Nails, tacks, staples (except staples in strips), screws, bolts, nuts, screw hooks, rivets, cotters, cotter-pins, washers and similar articles, of iron, steel, copper or aluminium

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to the factory-gate production of individual metal fastening and similar articles within the stated product category: nails, tacks, non-strip staples, screws, bolts, nuts, screw hooks, rivets, cotters, cotter-pins, washers and physically similar articles made of iron, steel, copper or aluminium. A foreground data package represents one declared article family and production route, not an average assembled from unrelated article, metal and finishing variants.

The scope includes incoming metal wire or rod at the manufacturing-site gate, forming or heading, required machining or thread production, conditional heat treatment, cleaning, conditional surface finishing, inspection and the packaging supplied with the product. It excludes staples in strips, tubular or bifurcated rivets, springs, electrical cables, installation or use, maintenance, demolition and end-of-life after sale. Manufacture of primary metal and other purchased inputs is represented by upstream datasets rather than duplicated inside the foreground process.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.fabricated-metal-products-except-machinery-and-equipment.nails-tacks-staples-except-staples-in-strips-screws-bolts-nuts-screw-hooks-rivets-cotte-257c78a0
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 42944 (exact classification context)
covered_products	Nails; tacks; staples not supplied in strips; screws; bolts; nuts; screw hooks; rivets; cotters; cotter-pins; washers; and similar fastening articles of iron, steel, copper or aluminium.
excluded_products	Staples in strips; tubular or bifurcated rivets; springs; cables; fastening assemblies whose dominant function or material is outside this category; installation and use services.
representative_product	A saleable batch of one declared fastener or similar article meeting its specified material, dimensions, mechanical properties and surface condition.
production_route	Wire or rod receipt and conditioning; heading, forming, stamping or machining; thread production when applicable; conditional heat treatment; cleaning and conditional finishing; inspection; packaging.
market_state	Conforming, inspected and packaged product at the manufacturing-site gate; article type, metal/alloy, grade, dimensions, coating and heat-treatment state declared.

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Production of a conforming, saleable metal fastener or similar article with declared fastening function and specification.
How much	1 kg net mass of conforming product, excluding separately declared transport packaging.
How well	Meets the declared article standard or customer specification for material/alloy, dimensions and tolerances, mechanical property class, thread where applicable, heat-treatment state, surface finish or coating and acceptance test.
How long or cycle	One production batch ending at the manufacturing-site gate; no service-life claim is included.
reference_flow_link	reference_fastener_output

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Fasteners, unspecified 0eddfdee-c657-4086-b39d-aa60466b6970
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	article type; iron, steel, copper or aluminium material and alloy/grade; feedstock form; nominal dimensions and mass-per-piece or piece count; thread and tolerance when applicable; mechanical property class; forming and machining route; heat-treatment state; surface treatment or coating and coating mass/thickness; inspection standard and acceptance rate; packaging configuration; manufacturing geography and reporting period

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_product_mass	Reference product and all mass-normalized inventory rows	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Use net dry or as-sold metal-product mass consistently. Exclude corrugated boxes and pallets from the 1 kg product reference mass and record them as separate inputs.
piece_to_mass_conversion	Production or sales records available only as piece counts	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Convert count to mass with a batch-specific verified average mass per conforming piece; retain the count, sample size, weighing method and uncertainty.
electricity_energy_conversion	Electricity inputs	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	MJ	Preserve metered electrical energy and convert kWh to MJ using 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ; do not apply a fuel calorific-value factor to electricity.
gas_volume_reference	Gaseous natural gas input	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	Report metered volume at the supplier or meter reference conditions and declare temperature, pressure, correction basis and lower-heating-value data used for any energy conversion.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_factory_gate	foreground production boundary	Include all on-site forming, machining or threading, conditional heat treatment, washing or cleaning, conditional surface finishing, inspection and packaging through release of the packaged product at the manufacturing-site gate.	us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995
boundary_conditional_routes	heat treatment and surface finishing	Include heat treatment, pickling, galvanising or other finishing only when performed for the declared product. If outsourced, include the supplier-specific upstream process dataset and the transport embedded in that purchased service or delivered input boundary.	us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995; ec-jrc-ferrous-metals-processing-bref-2022; ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022
boundary_upstream_inputs	purchased inputs	Represent production and delivery of metal feedstock, energy, water, chemicals and packaging with geographically and technologically appropriate upstream datasets; do not duplicate those upstream processes in the foreground inventory.	—
boundary_exclusions	downstream and infrastructure	Exclude installation, use, maintenance and product end-of-life. Exclude capital goods and factory infrastructure unless the study goal requires them or a documented screening shows they are material.	—

