In our 2024 June (version 5.31.0) software release, we’re introducing some big changes for element categorisation in eTool. We’re not only updating our Building categorisations to align with the new RICS WLCA PS 2nd Edition, we will also be adding infrastructure specific categorisations for Infrastructure projects. The categorisation standard for infrastructure will be based on the ICMS 3rd edition categorisation groupings for civil engineering works. For the full list please refer to the Element Categorisation Table below.
Jump to the following sections in this post:
- Changes in eTool
- Structure Level
- Templates
- Operational Energy
- Element Categorisation Table
- Related posts
Changes in eTool
In order to accommodate these new categorisations in eTool, there have been a number of changes in how eTool behaves and how users can specify which type of categorisation to use for their LCA.
Structure Level
In the structure level of your project, you can now select from 3 different categorisations: the original RICS NRM, the new RICS WLCA 2E or ICMS3 for infrastructure.
The ICMS3 categorisation looks like the below for Infrastructure.
Templates
For templates, you can specify categorisation standard in the ‘Details’ tab of in the library. For existing templates, if you change the categorisation standard, all existing inputs will be automatically mapped to the most relevant corresponding category in the new standard.
In the example below, we demonstrate the changes in the categories from one standard to the other. The test template is External Works – 500mm Compacted Limestone (30 yrs).
For categorisation standard RICS WLCA 2E (2023), existing inputs are mapped as Roads, paths, pavings, surfaces under External Work category.
When changing to categorisation standard ICMS3 Infrastructure, existing inputs are mapped as Pavements under Structure category.
Element Categorisation Table
| RICS NRM (original categorisation) | RICS WLCA PS 2E (New) |
ICMS3 (New – for Infrastructure)
|
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| Code | Name | Code | Name | Code | Name |
| 0 | Facilitating works | 0.1 | Treatment and demolition works; Facilitating works | 01 | Demolition, site preparation and formation |
| 0.1 | Toxic/hazardous/contaminated material treatment | 0.1.1 | Toxic/contaminated material treatment; Demolition works | 01.010 | Site survey and ground investigation |
| 0.1.1 | Toxic/hazardous material removal | 0.1.2 | Facilitating works | 01.020 | Environmental treatment |
| 0.1.2 | Contaminated land | 0.1.1.1 | Toxic/contaminated material treatment | 01.050 | Demolition of existing structures and support to adjacent structures |
| 0.1.3 | Eradication of plant growth | 0.1.1.2 | Demolition works | 01.060 |
Site surface clearance (clearing, grubbing, topsoil stripping, tree felling, minor earthwork, removal)
|
| 0.2 | Major demolition works | 0.1.2.1 | Temporary supports | 01.080 |
General site formation and slope treatment (including embankments/cuttings)
|
| 0.2.1 | Demolition works | 0.1.2.2 | Facade retention | 01.090 | Temporary surface drainage and dewatering |
| 0.2.2 | Soft strip works | 0.1.2.3 | Specialist groundworks | 01.110 |
Temporary protection, diversion & relocation of and connection to public utilities
|
| 0.3 | Temporary support to adjacent structures | 0.1.2.4 | Temporary diversion works | 01.640 | Excavation (of soft silt, peat, sands, gravels, clay, rock, etc.) |
| 0.3.1 | Temporary support to adjacent structures | 0.1.2.5 | Extraordinary site investigations | 01.650 | Dredging (of soft silt, peat, sands, gravels, clay, rock, etc.) |
| 0.4 | Specialist groundworks | 0.1.2.6 | Site preparation works | 01.660 | Special disposal and treatment of contaminated materials |
