SIST-TP CEN/TR 16970:2016
(Main)Sustainability of construction works - Guidance for the implementation of EN 15804
Sustainability of construction works - Guidance for the implementation of EN 15804
This Technical Report provides general guidance to the users of EN 15804 and those preparing
complementary Product Category Rules (c-PCR's) by:
— stating general principles for the use of EN 15804 by CEN Technical Committees for construction
products (Product TC's) in order to ensure consistency among the complementary PCR produced
by Product TC's;
— addressing the questions raised by Product TC's, manufacturers or their sub-contractors who
provide LCA studies underlying an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and by EPD
programme operators who include c-PCR of specific subcategories in their PCR registry.
Nachhaltiges Bauen - Leitfaden für die Anwendung von EN 15804
Contribution des ouvrages de construction au développement durable - Lignes directrices pour la mise en application de l'EN 15804
Trajnostnost gradbenih objektov - Navodila za uporabo EN 15804
To tehnično poročilo zagotavlja splošne smernice za uporabnike standarda EN 15804 in pripravljalce dopolnilnih pravil za kategorije proizvodov (c-PCR), tako da:
– navaja splošna načela za uporabo standarda EN 15804 s strani tehničnih odborov CEN za gradbene
proizvode (tehnični odbori za proizvode), da se zagotovi doslednost med dopolnilnimi pravili za kategorije proizvodov, ki jih pripravijo tehnični odbori za proizvode;
– obravnava vprašanja, ki jih zastavljajo tehnični odbori za proizvode, proizvajalci ali njihovi podpogodbeniki, ki zagotavljajo študije LCA, osnovane na okoljski deklaraciji proizvoda (EPD), in upravljavci programa okoljske deklaracije proizvoda, ki vključujejo dopolnilna pravila za kategorije proizvodov v določene podkategorije v svojem registru pravil za kategorije proizvodov.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST-TP CEN/TR 16970:2016
01-oktober-2016
Trajnostnost gradbenih objektov - Navodila za uporabo EN 15804
Sustainability of construction works - Guidance for the implementation of EN 15804
Nachhaltiges Bauen - Leitfaden für die Anwendung von EN 15804
Contribution des ouvrages de construction au développement durable - Lignes
directrices pour la mise en application de l'EN 15804
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 16970:2016
ICS:
13.020.20 Okoljska ekonomija. Environmental economics.
Trajnostnost Sustainability
91.010.01 Gradbeništvo na splošno Construction industry in
general
SIST-TP CEN/TR 16970:2016 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
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SIST-TP CEN/TR 16970:2016
CEN/TR 16970
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
July 2016
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 91.010.99
English Version
Sustainability of construction works - Guidance for the
implementation of EN 15804
Contribution des ouvrages de construction au Nachhaltiges Bauen - Leitfaden für die Anwendung von
développement durable - Lignes directrices pour la EN 15804
mise en application de l'EN 15804
This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 11 April 2016. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 350.
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
© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 16970:2016 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
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Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Abbreviations . 7
5 General aspects . 7
5.1 Objectives . 7
5.1.1 Objectives of core PCR . 7
5.1.2 Objectives of the guidance . 8
5.2 Types of EPD with respect to life cycle stages covered . 9
5.2.1 Information Modules . 9
5.2.2 Beyond the product life cycle: information module D . 10
5.2.3 Scenarios . 10
5.2.4 Types of EPD with respect to applied modules . 10
5.2.5 Default values for indicator results for the use in c-PCR . 10
5.3 Comparability of EPD for construction products . 10
5.4 Additional information . 11
5.5 Ownership, responsibility and liability for the EPD . 11
5.6 Communication formats . 11
6 Product Category Rules for LCA . 11
6.1 Product Category . 11
6.2 Life cycle stages and their information modules to be included . 11
6.2.1 General . 11
6.2.2 A1-A3, Product stage, information modules . 11
6.2.3 A4-A5, Construction process stage, information modules . 12
6.2.4 B1-B5, Use stage, information modules related to the building fabric . 12
6.2.5 B6-B7, use stage, information modules related to the operation of the building . 12
6.2.6 C1-C4 End-of-life stage, information modules . 12
6.2.7 D, Benefits and loads beyond the system boundary, information module . 15
6.3 Calculation rules for the LCA . 15
6.3.1 Functional unit . 15
6.3.2 Declared Unit . 15
6.3.3 Reference service life (RSL). 15
6.3.4 System boundaries . 15
6.3.5 Criteria for the exclusion of inputs and outputs . 21
6.3.6 Selection of data with regard to average EPD . 21
6.3.7 Data quality requirements. 22
6.3.8 Developing product level scenarios . 22
6.3.9 Units . 23
6.4 Inventory analysis . 23
6.4.1 Collecting Data . 23
6.4.2 Calculation procedures . 23
6.4.3 Allocation of input flows and output emissions . 23
6.5 Impact assessment . 24
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7 Content of the EPD . 24
7.1 Declaration of general information . 24
7.2 Declaration of environmental parameters derived from LCA . 25
7.2.1 General . 25
7.2.2 Rules for declaring LCA information per module . 25
7.2.3 Parameters describing environmental impacts . 25
7.2.4 Parameters describing resource use . 26
7.2.5 Other environmental information describing different waste categories and output
flows. 27
7.3 Scenarios and additional technical information . 27
7.4 Additional information on release of dangerous substances to indoor air, soil and
water during the use stage . 27
7.5 Aggregation of information modules . 27
8 Project report . 27
9 Verification and validity of an EPD . 27
Bibliography . 28
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European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 16970:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 350
“Sustainability of construction works”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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Introduction
This Technical Report is a complementary document to EN 15804 “Sustainability of construction
works - Environmental product declarations - Core rules for the product category of construction
products”. It is intended to assist the understanding and use of EN 15804 by giving guidance and
further explanation.
