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Process Data set: 20mm Qual-Pex+ 'Easy Lay' pipe (en) en

Key Data Set Information
Location IE
Geographical representativeness description Primarily distributed and used within Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other European markets in both residential and light commercial sectors. The pipe is certified to EN ISO 21003, ensuring compatibility with European standards for piping systems.
Reference year 2025
Name
20mm Qual-Pex+ 'Easy Lay' pipe
Use advice for data set All the production and transport steps up to the factory gate are included in the system boundaries. This includes the transport to customer phase, construction phase, use phase, demolition phase and the waste processing phase. The LCA study is applicable to the Pipelife Ireland Solutions Ltd production location in Cork. A cradle-to-grave study is performed. Therefore, the analysis in this report covers the following phases: • A1 Production of input materials • A2 Transport • A3 Production process • A4 Transport to end user • B Usage Phase • C1 Demolition • C2 Transport to waste processor • C3 Waste processing • C4 Final waste disposal • D Benefits beyond system boundary All relevant inputs and outputs - like emissions, energy and materials - have been taken into account in this LCA. And in accordance with EN15804+A2, the total neglected input flows per module do not exceed 5% of energy usage and mass. This process outlines the life cycle of the pipe, following the EN 15804 standard phases (A1-D). Raw Material Supply (A1): The product is composed of granules, an EVOH barrier, pigments, and packaging materials. These components are sourced and prepared for transport. Transport to Production Site (A2): Raw materials are delivered to the production facility using EURO 6 trucks and bulk ships. Manufacturing (A3): At the production site, the raw materials undergo extrusion to form the final product shape. The product is then packaged for distribution. Transport to Construction Site (A4): The packaged product is transported to the construction site using EURO 6 trucks. Installation (A5): The product is installed on-site as part of the construction project. Usage Phase (B): The product remains in use throughout the building’s lifetime. This phase typically includes maintenance, repair, and replacement, though they are not specified here. End of Life (C): After its useful life, the product is deconstructed and transported to a waste processing facility. It then enters a recycling process. Benefits Beyond the System Boundary (D): Recycled materials are fed back into the system, potentially displacing the need for virgin materials in future production processes.
Technical purpose of product or process The Qual-Pex Plus+ 'Easy-Lay' pipe is a high-performance, multi-purpose piping system engineered for reliable distribution of hot and cold water, central heating, and underfloor heating. Manufactured in Ireland to meet rigorous quality standards, this next-generation solution combines durability with exceptional flexibility. Its unique lay-flat design enables faster, easier, and more cost-effective installations across residential and commercial applications. The Qual-Pex Plus+ pipe is compatible with a wide range of connection systems, including press, push-fit, and compression fittings, offering versatility and convenience on site. Designed for long-term performance and ease of use, it is ideal for modern plumbing and heating systems. This product is intended for use in: Potable hot and cold water distribution Radiator-based central heating systems Underfloor heating installations Domestic and light commercial building services Its flexibility, ease of handling, and compatibility with common fittings make it particularly well-suited for both new build and retrofit applications. The main components from the product are: Granules 97% EVOH barrier <1% Pigments <1% Adhesive material <1% Packaging <1% Multilayer cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe with an EVOH oxygen barrier, suitable for use in hot and cold potable water systems, central heating, and underfloor heating applications. Compatible with press, push-fit, and compression fittings.
General comment on data set Data quality: The data collection took place in 2024. Data flows have been modelled as realistically as possible. The data quality assessment is based on the principle that the primary data used for materials and processes occurring at the production site is selected in the first instance. Where this is not available, other reference data is selected from appropriate sources. The following five criteria have been assessed for all generic datasets used in this LCA study: • Time-related coverage: All datasets are from Ecoinvent 3.9.1 (2021), ensuring data is less than 5 years old. • Geographical coverage: European datasets (RER) were prioritized to match the primary supply chain. Where unavailable, global data (GLO) was selected as the best alternative. • Technological coverage: Each dataset reflects the most typical technology available in the market during the dataset's reference period. • Completeness: All datasets include full upstream and downstream process chains to ensure completeness. • Uncertainty: Ecoinvent datasets include inherent uncertainty values, with precision levels averaging ±5% for primary material processes. Allocation: In accordance with EN 15804+A2, Section 6.4.3.3, the following allocation principles have been applied in this study: • Waste allocation: Any waste generated during the production process was allocated based on mass. For instance, production waste such as pipe cuttings and off-spec material was modelled as waste output. • Recycling and secondary material Use: Recycling processes have been modelled using a conservative approach. Recycled content is accounted for within the material production stages, while recycling credits for recovered material at the end of the pipe’s life are included in Module D. These allocation rules ensure compliance with EN 15804+A2 guidelines and provide a fair representation of environmental impacts throughout the product’s life cycle. Cut-off criteria: Exclusions The following elements are excluded from the scope of this LCA study in accordance with EN 15804+A2: • Commuting of employees to and from the production site • Machinery used within the facility (e.g., forklifts, maintenance equipment) • Office-related activities such as IT equipment, administrative energy consumption, and staff facilities • Capital goods and infrastructure (e.g., building construction and maintenance of the factory) These exclusions are considered immaterial and are unlikely to significantly affect the overall results.
Copyright Yes
Owner of data set
Quantitative reference
Reference flow(s)
Biogenic carbon content
  • Carbon content (biogenic): 0.0 kg
  • Carbon content (biogenic) - packaging: 0.0 kg
Time representativeness
Data set valid until 2030
Time representativeness description "2025-08-28" - "2030-08-27"
Technological representativeness
Technology description including background system -Certified to EN ISO 21003 Available Diameters: • Imperial sizes: ½" (14.7mm), ¾" (21.0mm), and 1" (27.4mm) • Metric sizes: 16mm, 20mm, 26mm, and 32mm Available Lengths: • Coils: 50m, 100m, and 150m rolls • Straight lengths: Available in 3m and 6m options Flexibility: • The pipe's enhanced flexibility allows for smooth bending and installation without the need for special tools, while still maintaining sufficient rigidity to hold shape during installation. Pressure Ratings: • 12 bar at 20°C • 4 bar at 82°C • 3 bar at 92°C

