DECLARATION OF GENERAL INFORMATION Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Vacuum Insulation Panel Introduction Microtherm deems it important to have an insight into the environmental impacts that are encountered during the production of vacuum insulation panels. Microtherm has set up an LCA/EPD project with the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). One of the outcomes of this project is this EPD for the production of 1 m 2 vacuum insulation panel from cradle-to-gate. Name and address of manufacturer Microtherm, Industriepark-noord 1, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium Tel (+32) 3 7601980, Fax (+32) 3 760 1999 E-Mail info@microthermgroup.com Website: www.microthermgroup.com Description of the product s use and declared unit The EPD refers to the production of a vacuum insulation panel produced by Microtherm. Microtherm SlimVac vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) are high performance microporous insulation panels covered in an impermeable outer envelope which is heat sealed under vacuum to optimise the thermal performance. The microporous core material consists of fumed silica, opacifier and fibers. The vacuum within the insulation ensures that Slimvac panels have a very low thermal conductivity and can be used for the thermal insulation of buildings. Environmental indicators are expressed for the cradle-to-gate production of the vacuum insulation panel. The declared unit is defined as 1 m² of a VIP insulation panel with a thickness of 2 cm, a lambda value of 0,007 W/mK and a density of 185 kg/m 3 Product name & visual representation of the product Microtherm SlimVac Description of the product components and or materials A Microtherm SlimVac insulation panel consists of a core packed in a non-woven or a shrinkwrap and heat sealed under vacuum in a barrier foil. The core is made of fumed silica, silicon carbide and fibres. The barrier foil consists of laminate of three metallized polyester films and one polyethylene sealing layer. The non-woven is a PET film. The shrinkwrap is a low density polyethylene film. EPD programme and programme operator The present EPD is in line with the standardization work by CEN TC 350 (EN 15804 and EN 15942). A programme operator related to the CEN T 350 has not been established yet. 1
Date of declaration and validity May, 2013 The EPD has a 5 year validity period (May, 2018) Life cycle stages not considered It concerns a cradle-to-gate EPD, meaning that the life cycle stage up to the factory gate of Microtherm are included: A1: raw material extraction, processing A2: transport to the manufacturer A3: manufacturing process including packaging Not included are the life cycle stages: A4: transportation to the building site A5: installation into the building B1 to B7: use stage C1 to C4: end of life stage Comparability Please note that EPDs of construction products may not be comparable if they do not comply with the CEN TC 350 (EN15804 and EN15942) standards. Moreover this EPD is created based on a declared unit. A declared unit is used instead of the functional unit when the precise function of the product or scenarios at the building level is not stated or is unknown. Products can only be compared when executing an identical function. Representativeness of the EPD This EPD is representative for a VIP produced by Microtherm at their production site located in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. Declaration of material content The product does not contain materials listed in the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for authorization. Retrieve information Explanatory material may be obtained by contacting Microtherm: mailto:info@microthermgroup.com Or check http//:www.microthermgroup.com for product safety sheet. Demonstration of verification The LCA was perfomed by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). No third party verification has been performed. 2
DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS Life cycle flow diagram This cradle to gate EPD gives information on the product stage: Product stage: The product stage includes: o A1: raw material extraction, processing o A2: transport to the manufacturer o A3: manufacturing process including packaging including provision of all materials, products and energy, as well as waste processing up to the end-of-waste or disposal of final residues during the product stage. Reference service life: Not specified. Because it concerns a cradle-to-gate EPD, a declaration of the reference service life is not possible. 3
Parameters describing environmental impacts The following environmental parameters are expressed with the impact category parameters of the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Declaration of environmental parameters derived from LCA Parameters describing environmental impact Climate change kg CO 2 equiv. 2,24E+01 Ozone layer depletion kg CFC-11 equiv. 1,54E-05 Terrestrial acidification kg SO 2 equiv. 8,71E-02 Eutrophication kg PO 4 --- equiv. 4,45E-02 Photochemical oxidation kg Ethene equiv. 6,33E-03 Abiotic depletion - non fossils kg Sb equiv. 1,03E-04 Abiotic depletion - fossils MJ, net calorific value 3,37E+02 Parameters describing resource use The following environmental parameters apply data based on the life cycle inventory (LCI). Parameters describing resource use, primary energy Total use of renewable primary energy resources (primary energy and primary energy resources used as raw materials) Total use of non renewable primary energy resources (primary energy and primary energy resources used as raw materials) MJ, gross calorific value* MJ, gross calorific value* 1,07E+02 4,43E+02 *Energy use is expressed in MJ, gross calorific value. According to EN15804 these categories should be expressed in MJ, net calorific value. There is no method available to calculate the net calorific value. Parameters describing resource use, secondary materials and fuels, and use of water Use of secondary material** kg 0 Use of renewable secondary fuels** MJ, gross calorific value* 0 Use of non renewable secondary fuels** MJ, gross calorific value* 0 Net use of fresh water m 3 1,69E-01 *Energy use is expressed in MJ, gross calorific value. According to EN15804 these categories should be expressed in MJ, net calorific value. There is no method available to calculate the net calorific value. **only for foreground process from which LCI data are made available by the insulation producing company - the number does not include processes and materials modelled by means of background data, eg transportation, electricity, ancillary materials... 4
Parameters describing different waste categories and further output material flows The parameters describing waste categories and other material flows are output flows derived from the life cycle inventory (LCI). Other environmental information describing waste categories Hazardous waste disposed kg 9,05E-04 Non hazardous waste disposed kg 2,19E+00 Radioactive waste disposed kg 1,39E-03 Other environmental information describing output flows Components for re-use** kg 0 Materials for recycling** kg 0 Materials for energy recovery** kg 0,1668 Exported energy** MJ per energy carrier 0 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EMISSIONS TO INDOOR AIR, SOIL AND WATER DURING USE STAGE The horizontal standards on measurement of release of regulated dangerous substances from construction products using harmonised test methods according to the provisions of the respective technical committees for European product standards are not yet available, therefore the EPD can lack this information (CEN TC 351). However, no emissions to indoor air are expected. REFERENCES ISO 14025: Environmental Labels and Declarations - Type III environmental declarations Principles and procedures (2006) ISO 14040: Environmental management Life cycle assessment Principles and framework (2006) ISO 14044: Environmental management Life cycle assessment Requirements and guidelines (2006) EN 15804: Sustainability of construction works Environmental product declarations core rules for the product category of construction products (2012) EN 15942: Sustainability of construction works Environmental product declarations Communication format Business to Business (2011) Background LCA report (ISO 14040 and ISO 14044) prepared by VITO Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium, Tel.: +32-14-33 55 11, Email: karolien.peeters@vito.be Authors: Karolien Peeters, Carolin Spirinckx 5