Project Documents
What Information Is Needed for an Embodied Carbon Report?
An embodied carbon report relies on clear project information, including drawings, specifications, material schedules, quantities and product data where available.
The information needed for an embodied carbon report depends on the project stage, building type and reporting purpose. An early design review may only need preliminary drawings and broad material assumptions, while a detailed report may require more complete documentation, quantities and product specific data.
The aim is to understand what the building is made from, how much material is being used and which assumptions should be applied to estimate embodied carbon.
Better documentation usually leads to a more reliable assessment. But this does not mean a project must be fully documented before embodied carbon can be reviewed. Early information can still be useful when the goal is to guide design decisions before they become fixed.
In Brief
Most embodied carbon reports need drawings, specifications, quantities and material information.
Core documents
Architectural drawings, structural drawings, specifications and material schedules help define the project scope.
Quantity data
A bill of quantities or material take off can improve the reliability of the embodied carbon assessment.
Product data
Environmental Product Declarations and supplier information can refine the result where they are available.
Architectural Information
1. Architectural Drawings
Architectural drawings help define the building form, floor area, layout, envelope, internal spaces and key construction systems. They are often one of the first document sets reviewed during an embodied carbon assessment.
Useful architectural information may include plans, elevations, sections, roof plans, wall types, façade drawings, window schedules, finish schedules and general construction notes.
The drawings do not always need to be final, but they should be clear enough to understand the likely materials and quantities being assessed.
Structure
2. Structural Drawings and Engineering Information
Structural information is especially important because structure can represent a significant share of embodied carbon. Concrete, steel, reinforcement, timber framing, engineered timber, masonry and foundations can all influence the result.
Useful structural documents may include footing plans, slab details, column and beam layouts, reinforcement information, structural steel schedules, timber framing details and structural specifications.
If structural information is not yet complete, an early stage assessment may rely on reasonable assumptions or benchmark quantities. These assumptions should be made clear in the report.
Materials
3. Material Schedules and Specifications
Material schedules and specifications help identify what products and systems are proposed for the project. They can also clarify whether the report should use generic assumptions, project specific materials or supplier specific data.
Useful information may include wall systems, roof systems, floor construction, insulation types, glazing systems, façade materials, internal linings, flooring, ceilings, joinery, finishes and external works.
The more clearly the materials are specified, the easier it is to understand the project’s embodied carbon profile.
Quantities
4. Bill of Quantities or Material Take Off Information
A bill of quantities can be very useful for an embodied carbon report because it provides measured material amounts. This can reduce reliance on assumptions and improve the reliability of the assessment.
However, not every project has a complete bill of quantities available. In those cases, quantities may be derived from drawings, schedules and reasonable assumptions based on the available information.
The report should clearly state whether quantities have been provided, measured, estimated or assumed.
Product Data
5. Environmental Product Declarations and Supplier Information
Environmental Product Declarations, often called EPDs, can provide product specific environmental data for building products. Where available, they may help refine the embodied carbon assessment beyond generic material assumptions.
Supplier information can also be useful where it confirms product type, recycled content, manufacturing process, material composition or relevant carbon data.
EPDs are not always available for every product. Where product specific data is missing, the assessment may need to rely on appropriate generic data or clearly documented assumptions.
Envelope
6. Façade, Glazing and Envelope Information
Façade systems can influence both embodied carbon and operational performance. Aluminium framing, glass, steel supports, insulation, membranes, fixings, cladding and shading devices can all contribute to embodied carbon.
Useful information may include façade drawings, window schedules, glazing specifications, cladding details, insulation build ups, external wall types and roof assemblies.
This information can also help the project team understand where embodied carbon decisions may interact with daylight, glare, thermal comfort and energy performance.
Building Services
7. Services Information Where Included in Scope
Building services are not always included in every embodied carbon report, but they may be relevant for some commercial, institutional, multi residential or formal reporting contexts.
Useful services information may include mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, fire and vertical transport documentation, depending on the project and assessment boundary.
