What is a FDES?

The FDES (Fiche de Déclaration Environnementale et Sanitaire) is like the environmental and health "ID card" for a construction or decoration product. Our Construction Team examines it daily.

Specifically, the FDES is a French standardized document that presents:

• Results of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a product "from cradle to grave," meaning from raw material extraction to end-of-life.
• Health information in the context of calculating the environmental and health performance of the building for its eco-design.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW

The FDES is regulated by the standard NF EN15804+A2 and its national complement NF EN 15804/CN.

The FDES, the French equivalent of the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) or DEP (Déclaration Environnementale Produit), not only includes environmental information but also incorporates health data, distinguishing it from the DEP, which is limited to environmental aspects.

It provides professionals, such as project owners, architects, and engineering firms, with standardized information to calculate the environmental performance of a building under the RE2020, the French Environmental Regulation of 2020, in effect since January 2022.

All FDES data is available on the INIES database (the French national reference database for environmental and health data on construction products and equipment). This database is collaboratively managed by construction stakeholders, including public authorities.

USEFUL FOR ECO-DESIGN

While the FDES is utilized for regulatory compliance, it also reveals the environmental impacts of a product, identifying avenues for improving environmental performance. This is known as product eco-design.

Next month, we will delve into the challenges of eco-design. We will also explain the various types of FDES and emerging trends because, yes, FDES is trendy! ■