| 0.4.1 | Site dewatering and pumping | 1 | Sub-structure | 01.670 |
Reclamation or filling (with imported rock, concrete, or other hard materials)
|
| 0.4.2 | Soil stabilisation measures | 1.1 | Foundations and piling | 02 | Substructure |
| 0.4.3 | Ground gas venting measures | 1.2 | Basement retaining walls and lowest slab | 02.010 | Embankments/cuttings |
| 0.5 | Temporary diversion works | 1.2.1 | Lowest slab | 02.020 |
Excavation, disposal and lateral supports (specifically to receive any substructure construction but excluding general site formation and slope treatment)
|
| 0.5.1 | Temporary diversion works | 1.2.2 | Suspended slabs | 02.025 | Geotextile or other geomembranes |
| 0.6 | Extraordinary site investigation | 1.2.3 | Basement retaining walls | 02.030 | Trenching/common trenches |
| 0.6.1 | Archaeological investigation | 2 | Super structure | 02.040 | Drilling/boring |
| 0.6.2 | Reptile/wildlife mitigation measures | 2.1 | Frame | 02.050 | Piling/anchoring |
| 0.6.3 | Other extraordinary site investigation | 2.1.1 | Frame (vertical) – columns/ structural walls & braces | 02.060 | Structural backfill/ground remediation |
| 1 | Substructure | 2.1.2 | Frame (Horizontal) – beams, joists & braces | 02.070 | Earth-retaining structures |
| 1.1 | Substructure | 2.2 | Upper floors | 02.080 | Abutments/wing walls |
| 1.1.1 | Standard foundations | 2.2.1 | Upper floor and roof – structural slabs | 02.090 | Pile caps/footings/bases |
| 1.1.2 | Specialist foundations | 2.2.2 | Upper floor and roof – non-structural slabs | 02.100 | Sub-base to pavements and rail track structures |
| 1.1.3 | Lowest floor construction | 2.3 | Roof | 02.110 | Bases to supports for tanks, pipes, well heads, etc. |
| 1.1.4 | Basement excavation | 2.4 | Stairs, ramps and safety guarding | 02.120 | Beds and surrounds to underground pipes |
| 1.1.5 | Basement retaining walls | 2.4.1 | Stairs | 02.600 |
Pile retaining walls (combi walls/H-pile walls/secant piled walls/sheet piled walls/gravity quay walls/relieving structures/pile supported structures/special types)
|
| 1.1.3 | Insulation | 2.4.2 | Ramps | 02.610 | Diaphragm walls |
| 2 | Superstructure | 2.4.3 | Safety and access ladders, chutes, slides and guarding | 02.620 | Quays/docks/wharfs/moorings/piers/dry dock structure foundations |
| 2.1 | Frame | 2.5 | External envelope including roof finishes | 02.630 | Marine anchor systems |
| 2.1.1 | Frame | 2.5.1 | External – opaque envelope | 02.640 | Mooring dolphins |
| 2.2 | Upper floors | 2.5.2 | External – full height glazing systems | 02.650 | Breakwaters (Cores/primary armour/secondary armour) |
| 2.2.1 | Floors | 2.5.3 | External – roof finishes/coverings | 02.660 | Rock revetments/gabions |
| 2.2.1 | Insulation | 2.5.4 | External – safety systems | 02.670 | Cofferdams |
| 2.2.2 | Balconies | 2.6 | Windows and ext doors | 02.680 | Bank protection |
| 2.2.3 | Drainage to balconies | 2.6.1 | Windows – vertical | 03 | Structure |
| 2.3 | Roof | 2.6.2 | Windows – roof or horizontal | 03.010 | Piers and towers |
| 2.3.1 | Roof structure | 2.6.3 | External doors | 03.020 | Suspension system |
| 2.3.2 | Roof coverings | 2.7 | Internal walls | 03.030 | Decks |
| 2.3.3 | Specialist roof systems | 2.7.1 | Internal walls -solid | 03.040 | Bearings |
| 2.3.5 | Rooflights, skylights and openings | 2.7.2 | Internal walls – non-structural glazed walls, windows and vision panels | 03.050 | Tunnel/shaft lining |
| 2.3 | Insulation | 2.8 | Internal doors | 03.060 | Roads/track bases |
| 2.3.4 | Roof drainage | 3 | Finishes | 03.070 | Pavements |
| 2.3.6 | Roof features | 3.1 | Wall finishes | 03.080 | Service roads and approaches |
