EPD webinar – Business Bytes (SCSS)

12/10/22

EPD – Environmental Product Declaration – document which makes it possible to accurately

compare different products for environmental/ sustainable credentials.

The entire product life cycle is examined.

RIBA plan of works sets out the steps for a building project, carbon is considered at the early stages.

Relevant standards:

BS EN 15978 – Sustainability of Construction Works – Calculation method of carbon impacts.

Building life cycle information is split into stages – A (1-5), B (1-7), C (1-4), D.

BS EN 15804 – EPDs and core rules for product category of construction products.

EPDs need to adhere to this document to ensure they are comparable.

EPDs typically valid for 5 years.

GWP – Global Warming Potential – common value given in an EPD which can be used to compare
between products.

BECD – Built Environment Carbon Database – currently in development, aims to be the ‘go-to’
database for the industry. Backed by numerous companies.

Data collection and life cycle assessment (LCA) typically take the most amount of time & effort to
produce. Can be carried out by a third party.

Suggested timeframe of 3 – 7 months for LCA and associated data gathering. Can be very time
consuming.

A further 1 – 3 months required for 3rd party verification and publishing of EPD.

London already requires LCA to be performed for all new major developments.

Part Z building regs suggest the introduction of mandatory carbon accounting & recording. Not yet
implemented but looks likely.

Embodied carbon – the amount of carbon taken to produce a product including extraction,
production processes, transportation etc.

Arguments presented for getting EPDs – commercial benefits, stand out from the competition,
prepare for regulatory requirements etc.