EN 16449:2014

Wood and wood-based products - Calculation of the biogenic carbon content of wood and conversion to carbon dioxide

This European Standard provides a calculation method to quantify the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide based on the biogenic carbon content of wood.

Holz und Holzprodukte - Berechnung des biogenen Kohlenstoffgehalts im Holz und Umrechnung in Kohlenstoffdioxid

Diese Europäische Norm stellt ein Berechnungsverfahren zur quantitativen Bestimmung der Menge an atmosphärischem Kohlenstoffdioxid auf der Grundlage des biogenen Kohlenstoffgehalts von Holz zur Verfügung.

Produits en bois et dérivés du bois - Calcul du contenu en carbone biogénique du bois et conversion en dioxyde de carbone

La présente Norme européenne fournit une méthode de calcul permettant de quantifier la masse de dioxyde de carbone atmosphérique basée sur le contenu en carbone biogénique du bois.

Les in lesni izdelki - Izračun vezave atmosferskega ogljikovega dioksida

Standard EN 16449:2014 določa metodo za izračun količine atmosferskega ogljikovega dioksida na osnovi vsebnosti biogenega ogljika v lesu.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Mar-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Sep-2014
• ICS: 79.040 - Wood, sawlogs and sawn timber
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 175 - Round and sawn timber
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 175/WG 5 - Environmental topics
• Current Stage: 9092 - Decision on results of review/2YR ENQ - revise - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 23-Jun-2020
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16449:2014 - Wood and wood-based products - Calculation of sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Overview

EN 16449:2014 (CEN) defines a standardized calculation method to quantify the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide associated with the biogenic carbon content of wood and wood-based products. The standard explains how to convert sequestered carbon in timber into an equivalent mass of CO2 for reporting, product declarations and life-cycle assessment (LCA). It is intended to support consistent carbon accounting for timber used in construction and other applications.

Key topics and requirements

• Carbon fraction: Uses a default carbon fraction of woody biomass (oven-dry mass) cf = 0.5 (50 % carbon by weight).
• Input data required: product volume (V), density at the relevant moisture content (ρ), and moisture content (ω, %). For wood-based products, apply the wood volume share of the product.
• Conversion principle: mass of biogenic carbon is converted to CO2 using atomic weights (C = 12, CO2 = 44). The standard’s calculation yields the mass of CO2 that corresponds to the biogenic carbon stored or released.
• Calculation form: the standard provides the formula and a worked example (Annex A). In practice the calculation follows the logic: PCO2 = (44 / 12) × cf × (ρ × V × wood_share) / (1 + ω/100)
  (terms as defined in the standard)
• Moisture/density defaults: where precise product data are unavailable, densities at 12 % moisture content (from EN 350-2) and a 12 % moisture reference are acceptable defaults.
• Conservative approach: higher assumed moisture content gives a conservative (higher) CO2 estimate for a given volume.

Practical applications

• Estimating carbon sequestration in timber structures (mass timber, glulam, CLT).
• Supplying biogenic carbon data for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and product category rules.
• Input to LCA and embodied carbon reporting for building projects and supply chains.
• Assessing end-of-life CO2 emissions when wood is combusted for energy.
• Supporting architects, engineers and sustainability assessors in early-stage design decisions about material selection and carbon storage benefits.

Who should use this standard

• Timber and wood-based product manufacturers
• LCA practitioners and EPD developers
• Architects, building designers and structural engineers
• Sustainability consultants, carbon auditors and policymakers involved in construction and material reporting

Related standards

• EN 16485 - Product category rules for wood and wood-based products (EPDs)
• EN 350-2 - Density values and natural durability guidance (12 % moisture reference)
• EN 844-4 - Terms relating to moisture content

Keywords: EN 16449:2014, biogenic carbon, wood carbon content, CO2 calculation, wood-based products, carbon sequestration, EPD, life-cycle assessment, embodied carbon, timber construction.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.LRNVLGDHolz- und Holzprodukte - Berechnung der Speicherung atmosphärischen Kohlenstoff-DioxidsBois et dérivés du bois - Calcul de la séquestration du dioxyde de carbone atmosphériqueWood and wood-based products - Calculation of sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide79.040Les, hlodovina in žagan lesWood, sawlogs and sawn timberICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16449:2014SIST EN 16449:2014en,fr,de01-julij-2014SIST EN 16449:2014SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16449
March 2014 ICS 79.040 English Version
Wood and wood-based products - Calculation of the biogenic carbon content of wood and conversion to carbon dioxide
Produits en bois et dérivés du bois - Calcul du contenu en carbone biogénique du bois et conversion en dioxyde de carbone
Holz und Holzprodukte - Berechnung des biogenen Kohlenstoffgehalts im Holz und Umrechnung in Kohlenstoffdioxid This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 December 2013.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 16449:2014 ESIST EN 16449:2014

Foreword .3 Introduction .4 1 Scope .5 2 Normative references .5 3 Terms and definitions .5 4 Wood – the basic material .5 5 Calculating carbon dioxide based on biogenic carbon content .5 Annex A (informative)
Formula (1), Calculation example.7 Bibliography .8
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