Embodied carbon matters, but a single material figure rarely answers the project question. A fair assessment compares systems that deliver the same function across a consistent life cycle, including quantities, transport, installation, maintenance, replacement and end of life.
In brief
- Start with the same access function, load, span and design life.
- Prefer product-specific verified data, but state uncertainty when generic data is used.
- Do not compare impacts per kilogram when the systems require different quantities or replacement cycles.
- Keep potential benefits beyond the asset boundary separate from the main whole-life result.
The RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment standard sets a consistent approach across product, construction, use and end-of-life stages for buildings and infrastructure.
Seven questions for a credible comparison
- What function is being compared? Define area, loads, span, fire, slip and exposure.
- How much material is needed? Include supports, fixings, coatings and waste.
- Which data source applies? Record product-specific, sector-average or generic data.
- What is the study period? Keep it consistent for every option.
- What maintenance is credible? Include cleaning, coating, corrosion repair and access.
- Will components be replaced? Model realistic service lives and disruption.
- What happens at end of life? Use evidenced project routes, not theoretical claims.
Comparison boundary
| Stage | Include |
|---|---|
| Product | Raw materials, transport to manufacture and manufacturing |
| Construction | Delivery, lifting, cutting, installation and waste |
| Use | Maintenance, repair, replacement and operational consequences |
| End of life | Removal, transport, processing and disposal |
| Beyond boundary | Report potential reuse, recycling or recovery separately |
Where GRP may change the result
GRP’s low weight may reduce transport, lifting and supporting-steel requirements in some designs. Corrosion resistance may reduce coatings and replacement in harsh environments. These are possible system effects, not automatic credits. Quantify them from the proposed design and test alternatives where assumptions are uncertain.
Pair carbon assessment with commercial reality using the whole-life cost calculator, and use the sustainability hub for the wider evidence route.
Frequently asked questions
Is GRP lower carbon than steel?
There is no universal answer. Compare technically equivalent systems over the same study period using aligned data and credible maintenance assumptions.
Should carbon be compared per kilogram?
Usually not on its own. Products may require very different masses to deliver the same access function.
Can long service life reduce whole-life carbon?
Potentially, when it credibly avoids maintenance or replacement. State and test the service-life assumption rather than treating it as guaranteed.
Compare complete access systems on equal terms
Send the proposed spans, quantities, environment and study period to GRP Express so product data can be aligned with the project assessment.