Plates, sheet, strip and foil, of nickel

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers factory-gate production of flat-surfaced nickel or nickel-alloy plate, sheet, strip, and foil, supplied in coils or cut lengths. The foreground boundary begins with received, composition-identified solid rolling feedstock or an explicitly declared internal rolling intermediate and ends with inspected saleable flat product at the manufacturing gate. It covers the applicable hot-rolling, cold-rolling, solution- or other heat-treatment, pickling or surface-conditioning, trimming, and inspection operations.

The PCR excludes nickel ore and concentrate production, primary smelting and refining unless separately modelled upstream, unwrought nickel sold as such, bars, rods, profiles, wire, tubes, pipes, powders, flakes, expanded metal, clad products whose primary material is not nickel, fabricated articles, use, and end-of-life. Packaging and outbound transport are outside the core reference product and must be added as separate downstream or supplementary processes when the study scope includes them.

The result is a gate-to-gate foreground production dataset with linked upstream datasets for all purchased inputs. It can support a cradle-to-gate result only when those upstream datasets are complete and compatible.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.plates-sheet-strip-and-foil-of-nickel
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41523, exact context reference
covered_products	Flat-surfaced non-alloy nickel or nickel-alloy plate, sheet, strip, and foil, coiled or cut to length, including declared as-rolled, heat-treated, pickled, polished, or otherwise surface-finished delivery states that remain flat products
excluded_products	Ores, metallurgical intermediates, unwrought nickel sold as such, bars, rods, profiles, wire, tubes, pipes, powders, flakes, expanded metal, non-nickel-primary clad products, and fabricated articles
representative_product	Saleable nickel or nickel-alloy flat product meeting the declared grade, flat form, dimensions, temper or heat-treatment state, surface finish, and inspection specification
production_route	Received solid nickel-bearing rolling feedstock → hot and/or cold rolling → conditional heat treatment and surface conditioning → trimming and inspection
market_state	Dry saleable plate, sheet, strip, or foil at the manufacturing gate, in the declared coil or cut-length state and excluding packaging mass

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Nickel or nickel-alloy flat product that provides the declared material grade, geometry, temper, surface condition, and conformity
How much	1,000 kg net saleable product, excluding packaging
How well	Conforms to the declared customer or product specification for chemical composition, thickness, width, length or coil state, temper or heat treatment, surface finish, and inspection status
How long or cycle	One completed production lot at the manufacturing gate; no use-phase duration is represented
reference_flow_link	The functional unit is realized by 1,000 kg of the declared reference product flow

Field	Value
Reference amount	1,000 kg
Reference product flow	Plates, sheet, strip and foil, of nickel ffa8544a-b9fb-44e1-abb5-14032f03ecf7
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	nickel or nickel-alloy grade and composition; plate, sheet, strip, or foil form; thickness; width; cut length or coil mass and coil dimensions; hot-rolled, cold-rolled, or combined route; temper or heat-treatment state; surface finish and pickled state; edge condition; applicable product specification; manufacturing site and geography; reporting period; packaging exclusion or separate inclusion

When constructing a foreground data package, every required qualifier must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference-flow comments, product description, or an equivalent field. Missing qualifiers make the reference flow incomplete.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_product_mass	Reference product and nickel-bearing material flows	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Determine net dry mass on calibrated scales; exclude pallets, wraps, strapping, and other packaging. Normalize the accepted saleable output to exactly 1,000 kg.
electricity_energy	Electricity inputs	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	MJ	Convert metered electricity to MJ using 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ, retain the original meter unit in records, and disclose grid, voltage level, geography, and included losses.
gas_volume	Gaseous natural gas inputs	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	Report metered volume at declared temperature and pressure reference conditions; do not mix standard and actual cubic metres without documented conversion.
solution_product_mass	Sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide inputs	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Report mass of supplied product solution and disclose concentration; do not substitute active-solute mass unless the conversion and concentration evidence are retained.
mass_balance_consistency	Each process material balance	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Reconcile nickel-bearing input, saleable or intermediate output, metallic scrap, retained work in process, and measured losses over the same reporting period before normalization.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Composition-identified solid nickel or nickel-alloy rolling feedstock, or a declared internal nickel flat intermediate, measured at entry to the first included operation
starting_condition_role	Foreground gate-to-gate starting product; its upstream production is represented by a linked dataset rather than reconstructed inside this PCR
product_classification_scope	Nickel or nickel-alloy plate, sheet, strip, and foil within the reviewed semantic boundary represented by CPC 3.0 code 41523
recursive_input_rule	When an input is already a nickel flat product within this category and undergoes further reduction or finishing, record it once as a product input with its upstream dataset; do not recursively recreate its earlier rolling history
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link composition-, product-state-, geography-, technology-, and time-compatible upstream datasets for purchased nickel feedstock, electricity, natural gas, water, cold rolling oil, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide
disclosure	Declare feedstock form and recycled content, included rolling passes, furnace and pickling routes, internal recycle loops, on-site treatment, exclusions, cut-offs, allocation, data gaps, and whether the result is gate-to-gate or completed to cradle-to-gate

