- EPD can be used as documentation to fulfill the requirements of the Construction Product Regulation (CPR Regulation EU 305/2011). The CPR became effective for new products in 2012 and for existing products in 2013.
The CPR defines relevant product-specific information in the Basic Requirements (BR). The BR 3 (hygiene, health and the environment) and BR 7 (sustainable use of natural resources) are now taking up the life-cycle approach. However, no legally binding requirements are connected to it up to date and the CPR does not specify how to prove the compliance with the BR, except the indication of EPD as a possible format: “For the assessment of the sustainable use of resources and of the impact of construction works on the environment Environmental Product Declarations should be used when available.” (Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (recital 56).
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) form the basis for the data for assessing buildings on an ecological level. This is currently laid down in the new European Standards project “Sustainability of buildings” (EN 15978).
- EPD are recognized by all current Building Assessment Schemes in Austria (ÖGNI, ÖGNB-TQB, klima:aktiv) and also form the data basis for all validated software products for calculation of energy passes and building passes.
- Environmental Product Declarations are based on ISO standards and are therefore internationally aligned. They are suitable as proof of environmental claims in the public procurement arena.
- Environmental Product Declarations offer the relevant basic data on environmental properties of a product for sales and marketing purposes.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Most buildings are assigned to the building in one “system”. A Type-III declaration for building products which also helps to assess the entire building, thus lent itself to being created. Resource consumption and environmental emissions are recorded throughout the entire manufacturing process. The resulting contribution to the greenhouse effect, or eutrophication or acidification of water can be quantified and assessed using Lifecycle Assessment methodology. Lifecyle Assessments also provide a systematic and standardised basis for data in order to create an ecological assessment of a building in the “modular construction system” from declarations on individual building products. In a lifecylce analysis, the entire life of the building, the building phase with possible conversions as well as demolition and disposal are taken into consideration and the contribution of the building products to energy efficiency or to other aspects of sustainable management of a building are represented.
The declaration includes statements on the use of energy and resources and to what extent a product contributes to the greenhouse effect, acidification, eutrophication, destruction of the ozone layer and smog formation. In addition, details are given about the technical properties which are required for assessing the performance of the building products in the building, like durability, heat and sound insulation or the influence on the quality of the indoor air.
The ISO-Type-III declaration is directed at many target groups in regards to these qualtitative statements about environmental performance of building products: Planners, architects, building companies, real estate companies, facility manager and of course the companies who are involved in manufacturing and serving the supply chain from raw materials to the building itself.
Procedure of the Bau-EPD GmbH on the way to the EPD
- Creating PCR documents
- Creating declarations
- Checking and confirming by an independent third body
Environmental product declarations are created by means of a three-stage for which at any time different people are involved. The aim of this procedure is to produce transparency and by as much involvement as possible by the public and independent third bodies, to intensify the confidence in the declaration as an objective means of evaluation in regards to sustainability.
In the first stage, a draft PCR (Product Category Rules) document is created in a production group forum which consists of experts and manufacturers and is moderated by the Bau EPD GmbH. The product group is defined and the characteristic environmental effects are identified. The procedure for quantifying these environmental effects and the proof to be produced are provided to future applicants. At the same time as creating the draft, the Bau EPD GmbH informs the public about the new product group forum in order to introduce more interest in the design phase. The PCR draft is checked by an expert committee for consistency between the product groups and completeness of the demands on the manufacturer. In addition, the draft is discussed in a forum with planners, building contractors, authorities and other interested parties. Criticism on the part of the third parties is implemented as far as possible into improving the draft. If a PCR document already exists for the corresponding product group when applied for, the this step does not apply.
In the second stage, the actual declaration is created. For this, all information required by the manufacturer is made available in the PCR document and proof that checks have been carried out produced. The testing methods and Lifecycle Assessment methodology are laid down uniformly in the PCR document.
In the third stage, the declaration is checked. The Bau EPD GmbH organises the checking of individual declarations by independent third parties. This final check of individual cases guarantees the objectivity of the declaration procedure one more. The Bau EPD GmbH as programme operator has no influence whatever over the confirmation of the declaration, rather they simply publish the declarations which were approved by the committee of experts.
Find details under “The path to your EPD“
