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
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry
ECA convenes roundtable discussion at Portcullis House.
Evidencing Net Zero with the new UK buildings standard
Pilot version with detailed excel proforma out now!
Scottish Building Safety Levy, in consultation
From direct remediation and the RPDT, to the costs and alternatives.
Waves of warmer homes grants for the rental sector
Boosting energy efficiency standards for all rented homes.
A refocus of the National Planning Policy Framework
Key terms described in brief, as the consultation closes the evening of the 24th.
Fortified farmhouses of the unruly 16th-and 17th-century borders.