| 2.4 | Stairs and ramps | 3.2 | Floor finishes | 03.090 | Parapets/edge treatment |
| 2.4.1 | Stair/ramp structures | 3.2.1 | Raised access floor or specialist sprung floors | 03.100 | Main structures |
| 2.4.2 | Stair/ramp finishes | 3.2.2 | Non-structural screed | 03.105 | Service stations and houses for district utility services |
| 2.4.3 | Stair/ramp balustrades and handrails | 3.2.3 | Floor finishes | 03.110 | Tanks, rigs, storage containers, etc. |
| 2.4.4 | Ladders/chutes/slides | 3.3 | Ceiling finishes | 03.120 | Supports for tanks, pipes, etc. |
| 2.5 | External walls | 4 | FF&E | 03.130 | Civil pipework |
| 2.5.1 | External enclosing walls above ground level | 4.1 | General FF&E | 03.140 | Valves and fittings |
| 2.5.2 | External enclosing walls below ground level | 4.2 | Kitchen equipment | 03.600 | Seawalls |
| 2.5.3 | Solar/rain screening | 4.3 | Special equipment | 03.610 | Lake and river lining |
| 2.5.4 | External soffits | 4.4 | Loose FF&E | 03.620 | Prefabricated marine structures – off-site fabrication |
| 2.5.5 | Subsidiary walls, balustrades and proprietary balconies | 4.5 | IT | 03.650 | Slipways/gangways/linkways |
| 2.5.6 | Façade access/cleaning systems | 4.6 | Audio and visual | 03.660 | Dock and lock gates |
| 2.6 | Windows and external doors | 5.1 | Public Health | 03.670 | Pontoons |
| 2.6.1 | External windows | 5.1.1 | Sanitaryware | 03.680 | Coastal protection systems |
| 2.6.2 | External doors | 5.1.2 | Cold water systems | 03.690 |
Deck/surface structures (ground bearing or suspended concrete slabs)
|
| 2.6.1 | Security and Fly Screens | 5.1.2.1 | Cold water systems | 03.700 | Locks and guidance structures |
| 2.7 | Internal walls and partitions | 5.1.2.2 | Cold water storage | 03.710 | Revetments |
| 2.7.1 | Walls and partitions | 5.1.3 | Drainage and rainwater | 03.720 | Flood defences |
| 2.7.1 | Insulation | 5.1.3.1 | Surface water/rainwater/foul water drainage | 03.730 | Navigational aids |
| 2.7.2 | Balustrades and handrails | 5.1.3.2 | Water reuse systems | 03.740 | Dry docks structures |
| 2.7.3 | Moveable room dividers | 5.2 | Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) | 03.750 | Weirs |
| 2.7.4 | Cubicles | 5.2.1 | Space heating and hot water | 03.760 | Aqueducts |
| 2.8 | Internal doors | 5.2.1.1 | Heat & Hot water generation equipment | 04 | Non-structural works |
| 2.8.1 | Internal doors | 5.2.1.2 | Heat & hot water distribution, control, ancillaries, emitters, exchangers/ terminal units | 04.010 | Non-structural removal and alterations |
| 3 | Internal finishes | 5.2.1.3 | Heat storage equipment | 04.020 | Non-structural construction |
| 3.1 | Wall finishes | 5.2.2 | Dedicated cooling installations (If the system does both heating and cooling, include it in heating) | 04.030 | Running surface |
| 3.1.1 | Wall finishes | 5.2.2.1 | Cooling generation equipment | 04.040 | Signage, markings, etc. |
| 3.1.1 | Cornices & Shadowlines | 5.2.2.2 | Cooling emitter, exchangers/ terminal units, ancillaries and control, distribution, storage | 04.050 | Gantries, etc. |
| 3.1.1 | Paint – Walls | 5.2.3 | Air movement | 05 | Services & equipment |
| 3.1.1 | Wet Area Walls | 5.2.4 | Ventilation air terminals, ductwork and ancillaries, control dampers, attenuation, fire safety related to ventilation equipment | 05.005 | District heating, ventilating and cooling systems |
| 3.2 | Floor finishes | 5.2.4.1 | Air terminals | 05.010 | Mechanical systems |
| 3.2.1 | Finishes to floors | 5.2.4.2 | Ductwork & ancilleries | 05.020 | Lighting systems |
| 3.2.1 | Wet Area Floors | 5.2.4.3 | Control dampers, attenuation and fIre safety related to ventilation equipment | 05.040 | Low-voltage power supply |
