CIC CARBON ASSESSMENT

TOOL
USER GUIDE
(01/12/19)
Content

Part 1 ‐ Introduction
Part 2 ‐ Scope of the Tool
Part 3 ‐ User Login
Part 4 ‐ Project Setup
Part 5 ‐ Design Input
Part 6 ‐ Construction Input
Part 7 ‐ Other Features
Part 8 ‐ Glossary of Terms
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION
Part 1 – Introduction

The built environment accounts for 70% of Hong

Kong’s carbon emissions and the HKSAR
Government has committed to reduce its absolute
carbon emission by between 26% and 36% by 2030.

To achieve this goal the whole construction industry

needs to play its part. The aim of the CIC Carbon
Assessment Tool is to create a common platform to
evaluate the carbon performance of buildings and
infrastructure in Hong Kong from raw material
extraction to the end of construction. The Tool
facilitates the construction industry to contribute to
the carbon reduction goal.
Purpose and Background

The Tool is Designed to:

DEVELOP
Carbon emission factors for over 200 construction materials

MEASURE
Embodied carbon of construction materials and carbon
emission of on-site construction processes

ANALYSE
Carbon performance of construction projects

ESTABLISH
Carbon reduction target for the construction industry
PART 2 - SCOPE OF THE TOOL
Scope of the Tool: Cradle to Site

The scope of the Tool is Cradle to Site (A1 to A5) and is based on the ISO 14025:2010
(Environmental Labels and Declarations -Type III Environmental Declarations - Principles
and Procedures

Production (A1-A3) Transportation (A4) Installation (A5)

Scope of the Tool: Temporary Works

Temporary works contribute to the overall

embodied carbon in terms of materials Steel used
for ELS /
used. These are not traditionally captured Hoarding Coffer
Dams etc.
but can have a large impact on the overall
embodied carbon for a construction project

Formwork - Formwork -
timber Hoarding
Metal
A similar approach was taken for the
temporary works elements to compile
the carbon emissions factors and a
reuse and end of life has been built into
Scaffolding – Scaffolding
the emissions factors for these materials - bamboo
metal
metal
Scope of the Tool: Construction Site Impacts

Site Impacts contribute to the overall

Fuel
Electricity Town Gas carbon emissions of the project and
Consumption
they provide the opportunity for projects
to implement innovate measures on
Waste site. These savings can contribute to
Water Refrigerant
Disposal
the achievement of the HKSAR
Government Carbon Reduction Target.
Welding and
Tree
Flame Cutting
Project Typologies: Buildings and Infrastructure

Commercial Aviation

Transportation Education Water Highway

Building Civil

Government Rail Others

Residential
Buildings

Public
Healthcare Realm
PART 3 - USER LOG-IN
Log-in and Set up an Account

The tool is free, but users are required to setup an user account

Complete the details

required

Accept the terms and

conditions which can be
found via the hyperlink on
the page

When logging in for

the first time you This button will take
will need to “Create you to a link to Click “Register My
an Account” by reset your Account”
clicking this button password if you
have forgotten it.
PART 4 - PROJECT SETUP
Two Input Tools
Option 1 Option 2

The Design tool allows The Construction tool allows

projects to: projects to:
User can transfer
• Create a forecast design data to • Report actual performance –
performance for material construction to materials, temporary works
use form baseline. and site impacts

• Demonstrate carbon • Demonstrate performance

savings with design against forecast and industry
changes benchmark (under
development)
Starting a Project

After logging on you will be taken to

this page where you select either:

• “Design Input” – for the stand-

alone calculations of design
performance;

or

• “Construction Input” – to input the

actual material used and the site
impacts
Setting up a Project (2)

Click here to create

a New Project

All projects created

will be listed here.
To open click on
the relevant link
Setting up a Project – Design

Click here to save

when the information
is all updated

All fields need to be completed with the credentials of the

project. They can be updated as the project progresses
Setting up a Project – Cloning a Design Project

To carry out a design comparison, the user will need to create another version of the project to submit the alternative design scheme.
Project can be cloned within the tool so that the user does not need to input all the Project Information

Clicking here generates a

pop up

To create the clone you:

• Enter the New Project Name e.g. “Amazing Tower
Design Alternative”,
• Choose the original project from the drop down list
• Click on the “Yes” button
Setting up a Project – Construction

Click here to save

when the information
is all updated

Clicking on the Share

button will allow users to
Using the Transfer
grant access to other
button allows the
users to the project
project owner to be
changed

All fields need to be completed with the credentials of the project.

These can be updated as the project progresses

The other questions on the page are design to assist with

benchmarking, they are not compulsory. However, they assist in
making the Tool outputs more representative for the users
Project Information Update

To update the project information

after the initial set-up, click here to
go back and make changes
PART 5 - DESIGN INPUT
Data Input

Click on the project name to start

to input the data
Data Input – Front Page

Note: All carbon emission factors used in Design

Input contains a predefined “wastage value”
within to estimate the potential wastage in actual
construction operation. This “wastage value”
“Add New Field” is the button to click to add the materials does not exist in the construction stage’s
to the project database.