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_gate_to_gate	Foreground manufacturing	Include all on-site operations from first receipt or internal transfer of rolling feedstock through net saleable flat product, including route-specific rolling, heat treatment, surface conditioning, trimming, inspection, utilities, direct emissions, and wastes.	baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018
boundary_upstream_links	Purchased products and energy	Represent production before the declared starting condition through linked upstream datasets; disclose supplier-specific or regional proxy use and do not treat supplier or association-member averages as global industry averages.
boundary_environmental_exchanges	Direct exchanges	Account for measured water and energy use, generated waste, and direct air or water releases for included operations; do not hide on-site treatment or internal recycle loops.	eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
boundary_exclusions	Downstream stages	Exclude packaging, outbound transport, fabrication into components, use, maintenance, and end-of-life from the core result unless they are modelled and disclosed as separate processes.

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
rolling	Hot and/or cold rolling	required	Include the actual hot, cold, or combined pass sequence used for the declared product.	Foreground thickness reduction and flat-product forming	Mass of rolled nickel flat intermediate leaving the rolling line
thermal_surface_conditioning	Heat treatment and surface conditioning	conditional	Include when the declared temper, solution-treated state, oxide removal, pickled state, cleaning, or on-site neutralization requires it.	Foreground metallurgical and surface-state control	Mass of conditioned nickel flat intermediate leaving the operation
finishing_inspection	Final trimming and inspection	required	Always include final dimensional finishing, net-mass determination, conformity inspection, and factory-gate transfer.	Foreground final product preparation	1,000 kg net saleable reference product

Process: Hot and/or cold rolling (rolling)

Inputs

Product flows

Nickel or nickel-alloy rolling feedstock (rolling_feedstock)

Record the measured mass of the identified solid nickel-bearing feedstock entering the first included rolling pass.

• Selected flow: Nickel or nickel-alloy rolling feedstock
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured received or internally transferred feedstock mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_material_balance
• Sources: baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018

Electricity supplied to rolling equipment (rolling_electricity)

Record electricity metered or allocated to drives, pumps, controls, and route-specific auxiliary equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity for the included rolling lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_energy
• Sources:

Natural gas combusted for hot rolling (rolling_natural_gas)

Record gaseous natural gas only when reheating or another included rolling operation uses it.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered natural gas consumed by rolling furnaces for the included lot; not applicable when absent
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_energy
• Sources:

Process water supplied for rolling-line descaling or rinsing (rolling_process_water)

Record make-up process water crossing the boundary for descaling or rinsing; exclude internally recirculated water from gross input and disclose the recycle loop.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net make-up process water for the included rolling lot; not applicable when dry rolling has no water input
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_water
• Sources:

Cold rolling oil supplied to the cold-rolling pass (cold_rolling_oil)

Record net make-up cold rolling oil only for routes using this lubricant; disclose formulation and recovered-oil return.

• Selected flow: cold rolling oil a9417245-6f45-4df3-8f04-227ed8a1be58
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured fresh oil added minus measured recoverable oil returned outside the reporting boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_material_balance
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Rolled nickel flat intermediate (rolled_nickel_intermediate)

Record the measured hot- or cold-rolled nickel flat intermediate transferred to conditioning or finishing.

