EeBGuide

B-04 Repair – product LCA

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by

Zsoka Gyetvai
in
Aspect B-04 Repair – product LCA
Description
 For product LCA, the repair module should not be included in the baseline scenario. Additional scenario could be developed to demonstrate the effects of repair scenario(s).

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 consideration of repair is subject to the study type definitions. This aspect is optional: product modification during service life should be divided between the maintenance and replacement modules for the baseline scenario (refer to aspect B-32 ‘Distinction between Modules B2, B3, B4 and B5 for further guidances’). However, an additional scenario including repair may be developed. The aspect should be considered in line with the cut-off criteria.
Rules from:

EN 15804

 6.3.4.4.1 General

6.3.4.4.2 B1–B5 Use stage information modules related to the building fabric:

6.3.5 Criteria for the exclusion of inputs and outputs
Guidance
 For many construction products no predictable repair procedures exist during the product life cycle (e.g. for the studwork in an internal wall, or a concrete floor structure). However, repair can be predicted for some products, such as glazed front doors.

For complete LCA studies: For product LCA, the repair module should not be included in the baseline scenario. Repairs could be considered where they are likely to have a significant impact, based on the cut-off rules; specifically, repairs should be considered  if they are likely to have more than 5% input by mass of total inputs over life cycle stages B1–B5. In these cases, repair may be included within an additional scenario.

Where it is unclear whether an activity should be considered as maintenance, repair, replacement or refurbishment, the most suitable module should be chosen and justified (refer to aspect B-32 ‘Distinction between Modules B2, B3, B4 and B5 for further guidances’).

Repair processes at the product level should be considered on the basis of the most likely scenario.

See the section 3.4 on service life planning for guidance on the development of scenarios.

All processes B1 to B5 should include the impacts associated with the process. For maintenance, the impact of producing and transporting the materials used, the impact of the maintenance activity, e.g. water and energy used, and the impact of disposing of any waste produced, e.g. waste water from cleaning, need to be considered. These impacts may be aggregated, and reported as a single process, or broken down and reported separately to enable alternative scenarios to be generated. This may be helpful where there are significant variations between scenarios.