The number will be total for the project and split into
Substructure and Superstructure
Data Input - Material

Select the material family from the pre-

Select the type/specification of the material from the pre-
defined drop down list
defined drop down list

If the type/specification for the material is unknown, please

select the Average or Unknown option provided
Data Input - Material

Select the source location of the material from the pre-

defined material specific drop down list
If the material being used is the
CIC Green Product Certification
If the source location for the material is unknown please
database, clicking here will bring
select the Unknown option provided for all materials
up the list

The total quantity supplied

to site in the reporting period
is to be reported here

The units for all materials Add will add the material
are pre-defined based on to the list
the EPDs for the carbon
emission factors
Alternative Data Input – Import Data

Data can be Imported into the Tool from an

excel file. Users need to download the “Import
Template” and use the pre-defined structure to
upload the information.

The “Import Template” can be downloaded via

this button

Data can be imported into the Tool

using the excel and the “Import File”
function to enter multiple months of
data

A pop up window allows the user to import the

completed Import Template saved from their local
source

Clicking the “Open”” button will upload the data

Design Input - Reports Analysis

The Tool calculates the total quantities of materials usage in the design, and normalises the quantities again the project credentials - CFA
and Project Value.

There is a button to export the

supporting document required for
a BEAM Plus PA submission

There is also the opportunity

within the Tool for Contractors
to use the design calculator for
the redesign of temporary work.
The information will be
displayed in this report

The graphics present the total materials used in

the design and the split between the materials
reporting in terms of the total embodied carbon
Design Input - Comparison

The Tool is able to compare the performance of two design options and shows the carbon saving in relative terms

Using this button allows the user to

select the project for comparison

There is a button to export the file

for a BEAM Plus submission

The graphics compare the distribution of

the material usage and the breakdown
in total carbon by element
The table at the bottom of the page shows
the comparison of the two options and the
savings generated
PART 6 - CONSTRUCTION INPUT
Data Input

Click on the project name to start

to input the data
Data Import from Design

On the Data Input Page it is possible to import the design materials into the Tool

Clicking on the Import From

Design button will give you a
pop up with a drop down list

The drop down list allows users to

choose the relevant project and
click the “Import” button
Data Input – Front Page

Set the month and year for the data entry e.g. Nov 2019 – use drop
down lists to choose alternative months of data input
Data Input - Material

Select the material family from the pre-

Select the type/specification of the material from the pre-
defined drop down list
defined drop down list

If the type/specification for the material is unknown, please

select the Average or Unknown option provided
Data Input - Material

Select the source location of the material from the pre-

defined material specific drop down list
If the material being used is the
CIC Green Product Certification
If the source location for the material is unknown please
database, clicking here will bring
select the Unknown option provided for all materials
up the list

The total quantity supplied

to site in the reporting period
is to be reported here

The units for all materials Add will add the material
are pre-defined based on to the list
the EPDs for the carbon
emission factors
Alternative Data Input - Import Data

Data can be Imported into the Tool from an excel file. Users
need to download the “Import Template” and use the pre-
defined structure to upload the information.

The “Import Template” can be downloaded via this button

A pop up window allows the user to

import the completed “Import
Template” saved from their local
source

A pop up window allows the user to

import the file from their local
source.

Clicking the “Open” button will

upload the selected data
Data Input – Saving Data

Once all the data is

compiled for the reporting
period, e.g. Oct 2019 use
this button to save the
data

This action will make sure

the previously logged
materials are available for
update in the next update
Data Input – Summary – Monthly Update

The bar across the top of the page contains the monthly total
values for the project based on the data inputted into the Tool
and updates

Materials type reported in the previous

month will be carried over to this month
to streamline the data entry process.

Quantities shall be entered on monthly

basis
Data Input – Adding a New Material

On the Data Input Page it is possible to request a new material to be added to the database. Relevant supporting documentation for that
material will be required.

Clicking on the “Request

New Material” will give a pop
up to complete

Completing the information in this form will submit the

information for review and confirmation

The Tool admin will request further supporting

information from the user to confirm before the
material is added
Data Input - Temporary Works

Set the month and year for the data entry

e.g. Oct 2019 – use drop down lists to Once all the data is compiled
choose alternative months of data input for the reporting period, click
“Submit” to save the data. The
submitted data can be
updated and submitted again
in future if required.

Note: material reuse,

product end of life and
transportation to site have
been captured in the
carbon emission factors
Data input is via selecting the most appropriate item from the
predefined drop down lists as per the materials page. Data shall be
entered on monthly basis.
Data Input – Site Impacts

Set the month and year for the data entry Once all the data is compiled for the
e.g. Oct 2019 – use drop down lists to reporting period, click “Submit” to save the
choose alternative months of data input data. The submitted data can be updated
and submitted again in future if required.

Site Impact data shall be added to the

most appropriate field as defined in the
list

Data shall be entered on monthly basis

Construction Input - Reports Analysis

The Tool generated an analysis report for the total quantities of the materials use in the construction in terms of permanent works,
temporary works and site impacts. The data is normalised again the project credentials submitted in the project information page.

