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Chapter 8 — COMPLIANCE FORMS, WORKSHEETS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL

Section A5.409 — LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · California

A5.409.1 Scope. Projects with the area limits specified shall comply with Section A5.409.1 to achieve Tier 1 or Tier 2 compliance. Projects of any size shall comply with Section A5.409.5 to achieve Tier 2 compliance.

  1. Projects consisting of newly constructed building(s) with a combined floor area of 50,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section A5.409.2 or Section A5.409.3.

  2. Alteration(s) to existing building(s) where the combined altered floor area is 50,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section A5.105.2, Section A5.409.2 or Section A5.409.3.

  3. Addition(s) to existing building(s) where the total floor area combined with the existing building(s) is 50,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section A5.105.2, Section A5.409.2 or Section A5.409.3. Exception: Combined addition(s) to existing building(s) of two times the area or more of the existing building(s) is not eligible to meet compliance with Section A5.105.2.

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APPENDIX A5 — NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES

  1. Projects consisting of newly constructed building(s) with a combined floor area of less than 50,000 square feet shall comply with either Section 5.409.2 or Section 5.409.3 for Tier 1 compliance, and either Section A5.409.2.1 or A5.409.3 Tier 1 requirements for Tier 2 compliance.
  2. Alteration(s) to existing building(s) where the aggregate floor area is less than 50,000 square feet shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, Section 5.409.2, or Section 5.409.3 for Tier 1 compliance, and either Section A5.105.2.1, Section A5.409.2.1, or Section A5.409.3 Tier 1 requirements for Tier 2 compliance.
  3. Addition(s) to an existing building where the total floor area combined with the existing building(s) is less than 50,000 square feet shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, Section 5.409.2, or Section 5.409.3 for Tier 1 compliance, and either Section A5.105.2.1, Section A5.409.2.1, or Section A5.409.3 Tier 1 requirements for Tier 2 compliance. Exception: Combined addition(s) to existing building(s) of two times the area or more of the existing building(s) is not eligible to meet compliance with Section 5.105.2 or Section A5.105.2.

A5.409.2 Whole building life cycle assessment. Projects shall meet the minimum requirements of Section A5.409.2 for Tier 1 or Tier 2 compliance.

A5.409.2.1 Tier 1. Projects shall conduct a cradle-to-grave whole building life cycle assessment meeting the requirements of Section 5.409.2 and performed in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044, excluding operating energy, demonstrating a minimum 15-percent reduction in global warming potential (GWP) as compared to a reference baseline building of similar size, function, complexity, type of construction, material specification, and location that meets the requirements of all parts of the California Building Standards Code currently in effect. Software used to conduct the whole building life cycle assessment, including reference baseline building, shall have a data set compliant with ISO 14044, and ISO 21930 or EN 15804, and the software shall conform to ISO 21931 and/or EN 15978. The software tools and data sets shall be the same for evaluation of both the baseline building and the proposed building.

Exception: For projects that include building reuse, the reference baseline building shall exclude the reused elements. The percent reduction in GWP shall be achieved through the design and construction of new project elements.

A5.409.2.2 Tier 2. Projects shall conduct a cradle-to-grave whole building life cycle assessment meeting the requirements of Section 5.409.2 and performed in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, excluding operating energy, demonstrating a minimum 20-percent reduction in GWP as compared to a reference baseline building of similar size, function, complexity, type of construction, material specification, and location that meets the requirements of all parts of the California Building Standards Code currently in effect. Software used to conduct the whole building life cycle assessment, including reference baseline building, shall have a data set compliant with ISO 14044, and ISO 21930 or EN 15804, and the software shall conform to ISO 21931 and/or EN 15978. The software tools and data sets shall be the same for evaluation of both the baseline building and the proposed building.

Exception: For projects that include building reuse, the reference baseline building shall not be of new construction and shall retain existing materials. The percent reduction in GWP shall be achieved through the design and construction of new project elements.

