LCA & material health results & interpretation Atmosphere™ Duct Wrap & KN Series

Scope and summary

Cradle to gate
Cradle to gate with options
Cradle to grave

Application

External insulation on commercial or residential heating or air conditioning ducts in North America. It is suitable for the exterior of rectangular or round sheet metal ducts and spaces or surfaces where temperature and condensation must be controlled. KN Utility Insulation is used as thermal and/or acoustical insulation in the appliance, equipment, industrial, commercial, and marine markets. KN Insulation has been successfully used as a Red List free and formaldehyde-free core in double wall duct systems. Insulation is delivered to the installation site as one packaged bag containing varying amounts of product.

Functional unit

Reference service life: 75 years. One square meter of installed insulation material, packaging included, with a thickness that gives an average thermal resistance of R_SI=1m²·K/W over a period of 75 years.

Reference flow: 0.619 kg of product with an unfaced option or a 0.144 kg FSK facing option, at a thickness of 0.0515 m to achieve the functional unit. (ASTM C518)

Manufacturing data

Reporting period: October 2015 – September 2016

Location: Shelbyville, IN; Lanett, AL; and Shasta Lake, CA

Default installation, packaging, and disposal scenarios

At the installation site, insulation products are unpackaged and installed. Tape may be used to install duct wrap. No material is lost or wasted because scraps are typically used to fill corners or crevices. Plastic packaging waste is disposed (15% to recycling, 68% to landfill, and 17% to incineration), and no maintenance or replacement is required to achieve the product's life span. After removal, the insulation is assumed to be landfilled.

What’s causing the greatest impacts

All life cycle stages

For unfaced products, the manufacturing stage dominates the results for all impact categories except for eutrophication and respiratory effects, where the raw materials acquisition stage dominates. Following these two stages, the next highest impacts come from transportation and disposal, which have a similar contribution. However, for non-carcinogenics, the disposal stage is the second highest contributor due to the landfilling of the product at end of life, and for smog, the transportation is the second highest contributor due to the use of trucks and rail transport. The impact of the raw material acquisition stage is mostly due to the borax and soda ash in the batch. Since sand and borax are melted in the oven, they are not released into the air as fine particulates and therefore likely actually contribute less than what is calculated in the results tables below. The manufacturing stage shows major contributions to all impact categories. The landfilling of the discarded product contributes to the disposal stage. The only impacts associated with installation and maintenance are due to the disposal of packaging waste, which is the smallest contributor of all the stages.

For faced products, the raw material acquisition stage is higher compared to the unfaced products because it includes potential impacts from the facing. Potential impacts for transportation and disposal are also higher due to the added mass from the addition of facing.

Manufacturing stage

The energy required to melt the glass and produce the glass fibers is the largest contributor to the manufacturing stage for all impact categories.

Characterized vs. single score results

Due to normalization and weighting, different stages can dominate the characterized and single score results. The batch ingredients sand and borax contribute significantly to the respiratory effects category, causing the raw materials acquisition stage to dominate the mPt results, but not the characterized results. However, they are not released into the air as fine particulates and therefore likely actually contribute less than what is calculated in the raw material acquisition stage. What this means is that the manufacturing stage may have a larger share of the impact than what is displayed in the total impacts by life cycle stage.

Sensitivity analysis

KN Utility Insulation is an unfaced product, while Atmosphere Duct Wrap has the option of coming unfaced or with FSK facing. When FSK facing is added, there is an increased amount and different types of raw materials which impacts the raw material acquisition stage. The increased mass of the product with FSK facing causes a slightly higher transportation impact. There is also an increased impact during disposal due to the FSK facing materials being landfilled.

Multi-product weighted average

Results represent the weighted average using production volumes for the products covered. Variations of specific products for differences of 10–20% against the average are indicated in purple; differences greater than 20% are indicated in red. A difference greater than 10% is considered significant.

How we're making it greener

Knauf and Manson are committed to providing products that conserve energy and preserve natural resources.

These products use ECOSE® Technology, which is a plant-based binder adhesive instead of a fossil fuel based binder. ECOSE Technology represents a fossil fuel avoidance equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil a year for Manson and Knauf Insulation products combined.
Our products contain a high degree of recycled content, which translates to 20% less glass melting energy and a 25% reduction in embodied carbon.
Our utilization of recycled content reduces mining impacts by 60%. In fact, Knauf and Manson products combined use 10 railcars of recycled glass a day.
All glass fiber made by Manson and Knauf is audited by a 3rd party to ensure biosoluble chemistry from a health and safety standpoint.

