The RICS 2nd Edition was published in September 2023 and will be effective from the 1st of July 2024.
The transition from the 1st to the 2nd edition of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment represents a significant shift towards a more inclusive, comprehensive, and globally harmonized approach to carbon measurement in the built environment. This shift not only addresses the immediate needs of the industry but also positions the standard as a leading framework for achieving sustainable and net-zero goals across the built and natural environments.
This guidance supports the new 'Whole life carbon assessment, RICS - 2nd Edition’ tool, which is designed to fulfil the requirements of the RICS 2nd Edition.
Illustrated by Leonardo Poli
The tool can be applied to any type of construction or built asset involving any of the following:
- new construction/new-build assets
- demolition of existing and construction of new assets
- retrofit/refurbishment of existing assets
- fit-out of built assets
The tool is only applicable to all kinds of built assets, including all types of buildings, small
projects in the UK and CANNOT be used for infrastructure assets/civil engineering works.
All modules must be included (A1 to C4, D1 & D2). A0 is optional.
Follow these steps to complete an assessment
Create a project and select the right calculation tool
Create a building project and select the tool Whole life carbon assessment, RICS - 2nd Edition
Create your first design and set up the LCA parameters (This is usually set by default, but we recommend checking these)
Set up your first design and go through the LCA parameters.
- Default service life: RICS V2 default service life
- Default transportation distance: UK- RICS
- Material manufacturing localisation target: Disabled material localization. Use method v2.1 for One Click LCA generic data
- End-of-life scenario - Market scenarios
- Country specific end of life scenarios: United Kingdom - RICS 2nd edition
- End-of-life energy recovery (module D) substituted energy mix (only for Market scenarios) - District heat UK / Several profiles - IEA2022
- Country specific site wastage - United Kingdom
NOTE: We recommend disabling the LCA parameter Material manufacturing localisation target.
If you are however enabling this, please choose v2.1 (Recommended) and set the corresponding LCA parameter -
Material manufacturing localisation target: United Kingdom Electricity profile - IEA2022
Fill in the calculation period
Set the calculation period to 60 years by opening ‘Calculation Period’ and inputting 60 years.
Fill in the building area
Fill in the Building area question form by entering the GIFA (Gross Internal Floor Area), using this specific datapoint Gross Internal Floor Area (IPMS/RICS)
Inputs - Top up Factor
1. Building Level Contingency
To account for uncertainty in this standard, the WLC assessor must consider contingency for the project based on the uncertainty at the time of the assessment.
Choose one of the following for input in this section. This is applied to all modules A-D, excluding operational energy (B6) and operational water (B7) consumptions. The selected factor is applied to all elements and scenarios used in the calculations.
Table 10: Default contingency factors
The UKGBC’s Embodied Carbon: Improving Modelling and Reporting provides useful guidance on aspects that may affect contingency relating to uncertainty.
In the last revision of the RICS guidance dated 3 August 2024, RICS has appended to Table 10, another column. For project at early design phase, the carbon data and quantities uncertainty factors are NOT to be applied. These are ONLY applied at Technical and post-completion phases.
In the tool, your settings for a project at early design phase should be as follows for the Top-up factors tab.
2. Data Quality Uncertainty
There are two choices here:
- Enabled : Data quality uncertainty factor is calculated from the top 10 most contributing materials of the design. The factor consists of data quality metrics depending on the year, verification and standard the material is based on of each resource with the addition of technological and geographical representativeness answers in the building materials query.
- Disabled : No data quality top up is added in the calculations.
Inputs - Pre-Construction Work - A0 (optional)
This is in the first section of the Pre-Construction tab.
Module A0 covers non-physical pre-construction activities, such as surveys and activities associated with the design of the asset.
These can be a significant economic cost, but for buildings, this do not normally have a significant environmental impact. A0 is therefore generally assumed to be zero for buildings.
Inputs - Building materials
Fill in your project information in One Click LCA by entering the design either manually or by import your data (see different import options here; guidance for data import can be found here). If you need help finding the right datasets for your building materials, check our guidance pages here and here.
