# Welcome This is a space for helping you use and understand Building Transparency's suite of tools, including:


	EC3	Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator	Upfront Carbon Assessment* Free to use \| Open access
	tallyLCA	tally Life Cycle Assessment (the original tally)	Whole Life Impact Assessment* Revit plugin \| Trial + License

Due to the ever-changing nature of the tools, this User Guide is continually a work in progress.

*Differences in Scope Explained

**Upfront vs. Whole Life** Upfront assessments only account for life cycle stages that can be measured upfront. Whole Life assessments also account for future use-stage and end-of-life aspects anticipated based on current trends.

**Carbon vs. Multiple Impacts** Carbon assessments consist of tracking only the following impact category: * Global warming potential (GWP) measured in kgCO2e Complete Life Cycle Assessment usually also considers other impact categories, such as, but not limited to, the following: * Acidification potential (AP) * Eutrophication potential (EP) * Ozone depletion potential (ODP) * Smog potential (SP) Life Cycle Assessments also usually report non-impact categories, such as depletion of resources and generation of waste.

# Getting Started ## Create an Account To register for an EC3 account, go to and enter the requested information, making sure to accept the Beta **User Agreement** and **Privacy Notice**. If you would like access to in-progress beta features and product categories, you can do so through a organizational or individual [Pilot access](https://www.buildingtransparency.org/pilot/) to EC3. {% hint style="danger" %} We are aware of a malicious use of the *ec3pilot.org* domain, please do not go to that page! The only valid Pilot page is [*https://www.buildingtransparency.org/pilot/*](https://www.buildingtransparency.org/pilot/) {% endhint %} ### Account Tiers EC3 is primarily for professional business use. Users who specify their Employer and Profession will be granted a **Professional** account. Those who do not, or who register with a personal email address (e.g., Gmail or Hotmail) will only have a **Private** account with some features (including sharing features) disabled to protect privacy.

Where to fill out Employer and Profession

1\) Navigate to your user preferences by clicking on your user name.![](/files/lRCdCEJbA0Meag7h0L8s) 2\) Look for the Employment section, where you can fill in your profession.

3\) Save the changes using the Submit button at the top of the page.![](/files/8xSY6ggF7xZHTJ8srlfD)

Features	Private	Professional	Pilot	Curator
Search Public Materials	true	true	true	true
View Public Buildings	true	true	true	true
Create Private Buildings	true	true	true	true
Share Buildings	false	true	true	true
Create User Groups	false	true	true	true
Support via Usersnap	false	true	true	true
Publish Buildings (i.e. to Public)	false	true	true	true
Early access to categories	false	false	true	true
Early access features	false	false	true	true
Enterprise features	false	false	true	true
Biweekly or quarterly calls	false	false	true	true
Manual entry of EPDs	false	false	false	true
Verify and confirm EPDs	false	false	false	true

Project Limits	Private	Professional	Pilot	Curator
Max # of buildings	5	24+ 1/month	+50/year	Unlimited

Project Limits

Private

Professional

Pilot

Curator

Max # of buildings

24+

1/month

+50/year

Unlimited

Prerequisites	Private	Professional	Pilot	Curator
Verified email	true	true	true	true
16 years of age	true	true	true	true
Terms of Service	true	true	true	true
Business/educational email	false	true	true	true
Identified profession & employer	false	true	true	true
Approval by BuildingTransparency	false	false	true	true
Data Curator Aggreement	false	false	false	true

## Log In Once a user has registered for an account, an activation email will be sent to the registered email address. {% hint style="info" %} **No confirmation email?** Our confirmation emails come from an automated system that sometimes ends up Spam folders. If it's not there, check with your IT department and make sure the following address is whitelisted: {% endhint %} Once activated, users may log in to the tool at . {% hint style="warning" %} Building Transparency will never ask for your username and password by email or phone. Please report any emails that do so, it may be a [phishing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing) attack. {% endhint %} ## Connect accounts After creating an EC3 account, users may link their EC3 account to other platforms such as Amazon, Microsoft, or Google, and use their credentials for those platforms to log in to EC3. ## General Navigation Once logged in to EC3, users will see the following welcome screen below with the various identified elements. It is intended for EC3 to be an intuitive user interface and users are encouraged to explore the tool’s functionality. To provide in-tool direction, tooltips will appear as users hover their cursor over a given field.

## Getting Help ### Tool Tips Most icons, fields and functions in EC3 are documented with a tooltip. Hover your mouse over a field for guidance on the meaning, format, and usage of the field.

### Tours Many parts of EC3 have tours, either in the form of a walkthrough or an annotated screenshot, which introduce a screen or diagram. The tour will animate until you click on it for the first time.

### FAQ and Glossary A Glossary, list of Frequently Asked Questions, and API documentation are accessible from the settings menu (gear icon) in the top-right corner of the EC3 page.

Settings, FAQ, glossary, and other resources.

### Report Bugs & Feedback To submit suggestions, comments, or questions, please use the Report Bugs & Feedback button located at the bottom right of EC3.

# Project Quick Start Guide This is the simplest walkthrough of how to create you first project in EC3. ### Create new project in the My Buildings section of Plan\&Compare Buildings.

You can then start filling in the basic information about your project, like name, address, etc. ### Save the project and keep saving it frequently so you don't loose any of your work. EC3 does not save your progress automatically.

### Fill in material quantities in the quantity table at the bottom of the project page. Blank projects always start with a few suggested assemblies and elements to give you an idea of how to structure the data.

### Adjust the view structure if you need something other than the "Uniformat" view. 1) switch to a custom view, 2) overwrite the names of assemblies, subassemblies, and elements, 3) add more layers, or 4) add more elements as needed.

### Define what the element is by clicking on the search EPDs button. Alternatively, you create a "multi-element" material, which is just another way of adding a layer so you can build out more complex, multi-material assemblies, like wall or floor systems.

### Select product category for the element in question. You can reveal and select subcategories or parent categories. Generally, the more specific you get, the better your selection and comparisons will be, but if you are doing an early assessment, less specific category is usually also ok.

### Save the Collection to your project. This is the same as defining the product type for your element and is the minimum information you need to enter to get your first GWP values. You can and should, but don't have to fill in the search fields.

### Select search filters in the Performance Specifications section. This will narrow down just the products you want, for example, products made in a specific state like California.

### Search for EPDs by clicking the Search button in bottom right corner.

### See stats & EPDs a the bottom of the window. You can see the number of EPDsmatching your search criteria (see the blue chips rigth above "Statistics"), the GWP statistics of the subset of EPDs, and you can select individual EPDs for assignment to you project by clicking them. Confirm the selection by clicking "Apply Collection", just as before.

### See element's GWP value in the right-most column. This is your first way of seeing results, other than opening a full project chart.

### Copy collections from one element to another using the copy icon or right-clicking the element. You can then modify the collections for each element individually, but it can save the initial material definition process.

### View charts

### Export reports

### Share the project with your colleagues using the 1) share button (it might say Private before you share it with anyone), 2) finding the person to share with, 3) adding them to the list and setting their access level, and 4) confirming the sharing settings.

### Don't forget to save! and explore many other useful features. # Video Tutorials For those looking for training or visual walkthrough of EC3 features. Here are some of our video tutorials for EC3. Additional resources can be found on our [website](https://www.buildingtransparency.org/resources/). ## EC3 Intro & Overview {% embed url="" %} ## Architecture, Engineering & Construction Users ### Find & Compare Materials {% embed url="" %} ### Project Planner {% embed url="" %} {% embed url="" %} ## Data Management ### EC3 for Program Operators {% embed url="" %} ### EC3 for Manufacturers {% embed url="" %} ### EC3 for Organization Admins {% embed url="" %} ### EC3 User Profile {% embed url="" %} # Main Features EC3 is primarily a database of digital EPDs and other LCA data, but it also provides tools to help you find, compare, and use that data for making decisions on your projects. # Find & Compare Materials The Find & Compare Materials feature allows a user to search within the growing list of product categories using a search tree. Product and Industry EPDs are stored in a graph database format and are also accessible via the EC3 openEPD API. Most categories, such as Concrete, contain further subcategories (e.g., Ready Mix, Shotcrete, etc.) that can be accessed by clicking the “+” sign for a category. There are several icons associated with product categories, detailed below:


Pilot	“Pilot”: Indicates a product category that is further developed than “draft” but still needs categorization work, industry-specific uncertainty factors, and/or additional EPD data to be considered final. Pilot categories are only visible to pilot users, typically volunteers at sponsor organizations who agree to provide feedback on parts of the tool while they are in development, and prior to public release.
	“Accessory”: Indicates that a product category is used in conjunction with another product category but is not included in the other product category’s statistics. This product category should be accounted for separately if more precise results are important.
	“Manufacturing Input”: Indicates that the material product category is an input to this product category. Its statistics will not be included in the parent product category.
	“Foreign”: This subcategory uses a different declared unit than its parent. As a result, EPDs within this product category are not included in product category’s statistics.

### Searching EPDs Within each material category, a user can search by material-specific performance characteristics, location, and custom items such as manufacturer name and product description. Clicking the search button will return a list of all [Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)](/ec3/glossary#epd-or-environmental-product-declaration) within the database that meet the user’s search criteria. This list can then be filtered and sorted by such criteria as manufacturer name, plant name, product description, and kgCO2e. When a search has been performed, a box and whisker plot will appear under the “kgCO2e embodied per unit” heading. This chart plots the [Global Warming Potential (GWP)](/ec3/glossary#gwp-or-global-warming-potential) values of all EPDs returned in the search as well as their statistics (see [/pages/gnKXaq8tpgYsJTHoKMA9#\_heading-h.2grqrue](https://docs.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/main-features/pages/gnKXaq8tpgYsJTHoKMA9#_heading-h.2grqrue "mention") for more information).

*Example search for concrete reinforcing bars.*

By default, the list of EPDs yielded by a search will include both [Industry EPDs](/ec3/glossary#industry-epd) and [Product EPDs](/ec3/glossary#product-epd), as available. Each Industry EPD is weighted as 20 product EPDs, with a gaussian (normal) distribution around the industry average. (see [Uncertainty & Statistics](/methodology/uncertainty-and-statistics)for more details) The user can continue to narrow this list by entering further search terms for any EPD attribute. The EPD Type term under “more…” lets you search only product EPDs, only Industry EPDs, or both. The result of the search is displayed as a box-and-whisker chart of the embodied GWP per declared unit. In most cases it will show quite a large variation in the GWP of different brands of the same product. This difference is typically real, though there are also differences in measurement methodology or data sources that impact comparability. A good general rule is not to rely on the top or bottom values, but to try to reach the ‘achievable target’, while assuming that the ‘conservative estimate’ is what will occur if no special effort is taken to get a low-carbon product. Above the Statistics bar are search terms, which affect the statistics and the whisker chart. Below the Statistics bar and above the list of results are filters that help users find Selected EPDs in the list, but do NOT affect the statistics. Below the search results are controls to page through the results, typically returned 25 at a time.

### Comparing EPDs Users can use the ![](/files/tMoISB5f65Rgo5c76tQX)button to compare EPDs per manufacturer, manufacturing plant, or specific product. This Compare feature can only be used within the same product category. In other words, an EPD from one category cannot be compared to an EPD of another. Comparing manufacturers or plants will bring up a figure with plots showing the overall box and whisker plot for EPDs within the search and individual plots for each manufacturer or plant.

Comparing products will expand the box and whisker plot under the “kgCO2e embodied per” unit heading to include the selected products. Like comparing manufacturers or plants, the plot will show the overall spread for EPDs and where the selected EPDs fall.

EC3 attempts to address the comparability of EPDs from different manufacturers by applying uncertainty to the reported EPD GWP value. See [Uncertainty & Statistics](/methodology/uncertainty-and-statistics#uncertainty-and-specificity) for more information. {% hint style="warning" %} Note that not all product categories have comparison features enabled. One of the criteria for comparisons includes functional equivalence, therefore, we intentionally disable these features in categories where it is difficult to provide means to comparing functionally equivalent products. In categories with comparison features enabled, it is a responsibility of the user to define performance criteria that make those comparisons valid and meaningful. {% endhint %} ### Viewing a Digital EPD Users may select and open a single digitized EPD from the search list by clicking on the corresponding ![](/files/aPxPYXBbSsUEljceQI76) button. This opens a new browser window for the digitized EPD webpage. This webpage contains relevant information provided in the EPD including product name, product description, declared unit, reported environmental impacts, date of issue/expiration, EPD developer information, and more. EPDs may contain product specification information that differs by material category.

Shown on the webpage is another box and whisker diagram that has an arrow indicating how the comparison (80% confidence) estimate of the EPD’s GWP compares to the range of GWP values within the product’s parent product category. This can be used to inform decision making as it shows users where the selected EPD’s GWP falls within the possible GWP range for that product category. ## For EPD Editors ### Editing EPDs To edit a digitized EPD’s information, users must be a Curator, Administrator, [Program Operator](/ec3/glossary#program-operator), or Owner of the EPD (i.e. Manufacturer for Product EPDs or Industry Association for Industry EPDs). For specific user types and user permissions, refer to the [/pages/xX1f2SRjrGLO92nEiqRw#\_heading-h.25b2l0r](https://docs.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/main-features/pages/xX1f2SRjrGLO92nEiqRw#_heading-h.25b2l0r "mention") section. *User Account and Organization types and EPD editing privileges.* | User type | Editing privileges | | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Administrator | Edit all fields for all EPDs. Only select users and Building Transparency staff and have this level of access. | | Curator | Edit all fields for EPDs with errors. This access level is restricted to close partners who have a data curation agreement with Building Transparency. | | Program Operator (with Write or Manage permission) | Edit all fields for EPDs under that Program Operator. | | Manufacturer (with Write or Manage permission) | Edit product information and plant information fields for EPDs where the manufacturer or its subsidiaries are the owner of the EPD | | Industry Association (with Write or Manage permissions) | Edit product information and member information fields for Industry EPDs where the association is the owner of the EPD | ## Inside Project Planner ### Selecting EPDs from Pilot Subcategories When searching under a **parent category** as a **Professional user**, a user may come across an EPD that is actually categorized under a **Pilot subcategory** (which Professional users do not have direct access to). If a user tries to select that EPD, a pop-up will appear saying: > *“This product is in a specific subcategory. Do you want to change your collection to that subcategory?”* * **If the user clicks “Yes,”** → the system will move them into the Pilot subcategory, where they do not have access, so the selection cannot be made. * **If the user clicks “No,”** → they will remain in the public parent category, and from there the EPD can be successfully selected. {% hint style="warning" %} **Professional** users should always click **No** on this pop-up, or they will not be able to select the EPD. **Pilot** users can click **Yes**, which will adjust their collection to the more specific subcategory. {% endhint %} # Using Specification Filters It's important to find & compare products that are of similar quality and fulfill similar jobs. Here is how to use the performance specification page to do that. ## Math operators You can adjust the math operators inside the fields to modify the search algorithm to include results with exact, approximate, below, and above the specified value.

Click the math operator inside the field.

Approximate operator search for values within 10% of the entered value.

## Options lists You can search for products that have a specific characteristic by including or excluding products with that characteristic from the search. * Include products with a specific property by clicking the property 1x (see Property - **Yes**) * Exclude products with a specific property by clicking the property 2x (see Property - **No**)

Number of clicks toggles a multi-select options on or off.

{% hint style="warning" %} Individual EPDs must have the properties that are relevant to them filled out on their EPD pages. If an EPD is missing a property that it should have, it won't show up in user searches that make that property part of the search. Because EC3 sometimes lists properties that are useful or critical for comparisons, but not all EPDs report those properties, you may not get the results you wanted or anticipated. We encourage manufacturers with EPDs in EC3 to add these properties, and all users to submit **Report Bugs & Feedback** about missing properties so that the Building Transparency team can add those properties and make the search more useful. {% endhint %} ## Removing filters You can remove filters, even the default filters, by clicking the red X button inside the search chip.

# Geographical Regions EPDs and projects are connected to various geographical locations and boundaries. This page provides details of EC3's approach to this topic.

