What is CIBSE TM65?
CIBSE TM65 “Embodied carbon in building services: A calculation methodology” is a technical memorandum published by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers that provides a framework for assessing the embodied carbon of building services engineering products and systems. Embodied carbon is the sum of emissions from manufacture, transport and installation of (building) materials. The purpose of this document is to help engineers and designers assess the embodied carbon of building services equipment and systems, enabling informed decisions for sustainable design of products linked to building services engineering systems, focusing on the carbon emissions associated with the extraction of materials, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal.
TM65 provides a framework for calculating embodied carbon, including guidance on using Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and estimating embodied carbon where EPDs are not available. It introduces two calculation methods: a 'basic' method and a 'mid-level' method, with the latter being more robust and requiring more detailed information from manufacturers. The resulting calculation figure is the product's CO2e in kg - which quantifies the effect of the product on global warming.
TM65 is an embodied carbon assessment, meaning it focuses on a single impact indicator (carbon/climate change) across certain life cycle stages, rather than a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
CIBSE aims to develop an embodied carbon product database to facilitate the assessment of the whole-life carbon emissions of MEP designs. CIBSE also provides a calculator and other resources to support the use of their TM65 methodology. System specific publications are now available from CIBSE for residential heating (TM65.1), lighting (TM65.2), logistics centres (TM65.3) with a new publication expected to address HVAC in offices.
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