1. LVL AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Figure 1.17. Life cycle approach of building product assessment. calculation rules are provided in the EN 16485 standard. The most used environmental indicator of EPDs is global warming potential (GWP), also known as carbon footprint. The GWP reflects the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in each stage of a product’s life cycle and is mainly the outcome of fossil fuel use in the raw material supply stage and energy use in the production stage (A1–3). At the building level, the EN 15978 standard provides systematic calculation rules for the assessment of the environmental performance of new and existing buildings. The environmental performance of wooden buildings derives from their light weight (compared to other building materials), energy efficiency of materials and buildings, life-time carbon storage in wood, and their renewable and sustainable origin. Wooden buildings typically achieve the same service time as other buildings, typically 50–100 years. Up to 100 years or longer service time is achievable with proper design and optimized maintenance. LVL Handbook Europe 23
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