EC3 may be abbreviating some regional information. The following are the abbreviations and codes that EC3 uses: * [2-letter country codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2), * [2-letter country codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2) + [USA state alpha codes](https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD\&TVD=53971) or [Canada Province and territorial codes](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/completing-slips-summaries/financial-slips-summaries/return-investment-income-t5/provincial-territorial-codes.html), * [M49 region codes](https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/), * alias "EU27" for the 27 members of the Euro bloc, * alias "NAFTA" for the members of North American Free Trade Agreement ## Full list of regions & codes ### Areas

M49	Name
001	World
002	Africa
003	North America
005	South America
009	Oceania
013	Central America
142	Asia
150	Europe
419	Latin America and the Caribbean

### Countries

M49	ISO Alpha 2	Name
004	AF	Afghanistan
008	AL	Albania
010	AQ	Antarctica
012	DZ	Algeria
016	AS	American Samoa
020	AD	Andorra
024	AO	Angola
028	AG	Antigua and Barbuda
031	AZ	Azerbaijan
032	AR	Argentina
036	AU	Australia
040	AT	Austria
044	BS	Bahamas
048	BH	Bahrain
050	BD	Bangladesh
051	AM	Armenia
052	BB	Barbados
056	BE	Belgium
060	BM	Bermuda
064	BT	Bhutan
068	BO	Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
070	BA	Bosnia and Herzegovina
072	BW	Botswana
074	BV	Bouvet Island
076	BR	Brazil
084	BZ	Belize
086	IO	British Indian Ocean Territory
090	SB	Solomon Islands
092	VG	British Virgin Islands
096	BN	Brunei Darussalam
100	BG	Bulgaria
104	MM	Myanmar
108	BI	Burundi
112	BY	Belarus
116	KH	Cambodia
120	CM	Cameroon
124	CA	Canada
132	CV	Cabo Verde
136	KY	Cayman Islands
140	CF	Central African Republic
144	LK	Sri Lanka
148	TD	Chad
152	CL	Chile
156	CN	China
162	CX	Christmas Island
166	CC	Cocos (Keeling) Islands
170	CO	Colombia
174	KM	Comoros
175	YT	Mayotte
178	CG	Congo
180	CD	Democratic Republic of the Congo
184	CK	Cook Islands
188	CR	Costa Rica
191	HR	Croatia
192	CU	Cuba
196	CY	Cyprus
203	CZ	Czechia
204	BJ	Benin
208	DK	Denmark
212	DM	Dominica
214	DO	Dominican Republic
218	EC	Ecuador
222	SV	El Salvador
226	GQ	Equatorial Guinea
231	ET	Ethiopia
232	ER	Eritrea
233	EE	Estonia
234	FO	Faroe Islands
238	FK	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
239	GS	South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
242	FJ	Fiji
246	FI	Finland
248	AX	Ã…land Islands
250	FR	France
254	GF	French Guiana
258	PF	French Polynesia
260	TF	French Southern Territories
262	DJ	Djibouti
266	GA	Gabon
268	GE	Georgia
270	GM	Gambia
275	PS	State of Palestine
276	DE	Germany
288	GH	Ghana
292	GI	Gibraltar
296	KI	Kiribati
300	GR	Greece
304	GL	Greenland
308	GD	Grenada
312	GP	Guadeloupe
316	GU	Guam
320	GT	Guatemala
324	GN	Guinea
328	GY	Guyana
332	HT	Haiti
334	HM	Heard Island and McDonald Islands
336	VA	Holy See
340	HN	Honduras
344	HK	China, Hong Kong SAR
348	HU	Hungary
352	IS	Iceland
356	IN	India
360	ID	Indonesia
364	IR	Iran
368	IQ	Iraq
372	IE	Ireland
376	IL	Israel
380	IT	Italy
384	CI	CÃ´te dâ€™Ivoire
388	JM	Jamaica
392	JP	Japan
398	KZ	Kazakhstan
400	JO	Jordan
404	KE	Kenya
408	KP	North Korea
410	KR	South Korea
414	KW	Kuwait
417	KG	Kyrgyzstan
418	LA	Laos
422	LB	Lebanon
426	LS	Lesotho
428	LV	Latvia
430	LR	Liberia
434	LY	Libya
438	LI	Liechtenstein
440	LT	Lithuania
442	LU	Luxembourg
446	MO	China, Macao SAR
450	MG	Madagascar
454	MW	Malawi
458	MY	Malaysia
462	MV	Maldives
466	ML	Mali
470	MT	Malta
474	MQ	Martinique
478	MR	Mauritania
480	MU	Mauritius
484	MX	Mexico
492	MC	Monaco
496	MN	Mongolia
498	MD	Moldova
499	ME	Montenegro
500	MS	Montserrat
504	MA	Morocco
508	MZ	Mozambique
512	OM	Oman
516	NA	Namibia
520	NR	Nauru
524	NP	Nepal
528	NL	Netherlands
531	CW	CuraÃ§ao
533	AW	Aruba
534	SX	Sint Maarten
535	BQ	Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
540	NC	New Caledonia
548	VU	Vanuatu
554	NZ	New Zealand
558	NI	Nicaragua
562	NE	Niger
566	NG	Nigeria
570	NU	Niue
574	NF	Norfolk Island
578	NO	Norway
580	MP	Northern Mariana Islands
581	UM	US Minor Outlying Islands
583	FM	Micronesia
584	MH	Marshall Islands
585	PW	Palau
586	PK	Pakistan
591	PA	Panama
598	PG	Papua New Guinea
600	PY	Paraguay
604	PE	Peru
608	PH	Philippines
612	PN	Pitcairn
616	PL	Poland
620	PT	Portugal
624	GW	Guinea-Bissau
626	TL	Timor-Leste
630	PR	Puerto Rico
634	QA	Qatar
638	RE	RÃ©union
642	RO	Romania
643	RU	Russia
646	RW	Rwanda
652	BL	Saint BarthÃ©lemy
654	SH	Saint Helena
659	KN	Saint Kitts and Nevis
660	AI	Anguilla
662	LC	Saint Lucia
663	MF	Saint Martin
666	PM	Saint Pierre and Miquelon
670	VC	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
674	SM	San Marino
678	ST	Sao Tome and Principe
682	SA	Saudi Arabia
686	SN	Senegal
688	RS	Serbia
690	SC	Seychelles
694	SL	Sierra Leone
702	SG	Singapore
703	SK	Slovakia
704	VN	Vietnam
705	SI	Slovenia
706	SO	Somalia
710	ZA	South Africa
716	ZW	Zimbabwe
724	ES	Spain
728	SS	South Sudan
729	SD	Sudan
732	EH	Western Sahara
740	SR	Suriname
744	SJ	Svalbard and Jan Mayen
748	SZ	Eswatini
752	SE	Sweden
756	CH	Switzerland
760	SY	Syria
762	TJ	Tajikistan
764	TH	Thailand
768	TG	Togo
772	TK	Tokelau
776	TO	Tonga
780	TT	Trinidad and Tobago
784	AE	United Arab Emirates
788	TN	Tunisia
792	TR	Turkey
795	TM	Turkmenistan
796	TC	Turks and Caicos Islands
798	TV	Tuvalu
800	UG	Uganda
804	UA	Ukraine
807	MK	North Macedonia
818	EG	Egypt
826	GB	United Kingdom
831	GG	Guernsey
832	JE	Jersey
833	IM	Isle of Man
834	TZ	Tanzania
840	US	United States of America
850	VI	United States Virgin Islands
854	BF	Burkina Faso
858	UY	Uruguay
860	UZ	Uzbekistan
862	VE	Venezuela
876	WF	Wallis and Futuna
882	WS	Samoa
887	YE	Yemen
894	ZM	Zambia

### Subregions (US & Canada)

Code	Name
CA-AB	Alberta
CA-BC	British Columbia
CA-MB	Manitoba
CA-NB	New Brunswick
CA-NL	Newfoundland and Labrador
CA-NS	Nova Scotia
CA-NT	Northwest Territories
CA-NU	Nunavut
CA-ON	Ontario
CA-PE	Prince Edward Island
CA-QC	Quebec
CA-SK	Saskatchewan
CA-YT	Yukon
US-AK	Alaska
US-AL	Alabama
US-AR	Arkansas
US-AZ	Arizona
US-CA	California
US-CO	Colorado
US-CT	Connecticut
US-DE	Delaware
US-FL	Florida
US-GA	Georgia
US-HI	Hawaii
US-IA	Iowa
US-ID	Idaho
US-IL	Illinois
US-IN	Indiana
US-KS	Kansas
US-KY	Kentucky
US-LA	Louisiana
US-MA	Massachusetts
US-MD	Maryland
US-ME	Maine
US-MI	Michigan
US-MN	Minnesota
US-MO	Missouri
US-MS	Mississippi
US-MT	Montana
US-NC	North Carolina
US-ND	North Dakota
US-NE	Nebraska
US-NH	New Hampshire
US-NJ	New Jersey
US-NM	New Mexico
US-NV	Nevada
US-NY	New York
US-OH	Ohio
US-OK	Oklahoma
US-OR	Oregon
US-PA	Pennsylvania
US-RI	Rhode Island
US-SC	South Carolina
US-SD	South Dakota
US-TN	Tennessee
US-TX	Texas
US-UT	Utah
US-VA	Virginia
US-VT	Vermont
US-WA	Washington
US-WI	Wisconsin
US-WV	West Virginia
US-WY	Wyoming

### Special Regions

Code	name
GLOBAL	Global coverage
EU27	European Union (27 countries)
NAFTA	North American Free Trade Agreement (US, CA, MX)

# Plan & Compare Buildings The Plan & Compare Buildings feature allows a user to create a project through the Building Planner. Building projects are organized into five subpages, available in the left navigation pane: My buildings: Displays all building projects and folders created by the user. Templates: Displays default templates provided by Building Transparency that can be used as a starting point for user templates or projects. Shared with Me: Displays building projects and folders created by others and shared with the user using the projects’ sharing settings. Public: Displays building projects that have been set as Public, which include Building Transparency’s templates as well as published case studies and anonymized buildings from other EC3 users. All buildings: Displays all building projects viewable by the user in any of the above tabs, all in one place.

## Creating a Building A project may be created through the +Building Project button in any of the subpages. A project can also be created by importing from a [building information modeling (BIM)](/ec3/glossary#bim-or-building-information-modeling) model. Currently, EC3 allows import from either Autodesk’s BIM 360 or the LCA tool, Tally, and many other third-party platforms. {% hint style="info" %} See the [**Integrations** ](/ec3/integrations)section for more details on different ways of working on projects with EC3, or outside of EC3 but with EC3 material data. {% endhint %} ## Populating Building Information After a project is created, the user can input project-specific information, such as name, construction start date, and address. Construction start date is used to automatically filter EPDs that will be valid on or after the construction date during material selection. You may need to remove the “valid after” filter during material search if you wish to see EPDs with earlier expiration dates. The address field is used during material searches to look for EPDs within a specified distance from the project. ### Building Classification The Building Classification pane allows users to input project information such as level of development (LOD), gravity and lateral system information, and seismic design category. These inputs are important when categorizing project data, particularly when trying to compare the performance of different projects (i.e., similarly categorized projects may be compared to each other).

### Reference & Comparison The building project can be compared to other projects in the user’s list by typing the project name and selecting it from the dropdown menu. Users can also set GWP targets, and define what version of a Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) Baseline to use. ### Embodied vs Operating EC3 is a database of [embodied carbon](/ec3/glossary#embodied-carbon) data. If known from other sources, users may also add [operational carbon](/ec3/glossary#operational-carbon) data such as energy use intensity (EUI) and energy source. If operational information has been added, users may click the View Embodied vs. Operating button to see the relative impact of embodied versus operational carbon. This can come in handy when comparing systems that impact both embodied and operational emissions, such as curtain wall or exterior wall assemblies, and to put the embodied carbon into perspective with the operating carbon cost of the building over its lifetime. ### Adding Material Data To build the project, users can input project material quantities manually or through an import from a project BIM model. Manual input may utilize hand-calculated quantity take-offs, construction estimates, or bill of materials. Each line in the Building Planner is called a Building Element. After giving the Element a name, enter the quantity of the material. The Quantity field is a calculator that supports most math operations that Excel supports, e.g. `(1.23 + 4.56) * 7.8E9`. Formulas you enter are preserved, which is helpful in documenting the source of a calculation. EC3 supports a wide range of [units of measure](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings/units-of-measure) (e.g., m2, ft2, sq.ft., sq. in., or even acre). EC3 will automatically convert the units used in EPDs to the unit entered by the user. A Building Project can use any mix of SI, USA (Imperial), or common industry units that are convenient for the user. A comprehensive list of the units EC3 will accept for each material category can be found [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19WYnuZrlVfuyd4SBZOgKv-iySRKR2IKq/edit#gid=120161577). To capture the type of material, click the Search button. The search is similar to the [Find & Compare Materials](/ec3/main-features/find-and-compare-materials) feature. Enter the specifications for the material and execute the search. The resulting list of materials represents the range of products that may be utilized; exploration of lower-carbon options is encouraged. Selecting an EPD will show how it compares against the range. The range of possible materials for a particular element, with accompanying statistics and an optional Selected Material, are called a [Collection](/ec3/glossary#collection). Collections can be copied, pasted to other elements, shared, and edited for all elements they are assigned to. Users can build out composite materials or assemblies that consist of multiple layers or materials by making an element a Multi Material element.

This allows the users to scale all sub-element quantities by the amount of the parent element. For example, a pile foundation may consist of multiple similar piles made up of concrete fill, steel pile casing, and reinforcing steel. Setting up the piles as Multi Material elements allows us to estimate the total amounts of material for one pile and then multiply that estimate by the total number of similar piles on the project.

### Builders Within the building project planner there are several [Builders ](/ec3/glossary)that allow users to estimate the materials within typical assemblies. These builders are especially useful when detailed quantity information is not yet available or when a 3D model does not have sufficient detail. The builders are located within the “multi-material” feature. To navigate to the builders, add a new element to your project. Click the “multi-material” button to the right of the “EPDs” button in the collection column.

Once you click “multi-material”, a dropdown list will appear with a list of builders. The following builders are currently in EC3: 1\. Concrete, Reinforced, by volume 2\. Concrete, Reinforced, by area 3\. Floor, Composite Mass Timber 4\. Floor, Light Frame Wood 5\. Floor, Non-Composite Mass Timber 6\. Floor, Slab on Metal Deck 7\. Glazing, Curtain Wall 8\. Glazing, Storefront 9\. Glazing, Window Wall 10\. Wall, CMU 11\. Wall, Interior Metal Stud 12\. Wall, Wood Stud You can see additional details of each builder in the [#\_heading-h.147n2zr-1](#_heading-h.147n2zr-1 "mention") subsection. **Adding Specific EPDs to Projects** When searching for specific EPDs to add to a building project, it is best to search for existing EPDs in EC3 before using the “Import EPD” functionality. The steps include: (1) select the product category, (2) click the Search button, (3) type the product name in the “Product” column header to filter just for the specific EPD, (4) click the EPD and (5) click the "Use this collection" button to apply the specific EPD to a project. The "Import EPD" functionality should only be used if you can't find an EPD in EC3 already, and/or if you have the original, digital PDF of the EPD. Scanned PDF documents tend not to work well when importing into EC3.

*Selecting specific EPDs in a Building Project.*

{% hint style="warning" %} There is a special approach to [selecting EPDs in Pilot categories](/ec3/main-features/find-and-compare-materials#selecting-epds-from-pilot-subcategories) by Professional users. {% endhint %} ### **Selected and Alternate Products** The building planner allows users to select primary and alternate products for comparison and for bid leveling. Start by adding material data and click on the star icon on the left side of the Subcategory column in table of Product EPDs. Users can select up to 6 alternatives.

*Selected and alternate EPDs in a Building Project.*

### Reduction Targets Users can set project-specific reduction targets and, after products have been procured, select the utilized products to compare the project's actual (realized) reductions against the set targets. GWP target can be set in one of two ways: 1. **Below CLF Baseline** by a percentage set by the user. (e.g., 30% below CLF Baseline). 2. Set at the **EC3 Achievable Target** value. (See EC3 Achievable Value for details). All product categories have an **Achievable Target** (i.e., 20th percentile of the market) in GWP terms based on EPDs in EC3; however, not all categories have a CLF Baseline. In cases where the target approach is to be **Below CLF Baseline by** X% but a product category does not have a CLF Baseline, the Target for that category is not set - this target method will only be applied to categories with CLF Baseline. ## Building Results Building results can be displayed as Sankey diagrams, tree-map diagrams, and bar charts, and can also be exported in spreadsheet format. To create results, users should input floor area above and below grade at the top of the material build-out. These will be used to calculate the embodied carbon intensity, or embodied carbon per area.

*Floor area input fields and embodied carbon results.*

### Summary Charts Once a project includes the minimum required information, such as floor area, its results can be visualized in the project's summary charts by clicking the Charts button. Available summary charts include a Sankey Diagram, a simple graphic representation of the project's embodied carbon baseline estimate, reduction target, and as-built results.

These visualizations can be utilized to communicate with project Owners and as a reporting mechanism for ILFI and LEED certification systems or jurisdictional policies such as Buy Clean California. Both ILFI and LEED include embodied carbon imperatives, with LEED including a pilot credit that can be specifically achieved through use of EC3. #### Rollup charts You can create combined charts for multiple projects by 1) using the eye icon at the folder or superfolder level or by 2) selecting multiple projects and clicking the Compare Buildings button. You can then show combined charts including waterfall charts, Sankey, and bar charts as shown below.

Rollup charts via folders & superforlders.

Rollup charts via multiple project selection.

Example Rollup sankey chart for multiple projects in a folder.