| 3.2.2 | Raised access floors | 5.3 | Electrical installations | 05.050 | Cables/cable trays |
| 3.3 | Ceiling finishes | 5.3.1 | Lighting | 05.060 | Other electrical services |
| 3.3.1 | Finishes to ceilings | 5.3.1.1 | Internal lighting | 05.070 |
Control systems and instrumentation (signalling systems, telecommunications systems)
|
| 3.3.2 | False ceilings | 5.3.1.2 | External lighting (building mounted) | 05.080 | Pipe racks / supports (localised) |
| 3.3.3 | Demountable suspended ceilings | 5.3.1.3 | Emergency lighting | 05.090 | Water supply |
| 4 | Fittings, furnishings and equipment | 5.3.1.4 | Other lighting | 05.100 | Refuse and waste disposal systems |
| 4.1 | Fittings, furnishings and equipment | 5.3.2 | Electrical services for power, communications, security, IT and fire detection | 05.110 | Fire services |
| 4.1.1 | General fittings, furnishings and equipment | 5.3.2.1 | Electrical power | 05.115 | Gas services |
| 4.1.2 | Domestic kitchen fittings and equipment | 5.3.2.2 | ELV/ Communications/Security | 05.120 | Movement systems: lifts/elevators/conveyors |
| 4.1.3 | Special purpose fittings, furnishings and equipment | 5.3.2.3 | IT & Data | 05.600 | Boat lifts |
| 4.1.4 | Signs/notices | 5.3.2.4 | BMS | 05.610 | Cranes/rigs/rails |
| 4.1.5 | Works of art | 5.3.2.5 | Electricity back up generation | 05.620 | Under water/sea service pipe installation |
| 4.1.6 | Non-mechanical and non-electrical equipment | 5.3.2.6 | Fire detection & alarm | 05.630 | Under water/sea electrical/data cabling |
| 4.1.7 | Internal planting | 5.4 | On site renewable energy generation | 06 | Surface and underground drainage |
| 4.1.8 | Bird and vermin control | 5.4.1 | On site renewable energy generation | 06.010 | Surface water drainage |
| 5 | Services equipment | 5.4.1.1 | Renewable energy – electrical generation onsite and building mounted | 06.020 | Storm water drainage |
| 5.1 | Sanitary installations | 5.4.1.2 | Renewable energy – storage onsite | 06.030 | Foul and waste water drainage |
| 5.1.1 | Sanitary appliances | 5.5 | Systems including Life safety; Fuel installations; Lift and conveyor installations; Services equipment; Disposal installations; Specialist installations; Builders work in connection with services | 06.040 | Pumping systems |
| 5.1.2 | Sanitary ancillaries | 5.5.1 | Life safety | 07 | External and ancillary works |
| 5.2 | Services equipment | 5.5.1.1 | Sprinkler system | 07.010 | Site enclosures and divisions |
| 5.2.1 | Services equipment | 5.5.1.2 | Fire fighting systems | 07.020 | Ancillary structures |
| 5.3 | Disposal installations | 5.5.1.3 | Lightning protection/earth bonding | 07.030 | Roads and paving (not amounting to a separate project) |
| 5.3.1 | Foul drainage above ground | 5.5.2 | Fuel installations | 07.040 | Landscaping (hard and soft) |
| 5.3.2 | Chemical, toxic and industrial liquid waste disposal | 5.5.3 | Lift and conveyor installations | 08 | Preliminaries | Constructors’ site overheads (temporary works) |
| 5.3.3 | Refuse disposal | 5.5.3.2 | Lift, stair lift, lifting platform | 08.020 |
Temporary access roads and storage areas, traffic management and diversion
|
| 5.4 | Water installations | 5.5.3.3 | Escalators and moving walkways | 08.025 | Temporary concrete batching yard, precast concrete casting yard |
| 5.4.1 | Mains water supply | 5.5.4 | Specialised and communal waste disposal | 08.030 | Temporary site fencing and securities |
| 5.4.2 | Cold water distribution | 5.5.5 | Specialist installations & maintenance | 08.045 |
Bespoke plant and equipment – specifically fabricated for the project) e.g. Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), ships/barges/vessels, floating cranes, dredgers and drill rigs, cofferdams, caissons, etc.)
