Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of iron, steel, copper or aluminium; cooking or heating apparatus of a kind used for domestic purposes, non-electric, of copper; pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like, of iron or steel, copper or aluminium; iron or steel wool; hand-operated mechanical appliances, weighing 10 kg or less, used in the preparation, conditioning or serving of food or drink

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to factory-gate production of table, kitchen and other household articles made principally from iron, steel, copper or aluminium, the listed non-electric domestic copper cooking or heating apparatus, metal scourers and wool, and hand-operated food or drink preparation, conditioning or serving appliances weighing no more than 10 kg. A concrete data package shall identify one product, principal metal and alloy, construction, finish, component set and packaging configuration; the broad CPC wording does not permit averaging unlike products without a declared sampling plan.

The representative route is a formed and polished stainless-steel household article made from purchased flat-rolled stock. It provides an auditable common route, not a claim that every covered product is stainless steel. Product-specific casting, wire-forming, copper heating, coating, joining, handle, blade, gear or multi-material assembly operations shall be added as separate conditional processes and atomic exchanges when present.

Electric domestic appliances; household articles principally of glass, ceramic, plastics, wood or textiles; cutlery classified separately; industrial food-processing machinery; and primary metal production are outside this PCR identity. Distribution after the factory gate, household use, maintenance and end-of-life are excluded from the foreground boundary unless the study explicitly extends it.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.fabricated-metal-products-except-machinery-and-equipment.table-kitchen-or-other-household-articles-and-parts-thereof-of-iron-steel-copper-or-alu-44fd82fb
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 42912, exact classification context; the canonical PCR identity remains classification-independent
covered_products	Metal tableware, kitchenware and other household articles and parts; non-electric domestic copper cooking or heating apparatus; metal scourers, scouring or polishing pads, gloves and similar articles; iron or steel wool; hand-operated food or drink appliances of 10 kg or less
excluded_products	Electric domestic appliances; separately classified cutlery; industrial food-processing machinery; and household goods whose principal material is not iron, steel, copper or aluminium
representative_product	One formed, mechanically polished stainless-steel household article, inspected and packaged at the factory gate
production_route	Purchased further-worked flat-rolled stainless steel; stock preparation; cutting, forming and trimming; conditional thermal treatment; surface finishing and aqueous cleaning; inspection and packaging
market_state	Finished factory-gate article, dry and serviceable, with declared net product mass and packaging supplied separately in the inventory

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Provide the declared household preparation, serving, cleaning, cooking or heating function of one specified covered metal article
How much	1 kg net mass of finished article at the factory gate, excluding packaging
How well	Meets the declared alloy, construction, dimensions, surface finish, component configuration and applicable product performance or safety specification
How long or cycle	Declared design service life or rated cycles for the specific article; service life is disclosed but does not change the factory-gate 1 kg normalization
reference_flow_link	The reference flow is the net finished product mass required to provide the declared product function; all foreground inputs and outputs are normalized to 1 kg net finished article

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg net finished article, excluding corrugated box and LDPE protective film
Reference product flow	Finished metal household article
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	specific product family and function; principal metal and alloy grade; net product mass; item mass and item count; dimensions or capacity; manufacturing route; surface finish and coating; joined components and non-metal components; recycled-content claim and evidence; factory geography and technology; packaging configuration; quality or safety specification; design service life or rated cycles

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_net_mass	reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Weigh saleable product after final inspection and before packaging. Exclude all packaging mass and normalize every foreground exchange to 1 kg net finished article.
item_to_mass	count-based production and packaging records	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Convert item counts using a measured, product-specific mean item mass and retain sample size, weighing date and dispersion; do not use a nominal catalogue mass without verification.
electricity_energy	all electricity rows	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	MJ	Preserve metered kWh in raw records and convert to MJ using 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ; disclose voltage, grid geography, contractual supply and whether losses are included.
gas_volume_basis	natural-gas row	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	Record meter volume and its temperature, pressure and dry or wet reference conditions; convert only with a documented site or supplier method.
water_mass_basis	process-water row	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Prefer mass measurement; when a volume meter is used, retain volume and the measured or documented density used for conversion.
material_balance	metal stock, product, scrap and captured dust	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Reconcile metal-bearing inputs with saleable product, transferred intermediates, scrap, captured dust and measured direct releases for the same reporting period and product allocation.