There is an Excel template specific for this tool, please see the FAQ section for this.
For transportation of the materials (A4), each material row will receive a default transportation distance and method based on the table of values as stipulated in the RICS guidance.
| Transport scenario (both road and sea to be used) | km by road | km by sea |
| Locally manufactured (ready-mixed concrete) | 20 | - |
| Locally manufactured (general), e.g. aggregate, earth, asphalt | 50 | - |
|
Regionally manufactured, e.g. plasterboard, blockwork, insulation, carpet, glass |
80 | - |
|
Nationally manufactured, e.g. structural timber, structural steelwork, reinforcement, precast concrete |
120 | - |
|
European manufactured, e.g. cross-laminated timber (CLT), facade modules |
1,500 | 100 |
| Globally manufactured, e.g. specialist stone cladding | 500 | 10,000 |
Table 17: Default transport scenarios for UK projects
Material or product mass should be obtained from acceptable sources, as specified in section 4.7 of the RICS guidance, and account for any material losses during transport wherever possible.
A4 related calculations are covered in detail in the FAQ section below.
There are now three additional fields to be verified for the calculation of carbon data confidence scores. These are found on the rightmost side of each data row.
Table 11: Carbon data quality matrix used to generate data confidence scores during technical design, construction and post-completion phases; these are assessed for each key product/material and then averaged, weighted by their embodied impact
The tool is aligned to the above table.
- For Geographical representativeness, we have the options as defined in this matrix
- For Technological representativeness, the options represent likely combinations of the Technology and Product specificity combinations
The default answer for the Geographical and Technological representative fields in the Building Materials tab, for each row, is always the highest score.
Users should select the appropriate value to each row based on the EPD they have used for their product.
The quantities uncertainty factor
A quantities uncertainty factor for key products (the most impactful products and materials used) provides an indication of the uncertainty associated with the quantities used for the WLCA
Table 13: Quantities uncertainty levels to be used to assess quantities of key products during the technical design, construction and post-completion phases
The tool has the same set of options for selection.
During the detailed design, construction and post-completion phases, the quantities uncertainty factor must be assessed using the approach set out in this section, and this assessment must be included in the WLCA report.
Inputs - Energy consumption, annual
Inputs must include all operational energy used in the building, including heating, hot water, cooling, ventilation, lighting, cooking, equipment and lifts, broken down separately by fuel type and energy end use.
The inclusion of any energy use related to external works (e.g. car park lighting) is optional.
This is available in the tool under the Usage, External Works (checkbox) and Energy Usage fields.
Inputs - Water consumption, annual
All carbon impacts related to water supply and wastewater treatment, as measured and/or predicted over the life cycle of the asset (excluding water use during maintenance, repair, replacement and refurbishment that are reported elsewhere), must be reported under module B7.
The tool covers all of the three sub-modules.
Inputs - Construction: installation process (A5)
The A5 inputs are split and reported as four separate sub-modules.
Figure 12: Sub-modules of module A5
Inputs - A5.1 can be found in the Pre-Construction Work tab
Inputs - A5.2 to A5.4 can be found in the Construction site operations tab
Inputs - In-use impacts (B1)
Any non-energy-related carbon removals or emissions arising from components during the life of the built asset must be reported in B1.
This can be input in the Emissions and Removals tab of the tool.
Particular attention should be paid to any emissions arising from refrigerants and insulation blowing agents with GWP over the life cycle of the project.
Annual refrigerant leakage from MEP equipment must be accounted for, as detailed in CIBSE TM65.
Inputs - Maintenance impacts (B2) ,Repair impacts (B3) & Replacement impacts (B4)
Module B2 must account for the carbon impacts from any activities relating to maintenance processes, including cleaning, as well as any relevant products used and waste produced over the calculation period.
Module B3 must take into account carbon impacts from all activities that relate to repair processes, and any products used and waste produced over the RSP. All impacts from the production, transportation to and from site, and installation of the repaired items must be included.
