Life Cycle Assessments for DGNB, QNG, and KfW
Create them yourself with ease
With SURAP, you can create building life cycle assessments directly in Revit® or in your browser. You can assign materials, compare options, and prepare the results for verification and certification. You no longer need complicated Excel workflows to do this.
14-day free trial · No credit card required · Get started right away
✓DGNBand QNG projects
✓KfWand grant-funded projects
✓Variantand CO₂ comparisons
Building Life Cycle Assessment
From the first variant to the life cycle assessment results
Today, the life cycle assessment plays a key role in determining whether a project will receive funding or certification. However, you set the most important parameters for this as early as the preliminary and design planning stages: in terms of construction method, structural system, insulation materials, and facade. If you wait until just before submitting the building permit application to perform these calculations, you’ll have very little leeway. SURAP helps you calculate environmental impacts during the planning phase, compare solutions, and present the results in a structured manner.
Prepare a life cycle assessment
Determine the environmental impact of your building based on quantities, materials, and life cycle assessment data.
- Building Life Cycle Assessment According to DIN EN 15978
- ÖKOBAUDAT and Other Data Sources
- Analysis at the material, component, and building levels
Compare Options
Compare materials and designs while changes to the project are still inexpensive.
- Examine Material Variants
- Identifying CO₂ Hotspots
- Identifying Opportunities for Optimization
Prepare supporting documents
Present your results in a way that allows auditors, certification bodies, and experts to work with them directly.
- Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Primary Energy
- Traceable Data Set Mapping
- Basis for DGNB, QNG, and KfW
SURAP Software
Life Cycle Assessment Tailored to Your Workflow
Work directly in Revit® or upload your building model to the SURAP web tool. You decide which workflow works best for your project.
Revit® Plugin
Create a building life cycle assessment directly in Autodesk® Revit®. Use quantities and materials from your model and analyze environmental impacts without leaving your BIM workflow. Changes to the design are immediately reflected in the results.
- Life Cycle Assessment Directly in the Revit® Model
- Link materials to life cycle assessment data
- Identify hotspots at the material, component, and building levels
- Revit® 2023–2027
Webtool
Create your building's life cycle assessment right in your browser. Upload an IFC model, assign materials, create variants, and compare the results. Ideal if you're designing with BIM software other than Revit®.
- IFC model with 3D visualization
- Easily Assign Materials
- Create and Compare Variants
- No installation required
Life Cycle Assessment Data & EPDs
Do you need appropriate life cycle assessment data for your products or projects? We can help you prepare data sets, project-specific databases, and preliminary EPD analyses.
- Project-Specific Life Cycle Assessment Databases
- EPD Preparation and Preliminary Analyses
- Custom Data Preparation
Custom LCA Tools
Integrate life cycle assessment directly into your own platform or application. SURAP develops custom calculation modules, interfaces, and digital LCA solutions.
- Lifecycle Assessment-Compatible Baskets of Goods
- Evaluation of ReUse Components
- APIs and Custom Interfaces
- WordPress and WooCommerce Integration
Funding & Certification
Life Cycle Assessment for QNG, KfW, DGNB, and ESG
SURAP calculates the life cycle assessment and presents the results in a structured format. The verification or certificate is still issued by the relevant authorities—that is, certification bodies, auditors, or experts. With an accurate calculation from SURAP, this step is completed much more quickly.
KfW & QNG
The “Climate-Friendly New Construction” subsidy program requires a life-cycle analysis that includes threshold values for greenhouse gas emissions and non-renewable primary energy. Certification is also required for the higher subsidy tier, which carries the Sustainable Building Quality Seal (QNG). SURAP provides the basis for these calculations.
DGNB & BNB
In the DGNB and BNB systems, the life cycle assessment is a key criterion. With SURAP, you can perform the calculation, document the data sets used in a transparent manner, and submit the results to the auditor.
ESG & EU Taxonomy
Investors, funds, and companies need reliable life-cycle data to meet their reporting requirements. SURAP provides transparent metrics on global warming potential across all life-cycle phases, from manufacturing to decommissioning.
How it works
From Building Model to Life Cycle Assessment
SURAP consolidates the many individual steps involved in building life cycle assessment into a transparent workflow.
Import Building Data
Use your Revit® model directly or import your building as an IFC file into the web tool. Quantities and component information form the basis of your life cycle assessment.
Assign Materials
Link your building's materials to the corresponding life cycle assessment data sets from ÖKOBAUDAT and add any missing information directly in the project.
Compare Results
Analyze the environmental impacts, identify hotspots, and compare planning alternatives. You will then prepare the results for verification and documentation.
Why SURAP
Life Cycle Assessment Without Unnecessary Detours
SURAP integrates construction planning, life cycle assessment data, and software into a seamless workflow.
Less manual labor
Building data does not need to be re-entered for each calculation step. Use existing BIM information directly for your life cycle assessment.
Transparent Results
Analyze results down to the material and component level to identify which elements determine your building's environmental impact.
Designed for use on construction sites
SURAP combines software development, building life cycle assessment, and research. Its solutions are the result of work on real-world construction projects and planning processes.
We'll guide you every step of the way, from your first click to the final life cycle assessment
Are you unsure whether the Revit® plugin or the web tool is a better fit for your firm? Or would you like to know how to set up your first life cycle assessment for a QNG or DGNB project? We’d be happy to advise you on selecting, getting started with, and using SURAP—in a personalized and practical way.
Free · No-obligation · Personalized
✓getting startedand setting it up
✓Implementationin the first project
✓Questionsabout QNG, KfW, and DGNB
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Life Cycle Assessment Using SURAP
What is a building life cycle assessment?
A building life cycle assessment, also known as a life cycle analysis (LCA), evaluates the environmental impacts of a building throughout its entire life cycle: from the production of building materials through operation to demolition. It is based on the DIN EN 15978 standard. A key metric is the global warming potential expressed in CO₂ equivalents.
Can I create a life cycle assessment on my own without any prior knowledge?
A basic understanding of building materials and components is all you need to get started. SURAP imports quantities from the model and calculates the key metrics. And you’re not on your own: During a free initial consultation, we’ll help you with selection, getting started, and using the software.
Does SURAP issue the QNG certification or the DGNB certificate?
No. SURAP is software for calculating and preparing life cycle assessments. Seals and certificates are issued by the relevant certification bodies. SURAP provides the basis for the calculations that you or your auditor can use to demonstrate compliance.
Do I need Revit® to use SURAP?
No. The Revit® plugin is ideal if you're already designing in Revit®. With the web tool, you work in your browser using an IFC file, regardless of which BIM software you used to create your model.
When should I start the life cycle assessment?
As early as possible, ideally during the preliminary or conceptual planning phase. That is when the decisions that have the greatest impact on the carbon footprint are made. The later the life cycle assessment is conducted, the more expensive it becomes to make corrections.
Can I try SURAP for free?
Yes. You can try SURAP for 14 days for free, with no credit card required and no obligation.
Create your next building life cycle assessment yourself
Get started with SURAP and try the software free for 14 days.