> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.realtimelca.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Methodology & Compliance

> How Real-Time LCA calculates results and which standards, frameworks, and national regulations the platform supports.

Real-Time LCA implements whole-building life cycle assessment (LCA) according to the European calculation method *EN 15978:2011*, with construction-product data structured per *EN 15804+A2:2019* and aligned with the international framework *ISO 21931-1:2022*. This section explains the standards behind the numbers and the national regulations the platform supports as compliance targets.

## Standards map

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="ISO standards" icon="globe" href="/methodology-and-compliance/iso-standards">
    Parent LCA standards — ISO 14040 / ISO 14044, the international building framework ISO 21931-1:2022, and ISO 15686 for service life.
  </Card>

  <Card title="EN 15978" icon="building" href="/methodology-and-compliance/en-15978">
    The European calculation method for whole-building LCA. Defines lifecycle modules A1–A5, B1–B7, C1–C4, and D.
  </Card>

  <Card title="EN 15804+A2" icon="boxes-stacked" href="/methodology-and-compliance/en-15804">
    Core Product Category Rules for construction-product Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Level(s) framework" icon="layer-group" href="/methodology-and-compliance/levels">
    The European Commission's voluntary reporting framework for sustainable buildings. Available in every country Real-Time LCA supports.
  </Card>
</Columns>

## National compliance

Real-Time LCA ships pre-configured calculation types that match the reporting requirements of specific national regulations. Selecting one of these on a project locks the lifecycle modules, reference study period, indicator, and (where defined) the threshold to what the regulator expects.

| Country                                                                        | Regulatory calculation types                                                          |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Denmark](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/denmark)             | BR18 (2025), Low emission (2025), BR18 (2023), Low emission (2023), Reduction roadmap |
| [Norway](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/norway)               | TEK17                                                                                 |
| [Sweden](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/sweden)               | Klimatdeklaration                                                                     |
| [Finland](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/finland)             | Climate Declaration 2026–2028, Climate Declaration 2029                               |
| [Iceland](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/iceland)             | HMS                                                                                   |
| [Faroe Islands](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/faroe-islands) | BR18 (2023)                                                                           |
| [Greenland](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/greenland)         | BR18 (2023)                                                                           |
| [Germany](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/germany)             | QNG, QNG-PLUS, QNG-PREMIUM                                                            |
| [Ireland](/methodology-and-compliance/national-compliance/ireland)             | Irish Green Building Council (WLC)                                                    |

The EU [Level(s) framework](/methodology-and-compliance/levels) is additionally available in **every** country listed above and is the only pre-configured option for France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

## The Custom calculation type

Every country also exposes a **Custom** calculation type. It has no fixed reference study period and no fixed module set — you choose which lifecycle modules to include and define your own scope. Use Custom when no national regulation applies, when you need a calculation that mirrors company-specific or scheme-specific requirements, or when you want parallel calculations alongside a regulatory one for the same project.

## Cross-cutting topics

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Certification schemes" icon="award" href="/methodology-and-compliance/certification-schemes">
    DGNB, LEED, BREEAM, Nordic Swan and other voluntary schemes Real-Time LCA can support.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Data quality" icon="circle-check" href="/methodology-and-compliance/data-quality">
    Where the underlying EPD data comes from, how it is versioned, and how historical reports stay reproducible.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Assumptions and defaults" icon="sliders" href="/methodology-and-compliance/assumptions-and-defaults">
    Default reference study period, transport, waste, and end-of-life assumptions — and where you can override them.
  </Card>
</Columns>