This is a technical update relating to the Offices v2.0 update and forms part of a series of related articles. To read the previous post on Energy & CO2 please follow this link.
The updated SKArating Offices scheme is driving a major evolution in how materials and embodied impacts are addressed in interior fit-out projects. Moving beyond merely requiring the presence of EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), the new scheme version harnesses the data within EPDs to benchmark performance, shifting from “do you have one?” to “what does it tell us?”
With the development of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and a newly developed and aligned archetype model, SKArating now introduces embodied carbon limits for most material categories such as partitions, furniture, finishes, and ceilings. These limits are informed by the near-top performing products in the market, triangulated from sector-leading supplier data sources in the UK market, and Materials2050 and OneClick LCA data.
Another key addition is the mandatory requirement for (most) elements to be designed for disassembly, setting a new baseline that enables reusability and circularity, and reducing legacy problems.
Options of Compliance for Projects
The new criteria have followed the SKArating system philosophy of incentivising good practice and making sure the scheme aligns with current good practice and not standard or best. Following this, the research team has responded to an ever widening band of good practice in the industry which veers close to best practice. A project that falls in line with current Net Zero alignment, and achieves close to 100% Circularity, as best practice. As a consequence, the criteria is providing multiple options for compliance, some veering more towards best practice and Net Zero aligned, and some at good practice and not necessarily aligned to Net Zero aligned performance. SKArating is always aiming to move the industry and market more widely than one or two parties and thus creating a more sustainable system change. With the proposed criteria, project teams can opt if they wish to target and achieve the Net Zero aligned criteria, labelled as such, or one of the other good practice levels in the list.
When projects achieve both the annual embodied and operational limits of the UK Net Zero Building Standard, they will be able to certify as a SKArating Net Zero aligned project. This will set them on a path to comply with the UK Net Zero Building Standard itself.
Ranking What Matters
Each issue in SKArating is ranked by its environmental impact relative to each other, and following the SKArating Philosophy this prioritises direct real impact over potential change in the future. There is also a reflection of the scheme’s aims and priorities from the brief which reflect current critical issues and priorities – Net Zero alignment and 100% Circularity being the two top issues. Following this, the Materials and Resource Management categories are of the highest ranking measures in the scheme. Hierarchy within the Materials category has been allocated following the embodied data and office sector patterns of design. The highest embodied impacts and quantity measures are found at the top with Joinery and many of the furniture measures, some of the newest MEP related measures are found at the bottom due to data quality and challenge of implementation in the current market.
MEP Embodied Impacts
Embodied impacts related to mechanical and electrical elements have started being addressed with three new measures covering some key mechanical, electrical and light fitting items. Because of the lack of progress for the MEP embodied impacts there is some way to be made before their accountability and positive impact can achieved. We will be reviewing closely the take-up and implementation of the new measures and refine accordingly into other schemes and revisions but initial industry engagement has been very positive.
Reducing Greenwash Risk
By using more available industry and market embodied impact data through an increase of EPDs and project LCA modelling, SKArating supports everyone involved reduce risks of using misleading claims and targets. Clients can ensure the performance they require will be more closely targeted and delivered, and architects and designers are supported by the provision of good practice knowledge through the good practice measure criteria benchmarks.
This marks a major step in aligning environmental and design decision-making with real-world lifecycle impacts, bridging the gap between targets and practice.
Measures of note:
- New – D89: new measure requiring the target and modelling of upfront embodied carbon in line with the limits of the UK Net Zero Building Standard.
- New – Chairs – Soft seating: splitting the chairs measure into task and soft seats to support the achievement of either/both and reflect each’s target limits of upfront carbon.
- New – M30 HVAC equipment: covering embodied impacts for heat pumps, heat recovery units and AHUs
- New – M31 cables, pipes, ducts and light controls: % of project scope to comply with one of the criteria, and expanded criteria for larger projects.
- New – M31 Light fittings: integrated lamp light fittings to align with one of the criteria, driver for re-fabrication of recently installed fittings, and expanded criteria for larger projects.
- New – M32 Decorative and other light fittings: requiring half of the fittings to comply with one of the criteria and covers main types of decorative fitting types.
- Updated – Measures M03 to M23 have been updated in their criteria and refined scoping sections.
- Combined measures such as Partitions; solid and glazed.
- Removed the overarching Materials measures, and M05 Hardwoods.
- Removed measures that are deemed standard industry practice or where regulations have been lifted.
Ecology & Timber
Moved D20 Timber to the Ecology impact category that has been added to the scheme. The move of this measure to Ecology reflects more accurately the impacts which responsible management and sourcing of timber and timber containing products has. Embodied impacts from the logging, processing and transporting of timber are included with all other elements in each of the Materials measures. If a project targets any Materials measure, they will also need to comply with the criteria of D20 Timber as in previous scheme versions.
The Public Consultation is now open, find out more and how to provide feedback here: https://ska-rating-training.thinkific.com/pages/offices-public-consultation