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Declared metal wire or rod, process consumables, energy and packaging delivered at the manufacturing-site gate, with supplier and upstream dataset boundaries identified.
starting_condition_role	Upstream products entering the foreground fastener manufacturing system.
product_classification_scope	One declared CPC 42944 article family and metal/alloy route per foreground data package.
recursive_input_rule	If a purchased fastener within this same category enters assembly, tooling, packaging or rework, record it once as an atomic product input linked to an upstream dataset; do not recursively recreate its manufacturing inventory inside this foreground package.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Use supplier-specific data where available; otherwise use a geography-, technology-, material-grade- and product-state-compatible upstream dataset and disclose substitutions.
disclosure	Declare article type, alloy and grade, feedstock form, production technology, heat treatment, surface finish, outsourced operations, scrap recovery route, packaging and all upstream dataset substitutions.

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
forming_and_machining	Stock conditioning, forming, heading, threading and machining	required	Include the operations actually used; non-applicable secondary machining or threading has no row rather than a zero-valued combined route.	foreground production	1 kg conforming product
heat_treatment	Heat treatment and quenching	conditional	Include when the declared material grade and mechanical-property specification require thermal treatment.	foreground production	1 kg heat-treated product
cleaning_and_surface_finishing	Washing, pickling, polishing and surface finishing	required	Include actual cleaning; include acid pickling and zinc coating rows only when those specific routes are used.	foreground production	1 kg cleaned or finished product
inspection_and_packaging	Final inspection and packaging	required	Include release inspection and the actual packaging supplied at the manufacturing-site gate.	foreground production	1 kg conforming packaged product, packaging reported separately

Process: Stock conditioning, forming, heading, threading and machining (forming_and_machining)

Inputs

Product flows

Non-alloy steel wire feedstock (steel_wire_input)

Record this input only for the declared non-alloy steel wire route; other steel grades or feedstock forms require their own atomic foreground row.

• Selected flow: Steel Wire 62bb3717-f62c-43e0-baca-46a1e6f847c4
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net steel wire issued to the batch, including measured returns and stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Copper wire-rod feedstock (copper_wire_rod_input)

Record this input only for a declared copper or copper-alloy wire-rod route.

• Selected flow: Copper wire rod 99715c69-4245-44ff-a438-0e0d68377386
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net copper wire rod issued to the batch, including measured returns and stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Aluminium wire feedstock (aluminium_wire_input)

Record this input only for a declared aluminium or aluminium-alloy wire route.

• Selected flow: Aluminum wire 89db8507-09bd-45f8-ba96-4e459058412c
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net aluminium wire issued to the batch, including measured returns and stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Forming and machining electricity (forming_electricity)

Record electricity metered or allocated to wire drawing or sizing, heading, forming, stamping, machining and thread production.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to the included forming and machining operations
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records

Cutting fluid for secondary machining (cutting_fluid_input)

Record fresh cutting fluid make-up crossing the process boundary when drilling, turning, tapping or comparable machining is used.

• Selected flow: Cutting Fluid 576d250f-4f36-4385-939d-0f03b8f95a10
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchases plus opening stock minus closing stock and recovered fluid sent off-site, assigned to the declared batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Waste flows

No waste flow enters this process under the default virgin or purchased-feedstock boundary. If recovered scrap is remelted on site, define that distinct input and its treatment process explicitly.

Elementary flows

No routine elementary input is prescribed for this process. Facility-specific withdrawals that cross the environment boundary must be added as atomic rows.

Outputs

Product flows

Intermediate formed parts remain inside the foreground system and are not duplicated as technosphere outputs.

Waste flows

Post-industrial steel scrap (post_industrial_steel_scrap)

Record steel offcuts, chips and rejected steel parts leaving forming and machining for recovery or treatment.

• Selected flow: Post-industrial steel scrap c143745d-be4f-4d8f-b403-2dcbfe685349
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net mass leaving the process, excluding internal recirculation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Copper scrap (copper_scrap)

Record copper or copper-alloy offcuts, chips and rejected parts leaving the process for recovery or treatment.