### Summary Reports Users may also download summary reports by clicking the Reports button. Building project information can be exported to a spreadsheet in either an XLSX or CSV format. The only difference in the two types of export files is that an XLSX is fully formatted, while a CSV is not. All of the quantity, material, and carbon information is identical in both file types. You have the option to export the following reports: * **Quantity Summary Report**: Provides information summarized by product type but includes all product categories. * **Building Element Report**: Lists all elements exactly as they appear in EC3, that is, all elements are listed individually. This report also includes all product categories. * **LEED Report**: Lists all elements as they appear in EC3 but only for the product categories required for the [LEED Pilot credit](https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-schools-new-construction-retail-new-construction-data). * **Recommended Materials Report**: Report of all EPDs marked as Selected or Alternate for the project. * **EPD List Report**: Report of all selected product EPD and Industry EPDs on the project. * **ICMS 3 Report**: Elements report organized according to the [RICS ICSM standard](https://www.rics.org/profession-standards/rics-standards-and-guidance/sector-standards/construction-standards/icms3). #### Rollup Reports You can also export reports for multiple projects at once. In the Plan & Compare building section, when looking at the list of all projects, you have two ways of doing this: 1\) Click the Rollup Report icon at the Folder or Superfolder row

2\) Select multiple projects using checkboxes and click the revelaed Rollup Report button at the top of the table

You can then select which type of Rollup Report you want to export.

### GWP Value Types There are six different embodied carbon values tracked across EC3. **Baseline**, **Average**, **Conservative**, and **Achievable** embodied GWP values are statistical values across all similar products (Product Collection), as described on the EPD page. **Reported** and **Comparison** GWP values are specific to an individual EPD.

### **Statistical GWP Values for a Product Collection** **Baseline**: 2019 CLF Baseline or 2021 CLF Baseline. The version of CLF Baseline can be selected by the user in the User Profile, in the EPD boxplot settings, or in a project’s settings. It is important to note that this number is static and independent of the EPDs of the EC3 tool. Be cautious in using baselines, as they cover very broad ranges of materials that may not be functionally equivalent. **Conservative** Estimate: At least 80% of matching EPDs have a Comparison Value better than the Conservative Estimate. Typically, a procurement that ignores carbon will not be worse than the conservative estimate. If a Product EPD is selected, then the Conservative value in the elements report shows the Collection Conservative value for the Collection search. If an Industry EPD is selected then the Conservative Estimate is estimated based on the Industry EPD alone, not from all EPDs in the collection. **Achievable** Target: At least 20% of matching EPDs have a Comparison Value better than the Achievable Target. If the search terms are accurate, it should be possible to source a practical product with this GWP or better. Because not all products have EPDs, consider approaching suppliers to ask for a product that beats the Achievable Target, and to provide an EPD that proves it. If a Product EPD is selected, then the Achievable value in the elements report shows the Collection Achievable value for the Collection search. If an Industry EPD is selected then the Achievable Target is estimated based on the Industry EPD alone, not from all EPDs in the collection. **Average**: The arithmetic mean of Comparison Values of EPDs in a collection. Usually reported along with the standard deviation of the collection. This is not included in the project planner or building level calculations but is included for reference purposes. **Target**: Reduction target value defined by the user in the Reference & Comparison section of the building project. ### **Reported and Comparison GWP Values for an EPD** Reported Value: The GWP number reported in an EPD for a given declared or functional unit. This value represents the average value estimated for a given EPD and does not account for uncertainty in the LCA model and variability across suppliers, groups of products, or manufacturing facilities. Comparison Value: A GWP number calculated by applying an uncertainty factor to the Reported Value. This value represents the conservative GWP estimate for an EPD while accounting for lack of specificity and for general sources of uncertainty in LCA. The scale of default uncertainty values is determined by BT based on analysis of each product category. **Default Values** If no Product EPD is selected, then the Comparison Value defaults to the Conservative Estimate. ## Organizing Buildings Tabs under the Plan & Compare buildings allow users to view, create, copy, delete, share, organize, sort, and compare building projects. The quick action buttons in the Details column can be used to **view results**, set **sharing settings**, **copy the project**, **open and edit** the project, or **delete** the project, respectively.

*Quick action buttons next to building projects.*

{% hint style="info" %} All of the icons may not appear if you do not have Manage or Write permission to a particular project or folder. {% endhint %} Projects can be organized into Folders and Super Folders, which work similarly as a folder structure in any other file explorer. Note that building projects can only be placed inside Folders, and not Super Folders. Similarly, folders can only be placed inside Super Folders. The simple folder structure is as follows: |

➥ Super Folder

➥ Folder

➥ Building Project

| | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | Projects can also be sorted using data in any of the Name, Address, or Last Updated columns. Default sorting is done using the Last Updated column.

Each project and folder may have a set of tags to the right of its name to indicate specific sharing settings, such as Private, Shared, or Public, and to indicate if the project was imported from [ACC ](/ec3/glossary)or tallyLCA.

## Comparing Buildings Building projects can be compared from any of the Plan & Compare Buildings subpages. First, check the selection box next to the projects to be compared and then click on the Compare Buildings button that appears after at least two buildings are selected.

*Selecting multiple buildings for comparison.*

## Sharing Buildings Building projects can be shared with other users or with user groups using (1) the sharing icon on the My Buildings page or (2) the sharing button at the top of a building project page.

*Sharing projects from My Buildings (left) or Building Project Page (right)*

The project can be shared with individual users or user groups by typing the name or email address of the user(s) and clicking the Add button. The sharing settings include additional options for the permissions of each shared user: **Read**: Allows the shared user to see the project but not make any changes. **Write**: Allows the user to edit, add or remove building data, but not change who it is shared with. **Manage**: Allows the user to change any information in the project and change the sharing permissions. There is always at least one user (by default the original author) who has Manage access. To ensure company information is not lost, the Admin of an organization can Impersonate any Employee of the org, which allows them to view, edit, and manage any Building Projects managed by that Employee.

Multiple users can view the same project simultaneously. When this happens, the users’ initials will appear in the top-right corner of the building project page.

*Simultaneous work sessions and project updates.*

The project can also be edited by multiple users simultaneously but note that only one user can save the simultaneously added or edited elements. If the second user tries to save their progress, they will be prompted to reload the project (losing their progress), save a copy of their work, or overwrite the changes made by the user who saved their edits first.

*Prompt after saving simultaneous edits.*

## Publishing Buildings A user may make a project Public by (1) sharing the project with the user group titled “Public” in the sharing settings or (2) using the Anonymize and Publish button at the top of the project page.

*Making a building project public from the project sharing dialog box.*

*Making a building project public using the Anonymize and Publish button.*

## Anonymizing Buildings The Anonymize button slightly obscures the details of the building project per the following: ● Building name will be replaced by a random name (e.g., "Red Lion 12"). ● Building location will be reduced to city only. ● Elements will be replaced by generic names. ● Area, floors, and most quantities will be tweaked by \~10% and then rounded off. ● Project author’s identity will be hidden. When the process is done, users will receive an email and they will have an opportunity to review the anonymized building before publishing it. # Bill of Quantities ## Copying Elements & Collections It is currently possible to copy single-material individual elements of an EC3 project to a different EC3 project. Also, it’s possible to copy collections this way. But copying multi-material elements in such fashion is not yet supported, you can only copy those inside a particular EC3 project. To copy an element between EC3 projects, you can do the following. 1. Open an EC3 project. 2. Right-click a single-material element or sub-element and choose Copy Element.

3. Staying in the same browser tab (this is important), switch to Plan & Compare Buildings > My buildings

4. In the project list, click another EC3 project. 5. Right-click a label and select Insert Copied Element. ## Selecting visible columns The bill of quantities table starts with a set of columns capturing the most useful data. You can reveal additional columns and customize your table using the table icon in the top right corner of the table.

# Units of Measure Detailed list of measurement units accepted for each product category in EC3, see [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19WYnuZrlVfuyd4SBZOgKv-iySRKR2IKq/edit#gid=120161577). The following is a summary of the main units in their respective dimensions. {% hint style="warning" %} When it comes to units of **tons**, EC3 differentiates SI and USA units in the following way: * SI, i.e., metric ton: t, tonne, metric ton * USA, i.e., short ton: ton, short ton {% endhint %}

Dimensionality	Unit of Measure that EC3 will accept and understand
Unit	item, ea, pc, unit, piece, doz
Mass	g, kg, t, tonne, lb, lbs, ton, short_ton, oz
Length	in, ft, yd, yds, inch, mil, mi, inch, foot, feet, mile, miles, km, m, cm, mm...
Area	sy, sqyd, yd2 sf, sqft, ft2, sqin, in2 km2, m2, cm2, mm2...
Volume	cf, cuft, ft3, cy, cuyd, yd3, cuin, in3, bf, mbf, mmbf, L, gal km3, m3, cm3, mm3...
Pressure	MPa, GPa, Pa, TPa... psi, ksi
Power	kW, MW, W, kilowatt, watt, megawatt
Energy	J, MJ and all metric prefixes, kWh, Wh, and all metric prefixes. Btu, kBtu, MBtu scf
mass * distance	tkm, tmi
area * thermal resistivity	ft2 RSI, m2 RSI, r_value

# Builders Details of Builders to help you estimate quantities for typical building assemblies. ## C**oncrete, Reinforced, by volume** allows the user to calculate the amount of rebar within a given volume of concrete. The user can input a percentage of overpour, a percentage of lap splice or “overlaps”, and a weight of rebar per volume of concrete (lbs/yd3 or kg/m3). There is a lookup table link to support users with determining the amount of rebar per volume if this is unknown. (1) Hover your mouse anywhere in the “rebar/1 yd3 or m3” cell and a pop-up will appear titled “See lookup table”. Click the lookup table link and you will be navigated to a chart that provides typical weight of reinforcement for various concrete elements such as beams, columns, and slabs.

## **Concrete, Reinforced, by area Builder** allows the user to calculate the amount of rebar within a given area of concrete. The user can input concrete thickness, percentage of overpour, a percentage of lap splice or “overlaps”, and a weight of rebar per area of concrete (lbs/ft2 or kg/m2).

## **Floor, Composite Mass Timber** allows the user to calculate the amount of floor slab, topping slab and reinforcement, composite topping slab and reinforcement, composite topping slab connectors, and area of finish flooring in a composite timber floor assembly. The user will input details of the assembly as outlined in the photo below

## **Floor, Light Frame Wood** allows the user to calculate the amount of subfloor, underlayment, topping slab underlayment, topping slab reinforcement, and floor finish material in a typical light frame wood floor assembly. The user will input details of the assembly as outlined in the photo below.

## **Floor, Non-Composite Mass Timber** allows the user to calculate the amount of floor slab, topping slab and reinforcement, underlayment, subfloor, and area of finish flooring in a non-composite timber floor assembly. The user will input details of the assembly as outlined in the photo below.

## **Floor, Slab on Metal Deck** the user to calculate the amount of topping slab, mesh, concrete fill, and steel decking material in a typical slab on metal deck assembly. The user will input details of the assembly as outlined in the photo below.

## **Glazing, Curtainwall** allows the user to calculate the amount of vision glass, framing, reinforcement, spandrel glass, spandrel insulation, shadow box, and sun shading material in a typical curtainwall assembly. The user will input details of the assembly such as how many times the section repeats, and the dimensions of the panels as outlined in the photo below.

## **Glazing, Storefront** allows the user to calculate the amount of vision glass, framing, reinforcement, spandrel glass, spandrel insulation, shadow box, and sun shading material in a typical storefront assembly. The user will input details of the assembly such as how many times the section repeats, and the dimensions of the panels as outlined in the photo below.

## **Glazing, Window Wall** allows the user to calculate the amount of vision glass, framing, reinforcement, spandrel glass, spandrel insulation, shadow box, and sun shading material in a typical window wall assembly. The user will input details of the assembly such as how many times the section repeats, and the dimensions of the panels as outlined in the photo below.

## **Walls > Concrete Masonry Units** {% hint style="info" %} Development of this builder was supported by

{% endhint %} This builder allows users to calculate the amount of CMU block, mortar mix, concrete fill, and rebar in a typical CMU wall assembly. The user inputs details of the assembly such as void percentage, number of blocks per area, weight of rebar per area. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf_t76GZQ8BwtvGng38flAhmdK_5iTPfnQRABk0N3q8WYbe96eKAUrQgZcQhmSivX_1jepDWNNtPNKvnKvwy3IxMD510_ohZ3B_yJaDb0b1-_mvWA6f2CYElgHTzpGEKINFx3pP?key=Ue6z1l7fsoWVFXHQnsE41A)

## **Wall, Interior Metal Stud** allows the user to calculate the amount of paint/surface finish material, sheathing, gypsum board, metal studs, and insulation in a typical metal stud wall assembly. The user will input details of the assembly such the size and spacing of metal studs, R\_Value of insulation, and facing materials as outlined in the photo below. If you don’t want to include insulation you can either enter “0” in the R value field or delete the sub-element representing insulation after generating the Multi Material element.

## **Wall, Wood Stud** allows the user to calculate the amount of paint/surface finish material, sheathing, gypsum board, wood studs, and insulation in a typical wood stud wall assembly. The user will input details of the assembly such the size and spacing of studs, R\_Value of insulation, and facing materials as outlined in the photo below.

### # Material Calculators Material Calculators assist users with converting units of measure Within the Plan & Compare Buildings feature, there are several mini-calculators to make it easier to convert units of measure. Sometimes the units that are typically used in preconstruction are not the same as the declared units of product category rules (PCRs) or the units that EC3 will accept for a given material. To access the material calculators within EC3, you must first map the collection to the material you would like to calculate. Currently, EC3 has mini-calculators for ready-mix concrete, reinforcing steel (rebar), dimensional lumber, and metal studs (cold-formed metal framing). This user guide will be updated when new mini-calculators are added.

Once your collection is mapped to one of the materials listed above, click within the quantity cell.

Click on the material calculator you would like to use. Enter your project-specific quantities in the fields according to the calculator you've selected. For example, if you selected "Concrete by Area", enter the area, thickness, and percentage overpour of the concrete you are trying to convert to volume. The result will automatically appear in the cell below "Quantity" and the calculator icon. Click accept to accept the result.

# Data Validations Enterprise feature Some configurations of EC3 have built-in tests that show the user whether their BuildingProject is out of compliance with an owner's program. Generally a buildingProject cannot advance to the next workflow step if it has any validation errors. # A4 Transportation Emissions A4 emissions, or transportation emissions, are associated with deliveries of materials from the point of manufacture to the jobsite. This includes activities such as ready-mix trucks delivering concrete to the jobsite, deliveries of steel and other materials. EC3 has an A4 calculator to help users easily convert fuel from these activities into emissions or global warming potential (GWP). To access the A4 calculator, click on the "A4 Transport" tab in the building project planner. The materials, quantities, units, collections and EPDs that are populated in the "A1-A3 Manufacturing" tab will automatically carry over to the A4 calculator. EC3 calculates the impact of transport from manufacturing plant to project site for each material. This result is then shown as A4 transportation impact. This calculation takes into account: 1. product weight 2. transportation mode(s) 3. transportation distance(s) Product weight is the mass per declared unit when available; otherwise EC3 calculates it from the default density for the product category. You can manually enter a more accurate product weight, for example to include packaging (if known). Transportation mode defines the carbon footprint per ton of product transported over a km or mi distance, i.e., [kgCO2e ](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57084901)per [t](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191118)\*[km](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q828224) or [ton](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q469356)\*[mi](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q253276). Our [list of transportation modes](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sviO5qm9bPKSm1biDl9i64yU1_hX17-1Pnduebnj9cc/edit#gid=339076095) and the associated impact factors come from regional LCA datasets, such as [USLCI](https://www.lcacommons.gov/) in the United States [\[1\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?66e278). Associated impacts are well-to-wheel, i.e., they include both fuel production and combustion emissions, unless noted otherwise in the transportation mode table. Transportation distance can be custom calculated, but EC3 provides a default initial estimate. If the user has selected a facility-specific product EPD, EC3 uses the straight-line distance from the manufacturing facility to the project site, plus a [40% routing factor](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835347/) to account for the actual road, rail, and waterway routes [\[2\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?jevV21). If no product EPD is selected yet, EC3 uses a [default distance](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ha9Nb5jClIqez-SmYJK9OfMMix01PmZbwO1amdNu28/edit#gid=1802945804) and mode for the general product category that was selected. These default values represent the typical distance based on national or regional data (e.g., U.S. [Census Bureau’s Commodity Flow Survey](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cfs.html) in the United States [\[3\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?AhhHnz)). You can also enter specific info about multiple transportation modes and distances manually, where you have more complete information. We recommend [Ecotransit ](https://www.ecotransit.org/en/)as a resource. To calculate the A4 transportation impact, we multiply: GWP\_a4\_leg1 = product\_weight \* transport\_mode\_gwp\_intensity \* leg\_distance For multiple legs, each leg is calculated as above and results of all legs are summed: GWP\_a4\_total = GWP\_a4\_leg1 + GWP \_a4\_leg2 + GWP\_a4\_leg3 + … As usual, EC3 handles the unit conversions. ## References [\[1\] National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USLCI Database, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, CO, 2021.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ) [\[2\] F.P. Boscoe, K.A. Henry, M.S. Zdeb, A nationwide comparison of driving distance versus straight-line distance to hospitals, Prof. Geogr. 64 (2012) 188–196.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ) [\[3\] U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Commodity Flow Survey, Washington, DC, 2020. www.census.gov /content/dam/Census/library /publications/2017/econ /ec17tcf-us.pdf.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ)
# A5 Construction Phase Emissions A5 emissions, or construction phase emissions, includes the emissions associated with onsite activities of assembling the building or project including onsite assembly and installation of materials. This includes activities such as temporary electricity, fuel for generators and heavy equipment, fuel for welding, etc. EC3 has an A5 calculator to help users easily convert fuel from these activities into emissions or global warming potential (GWP). To access the A5 calculator, click on the A5 tab in the building project planner. In the first column, the user can enter a description of the activity such as "Temporary Generators" or "Excavation". In the "Input Type" column, the user will select the appropriate fuel or energy type from the dropdown list of options. The user will then add the quantity and unit of measure for each activity type. The final step is to select the fuel source from the dropdown under the "Source" column. Note that certain input types such as Electricity will have multiple source options, since the emissions intensity of electricity varies by location. The GWP column will automatically populate based on user input in the preceding columns.

