The SNFA is updating its facade FDES (Environmental and Health Declarations).

The progressive tightening of the "Ic Construction" thresholds of the RE2020 regulation is pushing companies to obtain accurate and reliable low-carbon environmental data. To this end, the SNFA launched Config'Alu in 2024, a configurator, verified by INIES, which allows members to generate Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) specific to the products actually used on construction sites.

Following windows, sunshades, railings, and partitions, the SNFA is enhancing Config'Alu with the ability to generate Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for aluminum curtain walls (excluding glazing). By varying the product's composition (structure, infill, hardware), it will be possible to refine the EPD results to obtain the actual environmental impacts of the facade.

For the first time, the collective master EPD used as the basis for the calculation model of configured EPDs for curtain walls (excluding glazing) is not available on INIES. This approach was chosen because curtain walls, as complex and custom-designed systems, exhibit significant variability depending on their components, making a master EPD poorly representative of their diversity.

Thus, by opting only for configured FDES, it is possible to faithfully reflect the environmental impacts specific to each configuration.

Prepared in accordance with the NF EN 15804+A2/CN standard, these new configured Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) cover curtain walls made of aluminum grid and frame profiles, excluding glazing. This data pertains to products manufactured and installed in France and is the result of a collaborative effort involving 27 companies, including the leading French manufacturers of aluminum joinery, thus ensuring representativeness of the sector.

The decision not to include glazing allows for precise modeling of the environmental impacts specific to curtain wall structures. To obtain a complete and personalized assessment of the facade system, this analysis should then be supplemented with the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of the glazing used on the construction site, in order to take its specific characteristics into account. This approach guarantees a tailored assessment, adapted to each project.

The SNFA (French National Union of Building Professionals) reiterates that environmental data from Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can only be used within the framework of a building's life cycle assessment (LCA), specifically in accordance with the RE2020 regulation, which defines a dynamic LCA over a 50-year building lifespan. This calculation incorporates the four modules of the LCA analysis (A, B, C, and D).

In this context, the SNFA façade FDES (Environmental and Health Declarations) allow for very good results in the application of RE2020. Module D, which notably takes into account the benefits of recycling, makes it possible to significantly reduce the carbon weight of the façade made of aluminium, a material that can be recycled infinitely.

These new Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) also benefit from progress made in the production of aluminum profiles, driven in particular by the decarbonization trajectory undertaken within the framework of the Alu+C- traceability approach. This dynamic relies on the integration, by suppliers, of recycled aluminum and/or aluminum produced from low-CO₂-emitting energy sources, thus contributing to the improvement of the environmental performance of facades.

Thus, compared to previous SNFA curtain wall EPDs, the carbon footprint of the average product has significantly decreased, with reductions exceeding 20% ​​depending on the configuration. These results reflect the efforts undertaken by the industry to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Thanks to these newly configured FDES, the entire industry will be able to continue offering glazed solutions with lightweight aluminum facades, while complying with current and future environmental requirements.