|
| 5.4.3 | Hot water distribution | 5.5.6 | Builders work in connection with services | 08.055 | Workpeople living accommodation |
| 5.4.4 | Local hot water distribution | 6 | Pre-fabricated buildings and units | 08.060 | Other temporary facilities and services |
| 5.4.4 | Steam and condensate distribution | 7 | Works to existing buildings | 12 | Production and loose furniture, fittings and equipment |
| 5.5 | Heat source | 7.1 | Alterations | 12.020 |
Fixed production, process and operating furniture, fittings and equipment installed before completion
|
| 5.5.1 | Heat source | 7.2 | Repairs to existing; Cleaning existing surfaces; General Renovation works | ||
| 5.6 | Space heating and air conditioning | 7.3 | Damp-proof courses/fungus and beetle eradication | ||
| 5.6.1 | Central heating | 8.1 | Roads, paths, pavings, surfaces; Fencing, railings, walls; External fixtures | ||
| 5.6.2 | Local heating | 8.1.1 | Roads, paths, pavings, surfaces | ||
| 5.6.3 | Central cooling | 8.1.2 | Fencing, railings, walls | ||
| 5.6.4 | Local cooling | 8.1.3 | External fixtures | ||
| 5.6.5 | Central heating and cooling | 8.2 | Soft landscape, planting, irrigation | ||
| 5.6.6 | Local heating and cooling | 8.3 | External drainage; External services; Minor building works | ||
| 5.6.7 | Central air conditioning | 8.3.1 | External drainage | ||
| 5.6.8 | Local air conditioning | 8.3.2 | External services | ||
| 5.7 | Ventilation systems | 8.3.3 | Minor building works, ancillary | ||
| 5.7.1 | Central ventilation | 99 | Undefined | ||
| 5.7.2 | Local and special ventilation | ||||
| 5.7.3 | Smoke extract/control | ||||
| 5.8 | Electrical installations | ||||
| 5.8.1 | Electric mains and sub-mains distribution | ||||
| 5.8.2 | Power installations | ||||
| 5.8.3 | Lighting installations | ||||
| 5.8.4 | Specialist lighting installations | ||||
| 5.8.5 | Local electricity generation systems | ||||
| 5.8.6 | Earthing and bonding systems | ||||
| 5.9 | Fuel installations | ||||
| 5.9.1 | Fuel storage | ||||
| 5.9.1 | Fuel distribution systems | ||||
| 5.1 | Lift and conveyor installations | ||||
| 5.10.1 | Lifts and enclosed hoists | ||||
| 5.10.2 | Escalators | ||||
| 5.10.3 | Moving pavements | ||||
| 5.10.4 | Powered stairlifts | ||||
| 5.10.5 | Conveyors | ||||
| 5.10.6 | Dock levellers and scissor lifts | ||||
| 5.10.7 | Cranes and unenclosed hoists | ||||
| 5.10.8 | Car lifts, car stacking systems, turntables and the like | ||||
| 5.10.9 | Document handling systems | ||||
| 5.10.10 | Other lift and conveyor installations | ||||
| 5.11 | Fire and lightning protection | ||||
| 5.11.1 | Fire-fighting systems | ||||
| 5.11.2 | Fire suppression systems | ||||
| 5.11.3 | Lightning protection | ||||
| 5.12 | Communication, security and control systems | ||||
| 5.12.1 | Communication systems | ||||
| 5.12.2 | Security systems | ||||
| 5.12.3 | Central control/building management systems | ||||
| 5.13 | Specialist installations | ||||
| 5.13.1 | Specialist piped supply installations | ||||
| 5.13.2 | Specialist refrigeration systems | ||||
| 5.13.3 | Specialist mechanical installations | ||||
