Tag: Study type: Simplified LCA

B-07 Repair with simplified LCA

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-07 Repair with simplified LCA
*Description*		The repair module covers all corrective, responsive or reactive treatment of a building product or construction works to return it to a condition in which it can deliver its required functional and technical performance. It covers only the partial replacement of components and building parts (in case of failure), and should be distinguished from the replacement module, which is related to the complete replacement of component and building parts.
*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*	Repair is optional in the context of a simplified LCA. For provision and guidance, please refer to the aspect ‘Repair with complete LCA’ of the present document.The reparation procedure refers only to corrective, responsive or reactive actions in response to loss of performances of a building component or building part.Repair is distinguishable from maintenance and replacement by the following aspects [EN 15804]: Maintenance is a planned (proactive) action that maintains component performance, whereas repair is a corrective (reactive) action in response to damage. Replacement covers the complete replacement of a component, whereas repair covers only replacement of sub-components. According to EN 15978, the boundary for repair should include: production of the repaired part of the component and ancillary products; transportation of the repaired part of the component and ancillary products, including production impacts; aspects of any losses of materials during transportation; the process of repairing the part of component and ancillary products; waste management of the removed part of the component and of ancillary products; the end-of-life stage of the removed part of the component and of ancillary products. Water and energy usage related to the repair process should always be included. However, in the context of a simplified LCA, only the production of the replaced component/repaired part need be included.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978:7.4.4.1 General* 7.4.4.4 Boundary for repair (Module B3) 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 – B3 Reparation 7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric Annex A
*Guidance*	Repair is optional in the context of a simplified LCA. For provision and guidance, please refer to the aspect ‘Repair with complete LCA’ of the present document.

B-09 Inclusion of energy and materials for repair

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-09 Inclusion of energy and materials for repair
*Description*		The inclusion of energy and water use, material use, etc. is framed by standards EN 15804 and EN 15978. The EeBGuide provides additional information and guidance on how (and when) to include or exclude a given aspect of the study.
*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*	According to EN 15978, the boundary for repair should include: production of the repaired part of the component and ancillary products; transportation of the repaired part of the component and ancillary products, including production impacts; aspects of any losses of materials during transportation; the process of repairing the part of component and ancillary products; waste management of the removed part of the component and of ancillary products; the end-of-life stage of the removed part of the component and of ancillary products. Water and energy usage related to the repair process should always be included. However, repair is considered optional. Please refer to the aspects ‘Repair with complete LCA’, ‘Repair with simplified LCA’ and ‘Repair with screening LCA’ for further detail.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978:7.4.4.1 General* 7.4.4.4 Boundary for repair (Module B3) 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 – B3 Reparation 7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric Annex A
*Guidance*	In the context of simplified and screening LCA, only the production of the replaced component or repaired part need be included.Please refer to the aspects ‘Repair with complete LCA’, ‘Repair with simplified LCA’ and ‘Repair with screening LCA’ for further detail.

B-10 Assessment of different repair and maintenance alternatives

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-10 Assessment of different repair and maintenance alternatives
*Description*		The performance of a product often depends on maintenance. However, several maintenance schemes may be developed for the same product, depending on the owner’s requirements and the building specifics. In the case of the repair module, several repair alternatives may also be considered, notably for an existing building.
*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*	When considering and comparing several repair or maintenance scenarios, the following items should be taken into account and documented: Any deviation from the scenario contained in EPDs should be justified and documented. Overall repair scenarios should be consistent with the RSL of each component or building part, notably by referring to the ISO 15686 series [ISO 15686]. The consequences of the repair scenario should be studied (the influence on future maintenance and replacement scenarios, and the impacts on building performance).
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 7.4.4.1 General 7.4.4.4 Boundary for repair (module B3) 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 – B3 Reparation 7.3.3.1 B1-B5 use stage related to the building fabric Annex A
*Guidance*	The overall repair scenario should be consistent with respect to the building structure (e.g. replacement of coating is mandatory if repairing the support).Figure 17: Replacement cycles [EN 15804]The boundaries of the repair and maintenance modules should be similar in the case of comparison (refer to ‘Repair with complete LCA’ for further guidance).It is recommended that sensitivity analysis be used when comparing different scenarios.