Module B4 must take into account any carbon impacts associated with the anticipated replacement of built asset components, including any impacts from the replacement process, over the RSP. All impacts from the production, transportation to site and installation of the replacement items must be included, as well as any losses during these processes, as well as any impacts associated with the removal and end-of-life treatment of replaced items.
The repair and replacement impacts must be considered using the same data for materials and products as was used in modules A1–A5 for installation and modules C and D for their end of life.
You can input the data for these modules in the Maintenance, annual tab.
Note: For B4, any loads and benefits beyond the system boundary from the recovery of materials from A5 or C1–C4 will also be used for the recovery of any materials in B4, reported in D1.
Table 20: Indicative component lifespans in the RICS guidance indicates clearly, the expected lifespans of building elements/components in the respective building parts.
A note on impacts from retrofit/refurbishment/planned changes (B5)
A module B5 assessment should include the same scope as module A, i.e. A1 to A5.
All impacts arising from the production, transport to site and installation of the components used for a change or refurbishment planned prior to project completion, but undertaken during the in-use stage, must be included in B5.
Adjustments must also be made to all modules B, C and D in the WLCA from the point of change, in order to accommodate the impact of the altered asset.
Before undertaking a B5 assessment, please check the RICS guidance (pg. 92) on how this is defined.
Inputs - Deconstruction and demolition impacts (C1)
The impacts arising from any on- or offsite deconstruction and demolition activities at the end of life of the asset, including any energy consumption for site accommodation and plant use, must be considered in C1.
The tool is aligned with the prescribed scenarios, as given in the guidelines (Table 25: C1 values as a proportion of A5.2, to be adjusted after reporting to allow for appropriate grid decarbonisation at assumed date of recovery)
Download the results report
Download LCA results
Navigate to the results page, click on 'More actions' and download the RICS v2.0 - XLSX results report.
The results report is aligned exactly to the RICS 2nd edition reporting requirements, as outlined in Chapter 6 Reporting requirements for WLCAs.
The results report is in a single Excel workbook, with 6 separate worksheets, covering all of the reporting templates, as required.
Decarbonisation - How is this calculated?
The tool adheres to the guidance for the reporting of decarbonised results. This is automated in the tool.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do you work the carbon emissions factor for the transportation profiles in One Click LCA, for example, this particular profile Carbon only - HGV (all diesel), All rigids, average laden, accounted for the return trip?
A: All transportation profiles are calculated in line with section 5.1.3 Transport impacts (A4) in the Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment, Professional standard, global, 2nd edition, September 2023.
Please note the following:
Transport impacts must include all stages of the journey of the products following their departure from the final manufacturing plant to the project site, including return journeys, taking into account any interim stops at storage depots and/or distribution centres.
Transport impacts should be calculated as follows:
A4 = material or product mass (a) x transport distance (b) x [carbon conversion factor outward (c1) + (empty running factor x carbon conversion factor return (c2))]
Here are two examples of this is worked out as carbon factors for the profiles in the software.
Carbon only - HGV (all diesel), All rigids, average laden, accounted for the return trip
Source: UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2023 - Freighting goods
| All value declared in kg CO2e | tonkm average | tonkm 100 % | km 100% | km avg | km 0% |
| 0.17819 | 0.12509 | 0.90784 | 0.82313 | 0.65828 |
Then we calculate the full net load:
Km avg / tonkm avg = net average load
0.82313 kg CO2e /km / 0.17819 kg CO2e / tonkm
=4.619395 ton
Finally we convert the 0% km value to per tonkm value to cover how much is the share of the materials of the empty trip per tonkm:
0.65828 kg CO2e/km / 4.619395 ton x 43% = 0.061276 kg CO2e/tonkm
And this is added to the kg CO2e/tonkm average value
(0.17819 + 0.061276) kg CO2e/tonkm = 0.239467 kg CO2e/tonkm
Carbon only - HGV (all diesel), All HGVs, average laden, accounted for the return trip
Source: UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting 2023 - Freighting goods
| All value declared in kg CO2e | tonkm average | tonkm 100 % | km 100% | km avg | km 0% |
| 0,096957 | 0,072150 | 0,98495 | 0,87204 | 0,64257 |
Then we calculate the full net load:
Km avg / tonkm avg = net average load
0,87204 kg CO2e /km / 0,096957 kg CO2e / tonkm
=8.994090 ton
Finally we convert the 0% km value to per tonkm value to cover how much is the share of the materials of the empty trip per tonkm:
0,64257 kg CO2e/km / 8.994090 ton x 43% = 0.030721 kg CO2e/tonkm
And this is added to the kg CO2e/tonkm average value
(0,096957 + 0.030721) kg CO2e/tonkm = 0.127678 kg CO2e/tonkm
Q: Where can I see the top up factors and uncertainty scores in my design?
