Acidification potential
Acidification potential refers to the amount that different compounds contribute to acid rain. This includes sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (N2O), as well as a variety of other substances.
Acidification potential is one of the core environmental impact indicators of EN 15804:2012+A2:2019/AC:2021, which is used as guidance in the generation of the lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology used to create product environmental footprints (PEF). It is also considered one of the mandatory environmental performance indicators for the calculation, assessment and generation of environmental product declarations (EPDs).
In the same way that the global warming potential (GWP) of different pollutants are converted to ratios (for example CO2 being 1:1 CO2 eq and Methane being 36.8 CO2 eq) Acidification potential is usually estimated in the same way but as a characterisation of SO2-equivalence. For example:
- 1 kg ammonia = 1.88 kg SO2 eq.
- 1 kg nitrogen dioxide = 0.7 kg SO2 eq.
- 1 kg sulphur dioxide = 1 kg SO2 eq.
References; AP, accumulated excedence, EN 15804. Version: August 2021. Seppälä et al. 2006, Posch et al. 2008
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Eutrophication potential EP.
- Green Guide to Specification.
- Life cycle assessment.
- Material procurement.
- Product carbon footprint PCF.
- Product Category Rules.
- Product Environmental Footprint PEF
- Product Category Rules.
- Product Environmental Footprint PEF
- Responsible sourcing of construction products.
- Sustainable development.
- Sustainable materials for construction.
- Types of water.
- Water consumption.
- Water resources.
- Water.
- Whole life costs.
Featured articles and news
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.