Overview

By the process of photosynthesis, growing trees absorb (sequester) atmospheric carbon dioxide which is then, together with the release of some of the oxygen back into the atmosphere, incorporated, within the cambium, into the cells of the tree as both wood and bark. The absorbed carbon dioxide is effectively fixed in the wood as biogenic carbon. When using wood, that biogenic carbon is transferred to the product system. Wood products therefore constitute a pool (reservoir) of biogenic carbon for the duration of their service lifetime as those products. At end-of-life, that carbon leaves the product system. In the case of use for energy generation the biogenic carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide and released back into the atmosphere. This European Standard provides a calculation method to quantify the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide based on that biogenic carbon content. The information can also be used to estimate the potential benefits associated with carbon storage in wood and wood-based products; for example, by building designers in the early stages of the building design process. The standard also provides the basis for that information as required by product category rules and the development of EPDs. EN 16485 "Round and sawn timber - Environmental Product Declarations - Product category rules for wood and wood-based products for use in construction" addresses the aspects of wood and wood-based products as required for life-cycle assessment. This European Standard can also be used in the context of the work of other CEN committees, for instance CEN/TC 112, CEN/TC 124, CEN/TC 350 and CEN/TC 411. This European Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 175 "Round and sawn timber", the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR. The responsible German body involved in its preparation is Working Committee NA 042-01-14 AA "Rund- und Schnittholz - SpA zu CEN/TC 175 und ISO/TC 218" ("Round and sawn wood - mirror committee for CEN/TC 175 and ISO/TC 218") at the DIN Standards Committee Timber and Furniture (NHM).

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 042-01-02 AA - Steering Committee Round Wood and Sawn Wood Products  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 175/WG 5 - Environmental topics