5. System Boundary

The foreground boundary starts with receipt of purchased, specification-conforming metal stock and other purchased components and ends with the dry, inspected and packaged article at the factory gate. It includes stock handling, cutting, forming, trimming, route-required thermal treatment, mechanical or chemical surface preparation, finishing, cleaning, direct utilities, direct releases, waste collection, inspection and packaging. Upstream production and delivery of purchased metal, chemicals, fuels, electricity and packaging are represented by linked background datasets. Primary metal making is not duplicated in the foreground.

Conditional processes are included only when the declared product route uses them. A data package shall not replace a concrete exchange with a generic material, utility, waste or emission collection.

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Purchased metal stock and purchased components meeting the declared alloy, form, finish and supplier specifications at the foreground factory receiving point
starting_condition_role	foreground gate input with upstream production and inbound delivery represented by linked background datasets
product_classification_scope	Classification is used to confirm covered product identity only; route, alloy, construction and market state are declared independently
recursive_input_rule	A purchased input that is itself a finished covered household article is recorded as a separate product input with supplier identity and upstream dataset and is not recursively re-manufactured inside this foreground system
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link each purchased metal, chemical, energy carrier, component and packaging input to a geography-, technology- and state-compatible upstream dataset; disclose any proxy rather than silently substituting it
disclosure	Declare product identity, alloy, stock form, route, included and omitted conditional processes, coating and finish, packaging, site geography, reporting period, allocation and every foreground exclusion

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_factory_gate	foreground system	Include all factory processes from purchased-stock receipt through inspected and packaged product dispatch; link purchased inputs to upstream datasets and keep distribution, use and end-of-life outside this gate-to-gate foreground boundary.	ec-pef-method-2021
boundary_route_instantiation	product route	Instantiate only the processes used by the declared product, but preserve separate atomic rows for every material, energy, waste and direct elementary exchange.	us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995
boundary_surface_treatment	chemical or electrolytic surface treatment	When a water-based surface-treatment line is used, include pretreatment, core treatment, rinsing, drying, water and energy, bath chemicals, drag-out, wastewater, spent solution, sludge and direct air releases.	ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
stock_receipt_and_preparation	Stock receipt and blank preparation	required	Always for the representative purchased-stock route	Receive, inspect and cut purchased stock into blanks	kg prepared blank transferred to forming
forming_and_trimming	Forming and trimming	required	Always for the representative formed-product route	Press-form the blank and trim the product geometry	kg formed body transferred onward
thermal_treatment	Thermal treatment	conditional	Include when the declared alloy and forming route require annealing, stress relief or thermal conditioning	Produce a surface-ready metallurgical state	kg heat-treated body
surface_finishing_and_cleaning	Surface finishing and cleaning	required	Always; instantiate only the mechanical and aqueous operations actually used	Produce the declared finish and clean product	kg inspected article before packaging
final_inspection_and_packaging	Final inspection and packaging	required	Always; packaging rows apply when the declared corrugated-box and LDPE-film configuration is used	Release the factory-gate reference product	1 kg net finished article

Process: Stock receipt and blank preparation (stock_receipt_and_preparation)

Inputs

Product flows

Representative stainless-steel stock (stock_stainless_flat_roll)

Purchased stainless-steel flat-rolled stock crosses the factory gate and is weighed against receipt and bill-of-material records.

• Selected flow: Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, further worked add37984-82d6-4c91-85e3-9911c0135944
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: received mass attributable to accepted blanks and receipt-stage rejects
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_receipts
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Receipt and blanking electricity (stock_receipt_electricity)

Metered electrical energy used for receiving, inspection and blank cutting is assigned to accepted production.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to stock receipt and blank preparation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_process_energy
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Waste flows

No waste input is prescribed for this process.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed for this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared stainless-steel blank (prepared_blank_output)

Accepted cut blanks are weighed or calculated from verified piece counts and measured mean blank mass before forming.