EC3 calculates the impact of fuels consumed on the construction site based on user input. The result is then shown as A5 construction impact. This calculation takes into account: 1. Amount of fuel consumed (manual user entry) 2. Fuel type (including upstream and combustion impact) Amount of fuel in EC3 is not explicitly tied to any material quantities tracked in A1-A4 scope. Instead, users are required to manually enter the amount of fuels and resources used during construction based on their own knowledge or data collection. EC3 currently does not provide any default quantity estimates. Fuel types in EC3 cover the basic fuels and resources used on typical construction sites. The GWP factors provide the amount of [kgCO2e ](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57084901)emitted per unit of fuel used, including upstream production impacts and direct combustion impacts for the given fuel or resource, unless noted otherwise in the [list of fuels and resources for construction](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/174atpJuAgLrwkRM2tgaR6maHhaRPMvPhygQ1-TLgQLE/edit#gid=954724252). The associated impact factors come from a combination of sources, including regional LCA datasets, such as [USLCI](https://www.lcacommons.gov/) in the United States [\[1\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?66e278). See details in the linked sheet. It is also possible to enter a custom GWP factor for any fuels and resources not in the default EC3 list. To calculate the **A5 construction impact**, we multiply: GWP\_a5 = amount\_of\_fuel \* fuel\_type\_gwp\_intensity As usual, EC3 handles unit conversions. ## References [\[1\] National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USLCI Database, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, CO, 2021.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ) \
# Level Bids *More information coming soon.* ## My Bid Sheets ## Templates ## Shared with Me ## Public ## All Bid Sheets # Material categories # Processed Glass This page provides additional descriptions on the different types of processed glass included in the EC3 database so that users can ensure they find EPDs that are appropriate for their needs. Processed glass types can vary significantly in terms of GWP, so it is critical that users understand the types of processed glass. Please note that in product category rules (PCRs) such as the UL Part B PCR for Processed Glass, the term *processed glass* can be used to refer to both monolithic glass panes or an insulating glass unit (IGU). However, due to concerns about comparability, the EC3 tool has separate categories to distinguish between flat (unprocessed) glass, monolithic processed glass, and IGU. The descriptions below are the processing types which can be searched under both the (monolithic) processed glass and IGU categories. The descriptions are for the most common types of processed glass used in construction and that are listed in NGA’s GANA Glazing Manual. ## Low-e Low-e is glass that has been coated with thin layers of metallic oxides to allow visible light to pass through the glass while limiting the amount of energy. There are two different types of low-e coatings. Passive low-e coatings, which are designed to maximize the solar heat gain and limit the reliance on artificial heating and solar control low-e coatings which are designed to limit the amount of solar heat and reduce the amount of cooling. ## Electrochromic Electrochromic glazing serves as an absorptive and dynamic solar control coating, capable of reversible changes in tint/transparency affecting optical properties like light transmission, infrared transmission, and solar heat gain coefficient. Electrochromic glazing can change its tint in response to an applied voltage based on external readings like the sun position and radiation intensity, offering dynamic control over light (daylight, glare) and heat entering a space. The ability to modulate its optical properties allows building envelopes to adapt to environmental conditions enhancing building energy efficiency and comfort. ## Acid-etched Acid-etched glass is decorative architectural glass, which is used for its aesthetic qualities. Processing may include mechanical or chemical procedures which change the visual properties of the glass. ## Heat-treating, Tempering, and Toughening Heat-treated glass is a term used to describe glass that has been processed through an oven to change its strength characteristics and provide greater resistance to both thermal and mechanical stresses. There are two processes for heat-treating glass. Heat-strengthened glass, which is approximately twice as strong as annealed glass and breaks into fragments that are similar in size and shape to annealed glass. Tempered glass which is generally considered four times stronger than annealed glass and shatters into many small pieces. Currently, EC3 does not distinguish between different types of heat-treated glass because large differences in GWP are not expected to exist. ## Laminated Laminated glass is used for improved security and safety performance properties. Additionally, it is often associated with additional desirable properties such as sound reduction and solar and thermal control. Laminated glass is commonly used in specialty applications for aquariums, animal enclosures, glass stairs, and sports stadiums. ## Fire-rated Fire-rated glass can either be fire-resistant or fire-protective. Fire-resistant glass restricts the spread of flames, smoke, and radiant heat for 60 to 120 minutes. It uses intumescent multi-laminate and gel-filled units to reach this rating. Fire-protective glass, on the other hand, is tested for its ability to block flames and smoke, but not radiant heat. These products range from covering specialty tempered products rated for around 20 minutes of protection to glass ceramics rated to 3 hours or more. ## Pyrolytic Coated & Sputter Coated Surface coatings may be applied to glass to modify appearance or provide additional characteristics or functions such as altered reflection, transmission, or absorption properties, scratch resistance, or corrosion resistance. Coated glass may be produced by either vacuum deposition (*i.e.*, sputter-coated) or pyrolytic deposition. Vacuum deposition involves applying coatings to glass products in a vacuum chamber; pyrolytic deposition applies coatings during the flat glass manufacturing process. Low-e or aesthetic coatings can be applied by either of these processes. Please note: pyrolytic coating and sputter coating are methods by which a variety of different coatings can be applied, and thus searching for EPDs tagged as *Pyrolytic Coated* or *Sputter Coated*, will not yield a certain performance type, but rather that the resultant EPDs were produced via one of these methods. # Painting & Coating This page provides additional descriptions of the paint category in the EC3 database to help users understand how EPD results are defined, reported, and compared. ## How Paint EPDs Are Reported and Compared For paints, the Product Category Rules (PCR) define the functional unit as **1 m² of coated surface over a 60-year building reference life**. To meet this requirement, paint EPDs include the impacts of all repaintings needed within that 60-year period, based on the product’s design life (e.g., 15 years) or market life (e.g., 5 years). As a result, the reported life cycle results in paint EPDs already accounting for multiple applications of paint. However, these impacts are often allocated to the product stage (A1–A3) rather than being distributed into the use stage (B modules). To make the data comparable, EC3 **normalizes the reported results back to one single application of paint per 1 m² of surface area**. This ensures that products with different assumed lifetimes can be compared on a consistent basis, regardless of how many repaintings were originally included in the EPD calculations. The service life and frequency of repainting is absolutely relevant for the evaluation of the best paint product for the users' application, however, it should be considered as part of the B modules of the building assessment and with the specific use case and repainting requirements for the users project. EPDs provide a more general service life information than what needs to be considered in the context of a specific building project. # Managing Data Adding, managing, modifying EPDs, managing organizations, user groups, user access and more. # Add EPDs to EC3 The following sections outline how a user can import, create, and access their EPD data in EC3. ### My Imports To access all EPDs a user has imported into the EC3 Tool, navigate to the My Imports subpage under the Add EPDs to EC3 heading of the left navigation pane.

All EPDs that have been imported appear on the main screen, including the file name, [digitization status](/ec3/managing-data/manage-data#epd-status) (indicating any identified errors), a link to the raw EPD file (hosted on Box), product category, Program Operator, date of last update, and a button to Open the digitized EPD.

{% hint style="info" %} #### FAQ: [The Import EPD page says my imported product is already in the database but I can’t find it when searching for materials, why?](/ec3/faq#the-import-epd-page-says-my-imported-product-is-already-in-the-database-but-i-cant-find-it-when-sear) {% endhint %} ### Import EPD from PDF To import an EPD from a PDF, navigate to the Import EPD from PDF subpage under the Add EPDs to EC3 heading of the left navigation pane. Click on the Upload EPDs button to select and upload up to (25) EPDs from a local drive into EC3. EPDs will appear under My Imports once uploaded to EC3, where any potential error warnings that occurred during parsing may be seen. EPDs with no errors or failures are automatically published and available to the public.

*Import EPD from PDF subpage navigation.*

{% hint style="info" %} You may not see this section if you have a **Private** account. You need at least a **Professional** account to be able to import EPDs. See [Getting Started](/ec3/getting-started#account-tiers)on how to upgrade your account. {% endhint %} ### Create Draft EPD Users that are Curators and Program Operators can create draft EPDs directly in EC3 by navigating to the Create Draft EPD subpage under the Add EPDs to EC3 heading of the left navigation pane.

Once selected, the left navigation menu will disappear, and the following product category tree will appear on the main screen. Navigate to and select the desired product category and click the Next button in the lower-right corner.

*Example product category tree navigating to wood framing*

After clicking Next, the EPD template for that product category will appear on the main screen with empty fields that users may populate. Once EPD information has been entered, click the green Create button in the top-right corner. Users may create an EPD with incomplete information to be stored as a draft, non-published EPD that can be updated later.

### openLCA Integration openLCA 2 added a new data object within its software called EPDs and supports [two-way transfer of data between openLCA and EC3](https://greendelta.github.io/openLCA2-manual/epds/openepd.html?highlight=ec3#import-epds-from-openepd). You can learn more about how to create EPDs in openLCA [here](https://greendelta.github.io/openLCA2-manual/epds/index.html). The idea is to create an LCA model, save results, and easily push them to the openEPD database in draft form. Once additional information is added in openEPD (or EC3), the EPD can be published. This means the data is created and transfered digitally all the way, no need for creating PDFs as an intermediate step (although you can create PDFs using the digital EPD). # Manage Data ## ![](/files/66jcCnC4GwrT4foqh5Eu) ## Source of Data EC3 collects data in many ways. We parse uploaded PDFs from users (manufacturers, program operators, architects, etc.), but we also receive EPDs in the openEPD format directly from EPD generators and Program Operators. You can see the original source type in the Manage Data section.

## EPD Status EC3 has a quality assurance (QA) process when importing EPDs. Once EC3 has digitized an EPD, it applies a series of checks (around 250) and marks the EPD with one of the following status tags. * **OK** * **W (Warning)** * **E (Error)** * **F (Fail)** * **Ex (Expired)** {% hint style="info" %} Just because the EPD can be found in the Manage Data section (i.e., it's in the database) does not mean that an EPD is searchable elsewhere, can be applied to projects, or affects statistics. {% endhint %} Here is a more detailed explanation of what each of the tags means. #### **OK** * No issues were identified by EC3. * The EPD **will appear** in searches and statistics. #### **Warning (W)** * EC3 is missing data in non-critical fields that would be good to have. * The EPD **will appear** in searches and statistics. * It is recommended that the manufacturer check or fill in the listed missing fields. These are items that would make the EPD easier to find, such as key product performance parameters, or provide valuable additional data, such as non-GWP impacts, but are not critical fields for use in EC3. EPDs with a Warning appear normally in searches and statistics. Most Warning-level problems can be fixed by the Manufacturer. {% hint style="info" %} EC3 may mark missing environmental impact categories as warnings even if those categories are not required by the PCR or are actually present in the original PDF. Our algorithms currently do not cross-check which impact categories are required by each PCR with what is entered into EC3, except for GWP, which is a critical field for EC3's core purpose of addressing climate change. {% endhint %} #### **Error (E)** * EC3 found at least one Error in the digitized EPD. * The EPD **will NOT appear** in searches or statistics. * Some of the data in the digitized EPD may be unreliable. Problems are serious enough that EC3 is not confident enough to include the EPD in comparisons, but reasonably confident that the basic structure of the document has been identified. Missing GWP or unreasonably high/low GWP values are examples of Errors. EPDs with an Error do not appear in searches or statistics. A user with the appropriate editing rights (e.g., the Program Operator) can fix Error issues manually. #### **Fail (F)** * EC3 found at least one Failure level problem in the digitized EPD. * The EPD **will NOT appear** in searches or statistics. * None of the data in the EPD should be considered reliable. This usually means EC3 has not reliably digitized the EPD at all. The resulting digitized EPD is likely to be misnamed, misclassified, or have completely wrong data. This usually happens because EC3 has not yet been programmed to understand the document format of the imported PDF document. EPDs with a Failure do not appear in searches or statistics, and essentially none of the captured data should be relied on. Failed EPDs usually need to be fixed by an EC3 administrator. #### **Expired (Ex)** * The EPD has one of the other statuses, but it is also expired as of today's date. * The EPD **will NOT appear** in searches or statistics **unless** the user removes the Valid After filter in their searches. Expired EPDs are not useful for most users of EC3, but they can be useful for understanding historical trends or can be applied to retrospective analyses of completed projects. ### Sanitizer messages Users can see detailed sanitizer messages when they open the EPD page in EC3. Sanitizer messages are only visible to a Curator user or higher, a manufacturer representative with Manage permission, or a Program Operator representative with Manage permission.

Accessing and reading sanitizer messages.

## Superseding EPDs If EC3 detects EPD duplicates (same declaration number), the following will occur: When an update is made to an existing EPD, the publication date of the updated EPD becomes the expiration date of the old EPD. Expired/Obsolete EPDs are kept in the database but do not show up in product searches when using [Find & Compare Materials](/ec3/main-features/find-and-compare-materials) and are not factored into product category statistics unless the `Valid After` date is set prior to the EPD expiry. ## Product EPDs To view Product EPD data, expand the Manage Data section of the left navigation pane and select the Product EPDs subpage. Here, users can view a list of all published and publicly available manufacturer Product EPDs currently available in EC3. From this view, EPDs can be viewed using a variety of filters, including the following: ● Error code ● Product category ● Manufacturer ● Plant or Plant group ● Product name ● Product description ● Program Operator ● Verifier organization ● Plant location ● Declared unit ● Date of last update in EC3 ● Button to open digitized EPD ● Button to open raw EPD file Users can view the digitized EPD by clicking the Open button ![](file:///C:/Users/vasek/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.gif) or view the original PDF version of the EPD by clicking the Box button ![](file:///C:/Users/vasek/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.gif). All users can see all EPDs through this table, including EPDs in Pilot and Draft product categories. Users with special permissions can edit Product EPDs. ## Industry EPDs To view industry-average EPD data, expand the Manage Data section of the left navigation pane and select the Industry EPDs subpage. From there, the main screen will populate with a list of all unpublished and published industry average EPDs currently available in EC3. From this view, EPDs can be viewed using a variety of filters, including the following: ● Error code ● Product category ● Product name ● Product description ● Publisher of EPD ● Product location ● Declared unit ● Date of last update in EC3 ● Button to open digitized EPD ● Button to open raw EPD file Users with special permissions can edit Industry EPDs.

Differences Between Data Types

## PCRs All reference [Product Category Rules (PCRs)](#_heading-h.3ygebqi) are available by expanding the Manage Data section of the left navigation pane and selecting PCRs. PCRs referenced by EPDs in EC3 are all contained in this section along with high-level data relevant to the PCR. To view this data, click the View buttons (

) to the right of the PCR listing.

For users with permission, an Edit button is also available. Clicking this takes users to a page with PCR information, including the PCR issuer, date of issue, validity period, declared units, subcategories, PCR link, LCIA requirements, notes, attachments, and more. To edit any information, users must be an [Organization Admin](/ec3/managing-data/organizations) or have write or manage user permissions within a Program Operator. PCR information may also be accessed by selecting the Product Category Rules button within a digitized EPD.

## My EPDs Users can view and manage their EPDs by navigating to the My EPDs subpage underneath the Manage Data section of the left navigation pane. Users can only access EPDs in EC3 for which they have [user permissions.](/ec3/managing-data/users-and-permissions) Depending on a user’s permissions within EC3, they may only have the ability to edit certain fields within their EPDs, such as images, product names, product specs, product descriptions, and plants. The table below details which EPD is accessible by which Organization type and which actions are available to them in the My EPDs subpage. *Organization types and EPD editing privileges.* | EPD View | Org Type | Available Actions | | ---------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Editable | All | EPDs I can edit | | Draft | All | EPDs I can see and edit in draft state (not published) | | Program Operated | Program Operator | All EPDs published under my Program | | Declared | Manufacturers |

All of my published EPDs

Write access to product specification fields if have write access to the manufacturer

| | 3P Verified | Third Party Verifier | EPDs verified by me | | Digitization Confirmed | Third Party Verifier | All published EPDs that I have confirmed digitally | | Problem Ticket | All | *Future state (Not live) – All problem tickets currently assigned to me* | ## Reference Values (formerly Baselines) The Reference Lines subpage under the Manage Data section of the left navigation pane allows users to view published [Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF)](/ec3/glossary) GWP baselines, as well as other reference values, for all product categories referenced in the tool. The CLF baselines appear when viewing the GWP results for a particular Product EPD or a collection of EPD search results. The baseline appears as a solid purple line with the annotation “CLF Baseline.”