This document does not replace any of the standard’s requirements or introduce any new rules and it
is not intended to be used as a stand-alone document.
This document provides guidance to CEN Technical Committees for construction products and other
bodies such as Environmental Product Declaration programme operators in the construction sector
developing Product Category Rules complementary to EN 15804.
According to decision BT 3/2013, CEN Technical Committees for construction products are asked to
inform CEN/TC 350 at the earliest stage when a complementary PCR document will be developed,
allowing CEN/TC 350 to arrange a liaison and ensure they can review the document when necessary.
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1 Scope
This Technical Report provides general guidance to the users of EN 15804 and those preparing
complementary Product Category Rules (c-PCR's) by:
— stating general principles for the use of EN 15804 by CEN Technical Committees for construction
products (Product TC's) in order to ensure consistency among the complementary PCR produced
by Product TC's;
— addressing the questions raised by Product TC's, manufacturers or their sub-contractors who
provide LCA studies underlying an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and by EPD
programme operators who include c-PCR of specific subcategories in their PCR registry.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 15804:2012+A1:2013, Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations -
Core rules for the product category of construction products
EN 15978, Sustainability of construction works - Assessment of environmental performance of buildings -
Calculation method
EN ISO 14025:2010, Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations -
Principles and procedures (ISO 14025:2006)
ISO 15686 (all parts), Buildings and constructed assets — Service life planning
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 15804:2012+A1:2013 and
the following apply.
3.1
complementary product category rules, c-PCR
product group specific or horizontal PCR, which provide additional, compliant and non-contradictory
requirements to EN 15804
Note 1 to entry: c-PCR are meant to be used together with EN 15804.
3.2
default values
pre-defined results without further calculation
3.3
freshwater
water having a low concentration of dissolved solids
Note 1 to entry: Freshwater typically contains less than 1 000 mg per litre of dissolved solids and is generally
accepted as suitable for withdrawal and conventional treatment to produce potable water.
Note 2 to entry: The concentration of total dissolved solids can vary considerably over space and/or time.
[SOURCE: ISO 14046:2014, 3.1.1]
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3.4
water use
use of water by human activity
Note 1 to entry: Use includes, but is not limited to, any water withdrawal, water release or other human
activities within the drainage basin impacting water flows and/or quality, including in-stream uses such as
fishing, recreation, transportation.
Note 2 to entry: The term “water consumption” is often used to describe water removed from, but not
returned to, the same drainage basin. Water consumption can be because of evaporation, transpiration,
integration into a product, or release into a different drainage basin or the sea. Change in evaporation caused by
land-use change is considered water consumption (e.g. reservoir). The temporal and geographical coverage of
the water footprint assessment are defined in the goal and scope.
[SOURCE: ISO 14046:2014, 3.2.1, modified]
4 Abbreviations
ADP Abiotic depletion potential
CF Characterization factor
c-PCR Complementary product category rules
EPD Environmental product declaration
EoW End-of-waste status
ETICS External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems
GHG Greenhouse gas
GWP Global warming potential
LCA Life cycle assessment
LCI Life cycle inventory
LCIA Life cycle impact assessment
PCR Product category rules
Product TC CEN Technical Committees for construction products (Product TC's),
i.e. Technical Committee in CEN responsible for developing harmonized
and other standards for product groups
RSL Reference service life
5 General aspects
5.1 Objectives
5.1.1 Objectives of core PCR
The main objective of EN 15804 is to provide horizontal core PCR for all construction products and
services. They are applicable for developing Type III EPD for any construction product or service but
can be further detailed in c-PCR.
