EPD: news from Europe

The new standard En 15804: 2012 + A2: 2019 is the most important news from Europe in recent months regarding the development of EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) in the construction sector.

It introduces some substantial changes, compared to the old version, to the calculation of the product life cycle (LCA).

The main change concerns the obligation to deliver an Lca document which includes modules A1-A3 (production and consumption of energy and materials), C1-C4 (demolition / deconstruction processes, transport, disposal and recycling of the product) and module D (credits deriving from all flows in the end of life phases). Forms A4-A5 (transport and installation) and B1-B7 (relating to the use and maintenance of the product inside the building) will instead be mandatory only for EPD “from cradle to grave”.

A second modification concerns the possibility, in some conditions, of excluding modules C1-C4 and D and a third inserts some environmental parameters to be declared, which derive directly from the PEF world.

Following the entry into force of the standard En 15804: 2012 + A2: 2019, the process of revision of the EPDItaly documentation has already started, in particular of the Pcr ICMQ 001/15 rev. 3 for construction products, which has already been published and fully incorporates the provisions of the standard and of the EPDItaly Regulation, in revision 5.

Given the significant impact of the new standard on Epd to be developed, EPDItaly has established a transition period which will end on October 31, 2022, during which it will be possible for the manufacturer to use, at his choice, the Regulation rev. 4 and En 15804: 2012 + A1: 2013, already active for some time, through Pcr 001-15 rev. 2.1, or the new Regulation (just available) and the Pcr ICMQ 001/15 rev. 3, compliant with the new En 15804: 2012 + A2: 2019.

EPDItaly technicians are available for any clarifications.