B-11 (Buildings) / B-06 (Products) Definition of the service life of a building product

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		*B-11 (Buildings) / B-06 (Products) Definition of the service life of a building product*
*Description*		The lifespan, or service life, of building components and elements is usually defined as the period of time during which their performance meets or exceeds initial requirements. More detailed definitions can be found in reference work (e.g. the ISO 15686 series [ISO 15686] and [Guidance Paper F 2004] concerning the Construction Products Directive). Service life depends on many parameters, and is one subject of the ISO 15686 series.
*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 service life of a product or building component has an influence on several aspects of the use stage of building LCA: It should be taken into account for calculation of the frequency of replacement when the service life of the component is lower than the reference study period (refer to the aspect ‘Replacement frequency: whole number replacement cycles’ for further detail). It should be provided with a maintenance scenario (and valid only under the conditions described with this scenario), as required by EN 15804 (annex A). The performance of products and components usually declines gradually. Whenever possible, the loss of performance should be taken into account if it has an influence on other aspects of the use stage (e.g. modification of the performance of heating and cooling systems, insulation, etc. may have an influence on energy consumption). The service life of a product or component is influenced by many parameters, notably the indoor and outdoor environments, maintenance level, design of the product, etc. (see ISO 15868-8 for further information). When providing information related to service life for an EPD, ISO 15804 requires that the intended use and in-use conditions of the product or system be specified and documented (EN 15804, Annex A). When developing LCA at the building scale on the basis of several EPDs, it should be verified that the declared service lives and in-use conditions are compatible with the specifics of the building (notably its location and maintenance scenarios). Only end of life related to loss of performance should be taken into account in the base-case scenario. End of life related to obsolescence (e.g. replacement of the product system by a newly developed or more efficient one before the end of life) may, however, be assessed in a complementary assessment. For more information on obsolescence please refer to ISO 15686-1 (Chapter 7).
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 7.4.4.1 General* 8.3 Time related characteristics 8.6.3 Scenarios for maintenance, repair, replacement *EN 15804:* 6.3.3. Reference service life 7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric Annex A
*Guidance*	The RSL could be based on empirical, probabilistic or statistical data, but should always take into account the intended use (description of use) as described in ISO 15686-1, -2, -7 and -8 [EN 15804, Annex A].RSL should be determined on the basis of: individual EPDs (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; the conventional service life in a national context or within an LCA software package for buildings. It is expected that some service life data may be missing for the assessment at the building scale. In this case, several additional sources may be used to determine the service life of the product or system: publicly available or commercial databases, including in some cases those related to whole-life costing; research group publications and initiatives, such as the joint CIB/RILEM technical committee (CIB W080/RILEM TC 175-SLM); scientific publications, e.g. from the DBMC conferences (International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components). More publications are available from the ICONDA database). For building products, it may be useful to use conventional values for the respective product category (e.g. in a national context or within an EPD programme), if available. For example, the EOTA guide in Europe states some commonly agreed service lives: 10 years for easily replaceable products (e.g. paints); 25 years for products that can be replaced with some minor effort (e.g. façade, windows, building-integrated photovoltaics, etc.); 50 years for products that are difficult to replace (e.g. thermal break); 100 years for irreplaceable products (e.g. structural bricks, concrete columns, etc.). Refer to the aspects ‘Distinction between Modules B2, B3, B4 and B5’ and B-14 ‘Replacement frequency’ for further guidance on how to interpret and use RSLs for product and building LCA.

