LCA Data Age And Accuracy, Explained For Builders
Old numbers sink trust. Fresh ones win specs. If you sell into projects that score carbon, the age and accuracy of your life‑cycle assessment data decide whether your EPD speeds a bid or stalls it. Here is how to judge what is current, what is precise enough, and when to refresh so sales teams are not carrying expired milk to a coffee tasting.
Why data age matters more than you think
A product EPD is only as convincing as the data behind it. Buyers do not read every table, they scan the publication date and make a snap call on credibility. If you are wrestling with “lca data age accuracy,” you are asking the right question.
The rules that define “current”
Construction EPDs follow EN 15804. It sets clear time fences for the data that feed your model. Producer specific data should be no older than five years, background datasets can be up to ten years old, and primary inventories should cover one full production year (EN 15804+A2, 2019).
Validity window versus data window
An EPD’s five‑year validity runs from publication, not from the reference year in your spreadsheets. That means a document posted on March 15, 2025 typically remains valid until March 15, 2030, even if the reference data were from 2023 (IBU, 2025). Plan publication dates with this shelf life in mind to avoid losing months by accident.
PCR refresh cycles change the bar
Most Product Category Rules are reviewed or expire on five‑year cycles. When a PCR updates, your existing EPD remains valid, yet the next renewal must align to the new rules, sometimes with different modules or cut‑offs (UL Solutions, 2024).
Primary versus background data
Think of primary data as factory telemetry. It needs to be measured, complete, and tied to a specific year. Background data are the libraries that describe upstream power, fuels, and materials. Accuracy improves when both are recent, but the standard accepts that mines and grids change slowly, which is why the ten‑year ceiling exists for backgrounds (EN 15804+A2, 2019).
Database versions and “silent” changes
Two models built a year apart can diverge even if nothing on the line changed. New electricity mixes, upstream transport, or cement clinker factors inside a database revision will shift results. Log the database name and version in your background report, then freeze it for a project unless a verifier requests an update.
How old is too old for buyers and credits
Most specifiers will accept any third‑party‑verified, in‑date EPD. Age only becomes an issue when the declaration is near expiry or the PCR has materially changed. For rating systems like LEED v5, what counts is that the EPD is valid and verified, not whether the reference year was last year or two years back.
Accuracy is more than a single number
Accuracy blends three ingredients. Temporal representativeness, technological representativeness, and geographical representativeness. A shiny new dataset can still mislead if it uses the wrong plant configuration or the wrong grid region. Verifiers look for consistency across all three, then they check cut‑off choices and allocation logic.
Tactics that keep vintage and precision sharp
- Close books quarterly for energy, materials, and waste, even if the EPD uses an annual average. Fast pulls mean faster renewals.
- Ask suppliers for the dataset year when they share carbon numbers. If a resin’s footprint is from 2017, flag it.
- Track planned process changes in a simple register. New kiln, fuel switch, or additive tweaks can trigger an early refresh.
- For brand‑new products, a prospective EPD can bridge the first year. Expect to update once a full year of data exists.
When to redo, refresh, or extend
Redo when core chemistry, plant, or region changes, because accuracy will break. Refresh on the five‑year mark or when upstream databases shift enough to move results in a meaningful way. Some operators allow limited extensions when impacts stay within small deltas, yet you still need evidence and verifier sign‑off.
What great looks like in practice
Great programs treat data as an asset, not a paperwork chore. They collect once, reuse often, and keep owners in R&D and on the line focused on making the product better while a white‑glove team handles the wrangling. That is how accuracy stays high and publish time stays low. It is also how you avoid the last‑minute scramble that definately derails bids.
The quiet payoff
Up‑to‑date data shortens verifier questions, reduces rework, and protects your EPD’s five‑year runway. Sales gets a document that stands up in a carbon‑scored shortlist. Operations gets a feedback loop that points to real reductions, not guesswork.
Quick recap for decision makers
A current EPD beats a perfect model that never ships. Publish, mark the next checkpoint on the calendar, and let disciplined data hygiene keep both age and accuracy where they need to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as current data for an EN 15804 EPD?
Producer specific data should be under 5 years old, background data can be up to 10 years old, and primary inventories should cover one full production year (EN 15804+A2, 2019).
How long is an EPD valid after publication?
Typically five years from the publication date, not from the reference year of data (IBU, 2025).
Do PCR updates invalidate my existing EPD?
No. Your EPD remains valid until its expiry. The next renewal must follow the updated PCR, which many programmes review on a five‑year cycle (UL Solutions, 2024).
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