*Example CLF baseline for a selected Product EPD.*

{% hint style="danger" %} The reference lines only appear if all specification filters match the specifications of the products listed in the relevant report. For example, Industry-average 2023 CLF Baseline for fabricated rebar will only appear if the user is in the "Rebar" category and selects "Fabricated - Yes" under the performance specification options. You can view and copy a template project with the available 2023 CLF reference collections [here](https://buildingtransparency.org/ec3/buildings/9d0aa73213ff4200a6f27c9d2b421bea?back=%2Fec3%2Fbuildings%2Fown\&view=custom\&stage=A1A2A3). {% endhint %} CLF baseline documentation can be accessed . ## Standards The Standards subpage can be accessed under the Manage Data section of the left navigation pane. Here, standards referenced in EPDs are listed, particularly as it relates to product performance specifications (e.g. ASTM). # Users & Permissions EC3 is designed as an enterprise tool and [Organization Admins](#_heading-h.3q5sasy) have significant control over users within their organization. All employees who wish to use EC3 must register their email address to create an account. Any employee with an “@mycompany.com” extension is automatically assigned as a read-only user to that particular organization. There are three different levels of access and editing privileges within EC3, including user account type, user permissions, and organization type. ### User Account Types EC3 supports four different user account types: Private, Professional, Pilot, and Curator. User account rights and prerequisites are as follows:

### User Permissions Each organization administrator may grant permissions to any user/employee within their organization. Permission types are as follows: Read: Users can see data specific to this organization. Write: Users can edit data specific to this organization. Manage: Users can change user permissions for this organization.

*Example organization administrator view of users.*

Users outside of an organization may be set up as users/employees within the organization if (1) they associate their email address with the organization during registration and (2) an organization administrator grants them permission. ### Organization Admins Every organization has an Admin who has enterprise administrative rights within EC3. ● Org Admins can Impersonate users under their organization to understand what users can access within the tool, or to take company-authorized actions when the user is not available. ● Only one organization administrator may exist, but they may assign Manage rights to other organization users, which include all Admin permissions EXCEPT changing the org Admin ● When users leave an organization, administrators may set their permission level to “None”, which will remove the user from the organization. ### User Groups User groups make it easier to manage access to a large group of data entries. They are especially useful for cross-functional teams at multiple companies using EC3 on a shared project. A user group is a list of users or groups, each with assigned permission levels. An example may include a Program Operator creating a user group for a draft EPD that includes the Program Operator project manager, manufacturer, and external verifier. Another example may include a group including an Architect, Developer, and Contractor working on a building project together - while projects can be shared with each user individually, they can also be shared with a group of users from multiple companies. A user can get permissions to a data entry via a user group. The user can only get the permission level the user has with the User Group, or which the User Group has with the document, whichever is lower. A User Group can be given any permissions that a Person can be given. User groups can be members of other user groups. If a user has permission to a data entry in more than one way, then the highest permission applies. Every Organization automatically has an Employees group (all persons with Read access to the Organization page) and an Editors group (all persons with Write access set on the Organization page). Building Transparency is currently exploring use cases around different user types. ### User Profile & Settings The User profile and settings may be accessed by clicking the User Name, Measurement Units, or opening the Settings pane and clicking Settings (see General Navigation).

In the user profile, users can complete business contact information, tool preferences such as measurement units (SI or USA), default [life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)](/ec3/glossary) method (e.g. TRACI 2.1), preferred language, baselines, default EPD types, and subscriptions to EC3 and CLF communications. Users may also change privacy settings by selecting the “Enforce Privacy” button. If selected, the following will go into effect: ● Your name/organization will not appear in searches for people to share with you. ● Users will no longer be able to share Building Projects with you ● You will be unable to share or publish Buildings. All Shared and Public buildings you have created will be unshared and become Private. ● You will be unable to use Pilot or Curator features.

*** # Organizations The Organization section of the left navigation pane lists all Organizations with registered users within EC3. Any Professional user type may create an Organization using the Create Organization button in the top-right corner of the list. After an EC3 review, the Organization is created and the Professional user who initiated the creation becomes the Organization’s first Administrator. Organizations are defined by the presence of a unique web domain to avoid duplication in EC3. If a parent company controls multiple subsidiaries, user accounts should be established at the level of the parent company to allow editing access to those subsidiaries. Accounts established at the subsidiary organization level will not have access to the parent company organization. The list of Organizations provides the following information: * Organizations registered within EC3 * Organization information * Name (legal, alternative names) * Website * Physical address * Organization type (non-profit, private, etc.) * Logo * Parent Organization * Primary activities * Links * Primary sustainability contact * Preferences * Employees and their permissions, only visible to other employees * Plant name, location, and quantity of EPDs * Subsidiaries * Draft and published EPDs {% hint style="info" %} Only the Organization administrator can make changes to the organization page. {% endhint %}

## Organization Primary Activities EC3 lists the Primary Activities of each organization. These are used to check whether data entries like EPDs, plants, etc. are assigned to the correct organization. * EPD Operator: Organization is shown in the list of valid Program Operators for EPDs and PCRs * Manufacturer: Organization is shown in the list of valid Product EPD Owners, Plant Owners, and similar fields * 3P Verifier: Organization is shown in the list of valid Third-Party Verifiers * Other * Owner * Design / Engineering * Builder * Industry Association: Organization is shown in the list of valid Owners for an Industry EPD * Forest Practices Certification * Sustainability Consulting * Education: Indicates that some users of the web domain may be Students, rather than Employees. In the future, special protections and access rights may be provided for students and educators. ## Managing Employees Each Organization has an Administrator that is able to manage the Organization’s profile page, employee permissions, and plants linked to EPDs. Other employees with Manage permission within an Organization have the same permissions as the Administrator. To edit employee’s permissions, click on the Edit Employees button on the Organization’s page and select the permission level for each employee using the dropdown selection. To remove an employee from your organization, select the “None” permission from the dropdown and save your changes.

### Permissions These permissions control what each associated employee can do with the organization's data.

Permission	Description
Read	This account can see internal Org-owned data, but not make changes.
Write	This account can edit and delete Org-owned data and Org settings, other than permissions.
Manage	This account can change the permissions of other users (except the Admin's), and also has Write permission.
Remove	Remove this account permanently from the organization. This is irreversible. The account becomes an independent EC3 account not associated with the Organization's. This option is best if the account was added to the Org temporarily, or by mistake.
Disabled	Prevent this account from logging in or accessing Organization data, but retain control of the account. This option is best for the accounts of former employees.

## Managing Plants Organizations can control information about facilities and **Plants** within the Organization screen. To create a plant entry, click the Create Plant button and specify the plant name, address, and categories produced by the plant. EC3 uses a geocode identifier based on a plant’s latitude and longitude coordinates in Google Maps. **Plant Groups** may also be created based on a collection of several plants and may be associated with a specific geography of production. Individual plants must be created first in order to be able to add them to a Plant Group.

## List of EPDs The List of EPDs section of the Organization page contains all EPDs registered under the Organization, as well as the Digital EPD Statistics button. Clicking this button will generate an email that is sent to the current user’s email address on file. The email will contain information about the number of valid digitized EPDs declared by the selected Organization, the number of product categories in which searched EPDs appear, and how often the EPDs were opened within the past 90 days. The same information is also available for any subsidiaries of the parent Organization. # API EPD, PCR, building project, and other data available in EC3 is also accessible via API. ## Access You must have an [EC3 account](/ec3/getting-started#create-an-account) in order to access the API. The information that is accessible to users via the API corresponds to the user permissions in EC3. All API users must follow the [API Terms of Service](https://www.buildingtransparency.org/api-terms-of-service/). {% hint style="info" icon="triangle-exclamation" %} Private accounts with generic email domains are not allowed API access for security reasons. You must have at least a [Professional account](/ec3/getting-started) with a business email to access the API. {% endhint %} ## Documentation API documentation is available in the settings menu of EC3 under [API & Integrations](https://buildingtransparency.org/ec3/manage-apps).

## Rate Limits / Throttling Our API has default throttling rules to prevent misuse and overloading of the service. The system uses a combination of 1) token cost structure for performing various requests and 2) time-period token usage limits (shown below). ### Token Limits * 45 tokens per minute * 400 tokens per hour * 2,000 tokens per day * 10,000 tokens per month If your use case requires higher token limits and/or you plan to use our API for commercial production applications, you can reach out to to get paid API access. Paid API access comes with unlimited tokens except for the burst protection limit of: * 100 tokens per minute ### Token Costs Each API endpoint has an associated token cost that is deducted from your usage limits when called. More resource-intensive operations have higher token costs. The table below shows the token cost for each endpoint: | Endpoint | API | Tokens Cost | | ------------------------ | ------- | ----------- | | Get Project Details | EC3 | 0.5 | | Get Project View Details | EC3 | 3.0 | | EPD Details | EC3 | 1.0 | | Get Category Defaults | EC3 | 0.05 | | API Version | EC3 | 0.01 | | Download EPD | EC3 | 0.01 | | Material Filter Query | EC3 | 0.01 | | Get Category Details | EC3 | 0.05 | | Calculate EPD Statistics | EC3 | 0.01 | | Industry EPD Details | EC3 | 0.2 | | OpenEPD Declaration List | OpenEPD | 1.0 | | Get OpenEPD | OpenEPD | 1.0 | | Create Declaration List | OpenEPD | 1.0 | | Get Declaration List | OpenEPD | 1.0 | | Get Material List | OpenEPD | 1.0 | | Get Statistics | OpenEPD | 1.0 | ## Attribution As the Terms of Use say, we request that you display any attribution to BT's work and data when using the API for third party platforms. The following are some samples of how this can be done. ### Inline links to EC3 If you are showing individual EC3 data directly in a search and list fashion, please provide direct links back to the original source in EC3. This can be either in the list view as shown in the example below, or on the detailed view of the individual datapoint.

Example inline attribution in Transparency Catalog

### Customer communication If you are communicating with customers about data originating from EC3, please acknowledge Building Transparency and EC3 in the email referencing our data.

### Documentation If EC3 data is not provided directly but is used to develop other data, it is sufficient to attribute Building Transparency and EC3 in your tool’s documentation or user guide.

# Integrations EC3 has working integrations with top design and construction-related software to create an ecosystem of aligned and harmonized solutions. Our open digital EC3 database is leveraged by other technology providers in the industry, enabling the carbon data of materials to be part of the decision-making process within the tools already broadly used by building and infrastructure professionals. Here are some of our main integrations and partners. * Tally - see [user guide](https://app.gitbook.com/o/bfOTgYn0LuJrbcRYg4Le/s/PDhVD99RBnS0Qy4HvVPO/~/edit/~/changes/255/ec3/integrations/tally) * Autodesk Construction Cloud - see [user guide](/ec3/integrations/autodesk-construction-cloud) * Bentley iTwin Systems - see [user guide](/ec3/integrations/bentley-itwin-systems) * Procore - watch [video tutorial](https://youtu.be/_Dlnc4zCZOc) * Transparency Catalog - watch [video tutorial](https://transparencycatalog.com/blog/for-manufacturers-introducing-transparency-catalog-project-builder-library) While we don't control all integrations with other platforms, we see ourselves as a part of a broader AEC ecosystem and collaborate with other providers aligned with our mission. If you have a third party platform that you woul like to integrate with EC3, let us know. # Tally ### tallyLCA Tally models can be exported to EC3 from the Save Report tab within the [Tally plug-in.](https://choosetally.com/download/)

After clicking the Export to EC3 button, users will be prompted to log in to EC3 using their EC3 credentials. The export proceeds with creating a new EC3 building project, transferring material names and quantities into EC3. Users can download a Tally export report from the newly created EC3 project, which will list any elements that encountered issues during the export process. # Autodesk Forma This page aims to help with set up and use of EC3 for Autodesk Forma integration managed by Building Transparency. {% hint style="warning" %} Autodesk Forma was formerly known as Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) {% endhint %} New projects can be created from an existing BIM 360 model by clicking the +Import from Autodesk button in the top-right corner of the Building List. Users will be prompted to log in to Autodesk and select the model to import into EC3. Note that this feature requires the model to be uploaded to the Autodesk Forma platform, not just a local or shared Revit model. ## Set up This integration requires some set up outside of EC3, in [Autodesk Forma](https://acc.autodesk.com/). ### Enable EC3 for Autodesk Forma app Your organization's administrator for Forma must install the EC3 for Autodesk Forma app.

## Use The following are the steps to take after successful set up. ### Login via Autodesk When you create new EC3 project from Autodesk, you will be asked to login using your Autodesk credentials. ### Find & import your model You can find the model you want to import into EC3 by navigating the project tree fetched from ACC. ### Review & update project data EC3 does the best it can with the data contained in ACC files. In reality, there is some data loss and data insufficiencies in ACC files compared to the original Revit files accessed directly in Revit. The imported data will be a good starting point for estimating the carbon footprint of your projects, but you will be required to add and modify the material and quantity information in EC3 in order to achieve any meaningful and accurate carbon accounting. # Bentley iTwin Systems Bentley's iTwin Platform integrated with EC3 allows you to take Quantity Takeoff reports created using the iTwin Reporting Platform and export them to EC3 for convenient Life Cycle Analysis for both infrastructure projects and buildings. The iTwin Platform enables aggregation of engineering data created by various design tools. A summary of the design data is exported through this integration, allowing you to gain insights into the environmental impacts of your infrastructure projects. ### Starting in iTwin In iTwin Experience users can view and analyse design elements, define properties and aggregate design elements into groups.

Grouped elements with information on material type and quantities can be exported to EC3 to perform carbon accounting.

User is directed to EC3 tool in a separate window.

### Refining material information in EC3 In the EC3 tool, emission factors are automatically assigned based on the assigned material type. Users can either rely on the predefined data or adjust the emission factors according to their needs.

EC3 offers an extensive global material library that allows users to select the appropriate emission factor from its EPD database.

EC3 also provides various charts for analyzing the project's carbon footprint. For example, you can visualize contributions by materials and systems using the EC3 Sankey diagram.

### Carbon analysis in iTwin Prepared carbon data can be pulled back to iTwin Experience to visualize the carbon within the design using heatmaps.

Carbon heatmap is created based on the original element groups.

User can turn off groups and analyse only selected elements.

Carbon data can be viewed also as a pie chart.

Pie charts allow users to see details in the groups.

### Additional information More details about Carbon Analysis can be found at [Carbon Analysis Software | Bentley Systems](https://www.bentley.com/software/carbon-analysis/). More information on Bentley iTwin Platform Carbon Calculations APIs can be found at [Overview - Carbon Calculation page on the iTwin Platform.](https://developer.bentley.com/apis/carbon-calculation/overview/) # FAQ ## EPDs

How do you get your data?

EPDs get added to EC3 in a few different ways. 1. Automatic digital transfer by LCA developers like Climate Earth and Smart EPD (this option is optimal and has the fewest errors) 2. Program Operator platforms and other EPD aggregator websites (like NRMCA and NAPA websites) 3. PDF documents uploaded directly to EC3 by users, including architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and others. Our team does not track or search for EPDs on manufacturers’ own websites, but we encourage manufacturers with EPDs to [upload their data to EC3](/ec3/managing-data/add-epds-to-ec3). EPDs from aggregated sources and direct uploads to EC3 are collected in their original PDF form, then machine-read, parsed by our scripts, and checked for quality before being searchable within [Find & Compare Materials](/ec3/main-features/find-and-compare-materials) or [Plan & Compare Buildings](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings).

Does EC3 keep expired EPDs? Why? For how long?

Yes, expired EPDs stay in the database indefinitely but are not shown in new user searches unless someone intentionally removes the default Valid After filter when searching.

We do not delete any EPD data because it may be linked to users’ past projects and the EPD links are used for documentation, for example when reporting calculations for LEED certification. We need the EPDs to remain in the database for the record.

When a new EPD is published, does the old one get deleted?

It depends on the nature of the new EPD. If the EPD is: 1\) a brand new calculation of an existing product that uses newer primary data, and would be considered a new EPD for the same product(s), then we set the older EPD’s expiration date to the day of the publication of the newer EPD, and create a new EPD entry for the new EPD. 2\) a correction to an existing EPD, i.e., a new version of an EPD that otherwise remains representative of the same exact product(s), then we correct the existing EPD and upload the corrected PDF document.

What is a 'duplicate entry' in EC3? Is that when the same EPD gets entered twice? How might that happen and how does it get handled?

Because we allow users to enter EPDs themselves, and EPDs often float around in multiple versions, we sometimes get the same EPD multiple times without catching it immediately. (Note: any small change to an EPD, including missing text, typos, or formatting changes and changes of logos, may cause our system not to flag the EPD as ‘already existing’) We periodically hunt for duplicates and remove duplicates when identified by users. If you find what you think is a duplicate, please report it using the Report Bugs & Feedback button.

I uploaded an EPD to EC3 but I can't see it. Why? When will it be searchable?

When you upload a PDF, our algorithms try to extract as much data from the PDF as they can. However, EPDs come in many different formats which is a major challenge for our algorithms. When our quality assurance checks identify missing or incorrect fields after the extraction process, they need to go through another review and manual fixing, which can extend the time it takes for the EPD to show up in EC3. If you are a manufacturer getting a brand new EPD, ask your Program Operator to publish the EPD digitally to [openEPD ](https://www.buildingtransparency.org/programs/openepd/)during publishing, that way the EPD shows up in EC3 immediately without the need for our team to process the PDF document.