A5.409.2.3 Verification of compliance. A summary of the GWP analysis produced by the software and Worksheet WS-7 signed by the design professional of record shall be provided in the construction documents as documentation of compliance. A copy of the whole building life cycle assessment which includes the GWP analysis produced by the software, in addition to maintenance and training information, shall be included in the operation and maintenance manual and shall be provided to the owner at the close of construction. The enforcing agency may require inspection and inspection reports in accordance with Sections 702.2 and 703.1 during and at completion of construction to demonstrate substantial conformance. Inspection shall be performed by the design professional of record or third party acceptable to the enforcing agency.

on and maintenance manual and shall be provided to the owner at the close of construction. The enforcing agency may require inspection and inspection reports in accordance with Sections 702.2 and 703.1 during and at completion of construction to demonstrate substantial conformance. Inspection shall be performed by the design professional of record or third party acceptable to the enforcing agency.

A5.409.3 Product GWP compliance—prescriptive path. Each product that is permanently installed and listed in Table A5.409.3 shall have a Type III environmental product declaration (EPD), either product-specific or factory-specific.

Exception: Concrete may be considered one product category to meet compliance with this section. A weighted average of the maximum GWP for all concrete mixes installed in the project shall be less than the weighted average maximum GWP allowed per Table A5.409.3 using Exception Equation A5.409.3.1. Calculations shall be performed with consistent units of measurement for the material quantity and the GWP value. For the purposes of this exception, industry-wide EPDs are acceptable.

Exception EQUATION A5.409.3.1

GWP n < GWP allowed

where

GWP n = Σ (GWP n )(v n ) and GWP allowed = Σ (GWP allowed )(v n )

and

n = each concrete mix installed in the project GWP n = the GWP for concrete mix n per concrete mix EPD, in kg CO 2 e/m [3]

GWP allowed = the GWP potential allowed for concrete mix n per Table 5.409.3 v n = the volume of concrete mix n installed in the project, in m [3]

APPENDIX A5-30 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

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APPENDIX A5 — NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES

TABLE A5.409.3—PRODUCT GWP LIMITS, TIER 1 AND TIER 2

BUY CLEAN CALIFORNIA
PRODUCT CATEGORY1		 TIER 1
MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE
GWP VALUE (unfabricated)
(GWPallowed)		 TIER 2
MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE
GWP VALUE (unfabricated)
(GWPallowed)		 UNIT OF MEASUREMENT
Hot-rolled structural steel sections 1.52 1.01 MT CO2e/MT
Hollow structural sections 2.57 1.71 MT CO2e/MT
Steel plate 2.24 1.49 MT CO2e/MT
Concrete reinforcing steel 1.34 0.89 MT CO2e/MT
Flat glass 2.15 1.43 kg CO2e/MT
Light-density mineral wool board insulation 5.00 3.33 kg CO2e/1 m2
Heavy-density mineral wool board insulation 12.24 8.16 kg CO2e/1 m2
Concrete, Ready-Mixed2, 3 Concrete, Ready-Mixed2, 3 Concrete, Ready-Mixed2, 3 Concrete, Ready-Mixed2, 3
CONCRETE PRODUCT CATEGORY TIER 1
MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE GWP
VALUE (unfabricated)
(GWPallowed)		 TIER 2
MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE GWP
VALUE (unfabricated)
(GWPallowed)		 UNIT OF MEASUREMENT
up to 2499 psi
 386 257 kg CO2e/m3
2500~~-~~3499 psi
 419 279 kg CO2e/m3
3500~~-~~4499 psi
 485 323 kg CO2e/m3
4500~~-~~5499 psi
 567 378 kg CO2e/m3
5500~~-~~6499 psi 601 401 kg CO2e/m3
6500 psi and greater 685 456 kg CO2e/m3
Concrete, Lightweight Ready-Mixed2 Concrete, Lightweight Ready-Mixed2 Concrete, Lightweight Ready-Mixed2 Concrete, Lightweight Ready-Mixed2
CONCRETE PRODUCT CATEGORY TIER 1
MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE GWP
VALUE (unfabricated)
(GWPallowed)		 TIER 2
MAXIMUM ACCEPTABLE GWP
VALUE (unfabricated)
(GWPallowed)		 UNIT OF MEASUREMENT
up to 2499 psi
 750 500 kg CO2e/m3
2500~~-~~3499 psi
 819 546 kg CO2e/m3
3500~~-~~4499 psi 891 594 kg CO2e/m3
1. The GWP values of the products listed in Table A5.409.3 are based on 150% of Buy Clean California Act (BCCA) GWP values, except for concrete products which are not included
in BCCA.
2. For concrete, Tier 1 is 150%, Tier 2 is 100% of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) 2022 version 3 Pacific Southwest regional benchmark values are used for
the GWP allowed, except for High Early Strength.
3. Concrete High Early Strength ready-mixed shall be calculated at 130% of the ready-mixed concrete GWP allowed values for each product category.