B-12 (Buildings) / B-07 (Products) Replacement frequency

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-12 Replacement frequency
*Description*		The frequency of replacement is related to the reference study period and the reference service life of the component to be replaced. The ratio between them could lead to a partial number of replacements (e.g. where the reference study period is 30 years but the reference service life for a component is 20 years). Should replacement cycles be calculated as ‘whole-number/full number’ of replacements, or does it make sense to calculate ‘proportionate/partial’ cycles of replacement?
*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*	As the baseline scenario, replacement cycles have to be calculated in whole numbers, according to EN 15978 and EN 15804 (examples are given there). Only whole numbers of replacements are allowed (no partial replacements). The number of replacements is related to the reference study period and the reference service life of the component to replace. The number of replacements must be rounded up unless justified.In order to show the effect of improved durability, a scenario with partial replacement cycles can be made. This scenario has to be documented and justified, and a sensitivity analysis conducted by comparison with the baseline scenario.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 8.6.4 Scenarios for refurbishment – Module B5* 9.3.3 Replaceable components and number of replacements *EN 15804:* 6.3.4.4.2 B1–B5 Use stage information modules related to the building fabric: – B4 Replacement *ILCD*: 6.10.3 Considered alternatives, the functional unit, and assumptions Provisions: 6.10 Comparisons between systems
*Guidance*	Partial replacement numbers should be avoided. Replacement numbers should be rounded up, unless justified as described below: The last replacement of components may be skipped, provided: – the component is not essential to security, health or comfort; – the absence of replacement is based on actual practice; – the final replacement occurs during the last 10% of the study period; – a specific maintenance scenario is developed in this case. This guidance needs to be applied homogeneously in comparisons. For example, for a study period of 50 years, in the case of an internal paint with a 15-year reference service life the last replacement could be ignored (i.e. two replacements rather than three).

B-14 Replacement with simplified LCA

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-14 Replacement with simplified LCA
*Description*		The replacement module covers the complete replacement of components and building parts if their reference service life is lower than the reference study period. Replacement is mandatory for a limited set of building parts and components 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 replacement procedure refers only to planned action in response to anticipated losses of performance of building components and building parts. Replacements should be considered when the reference service life (or eventual design life) of a product or building part is lower than the reference study period.The replacement scenario should cover at least the elements in the following list (item marked with a * are suggested): roof; windows; floor finishes and coverings; refrigeration and coolants; decorative wall finishes and coatings (e.g. wallpaper, paints); doors; heating, cooling and lighting equipment, and any power-generating equipment (e.g. wind turbines, PV or solar heating); equipment for internal transport (e.g. lifts, escalators); water and sewerage systems; electrical distribution system. The replacement of load-bearing structure, exterior and basement walls, floor slabs and foundation should not be considered unless justified, as it usually entails significant building modification. In any case the boundaries of the maintenance scenario should be clearly stated. A replacement scenario at the building scale should be determined on the basis of: 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]. Building modifications in response to unexpected events (e.g. flood, inappropriate use or vandalism) should be considered as reparation (B3), and are thus optional in the context of a simplified LCA. According to EN 15978, the boundary for replacement should include: production of the replaced component and ancillary products; transportation of the replaced component and ancillary products, including production impacts and the aspects of any losses of materials during transportation; the replacement process for the replaced components and ancillary products; waste management of the removed component and of ancillary products; the end-of-life stage of the removed component and of ancillary products. However, in the context of a simplified LCA, only the production of the replaced component need be included. The frequency of replacement may be determined according to the ‘replacement frequency’ aspect of the present guide.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978:7.4.4.1 General* 7.4.4.5 Boundary for replacement (Module B4) 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 – B4 Replacement 7.3.3.1 B1–B5 use stage related to the building fabric Annex A
*Guidance*	The overall replacement scenario should be consistent with respect to the building structure (e.g. replacement of coating is mandatory when replacing the support).In addition, LCA of an existing building should take into account actual and established practices (real-life data) specific to that particular building.As replacement scenarios are based on the RSLs of building components and building parts, it should be noted that the RSL could be based on empirical, probabilistic or statistical data, and should always taking into account the intended use (description of use) as described in ISO 15686-1, -2, -7 and -8 [EN 15804, Annex A]. Furthermore, a component manufacturer cannot be held responsible for the actual design of the building or the use and application of the product, environment, workmanship or use [EN 15804, Annex A]. Thus: The overall replacement scenario should be consistent with the maintenance scenario. Both maintenance and replacement scenarios should be based on reliable service life data, either included in the EPD, directly provided by the manufacturer, or based on sound research work. For an existing building, if a component has failed before its reference service life because of inappropriate maintenance, it may be considered as belonging to the repair module instead.