A: On the results page, after the results summary, you will be able to find this section named "Most contributing materials (Global warming potential - Non-Decarbonised scenario)"
If you scroll further down, you will find this section which shows the top ups and uncertainty scores calculated.
Q: How is biogenic carbon accounted and reported?
A. There are several mentions of biogenic carbon in the guidelines in sections 2.1, 4.11.1, 4.11.6, 5.2.5, 6.3.5, Appendix K and N.
Figure 2: Building and infrastructure life cycle stages and information modules (adapted from EN 15978, EN 17472 and EN 15643, with additions to illustrate biogenic carbon)
Emissions and removals of all types of carbon (fossil carbon, land use and land use change (LULUC) carbon, and biogenic carbon) are assessed and reported in the modules in which they occur. However, as Figure 2 shows, when reporting upfront carbon (as described below) the sequestered biogenic carbon stored within construction products incorporated into an asset is not included, but is reported separately.
The guidelines in section 4.11.1 Biogenic carbon makes clear the specifics.
Note: For timber, biobased packaging or timber formwork that is not sustainably sourced, no removal of biogenic carbon must be considered at any point in the life cycle. However, any emission or transfer of sequestered carbon from timber that has not been sustainably sourced must be considered as an emission of carbon arising from land use and land use change (LULUC), considered in the same way as a fossil carbon emission.
If correctly assessed – accounting correctly for all the co-products, waste and combustion of biomass during the production of sustainably sourced timber and other biomass – the sequestered biogenic carbon contained in products and their packaging should be reported as a removal of biogenic CO2 in A1–A3 (i.e. a negative emission of CO2), as an emission of biogenic CO2 for any packaging disposed of in A5, and as an emission of biogenic CO2 in C3 or C4 for the product at end of life. Sustainably sourced biobased product wastage in A5, and any replacement of sustainably sourced biobased products or packaging in B2–B4, will have balanced removals and emissions of biogenic carbon in each module, unless methane is emitted during disposal.
Because there should be a biogenic carbon balance over modules A–C, it makes little difference whether biogenic carbon is included in targets for embodied and whole life carbon, as the removals of biogenic carbon in modules A1–A3 are balanced by emissions in modules C3 and C4.
Biogenic carbon removals and emissions from modules A1–A3 (the sequestered biogenic carbon within products) must not be included in the calculation of upfront carbon, but must be reported separately as the sequestered biogenic carbon stored within the asset in A1–A3.
Biogenic carbon and LULUC carbon must be included with fossil carbon in the calculation of both embodied carbon and WLC.
For timber or other biobased materials (biogenic carbon) that is modelled as reused or recycled at the end of life, the biogenic carbon sequestered within it should be taken into account as a transfer (emission) from C3.
For any net output of biomass into module D, the transferred biogenic carbon should be treated as a removal (a negative emission). Any biogenic carbon sequestered in the substituted product or material in D1 should also be considered in D1. Deducting the impact of the substituted product involves deducting the removal of sequestered carbon in the substituted product, so it will be equivalent to adding it as an emission in D1. If the quantity of sequestered carbon in the recovered and substitute products are the same, this will result in a biogenic carbon balance.