It is possible to develop and to verify a Type III EPD directly to the EN 15804 standard. If there is no c-
PCR available, EPD for construction products are developed only according to EN 15804. The EPD
always states according to which standard the EPD was made (EN ISO 14025:2010, 7.2.1, e).
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5.1.2 Objectives of the guidance
If more detailed specifications and descriptions for a product group are needed it is advisable to
develop a c-PCR in compliance with EN 15804. The grouping of products follows the grouping of the
Product TC's.
Compliance with this Technical Report is not a requirement for compliance with EN 15804, but
product TCs and Program Operators are encouraged to follow this guideline to enhance
harmonization
The guidance document supports the following principles for developing c-PCR:
a) Any c-PCR using EN 15804 as a normative reference needs to be compliant with EN 15804.
NOTE 1 CEN/TC 350 homepage [1] lists c-PCR documents prepared by Product TC's, that were reviewed
to be compliant with EN 15804, or are under review by CEN TC 350/WG 3.
b) A common structure of EN 15804 and c–PCR provided by Product TC's in order to assist the
development of a consistent set of principles and rules for the construction sector.
1) C-PCR developed by Product TC's use the following common title structure:
“[title of Product TC] - Environmental product declarations – Product category rules
complementary to EN 15804 [product group, depending on name]”
EXAMPLE [Round and sawn timber] - Environmental product declarations - Product category rules
complementary to EN 15804 [for wood and wood-based products for use in construction].
2) The structure of the document maintains the structure of EN 15804.
When developing c-PCR Product TC's are recommended to use a format as described in Table 1.
Table 1 — Format for the development of complementary PCR in accordance with EN 15804
Comment
Clause Text for new c-PCR EN 15804
5 general aspects, As in EN 15804, in An EPD according to this …
5.1 Objective of the addition: standard provides quantified
PCR environmental information for a
xxxxxxxx
construction product or
service.
c) C-PCR provided by Product TC's and considered compliant with EN 15804 by CEN/TC 350
provide a consistent set of principles and rules. In the development of c- PCR the following aspects
are considered:
1) Complementary specifications to the core rules provided by EN 15804, particularly related to:
i) the scope of the c-PCR, related to the product group, product type, intended application
and use of the product, type of EPD (cradle to gate, cradle to gate with options, cradle to
grave);
ii) the scope with respect to any required information modules A1-C4 and D;
iii) specification of the declared or functional unit;
iv) allocation rules;
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v) system boundary setting;
vi) application of the rules for the exclusion of inputs and outputs.
2) Guidance for the life cycle inventory specifically related to the product group and/or product
type for the information modules covered by the type of EPD.
3) Selection of information modules for which more specific requirements and guidance are
given.
4) Inclusion of default scenarios related to a specific application of the product including
guidance on:
i) the specific content of all information modules of the life cycle and information module D,
for default scenarios (e.g. use, typical waste processing, for energy recovery, recycling
and reuse and disposal);
ii) the definition of the end-of-waste status;
iii) the technical scenario information for all information modules of the product system and
information module D;
iv) the determination of the RSL and related in-use conditions for a specific application of the
product.
The following aspects are not part of c-PCR:
5) classes, benchmarks or threshold values for the indicators;
6) new indicators as part of the EN 15804 implementation.
NOTE 2 New indicators as part of the pre-set basket of indicators are developed in a horizontal
standardization process.
NOTE 3 Additional LCA based indicators required or permitted by a c-PCR are communicated as additional
information.
5.2 Types of EPD with respect to life cycle stages covered
5.2.1 Information Modules
In order to structure the sustainability assessment of buildings and to organize the use of data from
products for such an assessment, the life cycle of a product and the life cycle of a building are
presented identically in 3 life cycle stages:
— the before use stage: A, i.e. product and construction stage;
— the use stage: B, i.e. use stage;
— the after use stage: C, i.e. end-of-life stage.
Within the life cycle stages information modules are described. The environmental assessment
methodology, as described by EN 15804 and EN 15978 is further broken down in the information
modules specified by EN 15804:2012+A1:2013, Figure 1.
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5.2.2 Beyond the product life cycle: information module D
During the life cycle of the product or building it is possible that secondary material and energy flows
leave the system boundary and have a new role to play in another product or building life cycle. In
other words, a product can have a positive or negative environmental contribution beyond the
product life cycle (or product system) under study. Reuse or recycling therefore can bridge two life
cycles.
However, the output flows from the production stage and from the rest of the life cycle stages, i.e.
construction, use and end-of life stage, are treated differently.