## Account

How do I change my email address?

We do not allow change of email addresses for security purposes. When you change employers, please create a new EC3 account using your new email address and company affiliation.

Why am I not receiving the registration confirmation email?

Sometimes our automated emails get blocked by strict spam filters. Please whitelist and try re-sending the confirmation email again.

How do I become a Professional user?

Make sure you 1) use a business email, 2) are connected to an employer, and 3) fill out your profession.

## Uncertainty

How is the 80% confidence score of an EPD calculated? Is there documentation?

Please see the [Uncertainty & Statistics](/methodology/uncertainty-and-statistics) section. Our default uncertainty factors are developed for each product category and applied to EPDs using a checkbox system seen on each [EPDs page](https://buildingtransparency.org/ec3/epds/ec3chw63) and shown below. Our methodology builds on work published by [Waldman et al](https://www.journal-buildingscities.org/article/10.5334/bc.31/) and the IPCC.

## Searching for Data

If an EPD is expired, but would still be interesting for a simulation, can I include it in my search?

Yes, you can include expired EPDs in searches by expanding the “More” section of the search and changing the “Valid After” date. You can also removing the “Valid After” filter altogether by clicking the red X at the bottom of the search window.

I don’t see data for what I need. Can I import EPDs myself?

Yes, you can import EPDs to EC3 by following the steps in [Add EPDs to EC3](/ec3/managing-data/add-epds-to-ec3).

How long does it take for imported EPDs to show up in EC3?

The imported EPDs typically appear in the database within 24 hours, unless our scripts cannot capture all relevant data. If you see messages “Parsed with Errors” or “Parsing Failed” that means that our scripts had issues with the EPD format and our team will need to review and fix the EPD manually - this may take longer. Depending on how many EPDs and how busy our team is at the time it can be days to weeks - if you need something quickly you can submit a ticket using the Report Bugs & Feedback button in EC3.

I have uploaded new EPD only to receive a message that the EPD is already in the database. Is there an easy way for me to select that exact product in my Building Project from the EPD page?

Unfortunately no, there currently isn't a quick way to add the EPD to a project from the EPD page. The best is to open up another EC3 tab with the Building Project side-by-side with the EPD page, Search for a new material in the Building Project and follow these steps: 1) navigate to the product category shown at the top of the EPD page, 2) click Next and then Search to find all EPDs in that category, 3) scroll down and type in the product name, manufacturer, and/or plant name in the table headers, this will filter for the product you are looking for. | | | ------------------------ | | Figure 1: Steps 1 and 2. |

| Figure 2: Steps 3 and 4. | | ------------------------ |

The Import EPD page says my imported product is already in the database but I can’t find it when searching for materials, why?

There can be a couple of reasons why you can't find an EPD through Find\&Compare Materials even though we have it in the database. 1) The EPD may be expired. There is a default search filter applied called, for example, "Valid After: 2022-02-22". This filter defaults to today's date and any EPDs that expire before that “Valid After” date won't show up. You can try to remove the “Valid After” filter and see if the EPD shows up then. If it does not appear, it is likely that 2) The EPD is in our database but hasn't been successfully imported with all the required fields present, therefore it will not be searchable and cannot be added to a building project. You can tell an EPD has this problem if you see the red "QA Errors" button in the top right corner of the digitized EPD page, as shown below. In this case, you can "Report Bugs & Feedback" about this EPD and someone on our team will see if the EPD can be fixed and made searchable.

### LCIA Methods

Many EPDs report CML 2001 LCIA method. Is there a reason this isn't included under the user preferences? Is the 3% LCIA uncertainty factor added because of the earlier version of the CML used?

The LCIA methods (the CML ones specifically) are super confusing. The Method itself is often called CML-IA or CML2001 and then has multiple versions based on the year of release. So for example what we call CML 2016 in EC3 is really CML2001 version 4.8 updated in 2016. User settings only shows 3 LCIA methods, while EPDs may have many others. The reason for including only the 3 is that those are the only current methods, all the other ones are outdated so we didn't see the need to include them in the user settings even though they can be assigned to older EPDs. Yes, we do add the 3% even if it is simply a different version of the same LCIA method, like CML 2016 vs CML 2012. At the end of the day, there are differences in each of these methods which in some cases can yield non-neglibile differences in the LCA results. We can either take this difference into account or say the EPDs are not comparable - the latter would be a harsh and not useful simplification. Our approach is still a simplification but tries to address these differences without simply throwing out the EPDs altogether.

The uncertainty factor for the same product appears differently on my end compared to my colleague's end. Why?

This is most likely a result of the LCIA method between your user account and the EPD (not) matching. If you go into your user profile, there is a setting for "Preferred LCIA Method" which then removes the LCIA method uncertainty for any EPD that reports results in your preferred method, and includes uncertainty for any EPD whose results doesn't match your method. You and the other user likely have different preferred LCIA method, and only one of your preferences matches this particular EPD. Match: ![](/files/ETsTlpQT5iKQOyKQbcpE) No match: ![](/files/OAs4xd9ILAUpgV8PGETu)

## PCR Differences

The plant name mentions it is a Wire mill, but is linked to an EPD for bar reinforcing. Why? Is this an error?

It's just a name and it's the name of the plant, not necessarily of the product the plant makes. Manufacturers can edit the address and names of their own plants, so I think Nucor decided to add the "Bar Mill" or "Wire" to their own mills, perhaps without fully knowing themselves that the bar EPD includes a plant they previously named "Wire". I can look into this further and potentially have them change the plant names, but overall it doesn't affect any carbon calculations (besides being confusing to users).

Two EPDs follow different PCRs, does this mean the EPDs are not comparable? Why does EC3 compare them?

There are some PCRs that are different, but often the LCA rules on different versions of PCRs for the same product category are virtually the same. There are of course exceptions to this, which we are working on mapping better going forward.

## Categories

Can I get access to Pilot categories?

Pilot categories are still in various stages of development as EPDs are populated and performance filters and uncertainty analysis have to be completed. Our pilot partners get early access to these categories to help us build them out appropriately for broader use. Pilot partnership typically comes with a financial and time commitment, but if you are interested email a Building Transparency staff member and we can provide more details.

### Glass

Why are some glazing EPDs in glass panes and some in IGUs? Why aren’t all glass categories using an area declared unit?

Some glass-related EPDs are reported in mass and some in area. They do split between glass and IGUs but there are conflicting ways these products are reported. The defining property is the declared unit for us, which currently defines if an EPD ends up in Glass Panes (mass declared unit) or IGUs (area declared unit). The glass panes category generally only has single window panes, which means you can use the GWP per mass to calculate your own IGU impact by taking into account glass density (roughly 2.5 kg per m2 per mm thickness) the thickness of each glass pane, and the number of panes. In a Building Planner you can enter the full equation into the quantity field and then link the Glass Panes search to it. You can hen add window, curtainwall, or other frames as a separate components of the whole glazing assembly. There are some EPDs that report impacts for a predefined thickness, number of panes, and other coatings in a whole assembly fashion. These EPDs are reported on an area basis, but then there may be EPDs for double pane vs triple pane IGUs side-by-side. The goal then is to filter by IGUs of some minimal U-value. I can't say that the U-values (or other performance characteristics) are tracked well in EPDs or in EC3 at this moment so it is always a good idea to double-check that your particular comparison of products in the IGU category makes sense. As mentioned, we are working on improvements to this category and your feedback and questions are very helpful for this effort.

## Diagrams

What is the difference between CLF Baseline, CATEGORY and THIS EPD values?

The 20th and 80th perentile for "THIS EPD" are calculated using the average GWP reported on the EPD +/- the default uncertainty factors. In this case THIS EPDs uncertainty is related to Supply Chain, Batch, and LCIA Match. The 20th and 80th percentile for CATEGORY is the summary statistic for all similar EPDs in the database and what their GWPs are. So it's a comparison of all EPDs in this CATEGORY on the left, vs THIS EPD on the right. The CLF Baseline is like the 80th percentile value for the CATEGORY, except it was based on CLF's research at a certain point in time, so it doesn't change everytime an EPD is added to EC3. The live statistics do change ..ith new EPDs in EC3.

Is there any way to ignore the extreme values on EPD comparison diagrams? The zoom function doesn't seem to work as expected.

The Zoom function only zooms across the horizontal axis, zooming onto select manufacturers or plants. It doesn't zoom to a range of GWP values shown across the vertical axis. This is by design. One way to exclude extreme values from the comparison diagrams is to specify maximum GWP in the performance specifications field called "EC3 / Declared Unit".

## TallyLCA

Can I have multiple insulations within a single wall cavity?

Yes, you can have multiple insulation types in a wall cavity. You can define one insulation type with the stud layer and add another insulation type as an accessory material to that same wall family. You could also define the stud layer without insulation and have both types of insulation added as accessory materials. To do this, right click the wall family and select "Add accessory material" then proceed with defining that second insulation layer. You can also see this done in one of our tutorials at choosetally.com/tutorials - scroll down to the "Defining Materials" video and fast forward to 3:30.

## TallyCAT

We received a TallyCAT release email from [ceo@c-change-labs.com](mailto:ceo@c-change-labs.com). Our IT department have rightly challenged the TallyCAT installation file referenced in the email because it is being hosted on a google drive. Is the TallyCAT announcement email and related Google Drive links legitimate?

Yes, this is indeed a legitimate email and link to the TallyCAT installer. We host it in this way because of the beta nature of the tool and frequent updates - we update the installer every few weeks at this time and put all related updates in the same Google drive location. If you or your company has any concerns, please contact us to confirm the specific links.

Is tallyCAT replacing tallyLCA? What’s the difference?

tallyCAT is currently a complementary tool to tallyLCA and does not replace it. tallyLCA uses a consistent background LCA database which enables the tool to cover all life cycle stages and environmental impact categories necessary for reporting to LEED and other building certification programs. The tool is best used for design decisions that consider comparisons across material and product types. tallyCAT only focuses on upfront carbon (i.e., the Global Warming Potential of material production) and is most useful for sourcing decisions that consider comparisons within material and product types, as it uses manufacturer-specific data from Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The ultimate goal is for the two tools to be fully integrated, but we are some ways away from that.

## BIM360

I imported BIM360 project to EC3 and shared it with a colleague but he can not use the "Show 3D Model" window. Why?

Users can only import BIM360 projects and view the 3D model if they have access to the particular project in BIM360. If you share just the EC3 project with someone (via EC3) then that person will be able to see the EC3 project and all of its quantities and material assignments, but not necessarily be able to see the 3D model - this is because the 3D model is BIM360 interface, not EC3, we simply show you BIM360 within an EC3 window. That means that whoever is trying to view the 3D model has to have access to the same project on BIM360 in addition to having access in EC3.

# Pilot User FAQs

Where can I sign up for a Pilot account?

You can visit to sign up. {% hint style="danger" %} We are aware of a malicious use of the *ec3pilot.org* domain, please do not go to that page! {% endhint %}

What is the purpose of the pilot user program?

The purpose of providing more users access to the pilot version of EC3 is to expand the number of advocates for our tool who are testing and sharing feedback on the features and categories that are not yet public. We also know that many of our free users want access to the 100+ material categories we have in pilot development, and this is how we can achieve that.

What are the responsibilities of becoming a pilot user?

Building Transparency relies on corporate and enterprise partners and pilot users to help us refine and push out new features and material categories based on testing and feedback. We entrust all pilot users to advocate for the future development and expansion of our public tool by helping test the many pilot material categories and exciting new features made available to them as part of a larger beta testing group.

How will the funding be used by Building Transparency?

The funding we receive through pilot user subscriptions will support our mission of providing the open-access data and tools necessary to enable broad and swift action across the building industry to address embodied carbon’s role in climate change. We will use the funding for further category and feature development within the EC3 tool and accelerate their eventual availability in the free and public version once tested in the pilot version. We are thankful for your support of our mission!

What are the requirements to be eligible to become a pilot user?

**Beyond currently being a free user of the EC3 tool**, there are no specific eligibility requirements to become a pilot user—we only ask that you advocate for the tool and share feedback on how we can further improve it.

Why should I become a pilot user instead of using the free version of EC3?

The pilot version of EC3 is not needed for everyone. If you’re looking for access to more pilot features and product categories, then we recommend considering upgrading to pilot user access. However, it’s critical that pilot users test and provide feedback on these features, so keep that in mind when considering if pilot access is for you. Becoming a pilot user means you are now an EC3 insider and have joined the growing number of AEC professionals supporting the improvement and refinement of our tools and data to drive embodied carbon action.

How much does pilot access cost?

The annual plan is $500, and the monthly plan is $50/month. Payments are non-refundable. Please note that annual subscriptions last one year from the date of purchase and will not auto-renew. Instead, Building Transparency will send an email notifying you that your subscription is almost up and reminding you to renew.

Can I cancel my monthly subscription?

Yes. If you wish to cancel your pilot user subscription, please do so within your Stripe account. Please note while the monthly subscription can be canceled at any time, no payments will be refunded. You will have access to the pilot version of EC3 for the entirety of the last month you paid for, and then your subscription will end.

How quickly will I get access to the pilot version of EC3 once I submit payment?

Within 24 hours of submitting payment, you will be connected with a Building Transparency representative who will help activate your profile to pilot user status. This is a manual process, so we appreciate your patience as we work to upgrade your profile. However, you must first be a free user of the EC3 tool to be given pilot user access, so ensure you have set up an account before submitting payment for pilot access.

How do I get started as a pilot user?

Once you submit payment to become a pilot user, we will update your existing profile status to grant you access to the pilot version of EC3. We will send you an email once your account has been upgraded, meaning you now have access to new material categories and features. This typically takes about 24 hours to go into effect. We appreciate your patience!

Will I need a new login to become a pilot user?

No! Your EC3 login will be exactly the same, and you’ll log in like normal to access the additional pilot functionality, features, and materials.

Where can I find out more about the quarterly “office hours”?

To get added to the quarterly pilot user “office hours” with the Building Transparency team, please email us at .

My company wants to become a corporate partner – who should we contact?

We are always looking for more corporate and enterprise partners for EC3. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a corporate partner, please contact us via the Contact Us form on our website, which can be found here: .

What are the benefits of becoming a corporate partner?

Your company may be a fit for pilot access to EC3 if you’re looking to contribute to expert beta testing and get more hands-on support and API access for all your employees. We offer corporate or enterprise partner levels depending on what you need from the tool. **Corporate Partner** A corporate partnership is for organizations interested in contributing expert beta testing of our functions and data prior to broad release. Benefits include: * Access to Pilot categories for ALL employees * Support of API Access and use, if applicable * Logo Recognition as Partner * Regular Biweekly Support Meetings & Priority User Support **Enterprise Partner** An enterprise partnership is a type of lead sponsorship for organizations that require more custom tool functionality in terms of data, API access, tool customization and more. Benefits beyond what’s included for Corporate Partners are: * Individual, hosted instance of the EC3 tool on a dedicated server of their choosing * Dedicated online & biweekly user support for multiple user groups within and outside of the Enterprise Partner company, as needed * Custom branding, login, user interface & workflow * Customization of EC3 user interface for data collection and project management * Portfolio-level tracking & reporting * Assurance that any new functionality that would benefit the public users of EC3 will become a pilot feature for broader testing.

My question wasn't covered here - what do I do now?

Email us at , and a member of our team will get back to you within 48 hours.

# Data Evolution We often get questions about the addition and evolution of data available in EC3. This page is intended to provide insights into the way EPD data gets added to the EC3 database, and on the evolution of data in the database over time. ## Valid EPDs over time

Valid EPDs in EC3 from launch of EC3 to 10/8/2025.

