Training as a Life Cycle Assessor for (Construction) Products

• Differences in prioritisation
• Differences in training quality
• Differences in scope of training

A pioneering training programme is being developed, tested and implemented in a cooperation between the two departments of FH Campus Wien, the IBO and BAU-EPD GmbH. The main objective is to meet the increasing demand for qualified life cycle assessors in the construction sector. The training programme developed will deal intensively with the principles of life cycle assessment for construction products with a focus on practical skills in the creation and verification of EPDs. Graduates will receive a training certificate during the project and will be able to offer their knowledge on the market. Through two courses, which are continuously evaluated and improved, around 60 people could acquire comprehensive knowledge of life cycle assessments as part of the funding project and provide valuable insights that will have a direct impact on the further development of training.

Sub-objective 3.1

Networking students with building material manufacturers: During the training course, concrete data from industry should already be used, with a focus on products from manufacturers* in Vienna, ideally using renewable raw materials. In cooperation with the project team, life cycle assessments are to be created that can be used immediately on the market.

Sub-objective 3.2

Springboard for prospective verifiers: The training should provide a detailed overview of the requirements for verifiers and testing personnel of notified bodies in accordance with the Construction Products Regulation.

Sub-objective 3.3

Communicate ethical principles for environmental claims: Working as a life cycle assessor requires a high degree of overview with regard to the presentation and quantification of environmental data and environmental claims. Graduates should learn how to recognise and prevent green-washing attempts.

• Exploring international scaling options: In many EU countries, there are neither training programmes nor (sufficient) institutions for EPD creation. (Building material) manufacturers are increasingly turning to countries such as Austria, where an experienced scene already exists. Vienna is currently far ahead in terms of what is on offer. However, there is a lack of networking with countries where EPD services are not (yet) available. It should be explored whether, for example, an international, English-language course (large proportion of online offerings) could be considered for a continuation of the project.
• Exploring expert training: Both verifiers and future (court-certified) experts could receive a course with state-recognised personal certification as a demarcation of the job description.