A5.409.3.2 Verification of compliance. Calculations to demonstrate compliance, Type III EPDs for products required to comply if included in the project, and Worksheet WS-8 signed by the design professional of record shall be provided on the construction documents. Updated EPDs for products used in construction shall be provided to the owner at the close of construction and to the enforcement entity upon request. The enforcing agency may require inspection and inspection reports in accordance with Sections 702.2 and 703.1 during and at completion of construction to demonstrate substantial conformance. Inspection shall be performed by the design professional of record or third party acceptable to the enforcing agency.

A5.409.4 Whole building life cycle assessment of additional impacts. Maintaining compliance with the requirements of Section 5.409.2, conduct a cradle-to-grave whole building life cycle assessment performed in accordance with ISO 14044, including operating energy, and demonstrating a minimum 10-percent improvement for a minimum of two additional impacts listed in Section A5.409.4.1, as compared to a reference baseline building of similar size, function, complexity, type of construction, material specification, location and operating energy performance that meets the requirements of the California Energy Code currently in effect.

A5.409.4.1 Impacts to be considered. Select from the following impacts in the assessment:

  1. Fossil fuel depletion.

  2. Stratospheric ozone depletion.

  3. Acidification of land and water sources.

  4. Eutrophication.

  5. Photochemical oxidants (smog).

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APPENDIX A5-32 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

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CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

APPENDIX A5 – NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES

DIVISION A5.5 – ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)

Adopting agency BSC BSC-
CG		 SFM HCD DSA OSHPD BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC
Adopting agency BSC BSC-
CG		 SFM 1 2 1/AC AC SS 1 1R 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Adopt entire CA chapter X
Adopt entire chapter as
amended (amended
sections listed below)
Adopt only those sections that
are listed below		 X
Chapter/Section
A5.507.5 † X

The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: †.

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APPENDIX A5-34 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

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A5 NONRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES

