|
additional technical information
|
Information that forms part of the EPD by providing a basis for the development of scenarios
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
allocation or partitioning
|
Partitioning the input or output flows of a process or a product system between the product system under study and one or more other product systems.
|
ISO 14040
|
|
analysed decision
|
Decision that is subject to an LCA study. In contrast to LCI studies and most non-comparative LCA studies, comparative LCA studies have a direct decision context. For these the LCA study analyses a decision, rather than a single process or system. This might be, for example, a decision on alternative materials that are being evaluated for use for a product, the purchase of alternative products that are being compared, a decision on a policy option that is being analysed regarding its environmental impact implications, and the like.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
ancillary material
|
Input material or product that is used by the unit process producing the product, but which does not constitute part of the product
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
assumption scenario
|
Scenario for the analysed process or system that varies data and method assumptions, with the purpose of evaluating the robustness of the study’s results and conclusions. If more than one alternative system or option are compared, each of them would have its own assumption scenarios.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
attributional modelling or descriptive, book-keeping
|
LCI modelling frame that inventories the inputs and output flows of all processes of a system as they occur. Modelling processes along an existing supply chain is of this type.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
average data
|
data representative of a product, product group or construction service, provided by more than one supplier
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
background data
|
The background system comprises those processes for which, owing to the averaging effect across suppliers, a homogeneous market with average date (or equivalent, generic data) can be assumed to represent the respective process appropriately. Processes related to the use stage and the end-of-life stage hence belong to the background system from the perspective of the producer, insofar as the average use and end-of-life management processes are to be depicted. However, the specific characteristics of the product that is used and end-of-life treated are to be considered, hence combining specific properties with average/generic processes. Moreover, where specific scenarios of use or end-of-life treatment technologies are being investigated, these become part of the foreground system of the analysis, and specific data are preferable.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
best attainable consensus
|
Partial or full agreement of the involved parties, steered by a chair or coordinator towards the broadest possible agreement on the issue at stake. In contrast to an entirely result-open process, here a solution that fits preset requirements (e.g. ‘Define a reasonably worst-case scenario’) is to be found, i.e. the ‘zero-option’ is not an option.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
building
|
Construction works that have the provision of shelter for its occupants or contents as one of its main purposes, and are usually enclosed and designed to stand permanently in one place.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
building fabric
|
All building products that are fixed to the building in a permanent manner, so that the dismantling of the product changes the performance of the building, and the dismantling or replacement of the product constitute construction operations.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
building-integrated technical system
|
Technical equipment installed to support the operation of a building.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
building site
|
Specified area of land where a building is located or is defined to be located, and where construction work of the building and associated external works are or will be undertaken.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
co-function
|
Any of two or more functions provided by the same unit process or system.
|
ISO 14044
|
|
comparative assertion
|
Environmental claim regarding the superiority or equivalence of one product versus a competing product that performs the same function.
|
ISO 14025
|
|
comparative life cycle assessment
|
Comparison of LCA results for different products, systems or services that usually perform the same or a similar function.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
component
|
Building product manufactured as a distinct unit to serve a specific function or functions
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
consequential modelling
|
LCI modelling principle that identifies and models all processes in the background system of a system as a consequence of decisions made in the foreground system.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
construction element
|
Part of a construction containing a defined combination of products
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
building product
|
Item manufactured or processed for incorporation in construction works.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
construction service
|
Activity that supports the construction process or subsequent maintenance
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
construction work
|
Activities forming a construction works.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
construction works
|
Everything that is constructed or results from construction operations.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
co-product
|
Any of two or more marketable materials, products or fuels from the same unit process, but which is not the object of the assessment.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
declared unit
|
Quantity of a building product for use as a reference unit in an EPD for an environmental declaration based on one or more information modules.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
design life
|
Service life intended by the designer.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
disclosed to the public
|
The audience is not specifically limited, and hence includes a non-technical and external audience, e.g. consumers.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
endpoint indicators
|
Damage to human health, Damage to ecosystem, Depletion of natural resources. These relate to the three areas of protection “Human health”, “Natural environment”, and “Natural resources”, respectively.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
end-of-life product
|
Product at the end of its useful life that will potentially undergo reuse, recycling, or recovery.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
environmental aspect
|
Aspect of construction works, parts of works, processes or services related to their life cycle that can cause change to the environment.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
environmental impact
|
Change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from environmental aspects.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
environmental performance
|
Performance related to environmental impacts and environmental aspects.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
estimated service life
|
Service life that a building or an assembled system (part of works) would be expected to have in a set of specific in-use conditions, determined from reference service life data after taking into account any differences from the reference in-use conditions
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
foreground system
|
The foreground system is defined as those processes of the system that are specific to it. This means that data for the specific technology, supplier etc. are most appropriate. For example, in a study on a producer-specific product, these are not only the processes that are operated at the producer’s facilities, but also all those processes at suppliers and downstream where only one or a few operators are involved, i.e. where the specific processes cannot be replaced by e.g. market average supply data. Hence these are typically the tier-one suppliers, but also suppliers further up the supply chain, if specific relations exist, e.g. by using certified green energy or certified wood sources and the like.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
functional equivalent
|
Quantified functional requirements and/or technical requirements for a building or an assembled system (part of works) for use as a basis for comparison.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
functional flow
|
One of the (co-)product flow(s) in the inventory of a process or system that fulfils the process’s or system’s function.