Indicators of life cycle

IndicatorDirectionUnit Raw material supply
A1
 Transport
A2
 Manufacturing
A3
 Transport
A4
 Installation
A5
 Use
B1
 Maintenance
B2
 Repair
B3
 Replacement
B4
 Refurbishment
B5
 Operational energy use
B6
 Operational water use
B7
 De-construction
C1
 Transport
C2
 Waste processing
C3
 Disposal
C4
 Recycling Potential
D
Use of renewable primary energy (PERE)
Input
  • 0.142
  • 0.00178
  • 0.216
  • 0.000501
  • 0.0108
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.000125
  • 0.0213
  • 0
  • -0.0924
Use of renewable primary energy resources used as raw materials (PERM)
Input
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Total use of renewable primary energy resource (PERT)
Input
  • 0.142
  • 0.00178
  • 0.216
  • 0.000501
  • 0.0108
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.000125
  • 0.0213
  • 0
  • -0.0924
Use of non renewable primary energy (PENRE)
Input
  • 4
  • 0.135
  • 0.657
  • 0.0364
  • 0.233
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00905
  • 0.47
  • 0
  • -5.71
Use of non renewable primary energy resources used as raw materials (PENRM)
Input
  • 4.49
  • 0
  • 0.0404
  • 0
  • 0.224
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Total use of non renewable primary energy resource (PENRT)
Input
  • 8.49
  • 0.135
  • 0.698
  • 0.0364
  • 0.457
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00905
  • 0.47
  • 0
  • -5.71
Use of secondary material (SM)
Input
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Use of renewable secondary fuels (RSF)
Input
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Use of non renewable secondary fuels (NRSF)
Input
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Use of net fresh water (FW)
Input
  • 0.0025
  • 0.0000179
  • 0.00128
  • 0.00000502
  • 0.000134
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00000125
  • 0.000139
  • 0
  • -0.00163
Hazardous waste disposed (HWD)
Output
  • 0.00000252
  • 7.74E-7
  • 0.00000115
  • 2.13E-7
  • 2.58E-7
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 5.29E-8
  • 0.00000164
  • 0
  • -0.00000161
Non hazardous waste dispose (NHWD)
Output
  • 0.00896
  • 0.0101
  • 0.00381
  • 0.003
  • 0.0000964
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.000746
  • 0.0231
  • 0
  • -0.00471
Radioactive waste disposed (RWD)
Output
  • 0.00000375
  • 3.65E-8
  • 0.00000332
  • 1.04E-8
  • 2.11E-7
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 2.59E-9
  • 3.98E-7
  • 0
  • -0.00000248
Components for re-use (CRU)
Output
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Materials for recycling (MFR)
Output
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00101
  • 0
  • 0.00605
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.112
  • 0
  • 0
Materials for energy recovery (MER)
Output
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Exported electrical energy (EEE)
Output
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00105
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Exported thermal energy (EET)
Output
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00181
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

