A brief introductory guide to LIVE. What are? The common criteria for building components
What are CAMs?
11 October 2017 a decree was published which introduced important innovations for tenders for public buildings. The decree, which incorporates the Procurement Code and modifies the existing DM 11 January 2017, obliges Public Administrations to include compliance with certain criteria of high environmental value in tenders, defined Minimum Environmental Criteria.
The CAMs concern the assignment of all design services and new construction works, renovation and maintenance of public buildings and their purpose is to direct the Public Administration towards a more rational use of energy, reducing the environmental impact.
The CAMs consider the building in a new perspective, that is, in its entire life cycle: for example, the materials used are evaluated from the selection criteria in the construction phase up to their disassembly and recycling at the end of the building's life. This procedure is functional, indeed, to identify the design solution, the environmentally best product or service over the life cycle, taking into account the availability of the market.
The systematic and homogeneous application of CAM allows the diffusion of environmental technologies and environmentally preferable products and produces a leverage effect on the market, inducing less virtuous economic operators to adapt to the new demands of the public administration.
Currently, i CAM in vigor they concern the most varied fields of product purchase, artifacts and services: Furnishings, Building, Waste management, Urban and local services, Energy services, Electronics, Textile and footwear products, Stationery, Catering, Building management services, Transportation.
The area of interest of the Green Home Polo focuses mainly on the area:
- BUILDING – Assignment of design services and works for the new construction, renovation and maintenance of public buildings (approved with DM 11 October 2017, in G.U. General Series n. 259 of the 6 November 2017)
Below is a brief description of the criteria common to the building components.
Common criteria for building components
Disassembly. At least the 50% the weight of the building components and prefabricated elements, excluding the implants, it must be subjectable, at the end of life, selective demolition and be recyclable or reusable, at least the 15% it must consist of non-structural materials.
- Criteria Check: the designer must provide a list of all building components and materials that can be recycled or reused, with an indication of the relative weight compared to the total weight of the materials used for the building.
Recovered or recycled material. The content of recovered or recycled material in the materials used for the building, also considering different percentages for each material, must be at least equal to 15% in weight evaluated on the total of all the materials used. Of that percentage, at least the 5% it must be made of non-structural materials.
- Criteria Check: the designer must provide the list of materials made, even partially, from recovered or recycled materials and their weight compared to the total weight of the materials used for the building. The percentage of recycled material must be demonstrated through specific product certifications.
Dangerous substances. In the components, parts or materials used must not be added intentionally:
- cadmium-based additives, lead, chromium VI, mercurio, arsenic and selenium in concentrations higher than 0.010% by weight.
- substances identified as 'of very high concern' (SVHCs) pursuant to Article 59 of the Regulation (CE) n. 1907/2006 at a concentration greater than the 0,10% weight/weight.
- substances or mixtures classified or classifiable with the following hazard indications: carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic and dangerous for the aquatic environment.
- Criteria Check: regarding verification, the contractor must submit test reports issued by conformity assessment bodies accompanied by a declaration from the legal representative showing compliance with the requirements.
For more information, please refer to Getting Started Guide to CAMs prepared by Green HoMe and to the official references indicated below.
Main references
- Ministry of the Environment – The website's own CAM
- Normative – Law 221/2015
- Getting Started Guide to CAMs, Green HoMe, September 2019, 10 pages – download