• Selected flow: Copper Scrap 4fbbb5f1-560a-4052-ba0c-652c5dfc282e
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net mass leaving the process, excluding internal recirculation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Aluminium scrap (aluminium_scrap)

Record aluminium or aluminium-alloy offcuts, chips and rejected parts leaving the process for recovery or treatment.

• Selected flow: Aluminium Scrap 96c5f842-ea53-419b-b1cd-c02c479efb45
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net mass leaving the process, excluding internal recirculation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_forming_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Elementary flows

No default direct elementary output is prescribed. Quantified site emissions from machining or forming must be added individually with their measured compartment.

Process: Heat treatment and quenching (heat_treatment)

Inputs

Product flows

Gaseous natural gas for heat treatment (heat_treatment_natural_gas)

Record gaseous natural gas combusted in the heat-treatment oven or draw furnace when that route applies.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered natural-gas volume attributable to heat treatment at declared reference conditions
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Heat-treatment electricity (heat_treatment_electricity)

Record electricity used by furnaces, controls, circulation, quench handling and stress-relief equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to heat treatment
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records

Quenching-oil make-up (quenching_oil_input)

Record fresh quenching oil make-up when an oil-quench route applies; do not record total bath inventory as consumption.

• Selected flow: Quenching Oil 02f62137-e204-46e6-8e72-e88b450fbdc4
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: fresh make-up plus stock loss minus recovered oil, assigned to the declared batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Waste flows

No routine waste input is prescribed for this process.

Elementary flows

No routine elementary input is prescribed for this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Heat-treated parts remain within the foreground system.

Waste flows

Spent quenching oil must be added as a distinct atomic waste row when it leaves the system; no exact identity was asserted without a dedicated lookup and composition review.

Elementary flows

Fossil carbon dioxide from on-site natural-gas combustion (heat_treatment_fossil_co2)

Record direct fossil carbon dioxide released from on-site heat-treatment combustion; exclude upstream electricity emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured stack emission or value calculated from metered fuel, documented carbon content and oxidation factor
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records

Process: Washing, pickling, polishing and surface finishing (cleaning_and_surface_finishing)

Inputs

Product flows

Process water for parts cleaning and rinsing (cleaning_process_water)

Record process water supplied to parts washing, rinsing and finishing baths, net of internally recycled water.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered or tank-balance water entering the foreground process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995; ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022

Sodium hydroxide for alkaline cleaning (cleaning_sodium_hydroxide)

Record sodium hydroxide product mass entering alkaline cleaning only when that chemistry is used; declare concentration and delivered solution state.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide e0abcced-0611-4c24-9290-5a2c5a0c4169
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured delivered product mass charged or replenished to the cleaning bath
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022

Hydrochloric acid solution for pickling (pickling_hydrochloric_acid_30pct)

Record delivered 30% hydrochloric acid solution only when hydrochloric-acid pickling is used; other concentrations require a separately identified product row and declared conversion.

• Selected flow: Hydrochloric acid (30%) 56414d25-a353-4d67-b362-87212ce6011d
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured delivered solution mass charged or replenished to the pickling bath
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022

Special High Grade zinc metal for coating (coating_shg_zinc_metal)

Record Special High Grade zinc metal only when that declared zinc grade is consumed in the coating route.

• Selected flow: Special High Grade zinc metal 2d8ff1bd-e128-4c74-a99d-b8734c99bbd2
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchases plus opening stock minus closing stock, recovered dross and unused returns, assigned to the declared product
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: ec-jrc-ferrous-metals-processing-bref-2022; ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022

Cleaning and surface-finishing electricity (finishing_electricity)

Record electricity used by washers, pumps, bath heating auxiliaries, polishing and on-site coating equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to cleaning and finishing
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records

Waste flows

No waste flow is prescribed as an input. Returned bath material must be represented only when it crosses the process boundary.

Elementary flows

No routine elementary input is prescribed; direct water withdrawal from the environment must not be substituted for purchased Process Water.

Outputs

Product flows

Cleaned or coated parts remain within the foreground system.

Waste flows

Metal-finishing wastewater (metal_finishing_wastewater)

Record the aqueous waste stream leaving washing, rinsing or surface treatment for on-site or off-site treatment, with composition and destination declared.

• Selected flow: Metal-finishing wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured wastewater mass or volume converted with measured density, net of internal recycle
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995; ec-jrc-ferrous-metals-processing-bref-2022

Oily sludge from parts washing (oil_sludge_output)

Record separated oily sludge leaving parts washing or wastewater treatment as one waste stream.