IndicatorUnit Raw material supply
A1
 Transport
A2
 Manufacturing
A3
 Transport
A4
 Installation
A5
 Use
B1
 Maintenance
B2
 Repair
B3
 Replacement
B4
 Refurbishment
B5
 Operational energy use
B6
 Operational water use
B7
 De-construction
C1
 Transport
C2
 Waste processing
C3
 Disposal
C4
 Recycling Potential
D
Abiotic depletion potential - fossil resources (ADPF)
  • 7.91
  • 0.127
  • 0.693
  • 0.0343
  • 0.426
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00851
  • 0.441
  • 0
  • -5.32
Abiotic depletion potential - non-fossil resources (ADPE)
  • 0.000001
  • 2.23E-8
  • 9.85E-8
  • 6.31E-9
  • 5.99E-8
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 1.57E-9
  • 1.53E-7
  • 0
  • -6.48E-7
Acidification potential, Accumulated Exceedance (AP)
  • 0.000815
  • 0.000046
  • 0.000189
  • 0.00000559
  • 0.0000496
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00000139
  • 0.000117
  • 0
  • -0.000513
Depletion potential of the stratospheric ozone layer (ODP)
  • 1.59E-9
  • 1.87E-10
  • 1.01E-9
  • 5.1E-11
  • 1.13E-10
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 1.3E-11
  • 4.32E-10
  • 0
  • -1.02E-9
Eutrophication potential - freshwater (EP-freshwater)
  • 0.00000327
  • 6.8E-8
  • 0.00000248
  • 1.89E-8
  • 2.1E-7
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 4.7E-9
  • 7.85E-7
  • 0
  • -0.00000207
Eutrophication potential - marine (EP-marine)
  • 0.000138
  • 0.0000112
  • 0.0000266
  • 0.00000149
  • 0.00000961
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 3.7E-7
  • 0.000039
  • 0
  • -0.0000902
Eutrophication potential - terrestrial (EP-terrestrial)
  • 0.00151
  • 0.000122
  • 0.000315
  • 0.0000156
  • 0.000103
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00000388
  • 0.000374
  • 0
  • -0.000991
Global Warming Potential - biogenic (GWP-biogenic)
  • 0.00216
  • 0.0000149
  • -0.00318
  • 0.00000452
  • 0.000635
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00000112
  • 0.00973
  • 0
  • -0.00143
Global Warming Potential - fossil fuels (GWP-fossil)
  • 0.226
  • 0.00879
  • 0.0358
  • 0.00232
  • 0.0139
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.000576
  • 0.0322
  • 0
  • -0.15
Global Warming Potential - land use and land use change (GWP-luluc)
  • 0.0000697
  • 0.0000047
  • 0.0000566
  • 0.00000111
  • 0.0000053
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 2.76E-7
  • 0.0000287
  • 0
  • -0.0000439
Global Warming Potential - total (GWP-total)
  • 0.228
  • 0.00881
  • 0.0327
  • 0.00232
  • 0.0146
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.000577
  • 0.042
  • 0
  • -0.152
Global warming potential except emissions and uptake of biogenic carbon (GWP-IOBC/GHG)
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP)
  • 0.000422
  • 0.0000331
  • 0.0000996
  • 0.00000414
  • 0.0000281
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00000103
  • 0.0000956
  • 0
  • -0.000511
Water (user) deprivation potential (WDP)
  • 0.181
  • 0.000574
  • 0.0441
  • 0.00016
  • 0.00937
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.0000399
  • 0.00485
  • 0
  • -0.121

IndicatorUnit Raw material supply
A1
 Transport
A2
 Manufacturing
A3
 Transport
A4
 Installation
A5
 Use
B1
 Maintenance
B2
 Repair
B3
 Replacement
B4
 Refurbishment
B5
 Operational energy use
B6
 Operational water use
B7
 De-construction
C1
 Transport
C2
 Waste processing
C3
 Disposal
C4
 Recycling Potential
D
1This impact category deals mainly with the eventual impact of low dose ionizing radiation on human health of the nuclear fuel cycle. It does not consider effects due to possible nuclear accidents, occupational exposure nor due to radioactive waste disposal in underground facilities. Potential ionizing radiation from the soil, from radon and from some construction materials is also not measured by this indicator.
2The results of this environmental impact indicator shall be used with care as the uncertainties on these results are high or as there is limited experiences with the indicator.
Potential Comparative Toxic Unit for ecosystems (ETP-fw) 2
  • 0.254
  • 0.054
  • 0.103
  • 0.0142
  • 0.0246
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00353
  • 0.165
  • 0
  • -0.155
Potential Comparative Toxic Unit for humans - cancer effects (HTP-c) 2
  • 2.1E-11
  • 2E-12
  • 2.2E-11
  • 1E-12
  • 2E-12
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 1.8E-11
  • 0
  • -3.4E-11
Potential Comparative Toxic Unit for humans - non-cancer effects (HTP-nc) 2
  • 6.72E-10
  • 3.4E-11
  • 3.04E-10
  • 8E-12
  • 4.6E-11
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 2E-12
  • 1.84E-10
  • 0
  • -9.49E-10
Potential Human exposure efficiency relative to U235 (IRP) 1
  • 0.00475
  • 0.0000581
  • 0.00416
  • 0.0000165
  • 0.00027
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00000409
  • 0.000541
  • 0
  • -0.00312
Potential Soil quality index (SQP) 2
  • 0.237
  • 0.122
  • 0.511
  • 0.0361
  • 0.0387
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0.00897
  • 0.37
  • 0
  • -0.131
Potential incidence of disease due to PM emissions (PM) 2
  • 6.82E-9
  • 5.92E-10
  • 1.15E-9
  • 1.68E-10
  • 4.77E-10
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 4.2E-11
  • 1.91E-9
  • 0
  • -4.43E-9