• Selected flow: Rolled nickel flat product, intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured intermediate output mass reconciled to the rolling material balance
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per rolling process output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_material_balance
• Sources: baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018

Waste flows

Segregated nickel rolling and trimming scrap (rolling_nickel_scrap)

Record clean metallic nickel-bearing offcuts, edge trim, and cobbles leaving the foreground process for recycling or treatment; exclude internally remelted material that never crosses the boundary.

• Selected flow: Segregated nickel rolling and trimming scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured scrap mass by destination for the included lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_material_balance
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Direct fossil carbon dioxide from rolling furnaces (rolling_fossil_co2)

Record direct stack carbon dioxide from fossil natural-gas combustion in included rolling furnaces; exclude upstream electricity emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: site-measured direct stack emission for the included lot; not applicable when no fossil fuel is combusted
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_rolling_air_emissions
• Sources:

Process: Heat treatment and surface conditioning (thermal_surface_conditioning)

Inputs

Product flows

Rolled nickel flat intermediate entering conditioning (conditioning_nickel_intermediate)

Record the measured rolled intermediate entering the included heat-treatment or surface-conditioning route.

• Selected flow: Rolled nickel flat product entering conditioning
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transferred intermediate mass
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per conditioning process output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_material_balance
• Sources: baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018

Electricity supplied to conditioning equipment (conditioning_electricity)

Record electricity for furnaces, pumps, bath circulation, rinsing, ventilation, and other included conditioning equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity for the included conditioning lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_energy_water
• Sources:

Natural gas combusted for heat treatment (conditioning_natural_gas)

Record gaseous natural gas only when an included annealing or solution-treatment furnace uses it.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered natural gas consumed by included conditioning furnaces; not applicable when absent
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_energy_water
• Sources:

Process water supplied to pickling and rinsing (conditioning_process_water)

Record net make-up process water for bath preparation and rinsing when wet surface conditioning is included.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net make-up water for the included conditioning lot; not applicable for dry-only conditioning
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_energy_water
• Sources:

Sulfuric acid supplied to the declared pickling bath (conditioning_sulfuric_acid)

Record supplied sulfuric acid only when the site-specific pickling recipe uses it; disclose product concentration.

• Selected flow: Sulfuric acid 7ee2e3c3-bee7-4520-92b7-3e23afbfcd6f
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass of supplied sulfuric-acid product charged to and replenishing the bath; not applicable when absent
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_material_balance
• Sources:

Sodium hydroxide supplied to on-site neutralization (conditioning_sodium_hydroxide)

Record supplied sodium hydroxide only when on-site neutralization of the included pickling stream is inside the boundary; disclose product concentration.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide e0abcced-0611-4c24-9290-5a2c5a0c4169
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass of supplied sodium-hydroxide product used for the included wastewater stream; not applicable when neutralization is off-site
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_material_balance
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Conditioned nickel flat intermediate (conditioned_nickel_intermediate)

Record the measured heat-treated or surface-conditioned nickel flat intermediate transferred to final finishing.

• Selected flow: Heat-treated or surface-conditioned nickel flat product, intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured conditioned output mass reconciled to the conditioning material balance
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per conditioning process output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_material_balance
• Sources: baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018

Waste flows

Nickel-containing acidic wastewater from pickling (nickel_acidic_wastewater)

Record the aqueous nickel-bearing acidic stream leaving pickling and rinsing for on-site or off-site treatment; disclose pH, dissolved nickel, suspended solids, and destination.

• Selected flow: Nickel-containing acidic wastewater from pickling
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass of the defined wastewater stream at its transfer point
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_wastewater
• Sources: eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017

Elementary flows

Direct fossil carbon dioxide from conditioning furnaces (conditioning_fossil_co2)

Record direct stack carbon dioxide from fossil natural-gas combustion in included heat-treatment furnaces; exclude upstream electricity emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: site-measured direct stack emission for the included lot; not applicable when no fossil fuel is combusted
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_conditioning_air_emissions
• Sources:

Process: Final trimming and inspection (finishing_inspection)

Inputs

Product flows

Nickel flat intermediate entering final finishing (finishing_nickel_intermediate)

Record the measured as-rolled or conditioned nickel flat intermediate entering final trimming and inspection.

