Implications of using systematic decomposition structures to organize building LCA information: A comparative analysis of national standards and guidelines- IEA EBC ANNEX 72

Bernardette Soust-Verdaguer ,Wim Debacker ,Martin Röck ,Livia Ramseier ,Alice Moncaster ,Francesco Pomponi ,Guillaume Habert ,Petr Hájek ,Karen Allacker ,Juan Carlos Gómez De Cózar ,Claudiane Ouellet-Plamondon ,Roberta Di Bari ,Jakub Veselka ,Martin Volf ,Rafael Horn ,E.a Alsema ,Carmen Llatas ,Endrit Hoxha ,B Berg ,Damien Trigaux ,L Wastiel ,Alexander Hollberg ,Sébastien Lasvaux ,Zdenko Malík ,Antonín Lupíšek ,O Zara ,Lizzie Monique Pulgrossi ,Antonio Garcı́a Martı́nez ,María José Gomes ,Rolf Frischknecht ,Thomas Lützkendorf ,Bruno Peuportier ,A Gusson Baiocchi ,Katrin Lenz ,David Dowdell ,Vanessa Gomes Da Silva ,Maria Balouktsi ,Alexander Passer

doi:10.1088/1755-1315/588/2/022008

Abstract

Introduction: The application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique to a building requires the collection and organization of a large amount of data over its life cycle. The systematic decomposition method can be used to classify building components, elements and materials, overcome specific difficulties that are encountered when attempting to complete the life cycle inventory and increase the reliability and transparency of results. In this paper, which was developed in the context of the research project IEA EBC Annex 72, we demonstrate the implications of taking such approach and describe the results of a comparison among different national standards/guidelines that are used to conduct LCA for building decomposition. Methods: We initially identified the main characteristics of the standards/guidelines used by Annex participant countries. The “be2226” reference office building was used as a reference to apply the different national standards/guidelines related to building decomposition. It served as a basis of comparison, allowing us to identify the implications of using different systems/standards in the LCA practice, in terms of how these differences affect the LCI structures, LCA databases and the methods used to communicate results. We also analyzed the implications of integrating these standards/guidelines into Building Information Modelling (BIM) to support LCA. Results: Twelve national classification systems/standards/guidelines for the building decomposition were compared. Differences were identified among the levels of decomposition and grouping principles, as well as the consequences of these differences that were related to the LCI organization. In addition, differences were observed among the LCA databases and the structures of the results. Conclusions: The findings of this study summarize and provide an overview of the most relevant aspects of using a standardized building decomposition structure to conduct LCA. Recommendations are formulated on the basis of these findings.

Highlights

The application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique to a building requires the collection and organization of a large amount of data over its life cycle
The method described in ISO-14040 [3], ISO-14044 [4] and in EN-15978 [5] can be applied to define the scope of the study, identify the life cycle stages scenarios to be considered and determine the calculation procedure [5]. Aspects such as the building information structure and the systematic building decomposition are not defined. Considering this gap as a research opportunity, our aim in this paper is to show that integrating a systematic building decomposition for LCA purposes can improve the transparency and reliability of the assessment results and provide other benefits
Röck et al [15] highlighted the relevance of using a data structure and a naming convention that were based on a systematic approach (e.g., Omniclass [16], Uniclass [17], Uniformat [18], mostly based on ISO 12006-2 [19]) to conduct LCA, especially when coupled with Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Summary

Introduction

The application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique to a building requires the collection and organization of a large amount of data over its life cycle. The “be2226” reference office building was used as a reference to apply the different national standards/guidelines related to building decomposition It served as a basis of comparison, allowing us to identify the implications of using different systems/standards in the LCA practice, in terms of how these differences affect the LCI structures, LCA databases and the methods used to communicate results. The method described in ISO-14040 [3], ISO-14044 [4] and in EN-15978 [5] (adaptation to buildings) can be applied to define the scope of the study, identify the life cycle stages scenarios to be considered and determine the calculation procedure [5] Aspects such as the building information structure and the systematic building decomposition (i.e., decompose into systems and building components) are not defined. Röck et al [15] highlighted the relevance of using a data structure and a naming convention that were based on a systematic approach (e.g., Omniclass [16], Uniclass [17], Uniformat [18], mostly based on ISO 12006-2 [19]) to conduct LCA, especially when coupled with BIM

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion