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Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Blocks Masonry: Processes Contribution Analysis
Cristiane Bueno
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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2025.09.005
Architecture and Urbanism Institute, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo 05508-030, Brazil
The purpose of this paper is to identify the processes with the highest contribution to potential environmental impacts in the life cycle of the masonry of concrete blocks by evaluating their main emissions contributing to impact categories and identifying hotspots for environmental improvements. The research is based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of non-load-bearing masonry of concrete blocks performed by the authors. The processes those have demonstrated higher contribution to environmental impacts were identified in the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) phase and a detailed analysis was carried out on the main substances derived from these processes. The highest potential impacts in the life cycle of the concrete blocks masonry can be attributed mainly to emissions coming from the production of Portland cement, which explains the peak of impact potential on the blocks production stage, but also the significant impact potential in the use of the blocks for masonry construction, due to the use of cement mortar. The results of this LCA study are part of a major research on the comparative analysis of different typologies of non-load-bearing external walls, which aims to contribute to the creation of a life cycle database of major building systems, to be used by the environmental certification systems of buildings.
Life cycle assessment, masonry of concrete blocks, contribution analysis, sensitivity analysis.
Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture 19 (2025) 453-460
doi: 10.17265/1934-7359/2025.09.005
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