BS EN 16757:2017

What is BS EN 16757 - Product category rules for concrete and concrete elements about?  

BS EN 16757 is a European standard on concrete and concrete elements that provides core rules for all construction products and services. 

BS EN 16757 defines the parameters to be reported, what EPD types (and life cycle stages) to be covered, what rules to be followed in order to generate Life Cycle Inventories (LCI) and conduct Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) and the data quality to be used in the development of EPDs. 

BS EN 16757 for concrete and concrete elements: 

• Defines the system boundaries 
• Defines the modelling and assessment of material-specific characteristics 
• Defines allocation procedures for multi-output processes along the production chain 
• Defines allocation procedures for reuse and recycling 
• Includes the rules for calculating the LCI and the LCIA underlying the EPD 
• Provides guidance/specific rules for the determination of the reference service life (RSL) 
• Gives guidance on the establishment of default scenarios 
• Gives guidance on default functional units for concrete elements. 

BS EN 16757 is intended to be used either for cradle to gate, cradle to gate with options or cradle to grave assessment, provided the intentions are properly stated in the system boundary description. 

NOTE: Within the construction works context, a cradle to grave declaration delivers a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental impact associated with concrete and concrete elements. 

Who is BS EN 16757 - Product category rules for concrete and concrete elements for? 

BS EN 16757 on PCR of concrete is useful for: 

• Builders 
• Architects 
• Manufacturers of concrete and concrete elements 

Why should you use BS EN 16757 - Product category rules for concrete and concrete elements?  

Product Category Rules (PCRs) are used as complements to the general programme instructions (GPI), e.g. in terms of calculation rules, building scenarios, and EPD contents. 

BS EN 16757 provides the objective of PCR to provide common rules specific for concrete and concrete elements for building and civil engineering works. 

BS EN 16757 navigates you through the types of EPD and PCR with respect to life cycle stages and their information modules to be included when assessing construction work. 

BS EN 16757 specifies the inventory analysis on the data collection and allocation of input flows and output emissions. 

Content of the EPD is mentioned in BS EN 16757 that includes the declaration of general information and environmental parameters derived from LCA. 

BS EN 16757 provides additional information on the release of dangerous substances to indoor air, soil and water during the use stage. Verification and validity of an EPD are set out in BS EN 16757. 

Overall, BS EN 16757 guides you through the PCR of concrete used in building to define clear guidelines for performing the underlying LCA to ensure comparability between EPDs. 

In this way, the recognition of a product and material as a functioning component of a building is able to assess the overall environmental impact of a building.