PCR, PSR: how product category rules apply in practice

When a manufacturer sets out to develop a PEP, they quickly encounter two acronyms that structure the entire methodological process: PCR and PSR. These two levels of rules are not redundant; they address two different needs. Understanding how they interrelate helps avoid a great deal of back-and-forth during the execution of an LCA.

The PCR: the common foundation for all EEE/HVAC products

The Product Category Rules document serves as the reference establishing the common methodological framework applicable to all electrical, electronic, and HVAC products covered by the PEP Ecopassport® program.

In particular, the PCR defines:

the rules for conducting the life cycle assessment (system boundaries, cut-off rules, impact allocation);
the format and mandatory content of a PEP;
the general principles common to all product categories, regardless of their nature.

It is a single document, applicable by default to any product within the scope of the program, unless supplemented by a more specific rule.

The PSR: precision specific to each product family

Product-Specific Rules complement the PCR when the nature of a product family requires specific details that common rules cannot cover.

In particular, a PSR details:

the functional unit specific to the product category;
the reference service life adopted for the LCA;
the conventional usage scenarios to be applied during the use phase.

Each PSR is developed for a homogeneous product family: thermodynamic generators, lighting fixtures, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar thermal collectors, etc. Today, there are dozens of published PSRs, each corresponding to a specific technical category within the EEE/HVAC sector.

How do the two levels interrelate?

The approach is based on a core framework and its supplements: the PCR sets out the general rules, while the PSR refines them for a specific application.

In practical terms, to develop a PEP:

The manufacturer first applies the common rules of the applicable PCR.
It then consults the list of published PSRs to check whether its product category has a dedicated PSR.
If a PSR exists, it specifies and supplements the PCR regarding aspects specific to that category (service life, usage scenario, functional unit).
If no PSR covers the category, the manufacturer applies the default scenarios described in the PCR and documents its methodological choices in the LCA report.

This two-tier architecture ensures the program remains consistent, providing a single methodological foundation for the entire EEE/HVAC sector, while accommodating the actual diversity of the products covered, ranging from hot water tanks to electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

A method that continues to evolve

PCRs and PSRs are not static; they are regularly revised to incorporate changes in standards, feedback from verifiers, and the expansion of the program’s scope to include new product families. Their development and revision follow the principles of the ISO/TS 14027 standard, and all PCR and PSR documents are publicly available on the program’s website.

For a manufacturer preparing its first PEP, the logical approach is simple: start with the current PCR, then systematically check whether a PSR exists for the specific product category before launching the life cycle assessment. This preparatory work determines the robustness—and therefore the verifiability—of the final PEP.