See how we make it greener

LCA results

Life cycle stage	Raw material acquisition	Manufacturing	Transporation	Installation and maintenance	Disposal/reuse/ recycling
Information modules: Included \| Excluded* *In the installation and maintenance phase, packaging waste in module A5 is the only contributor to the potential impacts.	A1 Raw Materials	A3 Manufacturing	A4 Transporation/ Delivery	A5 Construction/ Installation	C1 Deconstruction/ Demolition
	A2 Transportation			B1 Use	C2 Transporation
				B2 Maintenance	C3 Waste Processing
				B3 Repair	C4 Disposal
				B4 Replacement
				B5 Refurbishment
				B6 Operational energy use
				B7 Operational water use

SM 2013

Learn about SM Single Score results

Impacts per 75 years of service	1.32E-01 mPts	6.81E-02 mPts	5.02E-03 mPts	1.84E-03 mPts	1.00E-02 mPts
Materials or processes contributing >20% to total impacts in each life cycle stage	Batch material and binder material production.	Energy required to melt the glass and produce the glass fibers.	Truck and rail transportation used to transport product to building site.	Transportation to disposal and disposing of packaging materials.	Transportation to landfill and landfilling of product.

Unfaced Duct Wrap and KN Utility Insulation: TRACI v2.1 results per functional unit

Life cycle stage	Raw material acquisition	Manufacturing	Transportation	Installation and maintenance	Disposal/reuse/ recycling

Ecological damage

Impact category	Unit
Acidification	kg SO₂ eq Kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide equivalent Acidification processes increase the acidity of water and soil systems and causes damage to lakes, streams, rivers and various plants and animals as well as building materials, paints and other human-built structures.	1.81E-03	5.38E-03	1.24E-03	3.32E-05	2.88E-04
Eutrophication	kg N eqKilograms of Nitrogen equivalent Eutrophication is the enrichment of an aquatic ecosystem with nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) that accelerate biological productivity (growth of algae and weeds) and an undesirable accumulation of algal biomass which impacts industry, agriculture, drinking, fishing and recreation and causes death of fish and shellfish, toxicity to humans, marine mammals and livestock, and reduces biodiversity.	3.31E-04	2.81E-04	9.87E-05	8.35E-06	1.70E-05
Global warming (Embodied carbon)	kg CO₂ eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.	2.91E-01	7.58E+00	2.31E-01	5.02E-02	6.28E-02
Ozone depletion	kg CFC-11 eq Kilograms of Trichlorofluoromethane equivalent Ozone depletion is the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by the release of ozone depleting chemicals. Ozone depletion can increases ultraviolet B radiation to the earth which can adversely affect human health (skin cancer and cataracts and immune-system suppression) and other system (marine life, agricultural crops, and other vegetation) and causes damage to human-built materials.	1.09E-10	7.36E-10	1.59E-12	5.65E-11	8.33E-13

Human health damage

Impact category	Unit
Carcinogenics	CTU_h Comparative Toxic Units of Human cancerous toxicity Carcinogens have the potential to form cancers in humans.	1.16E-10	4.46E-10	1.22E-10	1.89E-11	2.09E-10
Non-carcinogenics	CTU_h Comparative Toxic Units of Human non-cancerous toxicity Non-Carcinogens have the potential to causes non-cancerous adverse impacts to human health.	9.12E-09	2.69E-08	9.08E-09	2.57E-09	2.35E-08
Respiratory effects	kg PM_2.5 eqKilograms of Particulate Matter equivalent which are smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter Particulate matter concentrations have a strong influence on chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and mortality rates.	2.19E-03	7.43E-04	6.44E-05	2.91E-05	1.58E-04
Smog	kg O₃ eqKilograms of Ozone equivalent Smog formation (photochemical oxidant formation) is the formation of ozone molecules in the troposphere by complex chemical reactions which are influenced by ambient concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the mix of organic compounds (OCs), temperature, sunlight and convective flows. Ozone concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere above the natural trace amounts lead to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.	2.88E-02	7.12E-02	4.14E-02	7.46E-04	6.65E-03

Additional environmental information

Impact category	Unit
Ecotoxicity	CTU_e Comparative Toxic Units of Ecotoxicity Ecotoxicity causes negative impacts to ecological receptors and, indirectly, to human receptors through the impacts to the ecosystem.	5.57E-02	8.23E-02	2.88E-02	9.06E-04	6.14E-03
Fossil fuel depletion	MJ, LHV Mega Joule, lower heating value Fossil fuel depletion is the surplus energy to extract minerals and fossil fuels.	4.79E-01	3.37E+00	4.38E-01	1.44E-02	1.24E-01

FSK-faced Duct Wrap: TRACI v2.1 results per functional unit

Life cycle stage	Raw material acquisition	Manufacturing	Transportation	Installation and maintenance	Disposal/reuse/ recycling

Ecological damage

Impact category	Unit
Acidification	kg SO₂ eq Kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide equivalent Acidification processes increase the acidity of water and soil systems and causes damage to lakes, streams, rivers and various plants and animals as well as building materials, paints and other human-built structures.	3.26E-03	5.38E-03	1.49E-03	3.32E-05	3.47E-04
Eutrophication	kg N eqKilograms of Nitrogen equivalent Eutrophication is the enrichment of an aquatic ecosystem with nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) that accelerate biological productivity (growth of algae and weeds) and an undesirable accumulation of algal biomass which impacts industry, agriculture, drinking, fishing and recreation and causes death of fish and shellfish, toxicity to humans, marine mammals and livestock, and reduces biodiversity.	4.54E-04	2.81E-04	1.19E-04	8.35E-06	2.05E-05
Global warming	kg CO₂ eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas.	6.71E-01	7.58E+00	2.79E-01	5.02E-02	7.58E-02
Ozone depletion	kg CFC-11 eq Kilograms of Trichlorofluoromethane equivalent Ozone depletion is the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by the release of ozone depleting chemicals. Ozone depletion can increases ultraviolet B radiation to the earth which can adversely affect human health (skin cancer and cataracts and immune-system suppression) and other system (marine life, agricultural crops, and other vegetation) and causes damage to human-built materials.	3.24E-09	7.36E-10	1.92E-12	5.65E-11	1.01E-12

