Overview
ISO 13315-2:2014 - Environmental management for concrete and concrete structures: Part 2: System boundary and inventory data defines a practical framework for establishing system boundaries and collecting the inventory data required to perform life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete, precast concrete and concrete structures. The standard clarifies which life cycle stages and flows should be considered (constituent production, concrete production, construction/execution, use, maintenance, demolition, recycling and disposal) and gives rules for consistent, comparable life cycle inventory (LCI) development.
Key topics and requirements
- System boundary demarcation: Requires clear definition of temporal and geographical system ranges and consistent boundaries when comparing alternatives. Exclusions are permitted if justified and explicitly reported.
- Life cycle stages covered: Production of cement, aggregates, admixtures and additions; reinforcing and prestressing steel; concrete production; construction/execution (formwork, reinforcement, earthworks); use and operation; maintenance and remedial activities; end-of-life (demolition, intermediate treatment, recycling, final disposal).
- Inventory data principles: Defines unit-based inventory data (per mass, volume, area, time, etc.) and outlines which input/output flows to quantify for robust LCI - resources, energy, materials, products, byproducts, wastes and emissions.
- Constituent-specific guidance: Examples include detailed boundaries for cement production (quarrying, raw material treatment, calcination, finishing, transport to supply stations included; transport from supply stations to place of use excluded) and corresponding data collection expectations.
- Scope of equipment/machinery impacts: Production of equipment is generally excluded, but may be included if justified - care is required to avoid double-counting.
- Quality assurance: The standard calls for a critical review and storage of inventory data to ensure reproducibility and transparency.
Practical applications and users
ISO 13315-2:2014 is intended for:
- LCA practitioners and sustainability consultants preparing comparative LCAs or environmental product declarations (EPDs) for concrete products and structures.
- Concrete and precast manufacturers gathering inventory data for supply chain reporting and product optimization.
- Structural and civil engineers integrating environmental performance into material and structural choices.
- Building owners, contractors and procurers using LCA results in specification, procurement and circular-economy planning.
- Regulators and policy makers developing lifecycle-based guidance or construction-sector targets.
Practical uses include comparative assessment of mixes and structural options, EPD generation, identifying hotspots (e.g., cement production), supporting low-carbon material selection and informing demolition/recycling strategies.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 13315-2:2014, environmental management for concrete, system boundary, inventory data, life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle inventory (LCI), concrete structures, cement production, reinforcing steel, EPD.
