Guidance Document – Concrete Admixtures

23.06.2015

Guidance Document – Concrete Admixtures

Aim of the Guidance

To provide a method by which an admixture that is within a specific group of admixtures as
defined in an EFCA Model Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) can be shown to be
within the scope of the EPD.
This Guidance only applies to admixtures that are produced by companies that are members
of National Concrete Admixture Associations who are members of EFCA and only from pro-
duction plants located in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. This is because the life cycle analysis
that is the basis of the EPDs and the material single impact values has been carried out with-
in system boundaries that are relevant to EFCA members in these countries only. Therefore
the values do not apply to admixtures produced outside of these areas.

Approach
A total score for an admixture is calculated as the total sum of the impact scores from its
constituent materials weighted according to the actual formulation used. If the total score is
less than an allowed score (+ 5% tolerance) then the admixture can be declared as within the
scope of the Model EPD.

Procedure
1. The percentage by mass of each of the individual constituent materials in an admixture
formulation (including water) is multiplied by the single score attributable to each material
which is given in Table 1. The total percentage of materials must equal 100%.
2. The total impact score for the admixture is the sum of all of the individual scores.
3. If the total score is lower than the value for the relevant admixture group shown in Table
2, plus 5%, the admixture formulation can be declared as within the scope of the EFCA
Model EPD for that admixture.

Note:
Where a constituent material is not included in Table 1 the single score for a very similar ma-
terial from Table 1 can be assumed but this assumption needs to be noted in the declaration.
If there are no similar materials included in Table 1, please contact the EFCA Secretary who
will request a value for the material from thinkstep AG.

It is important to note that the maximum limits have been set including the water content of the admixture supplied
so this needs to be included in the calculation in Stage 1.

An example of the procedure is shown in Appendix A.

These single scores are applicable for a European scope. Existing single scores covering different sys-
tem boundaries might lead to different results. Please use only the guidance document for the European
system boundaries to prove the applicability of the European EPD for your specific product.

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Guidance Document – Concrete Admixtures

Table 1: Single score results for input materials

Constituent material Single score result

Plasticizer, Superplasticizer
Na-Lignosulphonate
Mg-Lignosulphonate 57*
Ca-Lignosulphonate
Na-Naphthalenesulphonate
82*
Ca-Naphthalenesulphonate
Na-Melaminesulphonate 111
Polycarboxylate 76
Biocides 1-5 97
Triisobutylphosphate 169
Defoamer-Preparation (based on ethoxylate fatty alcohols)
103*
Additive (based on ethoxylate fatty alcohols)
Water 1
Sodium carbonate 27
Potassium carbonate 48
Hydrolized Protein 519
Aluminium fluoride 46
Retarder
Saccharose
14*
Glucose Sirup
Na-Gluconate 14
Tetrakaliumpyrophosphat (TKPP) 92
Na-Lignosulphonate 57
Na Hexametaphosphate 92
Natriummonofluorphosphat 102
Amino Trimethylene Phosphonic Acid, Sodium Salt 129
Biocides 1-3 97
Caramel Colour 17
Water 1
Citric acid 145
Sorbitol 65
Hydrolized Protein 519
Aluminium fluoride 46
Accelerator
Aluminiumsulfat-14-Hydrat 9
Aluminium hydroxide 9
Na-aluminate (liquid) [value in relation to solid matter] 37
Aluminium formate 75

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Guidance Document – Concrete Admixtures

Constituent material Single score result

Diethanolamine 76
Triethanolamine 102
Biocide 97
Sepiolith 1
Magnesium sulphate 12
Calcium nitrate 54
Sodium thiocyanate 72
Methyl diethanolamine 76
Sodium nitrate 69
Lactic acid 75
Lithium citrate 230
Water 1
Calcium chloride 15
Air entrainer
Vinsol Resin 9
Sodium or Potassium hydroxide 34
Nonionic surfactant (based on ethoxylate fatty alcohols) 103
Anionic surfactant (based on fatty acid sulfonate derivative) 17
Salts of fatty acids (Mix 95% Ca-stearate, 5% Zn-stearate) 17
EDTA 141
Sulfonic acid, C14-16-Alkylhydroxy- and C14-16-Alken-, Sodium salt 32
Na-Laurylsulfat 17
Alkyl ether sulphate C12-14 with EO, sodium salt 32
Biocides 1-3 97
Water 1
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) 138
Water resisting admixture
Potassium Oleate
12*
Sodium Oleate
Silane/Siloxanes 109
Ca-Stearate 16
Fatty acids 10
Nonionic surfactants (based on ethoxylate fatty alcohols) 103
Salts of fatty acids 17
Biocides 1-3 97
Water 1
Sodium carbonate 27
Potassium carbonate 48
* estimated with the same data set

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Guidance Document – Concrete Admixtures

Table 2: Total scores of representative formulations for each group/class

Number of EPD Total score of

within the prod- Name of group/class representative
uct group/class formulation
EPD 1 Plasticizers and superplasticizers ≤ 4800

EPD 2 Retarders ≤ 3800

EPD 3 Hardening accelerators ≤ 5800

EPD 4 Set accelerators ≤ 3900

EPD 5 Air entrainers ≤ 1400

EPD 6 Water resisting admixtures ≤ 5300

Appendix A: Example of the calculation procedure to show that the EFCA Mod-
el EPD can be applied to a particular company’s product formulation

Assuming that the company “X” produces a plasticiser “A” for which the composition by mass
is:

40% Na-melaminesulphonate
0.2% biocides
58.8% water

Stage 1:
The percentages for each material are multiplied by the single value for each from Table 1 of
the Guidance document and the total points calculated.

Admixture Type: Plasticiser Product “A”

Constituent Material Points from Table 1 Concentration Adjusted Points
Na-melaminesulphonate 111 40 4440
Biocides 97 0.2 19.4
Water* 1 58.8 58.8
Total score for the Product “A” 4518

*It is important to note that the maximum limits have been set including the water content of
the admixture supplied so this needs to be included in the calculation in Stage 1.

Stage 2:
The total score for the product is compared to the maximum value allowed from Table 2 of
the Guidance document to demonstrate that the EFCA Model EPD can be applied to the
product.

Total score for Product A = 4518

Maximum value for EPD1 Plasticisers and superplasticisers from Table 2 = 4800

Therefore EFCA EPD1 - Plasticiser and Superplasticiser applies to Product “A” from
Company “X”