• Selected flow: Nickel flat product, intermediate for final finishing
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured intermediate mass entering final finishing
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per finishing process output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_material_balance
• Sources:

Electricity supplied to finishing equipment (finishing_electricity)

Record electricity for slitting, cutting, levelling, polishing when included, inspection equipment, and material handling within final finishing.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity for the included finishing lot
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_energy
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Saleable nickel plate, sheet, strip, or foil (reference_nickel_flat_product)

Record net conforming product mass after final inspection and before packaging.

• Selected flow: Plates, sheet, strip and foil, of nickel ffa8544a-b9fb-44e1-abb5-14032f03ecf7
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: 1,000 kg net conforming output after normalization
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per PCR reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_material_balance
• Sources: un-cpc-3-0-2025; baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018

Waste flows

Segregated nickel scrap from final trimming (finishing_nickel_scrap)

Record clean metallic nickel-bearing edge trim and rejected cut pieces leaving final finishing for recycling or treatment.

• Selected flow: Segregated nickel scrap from final trimming
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured final-trimming scrap mass by destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_material_balance
• Sources:

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_avoid_subdivide	Shared rolling, conditioning, and finishing operations	Prefer lot-, line-, or route-specific metering and subdivision so the declared product bears its measured operations and allocation is avoided.
allocation_recycled_scrap	Nickel-bearing scrap sent outside the foreground boundary	Report scrap mass, composition, destination, and any revenue separately. Do not subtract an avoided-primary-nickel credit inside the foreground inventory; apply the declared study-wide recycling method downstream.
allocation_shared_utilities	Utilities that cannot be subdivided	Allocate only the residual shared amount using a documented physical driver such as metered operating time, equipment load, or processed mass; disclose the driver and test sensitivity when it materially affects the result.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_rolling_material_balance	rolling	feedstock, cold rolling oil, rolled intermediate, and nickel scrap	Scale tickets, production orders, inventory movements, oil issue and recovery logs	lot id; grade; feedstock form; input mass; oil added; oil recovered; intermediate output mass; scrap mass; destination; work-in-process change	Calibrated scales and reconciled material ledger	kg	Each lot with monthly reconciliation	Representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	All rolling lines producing the declared product	Sum matched records, adjust for opening and closing work in process, then normalize to accepted output	Scale calibration, lot genealogy, stock reconciliation, and scrap dispatch records
cp_rolling_energy	rolling	electricity and natural gas	Submeters, utility invoices, and furnace logs	meter id; start and end readings; unit; allocation driver; furnace id; reference temperature and pressure	Direct submetering preferred; residual shared use allocated by documented physical driver	kWh, MJ, or m3	Each lot or shift; monthly reconciliation	Same period and lines as product records	Included rolling equipment only	Subtract exports and documented non-product loads, convert units, and normalize to accepted output	Meter calibration, invoice reconciliation, and allocation worksheet
cp_rolling_water	rolling	net make-up process water	Water meter and recirculation records	source; meter readings; make-up; purge; return; unit; lot or period allocation	Direct metering at rolling-water system boundary	kg or m3	Daily or per campaign; monthly reconciliation	Same period as rolling production	Included rolling water loop	Count only boundary-crossing make-up water and disclose recirculation	Meter checks and water-balance reconciliation
cp_rolling_air_emissions	rolling	direct fossil carbon dioxide	Continuous emission measurement or validated stack test records	stack id; timestamp; gas concentration; flow; operating time; covered furnace and lot	Site measurement at included stacks	kg	Continuous or each representative stack test campaign	Same reporting year with documented production coverage	Included rolling furnaces	Integrate measured emissions and allocate only by documented furnace operation	Instrument calibration, test method, detection limits, and coverage statement