• Selected flow: Oil Sludge 956abaf8-8049-4aad-bf6b-a06713de97a6
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured wet mass leaving the process, with water and oil content disclosed
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Spent hydrochloric-acid pickling liquor (spent_hydrochloric_pickling_liquor)

Record spent hydrochloric-acid liquor leaving the pickling bath, including residual free acid and dissolved metal salts; do not replace it with generic waste acid.

• Selected flow: Spent hydrochloric-acid pickling liquor
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass removed from the bath minus any internal regeneration return
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022

Elementary flows

Direct air and water emissions from the actual finishing route must be added as individual substance-and-compartment rows from monitoring or a documented calculation; no unspecified emissions collection is permitted.

Process: Final inspection and packaging (inspection_and_packaging)

Inputs

Product flows

Corrugated-board boxes (corrugated_box_input)

Record the mass of corrugated-board boxes supplied with the released product when this packaging is used.

• Selected flow: corrugated board boxes 4f197bec-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured new box mass consumed for the declared shipment batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources: us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995

Wooden pallets (wooden_pallet_input)

Record the effective mass of wooden pallets supplied with the product, adjusted for documented reuse or return when applicable.

• Selected flow: Pallets, box pallets and other load boards, of wood, pallet collars of wood 4b49871e-95be-4e0c-9223-9902f9eaa763
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: new pallet mass allocated by documented trips or net pallet purchases and stock change for the declared shipment batch
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Inspection and packaging electricity (packaging_electricity)

Record electricity used by inspection, sorting, counting, labelling and packaging equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured or submeter-allocated electricity attributable to inspection and packaging
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Waste flows

No default packaging waste input is prescribed. Returned packaging entering a reuse loop requires its own identified row and accounting rule.

Elementary flows

No routine elementary input is prescribed for inspection and packaging.

Outputs

Product flows

Conforming fastener or similar article (reference_fastener_output)

Record the net mass of accepted product released at the factory gate; packaging is excluded from this mass.

• Selected flow: Fasteners, unspecified 0eddfdee-c657-4086-b39d-aa60466b6970
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net mass of conforming released product
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg conforming reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources: un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025

Waste flows

Rejected finished articles must be routed to the applicable metal-specific scrap row and must not be double-counted here.

Elementary flows

No routine elementary output is prescribed for inspection and packaging.

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivision_first	shared lines and utilities	Prefer physical subdivision, submeters and batch records. Allocate only the residual shared consumption that cannot be directly assigned.	—
allocation_shared_operations	residual shared electricity, water and consumables	Allocate residual shared inputs by a documented causal driver such as machine time, treated mass, bath throughput or metered load; mass allocation is allowed only when it reasonably represents the causal relationship.	—
allocation_scrap_outputs	metal scrap and rejected parts	Record scrap leaving the foreground system as waste with its measured mass and destination. Do not credit avoided primary metal production inside this foreground inventory; any recycling substitution belongs to a separately declared downstream scenario.	—
allocation_no_double_counting	internal recycle and outsourced treatment	Exclude internally recirculated material from both input consumption and waste output. For outsourced operations, include either the supplier process dataset or its disaggregated inventory, never both.	—