DIVISION A5.5 – ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)
2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GREEN BUILDING
  4. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  5. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  6. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  7. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  8. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  9. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  10. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  11. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  12. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  13. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  14. Chapter 6 — REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS AND STANDARDS
  15. Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
  16. ▸ Chapter 8 — COMPLIANCE FORMS, WORKSHEETS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
    Overview
    1. Section A4.101 — GENERAL
    2. Section A4.102 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Section A4.103 — SITE SELECTION
    4. Section A4.104 — SITE PRESERVATION
    5. Section A4.105 — DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF EXISTING MATERIALS
    6. Section A4.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT
    7. Section A4.107
    8. Section A4.108 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
    9. Section A4.201 — GENERAL
    10. Section A4.202 — DEFINITIONS
    11. Section A4.203 — PERFORMANCE APPROACH FOR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BU…
    12. Section A4.204 — REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING BUIL…
    13. Section A4.301 — GENERAL
    14. Section A4.302 — DEFINITIONS
    15. Section A4.303 — INDOOR WATER USE
    16. Section A4.304 — OUTDOOR WATER USE
    17. Section A4.305 — WATER REUSE SYSTEMS
    18. Section A4.306 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
    19. Section A4.401 — GENERAL
    20. Section A4.402 — DEFINITIONS
    21. Section A4.403 — FOUNDATION SYSTEMS
    22. Section A4.404 — EFFICIENT FRAMING TECHNIQUES
    23. Section A4.405 — MATERIAL SOURCES
    24. Section A4.406 — ENHANCED DURABILITY AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE
    25. Section A4.407 — WATER RESISTANCE AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
    26. Section A4.408 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RE…
    27. Section A4.409 — LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
    28. Section A4.410 — BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
    29. Section A4.411 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
    30. Section A4.501 — GENERAL
    31. Section A4.502 — DEFINITIONS
    32. Section A4.503 — FIREPLACES
    33. Section A4.504 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
    34. Section A4.505 — INTERIOR MOISTURE CONTROL
    35. Section A4.506 — INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND EXHAUST
    36. Section A4.507 — ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT
    37. Section A4.508 — OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY
    38. Section A4.509 — INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL C…
    39. Section A4.601 — GENERAL
    40. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST
    41. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
    42. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
    43. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
    44. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
    45. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
    46. Section A4.602 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES APPLICATION CHECKLIST…
    47. Section A5.101 — GENERAL
    48. Section A5.102 — DEFINITIONS
    49. Section A5.103 — SITE SELECTION
    50. Section A5.104 — SITE PRESERVATION
    51. Section A5.105 — DECONSTRUCTION AND REUSE OF EXISTING STRUCTURES
    52. Section A5.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT
    53. Section A5.107 — BIRD-FRIENDLY BUILDING DESIGN
    54. Section A5.201 — GENERAL
    55. Section A5.202 — DEFINITIONS
    56. Section A5.203 — PERFORMANCE APPROACH
    57. Section A5.204 — MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXI…
    58. Section A5.211 — RESERVED
    59. Section A5.212 — ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
    60. Section A5.213 — ENERGY EFFICIENT FRAMING
    61. Section A5.301 — GENERAL
    62. Section A5.302 — DEFINITIONS
    63. Section A5.303 — INDOOR WATER USE
    64. Section A5.304 — OUTDOOR WATER USE
    65. Section A5.305 — WATER REUSE
    66. Section A5.401 — GENERAL
    67. Section A5.402 — DEFINITIONS
    68. Section A5.403 — FOUNDATION SYSTEMS
    69. Section A5.404 — EFFICIENT FRAMING TECHNIQUES
    70. Section A5.405 — MATERIAL SOURCES
    71. Section A5.406 — ENHANCED DURABILITY AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE
    72. Section A5.408 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RE…
    73. Section A5.409 — LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
    74. Section A5.501 — GENERAL
    75. Section A5.502 — DEFINITIONS
    76. Section A5.504 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
    77. Section A5.507 — ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT
    78. Section A5.508 — OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY
    79. Section A6.106 — SITE DEVELOPMENT
    80. Section A6.202 — DEFINITIONS
    81. Section A6.203 — PERFORMANCE APPROACH
    82. Section A6.204 — PRESCRIPTIVE APPROACH
    83. Section A6.205 — [OSHPD 1 & 4]—BUILDING ENVELOPE
    84. Section A6.207 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—HVAC DESIGN, EQUIPMENT AND I…
    85. Section A6.210 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—APPLIANCES
    86. Section A6.401 — GENERAL
    87. Section A6.407 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—WATER RESISTANCE AND MOISTUR…
    88. Section A6.408 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RE…
    89. Section A6.410 — BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
    90. Section A6.504 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
    91. Section A6.505 — [OSHPD 1, 2 & 4]—INDOOR MOISTURE CONTROL

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