Industry First Guidance on Embodied Carbon of MEP Products

Elementa Consulting were commissioned by CIBSE in 2020 to develop a methodology for calculating the embodied carbon of MEP systems often left undiscussed in current embodied carbon discussions. This guidance, co-authored by Global Lead of Life Cycle Research Louise Hamot and Associate Clara Bagenal George will be published as CIBSE Technical Memorandum (TM) 65.

With whole life carbon assessment becoming mandatory across the industry, CIBSE TM 65 allows manufacturers and consultants to approach these assessments with greater confidence and consistency in calculating the embodied carbon of MEP products where Environmental Product Declaration’s (EPD’s) are not yet available. Although this guidance is primarily for engineers and consultants working in the UK and in Europe, the methodology developed can be applied to MEP products that are manufactured all over the world.

Louise Hamot suggests that “only through considering both embodied and operational carbon can we truly mitigate global warming”. In addition, Clara Bagenal George believes that TM65 can accelerate the adoption of whole life carbon thinking by engineers and manufacturers, “hopefully, this guidance will move the industry towards a greater awareness of the whole life carbon impacts of MEP related decisions and will incentivise more EPDs for MEP products.”

TM 65 will be launched via CIBSE later this month on the CIBSE Knowledge Portal. In the meantime, please see CIBSE Journal Article for more information on TM65.

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