B-16 Refurbishment for screening, simplified and complete LCA

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-16 Refurbishment for screening, simplified and complete LCA
*Description*		Refurbishment activities refer to the change of major elements or change of use in a building.Do we need to take refurbishment into account in a building 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*	Refer to provisions in the aspect ‘Distinction between Modules B2, B3, B4 and B5’.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 7.4.4.1 General* 7.4.4.6 Boundary for refurbishment (Module B5) 8.3 Time related characteristics 8.6.4 Scenarios for refurbishment *EN 15804:* 6.3.4.4.2 B1–B5 Use stage information modules related to the building fabric: 7.3.3.1 B1–B5 Use stage related to the building fabric
*Guidance*	Refer to guidance in the aspect ‘Distinction between Modules B2, B3, B4 and B5’. For example, it is recommended that a refurbishment scenario be developed in the case of a significant reference study period (>100 years); as modification of the building use is expected over such a period of time. A refurbishment scenario could also be developed if the reference study period is higher than the reference service life of load-bearing components and structural elements.

B-08 Modelling of energy use

Written on 21. October 2012.

Aspect

B-08 Modelling of energy use

Description

Is B6 relevant at a product level? How should the operational energy use be modelled?

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

Energy used by products during the use stage should be assessed in terms of importance. For a product, a scenario may be defined if the product is relevant for the energy supply of a building. However, the actual operational energy use can only be given for a building; data for this module for products are always based on a specific scenario, and do not necessarily apply to other situations.

Rules from:

EN 15804

6.2.5 B6–B7, use stage, information modules related to the operation of the building

Guidance

The regulated energy use (the energy use covered by national building regulations in Member States) of building-integrated technical systems is determined by the design of the building and the use of the building.Regulated energy use reported in Module B6 would normally be provided at a building level through modelling with the relevant national system derived from the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive.At a product level, it is not possible to model the relevant regulated operational energy use related to the product, because it is dependent on all the other parts of the building, although the product could be included within a ‘model’ building and a building assessment undertaken.

If a product requires non-regulated energy to use it – for example a blind that requires electricity for operation, or an intelligently glazed panel that requires electricity to switch to clear from opaque, or a grey water system that requires energy for pumping – then this energy use should also be modelled in Module B6. This would need to be based on a scenario for use, such as the number of operations per day. The results of Module B6 should be separated from the other modules. Additional data to support the development of relevant scenarios on building level should be provided if relevant in the product LCA study, even if the use stage modules are not assessed at the product level.

B-18 Operational energy demand for new buildings – Boundaries and scenarios for simplified LCA