This chart shows snapshots of the state of the EPD database at various time since the launch of EC3 in 2019. This chart only shows the EPDs valid at the time of each snapshot, excluding expired EPDs at those points in time. This chart also does not necessarily represent the development of EPDs themselves, but the evolution of the data becoming available in EC3 (EPD creation and EC3 availability can be correlated in certain categories, like Concrete, but not always across all categories). # Glossary ## Terminology ### Burden of the Doubt "Burden of the Doubt" is the opposite of "Benefit of the Doubt". Whenever an EPD does not explicitly provide information that is required for high confidence in the comparability of the result, an uncertainty penalty will be added. That penalty is the burden. It is represented visually by a fuzzy blue range above and below the line of the reported GWP value in the EPD More broadly, for comparing EPDs, BuildingTransparency.org uses a Conservative value that is 80% likely to be above the actual value given the data currently known.\ \ Some sources of doubt include: * The exact product that will be delivered to the job site is subject to change in the future due to price, schedule, etc. * Missing or generic estimates for EC of inputs, which may not reflect actual conditions at the facility. * Measurement and estimation uncertainty * Manufacturing variation * Unknown or incompatible estimation methodologies. \ Where a statistical profile of products is available, the **80th** [**percentile**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percentile) highest-emitting product is assumed; otherwise a statistical estimate (mean + 0.92 standard deviations) is used. ### Builders Calculators within EC3 that allow users to estimate the quantity of materials in typical floor and wall assemblies in the absence of detailed quantity information. ### Collection A group of EPDs meeting a particular set of search terms, such as performance specifications and location. Typically a collection should represent a list of products functionally suitable for an application. ### Industry EPD [EPD ](#environmental-product-declaration-epd)developed by an industry association on behalf of its member manufacturers. Multiple manufacturers provide data that is combined and averaged in order to determine the industry average impacts of similar products. Distinct from a Product EPD. ### Product EPD An EPD developed by a single manufacturer for a single product type. Reported impacts can be averaged across different variations of the same product type and across manufacturing locations, or they can report impacts for each variation and location individually. EC3 addresses the alignment of EPDs by including EPD uncertainty. ### Operational Carbon Carbon impact associated with a building’s day-to-day operations, such as energy usage and water consumption. ### Product Category Group of products that can fulfill equivalent functions (ISO 14025:2006). ### Program Operator Body or bodies that conduct a Type III environmental declaration program according to ISO 14025:2006. Program Operators maintain a set of rules called General Program Instructions that govern the program’s management including, but not limited to, procedures for EPD verification and publication, PCR creation, data safe-keeping, and approach to recognizing other Program Operators. ### Cradle-to-gate This term refers to the partial life cycle assessment of a product from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to the factory gate (before it is transported to the consumer), also known as scope A1-A3. It includes the stages of material acquisition, manufacturing, and production but does not include the use and disposal phases of the product's life cycle. ### Cradle-to-grave This term refers to the full life cycle assessment of a product from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to its disposal (grave), also known as scope A-C. It includes all stages of the product's life cycle: material acquisition, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal. This comprehensive assessment helps to understand the total environmental impact of the product. ### Cradle-to-cradle This term refers to the full life cycle assessment of a product AND the benefits of reclaiming or repurposing it into new products after its useful life, creating a closed-loop system. This is also known as scope A-D. The concept emphasizes recycling and reusing materials in a way that mimics natural processes, where there is no waste, and everything is reused in some form. Note that module D should always be considered and reported separately, since it is outside of the boundary of assessment of the current product, and can result in double counting of benefits of any subsequent products claiming benefits related to sourcing secondary materials. ### Uniformat II An element classification of parts of a building, defined in [NIST6389 by Charette and Marshall.](https://arc-solutions.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Charette-Marshall-1999-UNIFORMAT-II-Elemental-Classification....pdf) Widely used for Cost Estimation; Recommended here for Carbon Estimation. ### Masterformat A classification of materials and construction activities, defined by the [Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)](https://www.csiresources.org/home). This is the typical classification system used by builders in North America. ### OmniClass A classification system used by many digital tools. It comprises of a combination of other classification systems like Uniformat, Masterformat, and others. *** ## Abbreviations ### ACC - Autodesk Construction Cloud ### BIM - Building Information Modeling Creation of 2D or 3D models using software that represent built assets, such as buildings. A widely-used means to create building drawings for construction and coordination purposes. Within the AEC industry, the majority of BIM models are created using Autodesk’s Revit software. ### CLF - Carbon Leadership Forum Non-profit organization aiming to transform the building sector to drastically reduce the embodied carbon in building materials and construction via research, resource development, cross-industry collaboration, and member-lead initiatives. ### EC - Embodied Carbon Carbon impact of a material or product that is associated with their production and construction or installation. At the building scale, a project’s embodied carbon impact is the sum of all the impacts of its components, such as structure, envelope, and interiors. ### EPD - Environmental Product Declaration An independently verified and registered document that communicates transparent and comparable information about life cycle environmental impact of products. It is a summary of product characteristics and LCA results, similar to a nutritional label for the environmental impacts of products. ### GWP - Global Warming Potential An environmental indicator which was developed to allow comparisons of the global warming impacts of different gases. It represents the heat absorbed by any greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, as a multiple of the heat that would be absorbed by the same mass of carbon dioxide. GWP is how a building’s carbon footprint is quantified, with units of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO2e). ### LCI - Life Cycle Inventory Detailed list of inputs and outputs of resources and emissions associated with each process. ### LCA - Life Cycle Assessment Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle (ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006). ### LCIA - Life Cycle Impact Assessment Describes methods for converting inventory data from a life cycle assessment into a set of potential impacts. This enables practitioners and decision makers to better understand the damage caused by resource use and emissions. Example LCIA Methods include TRACI 2.1, CML, and ReCiPe. ### PCR - Product Category Rules A set of rules, requirements, and guidelines for developing environmental product declarations for one or more product categories. # Release Notes We update EC3 every two weeks with bug fixes, new features, and improved performance. Here are some of the most important changes. ## 2024-01-08 (148) * Bill of Quantities table in the Project Planner now has[ selectable columns](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings/bill-of-quantities#selecting-visible-columns), allowing users to adjust the information and results they see * Added "Undo" button to Project Planner * Added new API resource at /categories/public to get a full tree of categories as seen by the private user (no access to draft or pilot categories). Fully cached endpoint, refreshed daily. * Added new API resource detailing plants in EC3 with their geographical locations: /materials/plants/public. It will be used by the public plant map on buildingtransparency.org website. * Added set of API endpoints to support EPD Corrections mechanism to capture suggested changes in EPDs to be submitted for approval. ## 2023-12-11 (147) * Internal changes to single sign-on, FEMA filters, etc. * New internal API endpoint GET/materials/plants. With it, API clients can search for plants by providing a material filter, providing a list of plants producing materials matching specifications. * Added [math operator](https://app.gitbook.com/o/bfOTgYn0LuJrbcRYg4Le/s/PDhVD99RBnS0Qy4HvVPO/~/changes/139/ec3/main-features/find-and-compare-materials/using-specification-filters#math-operators) to the search field for the number of window panes in an IGU ## 2023-11-27 * Added [calculator ](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings/material-calculators)for Metal Deck in Project Planner - aids estimating of mass of metal decking based on standard deck profiles * Added [reference values](https://docs.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/managing-data/manage-data#_heading-h.3cqmetx) for industry-averages listed in the 2023 CLF North American Material Baselines Report ## 2023-11-13 * Added [Rollup Reports](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings#rollup-reports) to Plan & Compare Buildings - allows export of Excel reports for multiple projects at once * Added EPD[ source type](/ec3/managing-data/manage-data#source-of-data) tags to EPDs * Added maps to Find & Compare Materials - shows locations of plants with EPDs * Improved caching - improves tool performance, speeds up loading of page content ## 2023-10-30 * Tiling category released to public (thanks to partnership with [TCNA](https://tcnatile.com/)) * Added [Rollup charts](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings#rollup-charts) to Plan & Compare Buildings - allows visual analysis of multiple projets at once * [FAQ ](/ec3/faq)moved from EC3 to Gitbook - one central place for all FAQ, easier to maintain & update * Bug fix for duplicating elements in Project Planner ## 2023-07-14 * Added [calculators](/ec3/main-features/plan-and-compare-buildings/material-calculators) to Project Planner, including Concrete by Volume, Concrete by Area, Rebar by Concrete Volume, Rebar by Length, Metal Stud by Spacing - aids in estimating quantities of materials in units compatible with EPDs * Added filter for FEMA compliance to select product categories # Last 12 months ## 171.3.3 | 2026-02-04 ### Summary This update improves data accuracy and reliability across EPDs and reports, expands supplier and classification capabilities, strengthens security and authentication, and resolves several issues to provide a smoother experience across all instances. ### New Features * Enterprise only: A new Supplier ID field is now available in enterprise instances, improving supplier identification and downstream reporting. * Enterprise only: Training content in enterprise instances now supports images and videos, making onboarding and learning materials easier to access. * Enterprise only: Authentication and application storage access have been updated in enterprise instances to use more secure, modern authentication methods. ### Improvements to existing features * Several HVAC and mechanical system classifications have been updated, including VRF Systems, Heat Pumps, and Water-cooled Chillers, to improve data completeness and accuracy. * A new 365-day option has been added to the *Compressive Strength – Other Days* dropdown to support additional concrete reporting scenarios. * Validation for the Project Purchase Order field has been removed to simplify data entry and reduce workflow friction. * Enterprise only: The Archive workflow state can now be selected at any time in enterprise instances, making project state management more flexible. * Enterprise only: Automated reports in enterprise instances have been improved to ensure supplier, intensity, and building-level data is fully and consistently included. ### Bug fixes * Multiple issues affecting EPD uploads, images, and synchronization have been resolved, including upload failures, duplicate records, unsupported images, incorrect defaults, and server errors. * The classification progress indicator now correctly reaches 100% when all required fields are completed. * Entering quantities no longer causes the cursor to jump unexpectedly. * Material definition errors related to plumbing piping materials have been corrected. * Exporting large project Excel reports no longer results in timeout errors. * Enterprise only: Issues causing missing or inconsistent values in enterprise reports have been fixed. ### Post-Release Hotfixes * Projects now save changes properly across all tenants. * A backend error that caused project saves to fail with a 500 error has been resolved. * Enterprise only: Authentication using Azure identity now works correctly in enterprise instances after fixing missing configuration in the deployment setup. * Enterprise only: System credentials are now correctly applied across environments for enterprise instances, preventing runtime authentication failures. *** ## 171.3.2 | 2025-11-05 *** ## 171.3.1 | 2025-10-22 *** ## 171.3.0 | 2025-10-14 *** ## 171.2.3 | 2025-10-01 *** ## 171.2.2 | 2025-09-17 *** ## 171.2.1 | 2025-09-11 *** ## 171.2.0 | 2025-09-01 # Archive # EC3 Updates - 18th June 2024 ### Unified Tree for Materials and Assemblies We have introduced a single, unified tree for Construction Materials and Building Assemblies. Building Assemblies (formerly “multi-material elements”) are objects with multiple sub-parts, such as a stud wall or slab on metal deck. You can now create them by selecting a Building Assembly from the ‘Category’ tree. We are continuing to add more Building Assembly calculators, mostly because of volunteers in each industry who share their estimation tools with us for the common good. Look for a major upgrade to CMU calculation soon!

### Find Available Calculators Detailed calculators are available for many Material types, including structural steel, concrete, rebar, insulation, and more. These calculators make use of existing takeoffs, contain dropdowns of common material sizes, and will start you with a reasonable default. A green icon above ‘Quantity’ will help you find elements where a calculator is available. Click the green indicator to highlight any Calculator that hasn't yet been applied.

### Toggle Takeoff visibility We have added a toggle to show or hide takeoff quantities from Revit, Civil3D, or another integration.

### View EPD Information for Building Elements We now display the names of your Selected EPDs (Primary and Alternatives) below the Category for each Building Element. This text is a link, which opens the Collection. You can use the “EPDs” toggle at the top of the table to show or hide the EPD for the selected material.

### Toggle Notes for Building Elements You can now use the “Notes” toggle to show or hide your notes for building elements all at once. This lets you control the level of detail shown on the screen.

# EC3 Updates - 22nd May 2024 ### View building and matching plants on Google Maps In the building planner, when searching for an EPD collection, you can view your building and matching plants on a map. Click on ‘Maps’ under ‘Geographic’ section to view building and matching plants on a map. Optionally, you can include nearby plants with no EPDs that match your search; they may be able to make a low-carbon material for you.

### Buy Clean Colorado Policy compliance We have implemented ‘BCCO 2024: OSA Asphalt’ in our ‘Compliance’ filters for Asphalt. The Buy Clean Colorado (BCCO) Act applies to State public projects for which the project cost exceeds $500K and for which an agency of government issues a solicitation on or after January 1, 2024.

### Move Projects button The Move button makes it easier to organize building projects, particularly if you have many folders. Select the building(s) using the checkboxes on the left. New buttons appear above the building list. Click on ‘Move Projects’. Choose a folder (your own or a shared folder you can Write to) and click ‘Move Here’. All selected projects will move. Be aware that this DOES change who can view and edit the project, based on the permissions of the destination folder.

### Show/Hide columns in Building Planner EC3 returns a lot of data. We present the most commonly used fields by default. The custom column option allows you to customize the data you see. Click on the table icon on the right side of a project material list view and select the columns you want to display.

### EPD Suggestions: new list view EPD suggestions you have created are now listed under ‘My EPDs’. Program Operator users with access to review and approve suggestions can filter under the ‘Editable’ tab by ‘With Corrections’ to find EPDs with suggested corrections.

# EC3 Updates - April 2024 ### Manufacturers and Verifiers Suggest Corrections to EPDs Pilot users who notice missing or incorrect information related to their EPDs (as Manufacturer or Verifier) can now suggest corrections by directly editing a draft copy of the EPD. Changes can be previewed, reverted if needed, and saved for approval. Once submitted for approval, Program Operator staff can review and accept the suggestions; EC3 staff can accept suggested corrections to the digitization.

### Program Operators Approve Corrections to EPDs Program operators, who can edit EPDs, can now also review and approve suggestions for those EPDs (if they are also Pilot users). Suggested corrections will be visible against EPDs when you view product EPDs through “[Manage Data](https://staging.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/epds)”. We have made it easy for users to view these suggestions, review them, and either merge or reject the suggestions. In an upcoming release, we will add a list of reviewable suggestions under My EPDs.

### Add an EPD directly to your Building Project We’ve made it easier for Pilot users to add materials to their building projects by finding the EPD. When you find an EPD through “[Find and Compare Materials](https://staging.buildingtransparency.org/ec3/material-search)” or by opening the EPD, you will see an icon that lets you add the EPD to one of your building projects. From there, you can select the building and a subassembly where you want to add the EPD. A default Collection will be created with the correct category; to get realistic Achievable and Conservative, you should refine the search.

### Elevators are public in EC3 The Elevator category has been released publicly. It covers passenger and freight elevators used in buildings. Special thanks to [TK Elevators](https://www.tkelevator.com/global-en/) for technical and financial assistance.

### A5 Emissions in Sankey and Treemap Charts We’ve included A5 (construction) in the Sankey and Treemap charts. You can now view the emissions from energies and fuels used during building construction broken down by construction activities. You can use the checkbox against A5 to hide data from the visualization.

# Enterprise Integration Guides These articles are for IT staff and managers integrating corporate systems (e.g. SSO) with EC3. [Setup Single Sign On (SSO) with SAML](/ec3/enterprise-integration-guides/setup-single-sign-on-sso-with-saml) # Setup Single Sign On (SSO) with SAML EC3 supports integration with various [Identity Providers](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] (IdP) who implement the [SAML protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAML_2.0). If your organization has a compatible, centralized user management system like Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory or Google Workspaces this integration will enable your users to log into all BuildingTransparency services with your corporate authentication server. You can configure your server to decide which groups of users are eligible to login into EC3. ## Setting up the integration This section explains the complete flow for setting up a Single Sign-on (SSO) integration for Building Transparency products with SAML based IdP[^2]. The configuration process requires actions by the EC3 engineering team and yourselves. Before you start: * You have an EC3 subscription that supports SSO integration. (contact ) * Ensure you have access and **permissions to change SAML** configuration with your identity provider * You have received the following from BuildingTransparency: * Issuer/Identifier/Entity ID, for example “Entity ID: * ACS/Reply URL/Assertion Consumer Service, for example: “Reply URL (ACS): #### IdP Specific Instructions * [Microsoft Entra ID](#microsoft-entra-id) (formerly Azure AD, Azure Active Directory) ### Microsoft Entra ID #### Step 1 - Create a BuildingTransparency Application in Azure 1. In [Microsoft Entra ID](https://portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_AAD_IAM/ActiveDirectoryMenuBlade/~/Overview) 1. go to [**Microsoft Entra ID** > **Enterprise Applications**](https://portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_AAD_IAM/StartboardApplicationsMenuBlade/~/AppAppsPreview/menuId~/null), 2. click **+ New application** to display the Browse Microsoft Entra ID Gallery, and 3. click **+ Create your own application**.\ The Create your own application side panel is displayed.

Create new SAML application dialog (MS Entra ID)

4. Select **Integrate any other application you don’t find in the gallery (Non-gallery)** 5. click **Create**. #### Step 2 - Initial Configuration 1. Open your newly created application. 2. From the left navigation panel select **Single sign on** \

Single Sign-on of the SAML app (MS Entra ID)

Select **SAML** from the list of the proposed authentication options

3. Locate the **Basic SAML Configuration** section and click 3 dots icon in the right top corner;\ Choose **Edit** from the drop down menu.