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_forming_records	forming_and_machining	metal feedstocks, electricity, cutting fluid and metal scrap	purchase, inventory, meter, batch and weighbridge records	batch_id; article_id; alloy_grade; feedstock_form; opening_stock; receipts; closing_stock; returned_material; electricity; cutting_fluid_makeup; scrap_mass; conforming_output_mass	reconcile material stores to batch issue/return records; read dedicated meters or allocate documented shared meters; weigh each scrap stream by metal	kg; MJ	each batch with monthly reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period including product mix	all included forming and machining lines at the declared site	sum net flows by article route and divide by conforming output mass	calibrated scales and meters; stock reconciliation; batch traveller; scrap tickets
cp_heat_treatment_records	heat_treatment	natural gas, electricity, quenching oil and direct fossil CO2	meter, fuel-quality, bath-maintenance and stack records	batch_id; furnace_id; treated_mass; gas_volume; gas_reference_conditions; electricity; quench_makeup; recovered_oil; fuel_carbon_content; oxidation_factor; measured_co2	read furnace meters; reconcile quench-oil make-up; use stack measurement or documented fuel-carbon calculation	m3; MJ; kg	each heat-treatment batch with monthly meter reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period covering furnace loads	all on-site heat-treatment equipment used for the product	assign metered flows to treated batches by measured load or operating time, then normalize to conforming output	meter calibration; fuel certificate; bath log; calculation sheet; stack report when available
cp_finishing_records	cleaning_and_surface_finishing	water, cleaning chemicals, pickling acid, zinc, electricity, wastewater, oil sludge and spent pickling liquor	meter, bath log, purchase, inventory, laboratory and waste-transfer records	batch_id; treated_mass; water_input; recycle_water; chemical_product; concentration; bath_charge; bath_makeup; zinc_stock; electricity; wastewater_mass_or_volume; density; oil_sludge_mass; sludge_water_content; spent_liquor_mass; free_acid; dissolved_metals; destination	meter water and electricity; reconcile bath additions and zinc inventory; weigh wastes or convert measured volume with measured density; retain analytical composition	kg; MJ	each bath charge and product batch with monthly reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period covering finishing routes	all on-site and contracted finishing routes attributed to the product	subtract internal recycle and stock returns; normalize net inputs and outputs to conforming product mass	calibrated meters and scales; bath analyses; chemical certificates; waste manifests; supplier finishing data
cp_packaging_records	inspection_and_packaging	accepted product, corrugated boxes, wooden pallets and electricity	release, scale, packaging bill, pallet-loop and meter records	batch_id; accepted_piece_count; sampled_piece_mass; accepted_product_mass; rejected_mass; box_mass; box_count; pallet_mass; pallet_count; pallet_trips; returned_pallets; electricity	weigh released product and packaging; verify count-to-mass conversion; reconcile pallet reuse; read or allocate packaging meter	kg; MJ	each released shipment batch with monthly reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period covering package formats	all inspection and packaging operations at the declared site	divide net packaging consumption and electricity by accepted product mass; exclude rejected product and packaging mass from reference output	calibrated scales; acceptance records; packaging specifications; pallet-return records; meter allocation

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_normalize_to_reference_mass	all inventory rows	normalized amount = net flow assigned to the declared product / net conforming product mass; the denominator excludes transport packaging	net batch or reporting-period flow; conforming product mass	amount per 1 kg reference product	—
calc_piece_count_to_mass	piece-count records	product mass = accepted piece count × verified batch-average mass per piece; use direct batch weighing when available	accepted count; sampled or directly measured mass per piece	conforming product mass	—
calc_direct_fossil_co2	heat_treatment_fossil_co2	use measured direct stack CO2; otherwise calculate from metered fuel quantity × documented fuel carbon content × oxidation factor × 44/12, with consistent volume-to-mass conversion	gas volume and reference conditions or gas mass; carbon content; oxidation factor	kg fossil CO2	—
calc_reusable_pallet	wooden_pallet_input	effective pallet input = new pallet mass / documented lifetime trips for closed reuse loops; otherwise use net pallet purchases plus opening stock minus closing stock and verified returns	new pallet mass; trips; purchases; stocks; returns	kg wooden pallet input	—
calc_mass_balance_check	metal feedstocks, product and metal scrap	compare metal-bearing inputs with conforming output, metal scrap, inventory change and measured treatment losses for each declared metal; investigate unexplained imbalance rather than forcing closure	metal input; product output; metal-specific scrap; stock change; measured losses	disclosed mass-balance residual	—

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	reference product	Identify article type, alloy/grade, dimensions, thread, mechanical class, heat treatment, coating and applicable acceptance standard for every represented product family.	product specification; certificate of conformity; batch traveller
dq_temporal_coverage	foreground records	Use a representative continuous 12-month period or justify a shorter period that captures product mix, furnace loads, bath cycles, maintenance and seasonal effects.	dated meter, production, inventory and waste records
dq_mass_completeness	metal inputs and outputs	Reconcile each metal route to conforming product, metal-specific scrap, stock change and measured loss; disclose the residual and corrective investigation.	signed mass-balance worksheet; scale calibration; scrap tickets
dq_route_separation	conditional heat treatment and finishing	Do not average absent and present operations without reporting route shares and allocation drivers. Supplier finishing data must match the declared coating and geography.	route-specific batch records; supplier dataset and specification
dq_measurement_traceability	all collected rows	Retain meter or scale identifier, calibration status, raw unit, conversion, allocation driver and responsible record owner.	calibration certificates; raw exports; calculation workbook
dq_uuid_qualifiers	UUID-bearing flows	Confirm that foreground product state, concentration, grade, geography and technology remain compatible with the selected Tiangong identity; UUID identity does not replace these qualifiers.	supplier certificate; flow direct-read audit; process note