Buttons to exporting
the following
documents are
possible - BEAM
Plus FA
submission, ESG
and Carbon Audit
reports.

Project credentials are used to normalise the Total

embodied carbon to the project and it is spilt into
the three data collection areas

The graphics present the total materials

used in the construction, showing the top
five materials for each category

The bottom of this reporting page shows the

monthly contributions of the three areas data
is collected
Construction Input - Comparison

The Tool is able to compare the performance of the chosen design option against the actual materials used in the construction and shows
the carbon performance in relative terms and the difference between design and construction

Using this drop down list allows the user to select the
project design for comparison

The graphics compare the distribution

of the material usage and the
breakdown in total carbon by element

The table at the bottom of

the page shows the
comparison of the design
option against the actual
quantitates used
Construction Input – Materials Analysis

The Tool is able to consolidate and present the materials used on the project that can be considered low carbon and present them as a
percentage of the total quantity by material type. The “Materials Analysis” tab show this information for the project
PART 7 - OTHER FEATURES
Transferring Project Ownership – Project Owner

A project is owned and managed by the “Project Owner”, the user setting up the project. Project Ownership can be transferred to others
by using the Transfer Ownership function

In the Project Information Tab there is a

button which allows the Project Owner
to transfer the project to another person
– giving the new owner the
management rights

Adding the new user’s Email into the box and clicking the “Yes” button will give them a link to follow to become the
Project Owner

If the person the project is being transfer to, they need to use the link in the email to be able to activate the access to
the project. It is recommended that the person is registered before the project is transferred to them
Share Project

A project can be shared with other project team members with the option to read or read & write. This allows others to view the progress
via their own account

In the Project Information Tab there is a

button which allows the Project Owner
to share the project with others, giving
them access to the project

Users will read & write access will be

able to change and log data

Adding the user’s Email into the box and clicking the “Yes” button will give them a link to follow to have the
project in their dashboard

If the person the project is being shared with, they need to use the link in the email to be able to activate the
access to the project. It is recommended that the person is registered before projects are shared with them
End Project

Once a project in completed for it to be closed out in the system, so it can be added to the database for completed project and assist in the
development of Hong Kong specific performance Benchmarks

The “End Project” button is used when

a project is complete and can be
transferred to the Benchmark database

It is possible to restart the project if data

has been missed
Online Support and FAQs

A Frequently Asked Questions page

can be found via this link and if the
answer to your question is not there,
complete the form

Completing your details and comment in this form will

submit your enquiry to the Tool’s Admin.
PART 8 - GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Glossary of Terms

Key Term Definition

Off-site Fabrication Assembly of materials or systems at a location away from the project e.g.
offsite rebar bending and fabrication of metal formwork
Precast Concrete Concrete cast in a reusable mould or "form", cured in a controlled
environment, transported to site and lifted into place e.g. beams, columns,
façade
End of Life Final stage of a product or material’s use phase, e.g. disposal to landfill,
recycling or reused on another project
Foundations Materials and site impacts that are used / produced to complete the
foundations of the project
Structure and Enclosure Materials and site impacts that are used / produced to complete the
structure and the enclosure (façade) of the project
Reuse factor Predefined number of times the materials are reused on a project based on
the assumption that timber formwork is use three times before disposal and
for metal this is 10 times.
Sites located on Reclaimed Sites on reclaimed land, this option should be checked even if the land was
land not reclaimed for the purpose of the project
Glossary of Terms (2)

Key Term Definition

Permanent Works – Materials used in the foundations of the project the key materials are concrete,
Substructure steel, rebar and aggregates
Permanent Works – Materials used in the structure of the project and includes the installation of the
Superstructure façade or road surface for the purpose or reporting
Temporary Works Materials used during the construction which don’t form part of the final
structure e.g. formwork or ELS
Site Impacts Direct emissions from generated by the operation of the site e.g. the waste
disposed from site, the fuel used and the refrigerant replacement
Material Family Material group providing all the common specifications used in Hong Kong

Material Specification of material which links to the carbon emissions factors used by
the Tool to calculate the carbon emissions
Carbon Emissions - Automated conversion from the material quantity to embodied carbon (tCO2e)
Materials
Origin Where materials are manufactured; if the locations are unknown or mixed
Glossary of Terms (3)

Key Term Definition

Electricity Consumption of electricity (kWh) used on the site as per the electricity bill
for the reporting period
Town Gas Number of units used on the site as per the Town Gas bill for the reporting
period
Fuel Consumption Quantity of fuel measured in litres that is delivered to site for the reporting
period
Water Volume of water (m3) used on the site as per the water bill for the reporting
period
Waste Disposal Total quantity of waste removed from the site – for landfill, public fill
(including sorting facility) and recycling for the reporting period
Welding and Flame Cutting Total quantity of acetylene and liquid CO2 delivered to the site for the
reporting period
Trees Net number of additional trees (over 5-meter height) planted since the
concerned building is constructed; net number of additional trees = number
of newly planted trees (over 5-meter height) – number of removed trees
(over 5-meter height) within the physical boundary of the construction site.