8644ac46-2be4-4f16-9253-e26e5ee6cc2eSingle-ply, white, polyester reinforced PVC roofing membrane, 48 mils (1.219 mm)Materials productionOther materialsA PVC roof is a single-ply membrane consisting of two plies or layers of PVC material with a polyester reinforcement scrim between the layers. The top ply has special additives to make the membrane UV stable and prevent curing, plasticizers to make it flexible, and pigments or color. The bottom ply is typically darker in color containing fewer pigments by weight, but otherwise contains a similar mix of plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers and fire retardant additives.
The weighted average formulation indicates that the top ply is heavier than the bottom ply and that, by weight, the reinforcing scrim accounts for 9% of the overall mass of the product. PVC resin and plasticizers account for 47% and 30% of the formulation inputs, respectively, or over 75% of the total mass of inputs. The top ply incorporates more pigments, while the bottom ply uses more filler ingredients. Fire retardant is similarly used in both the top and bottom plies.
Whenever available, cradle-to-gate material and energy input flow data were derived from the US LCI Database, incorporated in the SimaPro v.7.3.0 LCA Software, March 2011. The study drew on this data to model environmental impacts of the US electricity grid, fuel extraction, processing and combustion, polyvinyl chloride (PET) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin production and all modes of input material and waste transportation. The US adjusted European ecoinvent v.2.2 LCI database (“US-EI”), from May 2010 was used to address the environmental impact of numerous chemical inputs and ancillary materials and other relevant unit processes, e.g., PET yarn production, solid and liquid waste treatment. SimaPro v 7.3 was used for modeling the complete cradle-to-gate LCI for PVC roofing membrane.
For recycled output material (both off-spec PVC roofing membrane and process related scrap) leaving the product system, the system expansion methodology was applied, ascribing both the out-bound transportation and grinding (known as “intermediate treatment”) and crediting the displaced primary production of the PVC resin to the PVC roofing membrane product system. The percentage of off-spec PVC roofing membrane donated to third world countries is considered burden free (on average 58% of total off-spec PVC roofing membrane was donated).
Where applicable, the use of internal scrap (close-loop recycling) as input to this process was considered a burden free input material. The use of either external pre-consumer or post-consumer scrap as input to this product system considered the in-bound transportation and grinding process of the external scrap (“intermediate treatment”). The external PVC scrap collected from construction or demolition sites isn’t always fully utilized and part of it is regarded as waste. Therefore, the PVC roofing membrane production system is credited for the avoided waste treatment of the external scrap according to the LCA system expansion rules.
The weighted average specific density of single-ply, white, polyester reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) roofing membrane, 48 mils (1.219 mm) resulted to 1.458 kg/m2. This data file is internally reviewed and a module report is made available.
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Quality network: 30United StatesIt represent the average US technology of single-ply, white, polyester reinforced PVC roofing membrane for the reference year 2010.Unit process, single operationAttributionalnoneISO 14044:2006. Environmental Management – Life Cycle Assessment – Requirements and guidelines. 80.0Primary gate-to-gate LCI data was collected for the manufacture of PVC roofing from four CFFA member firms for the reference year 2010.
Plant specific generic formulation for 1,000 square feet of white, single-ply polyester reinforced PVC roofing membrane was used to calculate the input raw materials (both primary and secondary) and the ancillary materials. “Mass” was deemed as the most appropriate physical parameter for allocation of the total environmental load of the PVC roofing membrane system among all type of PVC products (including all dimensions) and estimate the input energy flows (electricity, natural gas and propane), water input, emissions to air, and waste. A separate LCI model was created for each company per 1 m2 PVC roofing membrane; all company specific LCI flows were then aggregated to form the final LCI dataset (based on weighted average factor as per plant contribution to the total annual production). The "input from technosphere" LCI data cannot be revealed for this product due to the strictly confidentiality agreements associated with the project. Input data are rolled up and presented in "input from nature" format.No statementDr. Lindita Bushi 2020-01-01T00:00:00.000ILCD format 1.1Dr. Lindita Bushi 2020-01-01T00:00:00.00000.00.001Data set finalised; entirely publishedNREL US Life Cycle Inventory (USLCI) LibraryVarious (NREL USLCI)trueFree of charge for all users and usesGaBi (source code, database including extension modules and single data sets, documentation) remains property of thinkstep AG. thinkstep AG delivers GaBi licenses comprising data storage medium and manual as ordered by the customer. The license guarantees the right of use for one installation of GaBi. Further installations using the same license are not permitted. Additional licenses are only valid if the licensee holds at least one main license. Licenses are not transferable and must only be used within the licensee's organisation. Data sets may be copied for internal use. The number of copies is restricted to the number of licenses of the software system GaBi the licensee owns. The right of use is exclusively valid for the licensee. All rights reserved.RNA: Single-ply, white, polyester reinforced PVC roofing membrane, 48 mils (1.219 mm)Output1.01.00Mixed primary / secondaryUnknown derivationvaluable