Module D in the Building Life Cycle: Significance Based on a Case Study Analysis

Abstract

According to the European standard for the assessment of the environmental performance of buildings (EN 15978), potential benefits and loads beyond the building's life cycle as a consequence of recycling, reuse or energy recovery of building materials can be declared in module D. However, in practice module D is rarely included in LCA studies as it requires an optional calculation step and information at the product level (from EPD's according to EN 15804) is often missing. By means of a case study analysis, considering five building cases with varying types of loadbearing structures, the present study evaluates the relative importance of module D on building level and provides a better insight in the main materials contributing to module D. The results show that based on the current Belgian end-of-life scenario's the contribution of module D can be significant at the building level (representing up to 50 % of the total life cycle impact). This contribution varies more according to the LCIA indicator considered than to the building variant. In terms of the materials, the metals represent the main contributors to module D.