If services information is incomplete, the report may use assumptions, benchmarks or exclusions, provided these are clearly explained.
Project Stage
The Level of Information Depends on When the Report Is Prepared
At concept stage, the assessment may rely on early drawings, broad material assumptions and benchmark quantities. This can still be useful because it allows the project team to review carbon before key decisions are locked in.
At design development or documentation stage, the report can usually become more detailed because structural systems, material specifications and quantities are clearer.
For formal reporting pathways, the required documentation may be more specific and should be confirmed early.
Checklist
Embodied Carbon Report Document Checklist
For most projects, the following information is helpful when available. Not every item will be required for every project, but these documents can improve the accuracy and usefulness of the assessment.
Core drawings
Technical information
Carbon data
Early Review
Can an Embodied Carbon Report Start Before Everything Is Final?
Yes. In many cases, embodied carbon review is most useful before everything is final. Early review can help project teams understand the likely carbon hotspots and make more informed design decisions while changes are still possible.
The trade off is that early reports usually rely on more assumptions. This is not necessarily a problem as long as those assumptions are reasonable and clearly recorded.
As the project develops, the report can be refined with more detailed drawings, specifications, quantities and product data.
Related Pathways
Documentation May Change Depending on the Reporting Pathway
A general embodied carbon report may be used for design review, material comparison or project understanding. A formal NABERS Embodied Carbon pathway may require a more specific approach. A broader Life Cycle Assessment may require additional information beyond carbon alone.
For pathway context, read Embodied Carbon Report vs Life Cycle Assessment, Embodied Carbon Report vs NABERS Embodied Carbon and Embodied Carbon Tools and Reporting Pathways in Australia.
Input vs Output
How This Differs From What Is Included in the Report
This article focuses on the project information needed to prepare the assessment. That is different from the report output itself.
The input documents may include drawings, specifications, quantities and product data. The report output should then explain the assessment scope, methodology, assumptions, exclusions, carbon results and material hotspots.
For the separate report output guide, read What Is Included in an Embodied Carbon Report?.
Summary
The Right Information Makes Embodied Carbon Reporting More Useful
An embodied carbon report needs enough information to understand the building’s materials, quantities, systems and assumptions. Architectural drawings, structural information, material schedules, specifications, quantities and product data all help improve the assessment.
The report can often begin with partial documentation, but the level of confidence should always match the level of information available.
FAQ
Common Questions About Embodied Carbon Report Inputs
What information is needed for an embodied carbon report?
Useful information may include architectural drawings, structural drawings, specifications, material schedules, façade details, services information, quantity data, supplier information and Environmental Product Declarations where available.
Can an embodied carbon report start before drawings are final?
Yes. Early embodied carbon review can begin with preliminary drawings and reasonable assumptions. The result may be less detailed, but it can still help guide design decisions before major choices are fixed.
Do you need Environmental Product Declarations?
Environmental Product Declarations can improve product specific accuracy where they are available, but they are not always available for every product. The assessment may use appropriate generic data or assumptions where product specific data is missing.
What happens if quantity information is not available?
If a bill of quantities or detailed material take off is not available, quantities may be estimated from drawings, schedules, benchmarks or reasonable assumptions. These assumptions should be clearly recorded in the report.
Related Guidance
Continue Reading About Embodied Carbon Reporting
What Is Included in a Report?
The separate guide to report outputs, assumptions, results and hotspots.
How Embodied Carbon Is Calculated
A practical guide to quantities, emissions factors and calculation logic.
Tools and Pathways
How embodied carbon tools and reporting pathways differ.
Embodied Carbon Report Hub
The main service guide for embodied carbon reporting.
Project Review
Have partial drawings or early project documents?
Certified Energy can review the information you have and advise whether it is enough to begin an embodied carbon report, Life Cycle Assessment, NABERS Embodied Carbon pathway or another reporting approach.
Visit the Embodied Carbon Report Knowledge Hub
