NABERS Embodied Carbon
What Documents Do You Need for a NABERS Embodied Carbon Assessment?
A NABERS Embodied Carbon assessment depends on clear project information, reliable material quantities and supporting evidence that can be checked against the applicable rating rules.
For architects, developers, builders and ESD consultants, the most useful step is not waiting until the end of documentation. It is knowing early what information will be needed, who is likely to hold it and where assessment delays usually occur.
In Brief
- A NABERS Embodied Carbon assessment needs project details, drawings, material quantities and product evidence.
- The most important information usually sits across the architect, structural engineer, quantity surveyor, builder and supplier documentation.
- Product specific information, including Environmental Product Declarations where available, can improve the quality of the assessment evidence.
- Early preparation helps avoid delays when a project reaches tender, construction or practical completion.
- This article is a preparation checklist. For the broader service overview, visit our NABERS Embodied Carbon Rating guide.
Why documentation matters for embodied carbon reporting
Embodied carbon reporting is not only a design statement. It is a data exercise. The result depends on what has been designed, what materials are being used, how those materials are quantified and how the project team can support the assumptions made in the assessment.
NABERS Embodied Carbon is focused on upfront embodied carbon. That means the assessment needs information about the building works before the building is occupied. Material selection matters, but so does the quality of the project data behind those selections.
When documentation is incomplete, the assessment may need conservative assumptions. When quantities, specifications and product information are available early, the project team has a better chance of understanding carbon impacts while there is still time to refine the design.
Core project information needed
Project identification
The project address, development type, building use, project stage, floor areas and basic scope of works.
Design documentation
Architectural drawings, structural drawings, façade details and relevant specifications that describe the assessed works.
Assessment boundary
A clear understanding of what is included, what is excluded and whether the project is a new building, partial rebuild or major refurbishment.
Material quantity information
Material quantities are usually the backbone of an embodied carbon assessment. The assessment needs to understand how much material is being used across the relevant building elements, especially where high impact materials are involved.
This information may come from a bill of quantities, quantity surveyor schedules, structural schedules, architectural specifications, façade schedules, supplier quotes or builder procurement records. The best source depends on the project stage.
Common material data required
- Concrete volumes and concrete strength grades
- Reinforcement quantities
- Structural steel quantities
- Timber quantities and timber product types
- Aluminium, glazing and façade system information
- Masonry, plasterboard, insulation and internal lining quantities
- Flooring, ceiling, roof and finish schedules where applicable
Product specific data and EPDs
Generic material data may be suitable for early stage assessment, but product specific information can provide a clearer picture of the project’s actual embodied carbon profile. This is especially relevant when the project team is selecting lower carbon concrete, recycled content steel, certified timber or alternative façade systems.
Environmental Product Declarations, usually called EPDs, can be useful evidence where available. They do not need to be collected randomly. They should be matched to the materials that meaningfully affect the assessment and to products that are actually being specified or procured.
A good rule for project teams is to focus first on the materials that make up the largest share of the building’s upfront carbon. For many projects, this means structure, façade and major building fabric items before minor finishes.
Transport and construction stage information
NABERS Embodied Carbon considers more than the carbon associated with manufacturing materials. Depending on the assessment pathway and available data, the project may also need information about transport and construction stage emissions.
This can include where materials are sourced from, approximate transport distances, delivery methods, construction energy use and site fuel use. At early design stage, this information may be estimated. Later in the project, it may be supported by procurement, delivery and construction records.
Early design stage
Use best available assumptions, preliminary quantities and early specification decisions to understand likely carbon hotspots.
Tender stage
Use a more developed bill of quantities, supplier options and construction methodology to compare material choices.
Practical completion
Use final procurement records, installed quantities and supporting evidence where a certified rating or final reporting outcome is required.
Design stage versus post construction evidence
One of the most common sources of confusion is the difference between a design stage review and final evidence after construction. Early assessment can help project teams understand risk, compare options and improve material decisions before they are locked in.
Final reporting or a certified NABERS Embodied Carbon rating may require stronger evidence. The project team may need to show that the materials assessed are the materials actually used, and that quantities align with final documentation.
This is why embodied carbon preparation should be treated as a live project workflow rather than a single report at the end. The earlier the project team understands the evidence trail, the easier it is to collect the right records as design and procurement decisions are made.
Common issues that delay embodied carbon assessment
- The assessment boundary is unclear.
- Drawings and specifications do not align.
- Material quantities are missing or only available as broad allowances.
- Concrete, steel and façade data is not separated clearly enough.
- Product substitutions happen during procurement but are not recorded.
- EPDs are collected for minor products while high impact materials remain generic.
- The project waits until the end of construction before gathering evidence.
How Certified Energy can help
Certified Energy helps project teams prepare for embodied carbon reporting by reviewing documentation, identifying data gaps and translating project information into a format suitable for assessment.
This can include reviewing drawings and schedules, checking material quantities, advising on useful supporting evidence and helping the project team understand what needs to be clarified before formal submission or certification.
The goal is simple: reduce friction. When project teams know what information is needed upfront, embodied carbon reporting becomes a more practical part of design, documentation and delivery.
NABERS Embodied Carbon document checklist
| Document type | Why it matters | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural drawings | Confirm building scope, floor areas, assemblies and finishes. | Architect |
| Structural drawings | Support concrete, steel, reinforcement and timber quantities. | Structural engineer |
| Bill of quantities | Provides measurable quantities for major material categories. | Quantity surveyor |
| Material specifications | Clarify product types, grades, systems and finishes. | Architect, engineer or builder |
| EPDs and product data | Support more specific embodied carbon assumptions where available. | Supplier or manufacturer |
| Procurement records | Help confirm what was purchased or installed at later project stages. | Builder or contractor |
Frequently Asked Questions
What information is needed for a NABERS Embodied Carbon assessment?
A project typically needs basic project information, drawings, specifications, material quantities, product data and evidence that supports the materials included in the assessment.
Do I need EPDs for every material?
Not necessarily. EPDs are most useful when they relate to major materials that have a meaningful impact on the assessment, such as concrete, steel, aluminium, glass, timber or façade systems.
Can embodied carbon be assessed before construction?
Yes. Early assessment can help project teams compare design options and identify carbon hotspots. Later project stages may require stronger evidence based on procurement records and final installed materials.
Is this the same as a Life Cycle Assessment?
No. A Life Cycle Assessment can cover a broader range of life cycle stages and environmental indicators. NABERS Embodied Carbon is a specific rating pathway focused on upfront embodied carbon for eligible building types.
When should a project team start gathering embodied carbon data?
As early as possible. The best time is during design development, before major structural, façade and material selections are locked in.
Related Guidance
Preparing for a NABERS Embodied Carbon assessment?
Certified Energy can help review your documentation, identify missing data and support a clearer embodied carbon reporting pathway for your project.
Review the NABERS Embodied Carbon service