Human health damage

Impact category	Unit
Carcinogenics	CTU_h Comparative Toxic Units of Human cancerous toxicity Carcinogens have the potential to form cancers in humans.	5.31E-10	4.46E-10	1.47E-10	1.89E-11	2.52E-10
Non-carcinogenics	CTU_h Comparative Toxic Units of Human non-cancerous toxicity Non-Carcinogens have the potential to causes non-cancerous adverse impacts to human health.	4.90E-08	2.69E-08	1.10E-08	2.57E-09	2.83E-08
Respiratory effects	kg PM_2.5 eqKilograms of Particulate Matter equivalent which are smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter Particulate matter concentrations have a strong influence on chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and mortality rates.	2.41E-03	7.43E-04	7.77E-05	2.91E-05	1.91E-04
Smog	kg O₃ eqKilograms of Ozone equivalent Smog formation (photochemical oxidant formation) is the formation of ozone molecules in the troposphere by complex chemical reactions which are influenced by ambient concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the mix of organic compounds (OCs), temperature, sunlight and convective flows. Ozone concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere above the natural trace amounts lead to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.	4.95E-02	7.12E-02	4.99E-02	7.46E-04	8.03E-03

Additional environmental information

Impact category	Unit
Ecotoxicity	CTU_e Comparative Toxic Units of Ecotoxicity Ecotoxicity causes negative impacts to ecological receptors and, indirectly, to human receptors through the impacts to the ecosystem.	8.32E-02	8.23E-02	3.47E-02	9.06E-04	7.41E-03
Fossil fuel depletion	MJ surplus Mega Joule surplus Fossil fuel depletion is the surplus energy to extract minerals and fossil fuels.	1.51E+00	3.37E+00	5.28E-01	1.44E-02	1.50E-01

References

LCA Background Report

Knauf Insulation and Manson Insulation Products LCA Background Report (public version), Knauf 2018. GaBi 7, GaBi 2017 database.

PCRs

ISO 21930:2017 serves as the core PCR along with EN 15804 and UL Part A.

ULE PCR Part A: Life Cycle Assessment Calculation Rules and Report Requirements v3.1

May 2, 2018. Technical Advisory Panel members reviewed and provided feedback on content written by UL Environment and USGBC. Past and present members of the Technical Advisory Panel are listed in the PCR.

ULE PCR Part B: Building Envelope Thermal Insulation

Version 2.0, April 2018. PCR review conducted by Thomas Gloria, PhD (chair, t.gloria@industrial-ecology.com); Andre Desjarlais; and Christoph Koffler, PhD.

ULE General Program Instructions v2.1, April 2017

ISO 14025, “Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works -- Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services”, ISO21930:2017

Download PDF SM Transparency Report/Material Health Overview, which includes the additional EPD content required by the UL Environment PCR.

SM Transparency Reports (TR) are ISO 14025 Type III environmental declarations (EPD) that enable purchasers and users to compare the potential environmental performance of products on a life cycle basis. They are designed to present information transparently to make the limitations of comparability more understandable. TRs/EPDs of products that conform to the same PCR and include the same life cycle stages, but are made by different manufacturers, may not sufficiently align to support direct comparisons. They therefore, cannot be used as comparative assertions unless the conditions defined in ISO 14025 Section 6.7.2. ‘Requirements for Comparability’ are satisfied. Comparison of the environmental performance of building envelope thermal insulation using EPD information shall be based on the product’s use and impacts at the building level, and therefore EPDs may not be used for comparability purposes when not considering the building energy use phase as instructed under the PCR. Full conformance with the PCR for building envelope thermal insulation allows EPD comparability only when all stages of a life cycle have been considered, when they comply with all referenced standards, use the same sub-category PCR, and use equivalent scenarios with respect to construction works. However, variations and deviations are possible. Example of variations: Different LCA software and background LCI data sets may lead to different results upstream or downstream of the life cycle stages declared.

Rating systems

The intent is to reward project teams for selecting products from manufacturers who have verified improved life-cycle environmental performance.

LEED BD+C: New Construction | v4 - LEED v4

Building product disclosure and optimization
Environmental product declarations

Industry-wide (generic) EPD ½ product
Product-specific Type III EPD 1 product

Green Globes for New Construction and Sustainable Interiors

Materials and resources

NC 3.5.1.2 Path B: Prescriptive Path for Building Core and Shell
C 3.5.2.2 and SI 4.1.2 Path B: Prescriptive Path for Interior Fit-outs

Collaborative for High Performance Schools National Criteria

MW 7.1 – Environmental Product Declarations

Third-party certified type III EPD 2 points