See also: non-functional flow
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
functional performance
|
Performance related to the functionality of the construction works or an assembled system (part of works) that is required by the client and/or by users and/or by regulations.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
functional requirement
|
Type and level of functionality of a building or assembled system that is required by the client and/or by users and/or by regulations.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
functional unit
|
Quantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
functionality
|
Suitability or usefulness for a specific purpose or activity.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
indicator
|
Quantifiable value related to environmental impacts or aspects.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
information module
|
Compilation of data to be used as a basis for a Type III environmental declaration covering a unit process or a combination of unit processes that are part of the life cycle of a product.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
life cycle
|
Consecutive and interlinked stages in the life of the object under consideration.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
life cycle assessment (LCA)
|
Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
life cycle inventory analysis (LCI)
|
Phase of life cycle assessment involving the compilation and quantification of inputs and outputs for a product throughout its life cycle.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
life cycle inventory (LCI) dataset
|
Dataset with the inventory of a process or system. Can be both unit process and LCI results and variants of these.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
life cycle inventory (LCI) study
|
Life cycle study that provides the life cycle inventory data of a process or system.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
life cycle inventory analysis results (LCI results)
|
Outcome of a life cycle inventory analysis that catalogues the flows crossing the system boundary, and provides the starting point for life cycle impact assessment.
|
ISO 14040
|
|
maintenance
|
Combination of all technical and associated administrative actions during the service life to retain a building or an assembled system (part of works) in a state in which it can perform its required functions.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
midpoint indicators
|
Climate change, (Stratospheric) Ozone depletion, Human toxicity, Respiratory inorganics, Ionising radiation, (Ground-level) Photochemical ozone formation, Acidification (land and water), Eutrophication (land and water), Ecotoxicity (freshwater, marine, terrestrial), Land use, Resource depletion (of minerals, fossil and renewable energy resources, water, …).
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
monofunctional process
|
Process or system that performs only one function.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
multifunctional process
|
Process or system that performs more than one function. Examples: processes with more than one product as output (e.g. NaOH, Cl2 and H2 from chloro-alkali electrolysis) or more than one waste treated jointly (e.g. mixed household waste incineration with energy recovery).
See also: allocation; system expansion
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
non-functional flow
|
Any of the inventory items that are not (co-)product flows: e.g. all emissions, waste and resources, but also input flows of processed goods and of services.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
non-renewable energy
|
Energy from sources that are not defined as renewable energy sources
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
non-renewable resource
|
Resource that exists in a finite amount, which cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
operational energy use
|
Energy use of the building-integrated technical systems during use and operation of the building
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
operational water use
|
Water use of the building-integrated technical systems and of the user, as needed for the technically and functionally defined operation of the building.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
overall environmental impact
|
Total of impacts on human health, natural environment and resource depletion for the impact categories considered. It can be calculated either as normalized and weighted overall LCIA results of the analysed process or system, or by assuming an even weighting across impacts, i.e. for each and any of the impact categories.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
performance
|
Expression relating to the magnitude of a particular aspect of the object of consideration relative to specified requirements, objectives or targets
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
product category
|
Group of building products that can fulfil equivalent functions
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
product category rules (PCR)
|
Set of specific rules, requirements and guidelines for developing Type III environmental declarations for one or more product categories.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
product
|
A specific, eventually manufacturer-specific or unspecific product that is used in building construction in order to stay in the building [building products regulation number 305’/2011]. This definition is enhanced by the definitions of EN 15978 Annex A ‘Building description’. There different levels of aggregation are mentioned (building part, element level, component level, product level). The EeBGuide uses the term ‘product’ for everything that is not a whole building (e.g. building parts, elements, components, products, services, etc.).
