Envirology

The functional unit defines the quantification of the identified functions or performance characteristics of the product. The primary purpose of the functional unit is to provide a reference by which, for a building product or service, the material flows (input and output data) of an LCA and the additional information are normalised. Reference to the functional unit is one of the requirements for the comparability of LCA data. The functional unit, used as the denominator, provides the basis for the addition of material flows and environmental impacts for each of the life cycle stages of the building product or service.