— The information given for output flows from the construction stage and other modules up to the
end-of life stage of the life cycle under study and thus for potential input flows into a next life
cycle beyond its system boundary, is provided as net potential benefits and loads. This
information of net potential benefits and loads is provided in information module D.
Contributions to module D can only come from modules A4-C4 (see EN 15804:2012+A1:2013,
Figure 1).
— Output flows coming from the production stage (A1-A3), are principally considered as co-
products (when they are not waste), which themselves carry benefits or loads from their
production history in A1-A3. This information is not provided in information module D. Co-
products leaving one product system are treated like any other commodity when they become
input into another product system.
5.2.3 Scenarios
Information modules A1, A2 and A3 are based on the actual and specific data of the production
process of the product. However, as soon as a construction product leaves the factory gate the
assessment is based on scenarios and assumptions: the fate of the product in the building chain will
depend on locations, types of transport, installation and constructing methodologies, building type,
use of the building, maintenance, repair and waste handling. The manufacturer cannot control these
processes completely. An assessment thus requires scenarios to be specified for each module, i.e. for
modules A4, A5, all B-modules, all C-modules and for information module D.
In a c- PCR-document for a specific product group, scenarios for each information module are more
easily developed and default scenarios defined than at the horizontal level.
5.2.4 Types of EPD with respect to applied modules
It is possible for a Product TC to define any of the optional modules as mandatory.
5.2.5 Default values for indicator results for the use in c-PCR
Default values for the indicators defined in EN 15804 are considered part of an EPD, developed
according to the c-PCR of the Product TC, which is based on the normative reference of EN 15804 and
such default values are reviewed according to EN ISO 14025.
NOTE Default values are not verified by CEN/TC 350.
When Product TC's are providing default values for the indicators defined in EN 15804 to be included
in harmonized product standards these default values are then worst-case values.
It is not recommended that Product TC's provide default values, due to the difficulty of calculating
worst-case values. They can be counterproductive to average EPD and are not as useful for building
assessment as average values.
5.3 Comparability of EPD for construction products
No guidance provided.
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5.4 Additional information
No guidance provided.
5.5 Ownership, responsibility and liability for the EPD
No guidance provided.
5.6 Communication formats
No guidance provided.
6 Product Category Rules for LCA
6.1 Product Category
No guidance provided.
6.2 Life cycle stages and their information modules to be included
6.2.1 General
No guidance provided.
6.2.2 A1-A3, Product stage, information modules
Module A1 specifies the processes of raw material provision for the manufacturing processes, the
latter being specified in information module A3. Inputs to A1 can be, e.g. ores, minerals, fossil oil or
gas, products like fertilizer, as well as secondary materials or products.
The “polluter pays” principle is applied in EN 15804. This becomes relevant when some unit
processes, such as firing in a kiln, composting etc., process waste originating from a previous product
system. In such cases the production process for the assessed product is acting as waste management
for the other product system. This means that the waste processing of the other product system is
“out-sourced” to the product system using the waste. This waste management process sometimes
provides energy and/or materials for the production process of the product system under study.
It is important to clarify whether the substance entering the production process under study is
classified as “waste” or as “secondary product”, i.e. secondary material or secondary fuel. EN 15804
includes the following requirements for the polluter pays principle:
— Emissions and resulting impacts from waste managing processes are accountable to the system
that generated the waste.
— Any emissions and resulting impacts or waste resulting from further processing secondary
material or secondary fuel, although the latter come without burden from their previous product
system, are accountable to the assessed product.
Table 2 provides guidance on the assignment of waste management processes and use of secondary
materials and fuels to the different modules C or D.
The legal definition of the end of waste status can differ from member state to member state or even
regionally.
For transparency reasons the following conservative approach has been introduced: if wastes are
used for energy or material recovery and do not have the same waste status in all member states two
values can be declared in the communication of the LCA results in module A1 to A3:
a) the environmental impacts caused by the emissions including processing, incineration and co-
incineration of waste (gross value); and
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b) the environmental impacts caused excluding the incineration of waste (net value), see Table 2.
6.2.3 A4-A5, Construction process stage, information modules
When setting system boundaries the general principle of EN 15804 is to consider all processes in the
modules where they occur. This also applies to losses (product waste from transport to site, storage
on site and incorporation in construction). Such losses are not part of the input flows in modules A1-
A3 but are calculated as additional input according to the rules of A1-A3 and declared in A4-A5.
If a product is declared as installed in a building, e.g. ETICS, the production processes of the product
components are declared in modules A1-A3. All the installation processes are declared in A5. Any
production and transport processes which compensate for any losses and related waste treatment
processes of wastage during installation are declared in module A5, see EN 15804:2012+A1:2013,
6.3.4.3. Any losses from
...
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