Open basic SAML configuration editor (MS Entra ID)

4. The **Basic SAML Configuration** side panel is displayed.

1. Set **Identifier (Entity ID)** and **Reply URL (Assertion Consumer Service URL)**. You should ask Building Transparency support for this values. \ Click **Save** and close side panel. #### Step 3 - Configure Attribute Mapping {% hint style="info" %} Depending on the settings of your organization the attribute mapping might be slightly different. This guide assumes you use email as a user identifier and you didn't do any changes to the standard user fields. {% endhint %} 1. In section 2 "Attributes & Claims" click three dots icon and then Edit item from dropdown menu

Open attributes mapping dialog (MS Entra ID)

2. Attribute Mapping dialog will appear

3. Click on the Unique User Identifier field and make sure the configuration matches the screenshot below:

Unique User Identifier field mapping (MS Entra ID)

4. For each of the additional claims set mapping as per picture below.\ **IMPORTANT**: You must remove the namespace from each of the fields:

Repeat this procedure for each field so you have the following mapping: | SAML Claim | Source attribute | | ----------- | ---------------- | | email | user.mail | | first\_name | user.givenname | | last\_name | user.surname | | name | user.displayname | The final result should look like this:

5. Close the dialog to return back to your SAML app configuration. #### Step 4 - Collect credential Once you have configured your application, you will need to collect your application identifiers and certificate. You will be sending this information to Building Transparency. 1. In Section 3 "SAML Certificates". Locate field **Certificate (Base64)** and click Download

2. In section 4 "Set up" locate Login and Logout URLs and copy values

3. Send the following information to your contact at Building Transparency: 1. SAML Login URL 2. SAML Logout URL 3. Certificate in Base64 format #### Step 5 - Grant access to your users You can either allow anyone in your organization to use this app or configure strict rules to enable access for the selected users. To allow access for everyone within your organization: 1. Open Properties from the left navigation menu on your SAML app page 2. Select **Assignment required** = No\

Make application available for everyone within organization (MS Entra ID)

To restrict access for specific group or users: 1. Navigate to Users and Groups from the left navigation menu of your SAML app page. 2. Select Add user/group and configure access as needed\

Restrict access to the application (MS Entra ID)

#### Step 6 - Wait for notification by Building Transparency Building Transparency engineers will update configuration with the data you supplied and let you know when you can start testing the integration. [^1]: An identity provider (abbreviated IdP or IDP) is a system entity that creates, maintains, and manages identity information. Examples are Google Workspaces, Active Directory, etc. [^2]: Identity Provider # EPD Comparability EC3 aims to facilitate product procurement based on EPD reporting, with the acknowledgment that not all EPDs should be compared to one another when their calculation rules and assumptions are not the same. The table below outlines criteria that would ideally be aligned for EPDs before comparisons should take place. The “Treatment in EC” subsections describe how EC3 facilitates comparability in terms of these criteria. It is Building Transparency’s hope that future iterations of digital EPDs and PCRs will account for these criteria to facilitate more robust comparisons. The rest of this section follows the following structure: | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | |

Criteria name
Description
| Treatment in EC3
| Notes

| ## Criteria for Comparing EPDs ### **Scope** Includes the functional unit, product category definition, and period of validity. > **EC3** converts EPD results to match the default declared units of each product category. The specification filters and options allow users to select EPDs with equivalent function as necessary for the application. ### **System Boundary** Includes the life cycle stages and modules included in the analysis. It is critical to compare data only when they have an equivalents system boundary. > **EC3** focuses on facilitating procurement-phase comparions within product categories. While EC3 does collect EPD data on all life cycle stages, it only uses A1-A3 data from the EPDs when it comes to comparisons and statistics. > > The assumption is that use phase replacement and end of life disposal of products in the same category is mostly equivalent (there are some exceptions). {% hint style="info" %} The comparison GWP for insulations includes A1-A3, plus A5 and B1 . The addition of A5 and B1 is unique to insulation, and is essential for a reasonable accounting of escape of blowing agents, which are often GHGs. {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" %} When comparing across product categories, it may be critical to account for the life cycle stages that EC3 does not currently cover. It is up to the user to account for adequate replacement cycles and end-of-life disposal scenarios in cross-category comparisons. {% endhint %} ### **LCI Background Data** There are several major life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets, which can lead to different EPD results. > **Treatment in EC3:** EPDs in the same product categories have identical declared units. The specification filters and options allow users to select EPDs with equivalent function as necessary for the application. ### **Data Quality** Collection of LCI data can be at a variety of levels of quality when it comes to the methods of collecting data (e.g. expert judgment vs direct measurement), selection of background data and it's relevance (geographical, temporal, and technological). > **EC3:** This may be treated in future versions of EC3 if data quality indicators are consistently found in EPDs. ### Impact Assessment Method There are a variety of impact assessment methods, each will provide slightly different impact assessment results. > **EC3** applies an uncertainty factor to EPDs when the EPD has a different LCIA method than the [user’s default LCIA method](https://docs.buildingtransparency.org/methodology/pages/xX1f2SRjrGLO92nEiqRw#_heading-h.kgcv8k). {% hint style="info" %} Many products result mainly in carbon dioxide emissions when it comes to carbon footprint (i.e., GWP) and the characterization factor for CO2 is always 1. Differences in reported LCIA methods matter mostly for non-CO2 dominated production chains, and for non-GWP impact categories. {% endhint %} ### Use Phase & End-of-Life (EOL) assumptions EPDs should have consistent use phase and EOL calculations and assumptions for their life cycle impacts to be comparable. > Not treated in **EC3** thus far. EC3's focus to date has been on enabling users to make procurement decisions within the same material categories, with the assumption that use phase replacement and end of life disposal of products in the same category is equivalent. {% hint style="warning" %} When comparing across product categories, it may be critical to account for the life cycle stages that EC3 does not currently cover. It is up to the user to account for adequate replacement cycles and end-of-life disposal scenarios in cross-category comparisons. {% endhint %} ### Allocation Method by which input or output flows for a process is partitioned between product systems that are linked. Allocation methods should be the same for EPDs to be comparable. Some PCRs leave the choice of allocation to the discretion of the LCA practitioner (e.g. mass versus economic allocation). > Not treated in **EC3** thus far. ### Cut-off Rules Cut-off rules enable LCA practitioners to conduct an LCA without having to model 100% of the system by omitting non-relevant life cycle stages, processes, and flows. Cut-off rules for EPDs should be the same for EPDs to be comparable. A common methodology is for a cut-off of no more than 1% of total energy consumption and 1% of the total weight of material from each process. > Not treated in **EC3** thus far. ### PCR Version PCRs are usually updated every five years. If changes occur in the update, EPDs produced under different PCR versions may not be comparable. > **EC3** keeps track of PCR versions so users can determine if two EPDs have the same PCR version or not. {% hint style="info" %} Difference in PCR or PCR version does not necessarily mean that EPD data under other PCRs and versions cannot be aligned for a valid comparison of EPDs. {% endhint %} # Uncertainty & Statistics EC3 exists to help the construction industry reduce the climate impact of its work. The first step is transparency about the carbon footprint of construction materials. In part, EC3 does this by digitizing print EPDs and publishing them in an openly accessible, free platform. But EC3 also does a great deal of math to assist users in navigating the complexity of the available data, and using it to drive emissions down and transparency up. The following documentation discloses EC3’s methods which go beyond simply providing of 3rd party verified EPDs in a digital format. You can give us feedback or contribute data by using the Report Bugs and Feedback button inside EC3, by emailing us at , or by using the [contact form](https://www.buildingtransparency.org/about/contact-us/). ## Category & Search Statistics The boxplots that you see when you search for EPDs reflect the sample of EPDs fitting your search criteria. These calculations are done live based on the current state of the database and may change whenever EPDs expire (and are removed from the sample) or whenever new EPDs are added. The following diagram explains how the statistics are calculated. For more details see [this one-pager](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GIUXPUkYA6JYIKMiNxIYIIhjso-EQu3W/view).

## Uncertainty and Specificity Uncertainty exists in all scientific endeavors. EC3 is somewhat unusual among LCA tools in showing the uncertainty bounds and building it into our tools for comparison. * [EC3 uncertainty in brief](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pvs9gPk_oMUPh2PIySDfJv03QF8fTZYs/view?usp=drive_link) (1 page) * [Introduction to EC3 uncertainty](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c3pUareK1KfOKNwl2HaLcF5Flxqt_v_k/view?usp=sharing) ## General uncertainty methodology * [General uncertainty methodology](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EysSAwUYApcAAcMCjXBYWa3FKEV4oq2d/view?usp=share_link) * [Summary of default uncertainty factors](https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Cv9hU0kIzwIzyLYvaYSiJTVIcygpQUf/view?usp=share_link) ## Category-specific uncertainty reports * [Concrete & cement](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nq1y0Gg_vcrLXuJ2ch4HJoe6sZJ5QRQs/view?usp=share_link) * [Flat glass](https://drive.google.com/file/d/15xn_mm49i0IYz_4u63gSo-kuHglufghs/view?usp=drive_link) * Steel (in progress) * Resilient flooring (in progress) * PVC & KEE membrane roofing (in progress) * Data cabling (in progress) * Asphalt (initiated data collection - please [reach out](http://contactus@buildingtransparency.org/) if you want to contribute) * Wood (in progress) # Project Planner ## Life Cycle Modules ### A1-A3: Production All project data starts with a range based on all individual data points that fit users' search criteria (i.e., performance specifications). If you select a specific EPD, then that EPD becomes the source of A1-A3 data. ### A4: Transport to Project EC3 calculates the impact of transport from the manufacturing plant to the project site for each material. This result is then shown as A4 transportation impact. This calculation takes into account: 1. product weight 2. transportation mode(s) 3. transportation distance(s) **Product weight** is the mass per declared unit when available; otherwise EC3 calculates it from the default density for the product category. You can manually enter a more accurate product weight, for example to include packaging (if known). **Transportation mode** defines the carbon footprint per ton of product transported over a km or mi distance, i.e., [kgCO2e ](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q57084901)per [t](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191118)\*[km](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q828224) or [ton](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q469356)\*[mi](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q253276). Our [list of transportation modes](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sviO5qm9bPKSm1biDl9i64yU1_hX17-1Pnduebnj9cc/edit#gid=339076095) and the associated impact factors come from regional LCA datasets, such as [USLCI](https://www.lcacommons.gov/) in the United States [\[1\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?66e278). **Transportation distance** can be custom calculated, but EC3 provides a default initial estimate. If the user has selected a facility-specific product EPD, EC3 uses the straight-line distance from the manufacturing facility to the project site, plus a [40% routing factor](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835347/) to account for the actual road, rail, and waterway routes [\[2\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?jevV21). If no product EPD is selected yet, EC3 uses a [default distance](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ha9Nb5jClIqez-SmYJK9OfMMix01PmZbwO1amdNu28/edit#gid=1802945804) and mode for the general product category that was selected. These default values represent the typical distance based on national or regional data (e.g., U.S. [Census Bureau’s Commodity Flow Survey](https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cfs.html) in the United States [\[3\]](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?AhhHnz)). You can also enter specific info about multiple transportation modes and distances manually, where you have more complete information. We recommend [Ecotransit ](https://www.ecotransit.org/en/)as a resource. To calculate the A4 transportation impact, we multiply: $$ GWP\_{A4,leg1} = product\_weight \* transport\_mode\_gwp\_intensity \* distance $$ For multiple legs, each leg is calculated as above and the results of all legs are summed: $$ GWP\_{A4,total} = GWP\_{A4,leg1} + GWP *{A4,leg2} + GWP*{A4,leg3} + … $$ As usual, EC3 handles the unit conversions. #### References [\[1\] National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USLCI Database, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden, CO, 2021.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ) [\[2\] F.P. Boscoe, K.A. Henry, M.S. Zdeb, A nationwide comparison of driving distance versus straight-line distance to hospitals, Prof. Geogr. 64 (2012) 188–196.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ) [\[3\] U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Commodity Flow Survey, Washington, DC, 2020. www.census.gov /content/dam/Census/library /publications/2017/econ /ec17tcf-us.pdf.](https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?H5xFAJ) ### A5: Construction Construction impacts are calculated from user-entered fuel and resource consumption estimates, multiplied by the life cycle GWP intensity of that resource. Life GWP intensity includes production, combustion, and direct emissions associated with the use of a unit of a resource during the construction process. $$ GWP\_{A5} = quantity \* gwp\_intensity $$ We source GWP intensities from the USLCI database or other literature. ### B: Use Coming soon ### C: End-of-life Coming soon ## LEED Reporting LEED Reports only include product categories that are specified in the [LEED Pilot Credit](https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-schools-new-construction-retail-new-construction-data). We try to align the LEED category list with EC3 categories and specifications as best as possible, but it can be challenging at times. If you notice something unexpected, let us know. # Reference Lines EC3 supports multiple types of reference lines for each category and search. ## CLF Baselines One of these reference lines can be the CLF Baseline for a specific year. These baselines are not a Building Transparency product, so you need to visit the [CLF resources](https://carbonleadershipforum.org/clf-material-baselines-2023/) to learn about the details. However, we do our best to implement the Baselines in our tools and land many questions about using them, so here is a brief outline of a few things to know. ### Varying CLF Baseline Methodologies CLF Baselines have changed their underlying methodology with the 2023 version. This was described in CLF's own methodology document, however, Building Transparency receives questions from users who look for an explanation behind the drastic differences in their reduction claims using the new baseline values. Anyone setting carbon reduction targets using the new 2023 Baselines will need to adjust their reduction expectations to be much lower, typically by roughly 30% (i.e., 30% reduction with 2021 CLF Baseline becomes a 0% reduction with 2023 CLF Baseline). In an ideal example scenario like shown below, where the GWP statistics across the three time periods don’t change and are evenly distributed, the difference in the baseline values is an adjustment from the 80th percentile to the 50th percentile (more accurately, the change has been to use Industry EPD average values). {% hint style="info" %} You can read more about the way EC3 statistics work [here](/methodology/uncertainty-and-statistics#category-and-search-statistics). {% endhint %}

Difference between EC3 statistics and different versions of CLF Baselines.

Another outcome of switching to only Industry EPDs for determining CLF Baselines is that some categories that previously had CLF Baselines now don't have them, because not all categories have Industry EPDs. {% hint style="info" %} If you are pursuing the LEED Pilot Credit on Procurement of Low Carbon Construction Materials you are safe for now with the use of 2021 CLF Baselines, however, the deviation of LEED and CLF product category lists may become an issue in the future. {% endhint %} ### Specificity of Search Terms Another change stemming from CLF Baselines methodology changing to follow individual, specific Industry EPD values is that the definitions of the product categories is much narrower. This means that you won’t get a CLF Baseline in EC3 unless you specify the exact specification of a product category in the CLF Baseline list. For example, you will have to refine your gypsum board EC3 search terms to cover and align with all of the CLF Baseline product specifications, like fire rating and thickness, as shown below.

Specifying search terms that match 2023 CLF Baselines.

### Template Project & Search Collections To make the search term definition a bit easier, we put together a template [2023 CLF Baseline Project](https://buildingtransparency.org/ec3/buildings/9d0aa73213ff4200a6f27c9d2b421bea?back=%2Fec3%2Fbuildings%2Fpublic) available under the “Public” Buildings section in EC3 which has all of the implemented 2023 CLF Baselines listed together with their search collections defined. If you start with our template project (by copying it as your own), you will be able to copy and paste the collection definitions into other elements.

Copying template project search collections.

If you want to use the template search collections in your own existing projects, you can also copy the template project, remove any unnecessary elements, and then import the shortlist of elements into your actual project by following the steps below. The copy-paste process is the same as outlined earlier.

Importing template project search collections.

### Implemented 2023 CLF Baselines EC3’s Baselines are auto-populated based on the category and search terms. Unfortunately, geographically-specific baselines are more difficult to implement, therefore any region-specific concrete baselines are not yet available in EC3 at the time of this writing. The following are the implemented baselines in EC3.

# FAQ # Rollback Office There was a breaking change introduced in the latest update of Microsoft Office which prevents Tally from generating Pivot tables. The only way to get it to work again is to rollback your version of Office to the last version working with the Tally plugin which is 16.0.18623.20208 from April 17, 2025. We are working on a update to Tally to be released in June 2025. If a recent Office update causes issues with features such as Excel pivot tables, you can roll back to a previous version of Office and temporarily disable future updates. Follow these steps: 1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

1. Navigate to Office's Update Tool Directory ``` cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun" ``` 3. Run the Rollback Command ``` officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.18623.20208 ``` This will take several minutes. Let it complete. You may also need to disable Auto-Updates to Prevent Office from Updating Again. to do this: 4. Open PowerShell

4. Run the following command ``` Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration" -Name UpdatesEnabled -Value "False" ``` 4. Later, you can reanable the auto-update by running this command ``` Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration" -Name UpdatesEnabled -Value "True" ``` # Transfer Material Definitions Process for transferring material definitions between Revit models. {% hint style="warning" %} This feature is only available with Premium license. {% endhint %} In order to transfer data between Revit projects, you must have two Revit files open in the same Revit session, i.e., 1) source Revit file with the existing material definitions, and 2) target Revit file where you want to transfer the existing material definitions. {% hint style="info" %} This means the two Revit files must be in the same version of Revit. You may need to upgrade your source file if it is in an older Revit version. You cannot transfer definitions from source files created in newer Revit versions than the target file. {% endhint %} Once you have both the source and target Revit files loaded 1. Select the target project view, launch Tally, and start a Full Building Analysis, as you would normally do. 2. As an example, I want to apply my Project 1 Gypsum Board material to this Advanced Sample Project Plain ceiling Gypsum Board layer 3. Click Manage Definitions, which will bring up the definition transfer window.

Next: 1. Select the source file 2. The target file (in this case the Advanced Sample Project) is automatically the target project 3. Now you can right-click the gypsum board material from the source file

Next: 1. Find select the target file Revit materials to which to transfer the source definitions to. You can also use the "check matching materials" options for Tally to automatically find similar families and materials in the target file, but note that this only works if you use identical naming convention in both files.

Next: 1. If manually matching material definitions, you will most likely need to look under the UNDEFINED group of materials and select all the elements you want to apply the definition to there 2. Once ready to transfer the definitions, click the Apply button.

The material definition has been successfully transferred.