| 5.13.4 | Specialist electrical/electronic installations | ||||
| 5.13.5 | Water features | ||||
| 5.14 | Builder’s Work in Connection (BWIC) with Services | ||||
| 5.14.1 | BWIC with services | ||||
| 6 | Prefabricated buildings and building units | ||||
| 6.1 | Prefabricated buildings and building units | ||||
| 6.1.1 | Complete buildings | ||||
| 6.1.2 | Building units | ||||
| 6.1.3 | Pods | ||||
| 7 | Work to existing building | ||||
| 7.1 | Minor demolitions and alterations | ||||
| 7.1.1 | Minor Demolitions and Alterations | ||||
| 7.2 | Repairs to existing services | ||||
| 7.2.1 | Repairs to existing services | ||||
| 7.3 | Damp proof course/fungus and beetle eradication | ||||
| 7.3.1 | Damp Proof Course/Fungus and Beetle Eradication | ||||
| 7.4 | Façade Retention | ||||
| 7.4.1 | Façade Retention | ||||
| 7.5 | Cleaning Existing Surfaces | ||||
| 7.5.1 | Cleaning Existing Surfaces | ||||
| 7.6 | Renovation work | ||||
| 7.6.1 | Renovation Work | ||||
| 8 | External works | ||||
| 8.1 | Site preparation works | ||||
| 8.1.1 | Site clearance | ||||
| 8.1.2 | Preparatory groundworks | ||||
| 8.2 | Roads, paths and pavings | ||||
| 8.2.1 | Roads, paths and pavings | ||||
| 8.2.2 | Special surfacings and pavings | ||||
| 8.3 | Soft landscaping, planting and irrigation systems | ||||
| 8.3.1 | Seeding and turfing | ||||
| 8.3.2 | External planting | ||||
| 8.3.3 | Irrigation systems | ||||
| 8.4 | Fencing, railings and walls | ||||
| 8.4.1 | Fencing and railings | ||||
| 8.4.2 | Walls and screens | ||||
| 8.4.3 | Retaining walls | ||||
| 8.4.4 | Barriers and guardrails | ||||
| 8.5 | External fixtures | ||||
| 8.5.1 | Site/street furniture and equipment | ||||
| 8.5.2 | Ornamental features | ||||
| 8.6 | External drainage | ||||
| 8.6.1 | Surface water and foul water drainage | ||||
| 8.6.2 | Ancillary drainage systems | ||||
| 8.6.3 | External chemical, toxic and industrial liquid waste drainage | ||||
| 8.6.4 | Land drainage | ||||
| 8.7 | External services | ||||
| 8.7.1 | Water mains supply | ||||
| 8.7.10 | Local/district heating installations | ||||
| 8.7.11 | BWIC with external services | ||||
| 8.7.2 | Electricity mains supply | ||||
| 8.7.3 | External transformation devices | ||||
| 8.7.4 | Electricity distribution to external plant and equipment | ||||
| 8.7.5 | Gas mains supply | ||||
| 8.7.6 | Telecommunications and other communication system connections | ||||
| 8.7.7 | External fuel storage and piped distribution systems | ||||
| 8.7.8 | External security systems | ||||
| 8.7.9 | External/street lighting systems | ||||
| 8.8 | Minor building works and ancillary buildings | ||||
| 8.8.1 | Minor building works | ||||
| 8.8.2 | Ancillary buildings and structures | ||||
| 8.8.3 | Underpinning to external site boundary walls | ||||
| 11 | Project/design team | ||||
| 11.6 | Sales and Marketing | ||||
| 11.1 | Consultants | ||||
| 11.4 | Planning & Approvals | ||||
| 11.2 | Main contractor’s pre-construction design | ||||
| 11.5 | Project Management | ||||
| 11.3 | Main contractor’s design | ||||
| 99 | Undefined | ||||