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-18 Operational energy demand for new buildings – Boundaries and scenarios for simplified LCA
*Description*		Several parameters can influence the results of the operational energy demand for the use stage of buildings, such as the selection of uses (i.e. building-related or non-building-related uses). European standards (EN 15804/EN 15978) recommend taking account of priority building-related uses such as heating and cooling. However, non-building-related appliances can significantly influence the energy needs of building-related uses (e.g. the thermal gain of appliances decrease the level of heating demand). How can this aspect can be addressed for in simplified LCA of new buildings?
*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*	For simplified LCA of new buildings, every building-integrated system should be accounted for (including building-related uses as described in the EPBD and other building-integrated systems). Non-building-related systems may be also accounted for, considering a conventional or statistical scenario.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 7.4.4.7 Boundaries for operational energy use* 8.6.5 Scenarios for operational energy use – Module B6
*Guidance*	Building-related uses are defined according to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC). Energy demand for building-related uses (heating, cooling and air conditioning, ventilation, heating for provision of domestic hot water, lightning) should be calculated either according to national calculation tools and methodology or with the help of thermal dynamic simulation. For comparative assertions the ‘EPA-NR’ calculation tool and methodology can also be used in order to calculate the energy demand on a consistent basis.Building-integrated systems refer to any energy-consuming system required to achieve the expected building functions. They include internal transport (e.g. lifts, escalators), shutters, fire security devices, communication systems, etc.. The energy demand of building-integrated systems may be calculated according to statistical or conventional scenarios.Non-building-related uses include other energy uses such as plug-in appliances (e.g. computers, washing machines, refrigerators, audio, TV) and production- or process-related energy in the use of the building.Scenarios for the calculation of the energy consumption of building-integrated systems and non-building-related uses may reflect statistical or conventional user behaviour. For example, the type and number of appliances and the frequency of use should be calculated according to statistical data if no accurate data are available. The expected performances of user appliances may be taken into account within the calculation, if available (e.g. the consumption of a refrigerator may be estimated according to its certified efficiency). When no information is available for non-building-related uses, the ratio of consumption provided in EN 15603:2008 (Annex C) may be used. Link between energy consumption values and environmental impacts Once the energy consumption values are calculated, they need to be associated with generic or specific LCA data for the corresponding process. For example, the number of kWh of electricity in a French building project should be associated with the generic LCA data representing the average mix for the French context. Other energy sources such as fuel, natural gas, wood and district heating also need a generic LCA data describing only the combustion. To this purpose, the infrastructure (e.g. the boilers) should be accounted for as technical equipment. This equipment contributes to the embodied impacts of a building along with the building products. Depending on the goal definition of the study (cf. aspect ‘Classifying the decision context between situation A from B from C’), it is possible to choose, e.g. for the electricity consumption, an average mix or a marginal mix. The marginal effects are usually modelled using consequential modelling (situation B according to the ILCD Handbook). A final option is to choose hourly LCA data, particularly in the case where the thermal simulation results are provided on an hourly basis. This remark is part of the EeBGuide aspect ‘Dynamic LCA data for assessing the impact of electricity consumption’).

B-20 Operational energy demand for existing buildings – Boundaries and scenarios

Written on 21. October 2012.

*Aspect*		B-20 Operational energy demand for existing buildings – Boundaries and scenarios
*Description*		Several parameters can influence the results of the energy demand at the operational stage of buildings. Among others, the selection of uses (i.e. building-related or non-building-related uses) has a major significance on the energy demand. European standards (EN 15804/EN 15978) recommend that priority be given to taking building-related uses into account; however, it is obvious that non-building-related appliances significantly influence the energy needs of building-related uses (e.g. the thermal gain of appliances decreases the level of heating demand). Moreover, the global gain obtained by technology mixing building energy uses and non-building-related uses (e.g. appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines using domestic hot water produced by solar thermal panels) can be taken into account only if all operational energy uses are also considered into the assessment. The following section aims at providing guidance for screening, simplified and complete LCA of existing buildings.
*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*	For existing buildings, measured historical data consumption should be used, if available and applicable. Building-related uses and non-building-related uses may be taken into account according to the goal and the scope of the study.
*Rules from:*	*EN 15978: 7.4.4.7 Boundaries for operational energy use* 8.6.5 Scenarios for operational energy use – Module B6
*Guidance*	For existing buildings, if measured historical data consumption are available and applicable (i.e. the objective and the scope of the study are consistent with available data, and future changes in the existing building will not impact on the energy uses), they should be used to calculate the energy demand.Note: the level of detail of energy measurement should allow its use for LCA assessment (i.e. the breakdown of the operational energy demand should be available for each energy carrier). When measured data are available for each energy carrier, building-related and non-building-related uses should be accounted for, as energy monitoring usually does not permit uses to be differentiated. This applies to screening, simplified and complete LCA. For the calculation of energy demand of building-related uses, methods and tools developed by EPA-NR projects may be used.