Q: Why are the subtotals in the RICS v2.0 - XLSX results report differently from what I have manually added up?
A. The guidelines in section 6.1.4 Accuracy of reporting states the following:
The carbon impacts reported must reflect the accuracy of the calculation, which will depend on the project phases at which the assessor is reporting.
• Early design phase: at building or asset level, calculations and totals should be reported to two significant figures (e.g. 230 kgCO2e/m2 or 1200 kgCO2e/m2 rather than 234.3kgCO2e/m2 or 1234.4 kgCO2e/m2).
• Technical design/construction/post-completion phase: at building or asset level, calculations and totals should be reported to three significant figures (e.g. 234 kgCO2e/m2 or 1230 kgCO2e/m2 rather than 234.3 kgCO2e/m2 or 1234.4 kgCO2e/m2).
Depending on what you have set as the phase of the project of reporting, the subtotals will reflect what the guidelines have stated.
Q: Which set of carbon factors are used for B6 calculations?
A. The guidelines in Appendix H (H1 Emissions associated with energy usage) states the following:
Energy usage in buildings is responsible for different types of carbon emissions:
- direct emissions associated with energy generation (scope 2), distribution (T&D/scope 3) and use (scope 1, e.g. combustion)
- indirect emissions associated with energy generation and distribution (WTT/scope 3), and
- indirect emissions associated with the embodied carbon of the infrastructure needed to generate, distribute and store the energy (scope 3).
It is important to understand the whole energy supply chain when choosing a carbon conversion factor for B6 calculations. For a WLCA over the RSP, carbon conversion factors must include all emissions listed above.
The datapoint for input in B6 is taken from set 1 for design decision-making.
The Energy-supplementary tables for Set 1: Whole-life carbon design decision making, gives the following values.
| Direct emissions (Scope 2) | WTT emissions (indirect) | Direct (T&D) | WTT emissions (indirect) | Where do you account for it in WLC assessment? | Formula/value | Where do you account for it in WLC assessment? | Formula/value |
| #kWh/yr x 60 x 0.2071 kg CO2e/kWh UK government conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions: UK electricity |
#kWh/yr x 60 x 0.0459 kg CO2e/kWh UK government conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions: UK electricity WTT |
#kWh/yr x 60 x 0.0179 kg CO2e/kWh UK government conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions: UK electricity T&D |
#kWh/yr x 60 x 0.0040 kg CO2e/kWh UK government conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions: UK electricity WTT of T&D |
B6 | #kWh/yr x 60 x 0.020* kg CO2e/kWh RICS PS: Embodied carbon of average grid electricity power generation source |
B6 | #kWh/yr x 60 x 0.0004** kg CO2e/kWh RICS PS: Embodied carbon of electricity grid infrastructure (cables and transformers) |
Adding up the carbon factors (0.2071 + 0.0459 + 0.0179 + 0.0040 + 0.020 + 0.0004), gives 0.2953 kgCO2e/kWh
The datapoint currently in the tool reflects this as rounded up to 0.3 kgCO2e/kWh.
If you see the detailed calculations, you will find it reflected as 0.2953 kg CO2e/kWh.
Q: How do I fill in the existing GLA templates with the new RICS v2.0 results report?
A. The existing GLA templates are aligned to the previous RICS v1.0 guidelines. It is expected that GLA will issue new guidance to align with the new RICS v2.0 guidelines. This is the current advisory from GLA with regards to GLA submissions:
The RICS WLC methodology's second edition came into effect on 1 July 2024. The GLA WLC guidance document (including benchmarks) and template are underpinned by first edition methodology, so referable applications should provide assessment in accordance with this guidance. Applicants can additionally provide assessments in accordance with second edition methodology if they wish. Revisions relating to second edition methodology are being considered as we look to update GLA guidance in future.
Please see this for more details.
Q: Is there an Excel import template for the tool?
A: Yes, there is. You can find the relevant import template to RICS v2 tool here:
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