year) and service life.

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 The release of dangerous substances to soil and water during use stage should be assessed in the context of a complete LCA, according to the European standards from CEN/TC 351.
Rules from:
 EN 15978:
7.4.4.2 Boundary of the installed products in use (Module B1)EN 15804:
7.4 Additional information on release of dangerous substances to indoor air, soil and water during the use stage
7.4.2 Soil and water

ILCD:
“Mandatory for both technical and non-technical target audience: ‘elementary flow categories’ by receiving/providing environmental compartment: ‘Emissions to water’.” “ISO 14044 names ‘emissions to air, water and soil’ as top-level classification, while recommending further differentiation as required for the given goal and scope of the LCA work.” ILCD Handbook: Framework and requirements for LCIA models and indicators: “This guidance document provides a framework and requirements for the models that are used to analyse the emissions into air, water and soil,…”
Guidance
 The boundary of Module B1 for buildings includes impacts such as release of substances from the façade, roof and other surfaces, which should be assessed according to the CEN/TC 351 standards.The release of dangerous substances should be provided for products exposed to soil and water after their installation in buildings during the use stage according to the horizontal standards issued from CEN TC 351, once these are available.The release of dangerous substances, expressed in mg/m2or kg per time unit and service life, should be assessed according to the CEN/TC 351 standards. The following draft documents are available: CEN/TC351/WG1/TS2 ‘Generic horizontal dynamic surface leaching test (DSLT) for determination of surface dependent release of substances from monolithic or plate-like or sheet-like building products’ and CEN/TC351/WG1/TS3 ‘Generic horizontal up-flow percolation test for determination of the release of substances from granular building products’ [CEN 2010b] (a third test method deals with the determination of the release of volatile organic compounds into indoor air by means of test chamber [CEN 2010c]). The robustness programme is in progress in 2012, and the validated standards should be available in 2013.A list of regulated dangerous substances possibly associated with building products under the Construction Product Directive (CPD) Regulation has been established at European level [EC 2011]. This list indicates which substances and parameters the evaluation should focus on . No aggregation is foreseen.For each pollutant, limit values are or can be defined at national level (at present only a few Member States have quantitative requirements on this issue, e.g. the Dutch ‘Soil Quality Decree’ [VROM 2007] and the German ‘Principles for assessing the effects of building products on soil and groundwater’ [DIBt 2009]). The results from these tests will be integrated into the CE marking scheme and make it possible to meet the RPC basic requirement No. 3 on hygiene, health and environment [EC 2005b]. They are complementary to the results obtained using the LCA methodology.Further work is necessary in order to establish scientific and pragmatic links between data obtained by an LCA approach (CEN/TC 350 work) and by using leaching tests (CEN/TC 351 work). Some proposals are available, as for example in [Lupsea 2012].For comparative assertions, simulation data are comparable if based on the same scenarios and hypothesis. All the parameters and hypotheses should be mentioned and explained together with the results in order to improve comparability.

B-03 Maintenance with screening LCA

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Aspect B-03 Maintenance with screening LCA
Description
 Maintenance is defined as the combination of all planned actions during the service life to maintain the product installed in a building in a state in which it can deliver its required functional and technical performance. Maintenance is optional in the context of a screening 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 construction products screening LCA simplified LCA complete LCA
Provisions The maintenance procedure refers only to planned action in response to anticipated losses of performance of building components and building parts. Building modifications in response to unexpected events (e.g. flood, inappropriate use, or vandalism) should be considered as reparation (B3), and may be ignored in the context of a screening LCA.The maintenance scenario is optional for a screening LCA, and may be neglected in many cases. The boundaries of the maintenance scenario may be defined according to the goal and scope of the study (see ‘Maintenance with complete LCA’ and ‘Maintenance with simplified LCA’ for guidance).
Rules from:
 EN 15978:
7.4.4.1 General
7.4.4.3 Boundary for maintenance (Module B2)
8.3 Time related characteristics
8.6.3 Scenarios for maintenance, repair, replacement

EN 15804:

6.3.3. Reference service life
6.3.4.4.2  – B2 Maintenance
7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric
Annex A
Guidance
 If a maintenance scenario is to be developed, it is recommended that the following building parts be addressed, in order of priority:

  • roofing and roof framework;
  • façades, exterior joinery work and windows;
  • partitioning, lining, suspended ceilings;
  • Floor finishes and covering,  walls and ceiling coverings;
  • HVAC (heating – ventilation – cooling – DHW).

Refer to ‘Maintenance with complete LCA’ and ‘Maintenance with simplified LCA’ in this guidance document.

B-04 Maintenance with simplified LCA

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Aspect B-04 Maintenance with simplified LCA
Description
 Maintenance is defined as the combination of all planned actions during the service life to maintain the product installed in a building in a state in which it can deliver its required functional and technical performance. Maintenance is optional in the context of a 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 construction products screening LCA simplified LCA complete LCA
Provisions The maintenance procedure refers only to planned action in response to anticipated losses of performance of building components and building parts. Building modifications in response to unexpected events (e.g. flood, inappropriate use, or vandalism) should be considered as reparation (B3), and may be ignored in the context of a simplified LCA.The overall maintenance scenario should be developed in accordance with:

  • individual EPD (cradle to gate with corresponding option, or cradle to grave);
  • client requirements and current practices;
  • product and component manufacturers’ information;
  • existing applicable standards, such as ISO 15686-1, -2, -7 and -8 [ISO 15686].

The maintenance scenario should cover at least the following elements:

  • roofing and roof framework;
  • façades, exterior joinery work and windows;
  • partitioning, lining and suspended ceilings;
  • floor finishes and coverings, walls and ceiling coverings;
  • HVAC (heating – ventilation – cooling – DHW).

