Whole Life Carbon Assessment – 2nd Edition

Whole Life Cycle Carbon Version 2: A New Method

The 2nd Edition of the RICS Whole Life Cycle Carbon Assessment Standard was released last week. Six years after the first edition became the UK benchmark, whole life cycle carbon version 2 is now applicable worldwide. It came into effect in July 2024, setting a new standard for assessing carbon in the built environment.

What Whole Life Cycle Carbon (WLC) Assessment Covers

This updated standard supports whole life cycle carbon (WLC) analysis for both new construction and retrofit projects. It provides guidance on assessing carbon impacts across all life cycle stages—from material sourcing and construction to operation and end-of-life.

Key Updates in Whole Life Cycle Carbon Version 2

• Alignment with international standards such as ICMS and the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD), enabling consistent cost and carbon reporting.
• Integration with professional guidance from CIBSE, IStructE, and CWCT for measuring embodied carbon.
• New reporting templates to address uncertainty in WLC assessments.
• Expanded methodology for biogenic carbon, including long-term storage and point-of-harvest data for timber and biomass.

To download the new edition: RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment Standard

To learn more about KJ Tait's WLCA services: kjtait.com/projects/specialism/whole-life-cycle-carbon/