A leading window and door manufacturer has developed dynamic Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that generate precise carbon data for individual products and entire developments.
NorDan UK claims its development of dynamic EPDs “will transform the way whole-life carbon is measured within design projects, giving architects and specifiers greater control on sustainable product choices”.
The technology, which uses a custom-built back-end system, can understand each carbon variable within a design specification, including embodied carbon, operational carbon (Scope 1 and 2) and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 3).
The dynamic EPDs are generated based on the correct size of each window being used and are also responsive to changes in materials, including specific glazing, production methods and regulatory requirements, ensuring continuous compliance and relevance.
NorDan UK has generated more than 60,000 unique dynamic EPDs for projects during testing. BIMplus understands that NorDan UK is working on the EPD generator linking to its BIM objects.
The company claims it was one of the first manufacturers in Europe to develop standard EPDs (or ‘static’ as it prefers to call them) for its entire product range. The manufacturer now recognises the limitations of ‘static’ EPDs: they do not always provide a clear picture at a project level, particularly as windows are often custom-made. Dynamic EPDs provide the in-depth, granular data that architects need to make informed, sustainable choices, it said.
Accurate carbon information
Craig Greenwood, chief executive of NorDan UK, noted: “The industry is increasingly demanding precise carbon cost insights for design projects as we strive to meet the UK’s net-zero targets, so architects are under pressure to provide this information quickly and accurately.
“Through dynamic EPDs, we’re providing them with a solution. Architects and specifiers can get a more accurate understanding of the associated carbon than ever before. We then collaborate with them to ensure they have the right NorDan UK product to meet their design specification. It will revolutionise how the industry approaches carbon measurement.”
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