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_identity_and_reference	product and reference flow	Fail validation if the article is outside the covered list, the material is not iron, steel, copper or aluminium, required qualifiers are missing, or the reference output is not exactly 1 kg net conforming product.	un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025
validate_inventory_atomicity	process inventory	Each inventory row must identify one product, waste or elementary exchange. Reject umbrella utilities, combined fuels, combined packaging, combined wastes or unspecified emissions.	—
validate_process_applicability	process map	Required processes must have foreground records. Conditional heat-treatment, pickling and zinc-coating rows must be present only when the declared route applies; absent routes require an explicit not-applicable statement outside amount totals.	us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995; ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022
validate_mass_and_units	measurements and calculations	Check kg reference mass, kWh-to-MJ conversion, gas reference conditions, count-to-mass evidence, package-mass exclusion and metal-specific mass-balance residuals.	—
validate_waste_and_recycling	scrap, wastewater, sludge and spent liquor	Require measured mass, composition where material, destination and internal-recycle exclusion. Do not apply avoided-burden credits in the foreground inventory.	us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995; ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022
validate_source_and_dataset_fit	evidence and upstream datasets	Confirm source identifiers resolve, external evidence is used only for the supported rule, and every upstream dataset is compatible in geography, technology, material grade, product state and delivery boundary.	—

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground factory-gate production dataset for one declared metal fastener or similar article route.
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset
allowed_use	Product carbon footprints, LCA process datasets and lifecycle models requiring a factory-gate inventory for a declared CPC 42944 article with compatible material, process and finishing qualifiers.
excluded_use	Undeclared averages across metals or article types; staples in strips; springs; tubular or bifurcated rivets; installation, use or end-of-life claims; comparison of products with incompatible specifications or system boundaries.
required_metadata	PCR id and version; article type; material/alloy and grade; dimensions and mass per piece; mechanical class; forming and machining route; heat treatment; coating/finish; site and geography; reporting period; allocation; scrap and waste destinations; packaging; upstream dataset identifiers and substitutions.
required_quality_disclosure	Completeness by process and flow; meter and scale coverage; count-to-mass method; mass-balance residual; allocation shares; route shares; bath and waste composition; supplier-data coverage; temporal representativeness; unresolved UUID and range-evidence needs.
update_trigger	Material change in article mix, alloy, feedstock form, forming technology, furnace or fuel, coating route, wastewater treatment, packaging, allocation method, site geography, upstream datasets, or an updated representative reporting period.

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-0-structure-2025	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 2026-09-05).	Official category identity and covered product wording.
us-epa-metal-fastener-pollution-prevention-1995	official_guidance	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pollution Prevention Assessment for a Manufacturer of Metal Fasteners. EPA/600/S-95/016, August 1995. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=30003VJO.TXT (retrieved 2026-09-05).	Fastener feedstocks, process decomposition, cleaning, heat treatment, finishing, packaging and named waste streams.
ec-jrc-ferrous-metals-processing-bref-2022	official_guidance	European Commission Joint Research Centre. Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Ferrous Metals Processing Industry. JRC131649, EUR 31321 EN, DOI 10.2760/196475, 2022. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC131649 (retrieved 2026-09-05).	Conditional galvanising, chemical/electrolytic surface treatment and associated wastewater-treatment boundary.
ec-jrc-metal-surface-treatment-2022	official_guidance	Huygens, D. and Saveyn, H.G.M. Technical proposals for by-products and high purity materials as component materials for EU Fertilising Products. JRC128459, EUR 31035 EN, DOI 10.2760/185544, 2022, section 19.2.8. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC128459/JRC128459_01.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-05).	Metal cleaning, hydroxide cleaning, hydrochloric-acid pickling, spent pickling liquor and zinc galvanising process decomposition.
china-state-council-fastener-tariff-terms-2010	official_guidance	State Council of the People's Republic of China, official tariff terminology table, 2010. https://www.gov.cn/gzdt/att/att/site1/20100302/001e3741a2cc0cf6c6d301.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-05).	Professional Chinese terminology for screws, bolts, nuts, screw hooks, rivets, pins, cotter-pins and washers.