|
EeBGuide
|
|
product system
|
Collection of unit processes with elementary and product flows, performing one or more defined functions, and which models the life cycle of a product.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
programme operator
|
Body or bodies that conduct a Type III environmental declaration programme.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
recovery
|
Waste treatment operation that serves a purpose in replacing other resources or prepares waste for such a use.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
recycling
|
Any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances, either for the original purpose or other purposes.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
reference service life (RSL)
|
Service life of a building product that is known to be expected under a particular set (i.e. a reference set) of in-use conditions, and which may form the basis for estimating the service life under other in-use conditions.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
reference service life data (RSL data)
|
Information that includes the reference service life and any qualitative or quantitative data describing the validity of the reference service life.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
reference study period
|
Period over which the time-dependent characteristics of the object of assessment are analysed.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
refurbishment
|
Modification and improvements to an existing building in order to bring it up to an acceptable condition.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
relevant
|
For LCI datasets: having a significant influence on or contribution to the overall environmental impact of the analysed process or system, resulting in a different quality level.
For LCA studies: having a significant influence on or contribution to the overall environmental impact of the analysed process or system, resulting in different conclusions or recommendations.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
renewable energy
|
Energy from renewable non-fossil sources
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
renewable resource
|
Resource that is grown, naturally replenished or naturally cleansed, on a human timescale.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
repair
|
Returning an item to an acceptable condition through the renewal, replacement or mending of worn, damaged or degraded parts.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
required service life
|
Service life required by the client or through regulations.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
reuse
|
Any operation through which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived, or are used for other purposes without reprocessing.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
scenario
|
Collection of assumptions and information concerning an expected sequence of possible future events.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
secondary fuel
|
Fuel recovered from previous use, or from waste, that substitutes for primary fuels.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
secondary good
|
Secondary material, recovered energy, reused part or similar as the product of a reuse, recycling, recovery, refurbishing or similar process.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
secondary material
|
Any material recovered from a previous use, or from waste, that substitutes for primary materials.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
service life (working life)
|
Period of time after installation during which a building or an assembled system (part of works) meets or exceeds the technical requirements and functional requirements.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
specific data
|
Data representative of a product, product group or construction service, provided by one supplier.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
substitution
|
Solving multifunctionality of processes and products by expanding the system boundaries and substituting the not-required function with an alternative way of providing it, i.e. the process(es) or product(s) that the not-required function supersedes. Effectively, the life cycle inventory of the superseded process(es) or product(s) is subtracted from that of the analysed system: i.e. it is ‘credited’. Substitution is a special (subtractive) case of applying the system expansion principle.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
system
|
Any good, service, event, basket of products, average consumption of a citizen, or similar object that is analysed in the context of the LCA study.
Note that ISO 14044:2006 generally refers to ‘product system’, whereas broader systems than single products can be analysed in an LCA study: hence here the term ‘system’ is used. In many but not all cases the term will hence refer to products, depending on the specific study object.
Moreover, as LCI studies can be restricted to a single unit process as part of a system, in this document the study object is also identified in a general way as ‘process/system’
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
system boundary
|
Interface in the assessment between a building and its surroundings or other product systems.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
system expansion
|
Adding specific processes or products and the related life cycle inventories to the analysed system. Used to make several multifunctional systems with an only partly equivalent set of functions comparable within LCA.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
system perspective
|
In contrast to a unit process or a part of a life cycle, the system perspective relates to the entire life cycle of an analysed system or process. For processes, this implies that the life cycle is completed. This term is used mainly in the context of identifying significant issues and quantifying inventory completeness or cut-off.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
third party
|
Person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the issues in question
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
technical building system
|
technical equipment for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, lighting, or for a combination thereof.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
technical performance
|
performance related to the capability of a construction works or an assembled system (part of works) to fulfil its required functions under the intended use conditions.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
technical requirement
|
Type and level of technical characteristics of a construction works or an assembled system (part of works) that are required or are a consequence of the requirements made by the client and/or by the users and/or by regulations.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
transparency
|
Open, comprehensive and understandable presentation of information.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
Type III environmental declaration
|
Environmental declaration providing quantified environmental data using predetermined parameters and, where relevant, additional environmental information.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
unit process
|
Smallest element considered in the life cycle inventory analysis for which input and output data are quantified. (Source: ISO 14040.) In the practice of LCA, both processes that are physically not further separable (such as unit operations in production plants) and also whole production sites are covered under ‘unit process’.
See also: unit process, black box; unit process, single operation; system.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
unit process, black box
|
A unit process that includes more than one single-operation unit process.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
unit process, single operation
|
A unit process that cannot be further subdivided into included processes.
|
ILCD Handbook
|
|
user
|
Person or organization for whom a building is designed (including building owner, manager and occupants).
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
upstream, downstream process
|
Process that either precedes (upstream) or follows (downstream) a given life cycle stage.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
|
waste
|
Substance or object that the holder discards or intends to discard, or is required to discard.
|
EN 15804/
EN 15978
|