Other components and building parts (e.g. electrical and communication network – high and low power, lighting equipment and sanitary facilities) may be covered, depending on the scope of the study and the available information. In any case the boundaries of the maintenance scenario should be clearly stated.

According to EN 15804, the maintenance scenario should include:

  • the production and transportation of any component and ancillary products used for maintenance, including cleaning;
  • the transportation of any wastage from maintenance processes or from maintenance-related transportation;
  • the end-of-life processes of any wastage from transportation and the maintenance process, including any part of the component and ancillary materials removed;
  • water and energy usage related to cleaning.

However, water and energy usage related to maintenance operations and cleaning may be taken into through simplified scenarios.
Rules from:
 EN 15978:
7.4.4.1 General
7.4.4.3 Boundary for maintenance (Module B2)
8.3 Time related characteristics
8.6.3 Scenarios for maintenance, repair, replacement

EN 15804:

6.3.3. Reference service life

6.3.4.4.2  – B2 Maintenance

7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric

Annex A
Guidance
 It is expected that not all necessary information required to develop a maintenance scenario will be included in the EPDs. Nevertheless, the maintenance scenario should encompass the planned actions for listed components (see above), based on the available information. Knowledge gaps should be filled by referring to state-of-the-art practice.In addition, LCA of existing buildings may take into account real and established practices (real-life data) specific to a particular building, but scenarios based on current practice may also be developed.

B-05 Maintenance with complete LCA

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Aspect B-05 Maintenance with complete LCA
Description
 Maintenance is defined as the combination of all planned actions during the service life to maintain the product installed in a building in a state in which it can deliver its required functional and technical performance.

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 The maintenance procedure refers only to planned action in response to anticipated losses of performance of building components and building parts. Building modifications in response to unexpected events (e.g. flood, inappropriate use, or vandalism) should be considered as reparation (B3).The overall maintenance scenario should be developed in accordance with:

  • individual EPD (cradle to gate with corresponding option, or cradle to grave);
  • client requirements and current practices;
  • product and component manufacturers’ information;
  • existing applicable standards, such as ISO 15686-1, -2, -7 and -8 [ISO 15686].

The maintenance scenario should include (EN 15804):

  • the production and transportation of any component and ancillary products used for maintenance, including cleaning;
  • the transportation of any wastage from maintenance processes or from maintenance-related transportation;
  • the end-of-life processes of any wastage from transportation and the maintenance process, including any part of the component and ancillary materials removed;
  • water and energy usage related to cleaning.

Water and energy usage related to maintenance operations other than cleaning should always be included.
Rules from:
 EN 15978:
7.4.4.1 General
7.4.4.3 Boundary for maintenance (Module B2)
8.3 Time related characteristics
8.6.3 Scenarios for maintenance, repair, replacement

EN 15804:

6.3.3. Reference service life

6.3.4.4.2  – B2 Maintenance

7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric

Annex A
Guidance
 It is expected that not all necessary information required to develop a maintenance scenario will be included in the EPDs. Nevertheless, the maintenance scenario should encompass the planned actions for listed components (see above), based on the available information. Knowledge gaps should be filled by referring to state-of-the-art practice.In addition, LCA of existing buildings should take into account real and established practices (real-life data) specific to a particular building, but scenarios based on current practice may also be developed.When developing a maintenance scenario at the building scale, the it should be consistent with the reference service life of each component or building part.Maintenance examples (from EN 15804): Painting work on window frames, doors, etc. as well as the annual inspection and maintenance of the (oil or gas) boiler […].

B-03 Maintenance – product LCA

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Aspect B-03 Maintenance – product LCA
Description
 Product LCAs can have different system boundaries, which can include or exclude maintenance.

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 The consideration of maintenance is subject to the study type definitions. For complete LCA studies, the aspect should be considered in line with the cut-off criteria; for screening and simplified LCA studies, this aspect is optional.
Rules from:

EN 15804

 6.3.4.4.1 General
6.3.4.4.2 B1-B5 Use stage information modules related to the building fabric6.3.5 Criteria for the exclusion of inputs and outputs
Guidance
 For many construction products, no predictable maintenance procedures exist during the product life cycle, e.g. for the studwork in an internal wall or a concrete floor structure. However, for some products, such as flooring, regular cleaning is required. Many products (e.g., windows, internal walls, ceilings) also require regular surface maintenance, e.g. repainting.For complete LCA studies: Maintenance should be considered where it is likely to have a significant impact based on the cut-off rules. Specifically, if maintenance is likely to have more than 5% input by mass of total inputs over life cycle stages B1–B5 it must be considered.Where it is unclear whether an activity should be considered as maintenance, repair, replacement or refurbishment, the most suitable module should be chosen and justified (refer to aspect B-32 ‘Distinction between Modules B2, B3, B4 and B5 for further guidance’).

Maintenance processes at the product level should be considered on the basis of the most likely scenario or scenarios (e.g., Scenario 1, window in Finland vs. Scenario 2, window in Slovenia, other aspects being the same, e.g. orientation, exposure etc. – the likely recommended intervals for repainting the same window will vary depending, on this scenario).

See the section 3.4 on service life planning for guidance on the development of scenarios.

In cost terms, regular maintenance visits to check equipment can be significant, although the only environmental impact is associated with the transport of staff to the site. See aspect A-02 (transport of staff) for more information.

All processes B1 to B5 should include the impacts associated with the process. For maintenance, the impact of producing and transporting the materials used, the impact of the maintenance activity, e.g. water and energy used, and the impact of disposing of any waste produced, e.g. waste water from cleaning, need to be considered. These impacts may be aggregated, and reported as a single process, or broken down and reported separately to enable alternative scenarios to be generated. This may be helpful where there are significant variations between scenarios.