Section 5.409 — LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

5.409.1 Scope.

[BSC-CG] Effective July 1, 2024, projects consisting of newly constructed building(s) with a combined floor area of 100,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.409.2 or Section 5.409.3. Alteration(s) to existing building(s) where the combined altered floor area is 100,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, 5.409.2, or 5.409.3. Addition(s) to existing building(s) where the total floor area combined with the existing building(s) is 100,000 square feet or greater shall comply with

5-24 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

either Section 5.105.2, Section 5.409.2, or Section 5.409.3. Effective January 1, 2026, the combined floor area shall be 50,000 square feet or greater.

[DSA-SS] Projects consisting of newly constructed building(s) with a combined floor area of 50,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.409.2 or Section 5.409.3. Alteration(s) to existing building(s) where the combined altered floor area is 50,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, 5.409.2, or 5.409.3. Addition(s) to existing building(s) where the total floor area combined with the existing building(s) is 50,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, Section 5.409.2, or Section 5.409.3.

5.409.2 Whole building life cycle assessment. Projects shall conduct a cradle-to-grave whole building life cycle assessment performed in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, excluding operating energy, and demonstrating a minimum 10-percent reduction in global warming potential (GWP) as compared to a reference baseline building of similar size, function, complexity, type of construction, material specification, and location that meets the requirements of the California Energy Code currently in effect. Software used to conduct the whole building life cycle assessment, including reference baseline building, shall have a data set compliant with ISO 14044, and ISO 21930 or EN 15804, and the software shall conform to ISO 21931 and/or EN 15978. The software tools and data sets shall be the same for evaluation of both the baseline building and the proposed building.

Notes:

1. Software for calculating whole building life cycle assessment is available for free at Athena Sustainable Materials Institute (https://calculatelca.com/software/impact-estimator/) and OneClick LCA-Planetary (www.oneclicklca.com/planetary). Paid versions include, but are not limited to, Sphera GaBi Solutions (gabi.sphera.com), SimaPro (simapro.com), OneClick LCA (www.oneclicklca.com) and Tally for Revit (apps.autodesk.com).
2. ASTM E2921-22 “Standard Practice for Minimum Criteria for Comparing Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments for Use with Building Codes, Standards, and Rating Systems” may be consulted for the assessment.
3. In addition to the required documentation specified in Section 5.409.2.3, Worksheet WS-9 may be required by the enforcing entity to demonstrate compliance with the requirements.

5.409.2.1 Building components. Building enclosure components included in the assessment shall be limited to glazing assemblies, insulation, and exterior finishes. Primary and secondary structural members included in the assessment shall be limited to footings and foundations, and structural columns, beams, walls, roofs, and floors.

5.409.2.2 Reference study period. The reference study period of the proposed building shall be equal to the reference baseline building and shall be 60 years.

5.409.2.3 Verification of compliance. A summary of the GWP analysis produced by the software and Worksheet WS-4 signed by the design professional of record shall be provided in the construction documents as documentation of compliance. A copy of the whole building life cycle assessment which includes the GWP analysis produced by the software, in addition to maintenance and training information, shall be included in the operation and maintenance manual and shall be provided to the owner at the close of construction. The enforcing agency may require inspection and inspection reports in accordance with Sections 702.2 and 703.1 during and at completion of construction to demonstrate substantial conformance. Inspection shall be performed by the design professional of record or third party acceptable to the enforcing agency.

5.409.3 Product GWP compliance—prescriptive path. Each product that is permanently installed and listed in Table 5.409.3 shall have a Type III environmental product declaration (EPD), either product-specific or factory-specific.

5.409.3.1 Products shall not exceed the maximum GWP value specified in Table 5.409.3.

Exception: Concrete may be considered one product category to meet compliance with this section. A weighted average of the maximum GWP for all concrete mixes installed in the project shall be less than the weighted average maximum GWP allowed per Table 5.409.3 using Exception Equation 5.409.3.1. Calculations shall be performed with consistent units of measurement for the material quantity and the GWP value. For the purposes of this exception, industry-wide EPDs are acceptable.

Exception EQUATION 5.409.3.1

GWP n < GWP allowed

where

GWP n = Σ (GWP n )(v n )

and

GWP allowed = Σ (GWP allowed )(v n )

and

n = each concrete mix installed in the project GWP n = the GWP for concrete mix n per concrete mix EPD, in kg CO 2 e/m [3]

GWP allowed = the GWP potential allowed for concrete mix n per Table 5.409.3 v n = the volume of concrete mix n installed in the project, in m [3]

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

TABLE 5.409.3—PRODUCT GWP LIMITS

5.409.3.2 Verification of compliance. Calculations to demonstrate compliance, Type III EPDs for products required to comply, if included in the project, and Worksheet WS-5 signed by the design professional of record shall be provided on the construction documents. Updated EPDs for products used in construction shall be provided to the owner at the close of construction and to the enforcement entity upon request. The enforcing agency may require inspection and inspection reports in accordance with Sections 702.2 and 703.1 during and at completion of construction to demonstrate substantial conformance. Inspection shall be performed by the design professional of record or third party acceptable to the enforcing agency.