EN 15804

EN 15804 is a European standard that provides the core rules for developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for construction products. It ensures consistency, transparency, and comparability across different materials and services in the building sector.

📘 What EN 15804 Covers

EN 15804 defines the Product Category Rules (PCRs) for EPDs, including:

• ✅ Indicators to declare: Global warming potential, ozone depletion, water use, etc.

• ✅ Lifecycle stages: From raw material extraction (A1) to end-of-life (C1–C4) and potential reuse/recycling benefits (D)

• ✅ Data quality requirements: Specifies how accurate and representative the data must be

• ✅ Impact assessment rules: How to calculate environmental impacts using LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)

• ✅ Communication standards: Ensures EPDs are clear, consistent, and comparable

🔄 Lifecycle Modules in EN 15804

🆕 Updates in EN 15804:2019+A2

The latest version introduces:

• More detailed reporting of biogenic carbon (important for timber)

• Mandatory inclusion of module D to reflect circular economy benefits

• Alignment with the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) initiative

You can read more on EPD Italy’s summary of EN 15804 or explore the official UNI EN 15804:2021 standard.