Building Materials Assessment (BVB) – How the Environmental Assessment Works

The Building Materials Assessment (BVB) helps stakeholders in the construction and real estate industries to review, compare, and document construction-related products. The system compiles environmental and product information that might otherwise be difficult to interpret for those responsible for designing, procuring, constructing, or managing a property.

BVB primarily assesses the chemical composition of products and a number of life-cycle aspects. There are also criteria for sustainable supply chains, which may include issues such as human rights, working conditions, the environment, and anti-corruption. The assessment is based on documentation from the manufacturer or supplier and on criteria developed by experts representing Byggvarubedömningen’s member organizations.

The result is typically reported as “Recommended,” “Accepted,” or “Avoided.” This traffic-light-style classification makes the information easier to use, but the result must always be understood in context. A product must still meet the project’s requirements for function, installation, safety, durability, and other technical properties.

For construction projects, the digital logbook is an important part of the system. There, the project organization can document selected products, verify them against the client’s requirements, and manage any deviations. The information can then follow the building and facilitate future management, inventory, renovation, and material tracking.

For manufacturers, suppliers, and wholesalers, an assessment means that product information becomes available to organizations that use BVB in their projects. However, the application requires accurate and sufficiently detailed documentation. Declarations of content, product sheets, safety data sheets, installation instructions, declarations of performance, and product links may need to be compiled depending on the product type.

The Building Product Assessment does not replace a full life-cycle analysis and should not be equated with an EPD. Nor does the system replace technical design or verification of the product’s suitability for the intended construction. Instead, BVB provides a structured basis for decision-making that can be combined with technical requirements and the project’s own environmental goals.

SundaHus, BASTA, and the Nordic Ecolabel’s building product portal are other systems that may be used in Swedish construction projects. They address partially overlapping issues but have their own criteria and assessment models. Registration in one system therefore does not automatically mean that the requirements of another system are met.

What is evaluated in the Building Materials Assessment?

Chemical Composition

The product’s declared composition is reviewed against criteria for substances with properties that are hazardous to the environment or human health. The supporting documentation must be sufficiently detailed to allow for a fair assessment.

Life Cycle Aspects

BVB takes into account a number of aspects related to the product’s life cycle, such as raw materials, manufacturing, emissions, packaging, and opportunities for reuse or recycling. This assessment should not be confused with a full life-cycle analysis.

Sustainable supply chains

Suppliers can also report on and have their work with sustainable supply chains assessed. The criteria cover, among other things, human rights, working conditions, environmental responsibility, and anti-corruption.

Product documentation

The assessment is based on verifiable data. The specific documents required depend on the product, but examples include a list of ingredients, a safety data sheet, a product sheet, assembly instructions, and a declaration of performance.

Assessment Levels

The result is presented as “Recommended,” “Acceptable,” or “Avoid.” The level indicates how the product aligns with BVB’s criteria and serves as guidance when selecting materials.

Traceability in the Project

Through the BVB logbook, the project organization can document selected building products, track project requirements, and collect information that may be needed during the building’s ongoing management.

How to Use the Building Materials Assessment in a Construction Project

The Building Materials Assessment is most useful when environmental requirements are linked to the project’s technical requirements as early as the design phase. The following procedure helps clients, designers, and suppliers use the information without the assessment level becoming the sole basis for decision-making.

1. Determine which environmental requirements apply

Start by reviewing the project’s environmental program, procurement requirements, and any requirements from a certification system. Check whether products must be assessed in the BVB, whether a specific level is required, and how deviations should be handled. It is important to distinguish between a requirement that the product be registered and a requirement that it achieve a specific assessment level.

2. Search for the right product and item

Verify that the product name, supplier, item number, and intended use match the product that will actually be used. When an assessment covers multiple items, you must ensure that the specific item in question is included. Similar names or product families are not sufficient if the item link is missing.

3. Read the entire product information

Don’t stop at the color or the summary assessment level. Read the assessment’s partial results, scope, documentation, and any comments. Also check the date and validity, as product content, criteria, and supporting documentation may change. An older assessment may not describe the version of the product currently being supplied.

4. Compare with the product’s technical performance

An environmental assessment does not indicate whether the product solves the project’s technical problems. For acoustic products, for example, the designer must distinguish between sound insulation, sound absorption, and vibration damping. Fire safety, moisture resistance, mechanical strength, cleaning, installation, and durability may also be critical factors. First, select a technically suitable product, and then use the environmental information to compare relevant alternatives.

5. Record the product selection in the logbook

Enter the selected product under the correct building component, room, or project location. Include the quantity, location, and any other information required by the project. A consistent structure makes the logbook more useful for follow-up and future management.

6. Document any deviations

If the product does not meet the project’s desired assessment level, the deviation must be handled according to the project’s established procedure. Describe why the product is needed, which alternatives were considered, and the technical or practical reasons behind the choice. The deviation should be approved by the appropriate person before the product is ordered or installed.

7. Gather the correct documentation for a new assessment

A supplier seeking to have a product assessed should first determine exactly which products and items the application will cover. Then, gather current product information and technical documentation. Information from subcontractors must be sufficiently detailed and traceable. Missing or unverifiable data may affect the ability to conduct an accurate assessment.

8. Quality-Assure the Application

Verify that product names, item numbers, ingredient lists, and document versions match. Ensure that the information applies to the product sold on the Swedish market. Respond to follow-up questions objectively and update the supporting documentation if the formulation, manufacturing location, or raw materials change.

9. Distinguish BVB from other assessment systems

SundaHus evaluates products according to its own model and reports classifications such as A, B, C+, and C-. BASTA is based on self-declaration and verifiable chemical requirements across different registration levels. The Nordic Swan’s building products portal is used for products that may be included in Nordic Swan-labeled buildings, but a listing does not in itself mean that the individual product is Nordic Swan-labeled. Always verify which system and which level the project’s requirements actually refer to.

10. Follow up on the information throughout the project

Environmental assessment is not a one-time check. Follow up on product changes, new part numbers, and updated documentation during the construction period. Upon handover, the logbook should reflect the products that were actually installed, not just those specified in the design phase.

Brief conclusion

The building materials assessment provides a structured basis for more informed material selection and better product traceability. The best results are achieved when the assessment is used in conjunction with technical design, verified product documentation, and clear procedures for the logbook and deviation management.

Did you know that…

A product with a "Recommended" assessment level is not automatically technically suitable for all structures. The assessment must always be considered in conjunction with the project’s requirements for function, safety, installation, and durability.

An EPD and a BVB assessment serve different purposes. An EPD reports standardized environmental data for the product’s life cycle, while BVB evaluates the product against the system’s criteria for, among other things, content and life cycle aspects.

A listing in the Nordic Swan’s building products portal does not necessarily mean that the product itself is Nordic Swan-labeled. The portal is used as a resource when selecting products for Nordic Swan-labeled construction projects.