Assessment method

The Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works is a uniform measurement method for calculating the environmental performance of construction works in a consistent, verifiable and reproducible way. The method enables comparison of design choices and materials based on environmental impact. It forms the methodological foundation for environmental performance calculations in the Netherlands. You will encounter the Assessment Method when calculating, reviewing or applying environmental performance in projects and policy.

Principles of the Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works

The Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works enables the comparison of the environmental performance of building designs, with the aim of reducing the overall environmental impact of a construction work. The Assessment Method is performance based rather than solution based and therefore does not prescribe specific construction methods or techniques. Clients and contractors can use the method to make agreements on the quality levels of a construction project, while retaining full design freedom and room for innovative solutions.

The Assessment Method contains:

Methodical requirements including product category rules (PCRs) for the LCA/EPD for all construction products and installations. More information on c-PCR can be found on the Product Category Rules page. Read more about Product Category Rules
The Verification Protocol for assessing environmental data for inclusion in the National Environmental Database (NMD). Read more about verification on the Verifying environmental data page
Calculation rules for calculating the environmental performance of construction works. Read more about Calculation tools

Position within the system

Within this system, responsibilities are clearly defined:

the Assessment Method describes how calculations are performed
the Dutch Environmental Database contains the environmental data used in accordance with this method
calculation tools carry out the environmental performance calculation
the results are applied in projects, compliance assessment and policy

This division of roles ensures a consistent and transparent application of environmental performance calculations in the Netherlands.

Methodological principles for LCA and product information

Chapter 2 of the Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works sets out the methodological requirements for LCAs and product information based on EN 15804. It provides guidance for preparing Environmental Product Declarations, EPDs, for application in the Netherlands. Environmental declarations submitted for registering in the Dutch Environmental Database, category 1 and 2, must be prepared in accordance with the Assessment Method and verified in accordance with the Verification Protocol prior to submission.

European standard

The methodological requirements at product level in the Assessment Method are based on the European standard EN 15804. EN 15804 defines methodological requirements for European Environmental Product Declarations, EPDs, which are official documents demonstrating the environmental impact of a product. An EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, a method that calculates the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle. For the preparation and use of EPDs for the environmental performance of construction works in the Dutch context, EN 15804 has been adopted and supplemented in the Assessment Method with scenarios applicable to the Netherlands.

Ecoinvent in the Assessment Method

When carrying out an LCA study for a construction product for the purpose of an environmental declaration in the Dutch Environmental Database, the use of ecoinvent is mandatory. Although ecoinvent is not the only available background LCA database, it is widely regarded in Europe as the most complete and transparent database. Various studies have shown that identical calculations based on different background databases can lead to significantly different results. It is therefore essential that the Assessment Method designates one specific database. For this reason, the mandatory use of ecoinvent, including the specific version number, is laid down in the Assessment Method.

NMD process database

Ecoinvent is the most commonly used background process database in Europe. In addition, the Dutch Environmental Database provides a process database tailored to the Dutch context. This process database contains background data on generic processes used in preparing environmental data for construction materials, construction works and installations. These data are essential for carrying out an environmental performance calculation in accordance with the Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works. The process database therefore forms an important foundation for the environmental data in the Dutch Environmental Database.

In addition to generic data, category 3, the NMD process database also includes category 1 and 2 data for raw materials. These are products for which data on LCA modules A1 to A3 are available and which can be used as input for preparing a complete environmental declaration covering modules A to D.

Calculation rules at construction works level

The guidelines for determining the environmental performance at construction works level are set out in Chapter 3 of the Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works. This chapter describes which characteristics of a construction work are required and which calculation rules apply in order to determine the Environmental Cost Indicator, ECI, and the Environmental Performance of Buildings, MPG, of a new construction work.

Standard EN 15978

The European standard EN 15978 applies to the assessment of the environmental performance of buildings. The legal scope of this standard is limited to buildings. Other types of construction works, such as civil engineering works, do not fall within its normative scope. EN 15978 therefore cannot serve independently as the basis for the Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Construction Works, which applies to all types of construction works.

Environmental performance calculation

The environmental performance of construction works is an important indicator of the sustainability of a construction work. The better the environmental performance, the lower the environmental impact. Calculating the environmental performance is mandatory in the Building and Utility sector under the Decree on Construction Works in the Living Environment, Bbl. In the Civil Engineering sector, an increasing number of contracting authorities include environmental performance as an award criterion in procurement procedures.

Calculation tools

The environmental performance of a construction work can be determined using calculation tools that have been validated in advance by the Dutch Environmental Database Foundation. These calculation tools draw on the Dutch Environmental Database, which contains environmental declarations for construction products, building installations and processes, including information on environmental impact derived from a Life Cycle Assessment.

Read more about standards
Read more about the environmental performance calculation
Read more about calculation tools
Read more about Dutch and European policy

Read also

to the Assessment Method and the MPG in the Period 2024 - 2025

Revision history of the Environmental Performance Assessment Method for Construction Works

Would you like to provide feedback on the Assessment Method, calculation rules, or basic processes?

What is the Assessment method?

The Environmental Performance Assessment Method (in short, Assessment method) is a uniform measuring method for calculating the environmental performance of structures in an unambiguous, verifiable and reproducible manner. It thus creates a level playing field for all parties involved. The environmental performance of various structures can be compared, with the aim of reducing the ultimate environmental impact of a structure. In the Netherlands, EN 15804 is the foundation of the Assessment Method.

What is the Assessment method used for?

Construction companies calculate the environmental performance of a construction with the Environmental Performance Assessment Method. They use it to calculate the environmental impact of material use. The outcome of this calculation is expressed in 1 number (Environmental Performance of Buildings - EPB (Dutch: MPG) for B&U, Environmental Cost Indicator - ECI (Cutch: MKI) for GWW). This allows developers to see which building components cause the most (negative) impact on the environment.

Who determines the Assessment method?

The Stichting Nationale Milieudatabase (formerly Stichting Bouwkwaliteit) manages the Assessment method.

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Downloads

Below you can download Assessment Method version 1.2 (January 2025). For the Assessment Method for environmental performance as referred to in article 4.159 of the Bbl, this version 1.2 (January 2025) is identical to the Assessment Method Environmental Performance of Buildings and Civil Engineering Works version 1.0 (01-07-2020) designated in Annex II of the Environment Regulation, including the amendment sheet of 1-10-2020, the amendment sheet of 1-02-2021 and the amendment sheet of 1-10-2021. For editorial reasons, Stichting NMD has reissued this Assessment Method as version 1.2 (January 2025).