cp_conditioning_material_balance	thermal_surface_conditioning	nickel intermediate, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and conditioned output	Transfer weights, bath make-up logs, chemical delivery records, and inventory records	lot id; grade; input and output mass; chemical product mass; concentration; bath id; treatment route	Calibrated scales and reconciled chemical inventory	kg	Each lot and each bath addition; monthly reconciliation	Representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	Included heat-treatment and conditioning lines	Sum matched additions and transfers, adjust inventory changes, and normalize to accepted output	Calibration, supplier certificates, concentration tests, and bath logs
cp_conditioning_energy_water	thermal_surface_conditioning	electricity, natural gas, and process water	Submeters, furnace logs, and water-system records	meter id; readings; unit; furnace or bath id; reference conditions; make-up; return; purge	Direct metering preferred; residual shared amounts use documented physical drivers	kWh, MJ, m3, or kg	Each lot or shift; monthly reconciliation	Same period as conditioning production	Included conditioning equipment and water loops	Convert units, count net boundary inputs, and normalize to accepted output	Meter calibration and utility reconciliation
cp_conditioning_wastewater	thermal_surface_conditioning	nickel-containing acidic wastewater	Transfer meter, tank weight, and laboratory analysis	stream id; mass or volume; density; pH; dissolved nickel; suspended solids; treatment destination; timestamp	Measure at the declared treatment-transfer point and sample the same stream	kg	Each discharge batch or continuous totalizer with representative sampling	Same period as included pickling production	Included pickling and rinse-water system	Convert volume only with measured density, sum batches, and normalize to accepted output	Meter calibration, chain of custody, laboratory method, and treatment receipts
cp_conditioning_air_emissions	thermal_surface_conditioning	direct fossil carbon dioxide	Continuous emission measurement or validated stack test records	stack id; timestamp; concentration; flow; operating time; covered furnace and lot	Site measurement at included stacks	kg	Continuous or each representative stack test campaign	Same reporting year with documented production coverage	Included conditioning furnaces	Integrate measured emissions and allocate only by documented furnace operation	Instrument calibration, test method, detection limits, and coverage statement
cp_finishing_material_balance	finishing_inspection	finishing input, reference product, and final trimming scrap	Transfer weights, finished-goods ledger, inspection records, and scrap tickets	lot id; grade; dimensions; temper; finish; input mass; accepted mass; rejected mass; scrap mass; destination	Calibrated scales linked to inspection disposition	kg	Each lot; monthly reconciliation	Representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	All finishing lines for the declared product	Reconcile input to accepted output, scrap, rejects, and work-in-process change; normalize accepted output to 1,000 kg	Scale calibration, inspection certificates, lot genealogy, and stock reconciliation
cp_finishing_energy	finishing_inspection	electricity	Submeters and equipment operating logs	meter id; readings; unit; equipment id; operating time; processed mass	Direct submetering preferred; residual shared use uses documented physical driver	kWh or MJ	Each lot or shift; monthly reconciliation	Same period as finished-product records	Included finishing equipment	Subtract non-product loads, convert to MJ, and normalize to accepted output	Meter calibration and allocation worksheet

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
normalize_to_reference_mass	Every inventory row	normalized amount = period or lot amount × 1,000 kg / net accepted reference-product mass for the same boundary and period	row amount; net accepted product mass	Amount per 1,000 kg reference product
convert_electricity_to_mj	Electricity rows	electricity MJ = metered kWh × 3.6 MJ/kWh; retain the original kWh reading	metered kWh	Electricity in MJ
reconcile_nickel_mass	Each process material balance	nickel-bearing input = intermediate or product output + segregated scrap + other measured nickel-bearing outputs + closing work in process − opening work in process + investigated balance difference	input, output, scrap, other nickel outputs, work-in-process change	Reconciled mass balance and disclosed difference
convert_water_volume_to_mass	Process-water and wastewater rows	mass = measured volume × measured density at the recorded temperature; do not assume density when concentration materially changes it	volume, density, temperature	Water or wastewater mass in kg

