Adding an EPD to the One Click LCA Database

Search for the EPD in the One Click LCA database.

Before you submit a request for an EPD to be added to the database, please check if it is not already present.

 

Search for the name of the product

If the product has a particular name you can search for this name, e.g. 'EPS foam insulation'. The displayed name of the EPD is always as specified by the manufacturer of the product. 

 

Search for the EPD number, the manufacturer or the EPD program

If the EPD has an EPD number you can search for it on the One Click LCA platform. (Not all EPDs are given an EPD number)

Sometimes EPDs are published in multiple languages, e.g. in English and German. In those cases remember that you can try to search also without e.g. the 'EN' or 'DE' at the end of the EPD number to find the EPD in another language (if available).

 

Example of an English and a German EPD number:

EPD-­MPA­-20140025­-CAG1­-EN 

EPD­-DBC-­20130042-­IBG1-­DE

 

If you could not find the EPD with the EPD number, it is likely not included to the database. If there is no EPD number you can also search for the manufacturer (owner of the declaration) or the programme holder (in the example below, IBU).

 

 

Check if the EPD data would be eligible for your tool     

There are various types of EPDs in the One Click LCA database, for example, those with data according to the CML (EN15804+A1), PEF (EN15804+A2) methodology which is most commonly used around the world and those according to the TRACI methodology, mainly used in Canada and USA. The EPD may be already present in the database, but due to the methodology which was used to record its emissions, it might not be available in your tool. Check which data methodology is required for your tool and if you are using a different methodology than the EPD you are looking at, it would not be eligible. More details of the different impact indicators these methodologies use can be found in our Impact Assessment Categories guidance.

 

Exceptions to data visibility

Building technology/building services EPDs are only visible under the 'Building Technology' section of the building material query. These resources will not be visible under any other section.

 

If the EPD can be used in the tool you are using, check if the EPD is valid

Check the validity date of the EPD

EPDs are generally released with a 3 or 5 year validity period. This means that after this period the emissions of the product in the EPD would have to be re-measured to be valid again. In most cases, the validity will be shown on the first page of the EPD, and in the general information section. If a validity period is missing it generally means that it is either a project-specific EPD (e.g. a type of concrete only used for one project) which should be added as Private Data or may not be valid.

 

 

Check if the EPD is externally verified

EPDs are most of the time externally verified, as an extra check of the validity of the recorded emission data. This is usually shown in the general information section of the EPD. One requirement of including EPDs in the One Click LCA database is that the data has to be externally verified. If a signature is missing the EPD might not be valid. 

 

Check the life cycle stages separation

The method the emissions are recorded is also important. Most EPDs record the emissions for each life cycle stage separately, in others, it would be one total emission factor which combines the A to D life-cycle stages. For the data to be usable on the One Click LCA platform, the data needs to be available for the different life cycle stages. The minimum requirement is that the stage A1-A3 is recorded. 

If there is data for A1-A3, but this is combined with B, C and D data, then this value is not usable, as there is no option to separate the factors for each life cycle stage. Some certification tools only look at the A-D phase as one number, so in those cases, the data can be a merged value, the French E+C- is an example of a tool which looks at the total emissions. 

An example of good life cycle stage separation (EPD data in the right format for database inclusion)

 

Check if an EPD has a mass conversion factor

If a resource has no information on the mass conversion factor (mass of declared unit), we will not be able to calculate the emissions for different functional units or use its emission data in graphs and results. If this is missing, the resources will not be available for use. The mass of the declared unit/functional unit is required for calculating transportation and end-of-life calculations.

In this instance, you may request the required information from the manufacturer. If you are able to provide this (e.g. statement or email from the manufacturer), we will be able to include the EPD for use in the software.

If the EPD is valid, submit the EPD to One Click LCA

You can submit your requested EPD to One Click LCA via Materials Compass.

Navigate to Materials Compass via the home page:

 

 

Click 'Add products'

 

 

You will be able to add your message and attach the EPD file before clicking 'Add' to send the request:

 

 

Our team will quality-check these requests and if suitable, ensure they are included in the One Click LCA database for use.