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	Reference product and nickel-bearing inputs	Retain grade or composition, form, dimensions, temper or heat treatment, surface condition, and lot genealogy for every included product record.	Product certificate, specification, production order, and inspection release
dq_temporal_alignment	All foreground records	Use the same representative 12-month period or explicitly declared campaign for production, utilities, chemicals, wastes, and emissions; explain substitutions and abnormal operations.	Dated ledgers, meter exports, and coverage reconciliation
dq_measurement	Metered and weighed flows	Use calibrated instruments with units and reference conditions recorded; document allocation only for residual shared flows.	Calibration certificates, meter maps, scale checks, and allocation worksheets
dq_completeness	Process inventory	Reconcile all included processes and disclose missing meters, excluded flows, zero or not-applicable rows, internal recycle loops, and treatment transfers.	Signed completeness checklist and process-flow review; eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
dq_upstream_representativeness	Linked upstream datasets	Match feedstock state, composition, technology, geography, and time; disclose proxy limitations and do not claim global representativeness for supplier or association-member averages.	Supplier data or dataset metadata and representativeness statement

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_flow	Reference product	Confirm that net accepted output is exactly 1,000 kg after normalization, excludes packaging, and carries every required qualifier.	un-cpc-3-0-2025; baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018
validate_route_consistency	Process map and inventory	Confirm that every included hot-rolling, cold-rolling, heat-treatment, pickling, finishing, and on-site treatment operation has its corresponding inputs, outputs, utilities, wastes, and direct emissions; mark non-applicable conditional rows explicitly.	baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018; eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017
validate_uuid_semantics	UUID-bearing flows	Confirm flow type, English and Chinese base name, classification, property, unit group, product state, geography, technology, and general comment against a public state-100 direct read.
validate_material_balance	Rolling, conditioning, and finishing	Investigate and disclose each nickel-bearing mass-balance difference before release; do not conceal the difference through allocation or an unspecified waste row.
validate_no_double_counting	Energy, water, recycle, and upstream links	Confirm that internal recirculation, internally transferred intermediates, and upstream burdens are recorded once and that upstream electricity emissions are not repeated as direct emissions.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground production dataset for a declared nickel or nickel-alloy flat product
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset
allowed_use	Product carbon footprint, LCA, EPD, supply-chain, and design studies whose product, route, geography, time, boundary, and data-quality needs match the declared dataset
excluded_use	Undisclosed substitution across materially different nickel grades, product forms, rolling or heat-treatment routes, surface conditions, geographies, or periods; use as a global industry average without demonstrated representativeness
required_metadata	PCR id and version; product grade and composition; flat form; dimensions; coil or cut-length state; temper or heat treatment; surface finish; site and geography; technology and process route; reporting period; recycled-content definition; upstream datasets; cut-offs; allocation; packaging treatment; data owner and review state
required_quality_disclosure	Meter and scale coverage; mass-balance difference; temporal, technological, and geographic representativeness; source and supplier data shares; allocation drivers; internal recycle treatment; wastewater and direct-emission coverage; uncertainty and unresolved evidence gaps
update_trigger	Material change in feedstock composition or source, product specification, rolling or furnace technology, pickling chemistry, energy or water system, treatment route, allocation, reporting period, or upstream dataset representativeness

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-0-2025	Official guidance (official_guidance)	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 Structure, 30 June 2025, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv, retrieved 2026-09-04	Official CPC 41523 English product identity and classification context
baosteel-nuclear-power-steel-2018	Handbook (handbook)	Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Nuclear Power Steel product manual, PDF modified 2018, https://ecommerce.ibaosteel.com/portal/download/manual/NPS.pdf, retrieved 2026-09-04	Nickel-based alloy hot- and cold-rolled flat-product forms, solution treatment and pickling, delivery state, and dimensional qualifiers
eu-jrc-nfm-bref-2017	Official guidance (official_guidance)	European Commission Joint Research Centre, Best Available Techniques Reference Document for the Non-Ferrous Metals Industries, EUR 28648 EN, JRC107041, DOI 10.2760/8224, https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC107041, retrieved 2026-09-04	Non-ferrous-metal process boundary completeness for raw materials, water, energy, waste, and direct releases; integrated upstream disclosure