• Selected flow: Prepared stainless-steel blank
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or count-converted blank mass transferred to forming
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg prepared blank output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_intermediate_mass_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Waste flows

Receipt and blanking steel scrap (stock_scrap_output)

Rejected stock ends and blanking offcuts are kept separate and weighed at the point they leave the process.

• Selected flow: Post-industrial steel scrap c143745d-be4f-4d8f-b403-2dcbfe685349
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured receipt-reject and blanking-scrap mass sent to the declared destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_scrap_waste
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Elementary flows

No direct elementary output is prescribed for this process.

Process: Forming and trimming (forming_and_trimming)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared stainless-steel blank input (prepared_blank_input)

The internal blank transfer is recorded to preserve process-level mass balance.

• Selected flow: Prepared stainless-steel blank
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: mass transferred from stock preparation
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg formed body output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_intermediate_mass_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Forming and trimming electricity (forming_electricity)

Presses, trimming machines and directly associated extraction equipment are submetered or allocated from a documented machine-time meter group.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to forming and trimming
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_process_energy
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Cutting fluid (forming_cutting_fluid)

Oil-based cutting fluid supplied to trimming equipment is recorded net of recovered and returned fluid.

• Selected flow: Cutting Fluid 576d250f-4f36-4385-939d-0f03b8f95a10
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued mass minus unchanged return and recovered reusable fluid
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cutting_fluid
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Waste flows

No waste input is prescribed for this process.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed for this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Formed stainless-steel body (formed_body_output)

The formed and trimmed internal body is recorded before any thermal or finishing step.

• Selected flow: Formed stainless-steel household-article body
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or count-converted mass transferred from forming
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg formed body output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_intermediate_mass_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Waste flows

Forming and trimming steel scrap (forming_scrap_output)

Separated metal offcuts and rejected formed pieces are weighed before recycling or other treatment.

• Selected flow: Post-industrial steel scrap c143745d-be4f-4d8f-b403-2dcbfe685349
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured forming and trimming scrap sent to the declared destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_scrap_waste
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Waste cutting oil (waste_cutting_oil_output)

Spent oil-based cutting fluid leaving the site is weighed and linked to its treatment destination.

• Selected flow: Waste cutting oil 80d926e3-0f76-4a19-9b1e-ffec9deb1216
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured spent cutting-oil mass transferred off site
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cutting_fluid
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Elementary flows

No direct elementary output is prescribed separately from measured finishing dust for this process.

Process: Thermal treatment (thermal_treatment)

Inputs

Product flows

Formed body entering thermal treatment (formed_body_thermal_input)

This internal transfer applies only when annealing, stress relief or other thermal conditioning is required.

• Selected flow: Formed stainless-steel household-article body
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: mass of formed body charged to the thermal-treatment unit
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg heat-treated body output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_intermediate_mass_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Natural gas for thermal treatment (thermal_natural_gas)

Natural gas crossing the foreground boundary is metered at documented reference conditions for the included furnace campaign.

• 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 included thermal treatment
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_thermal_fuel
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Waste flows

No waste input is prescribed for this process.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed for this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Heat-treated stainless-steel body (heat_treated_body_output)

The conditioned body is weighed or count-converted when it leaves the furnace campaign.

• Selected flow: Heat-treated stainless-steel household-article body
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or count-converted body mass transferred to finishing
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg heat-treated body output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_intermediate_mass_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Waste flows

No waste output is prescribed; any furnace scale or refractory waste present shall be added as its own concrete row.

Elementary flows

Direct fossil carbon dioxide (thermal_fossil_co2)

Direct fossil carbon dioxide from on-site natural-gas combustion is measured or calculated from collected fuel and documented facility-specific carbon data; upstream electricity emissions are excluded from this row.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured direct emission or collected natural gas multiplied by documented facility-specific carbon content and oxidation method
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_co2
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Process: Surface finishing and cleaning (surface_finishing_and_cleaning)

Inputs

Product flows

Surface-ready formed body (surface_ready_body_input)

The internal body entering finishing reflects the declared route after forming and any applicable thermal treatment.

• Selected flow: Surface-ready formed stainless-steel household-article body
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: mass transferred into the finishing line
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg inspected pre-packaging article output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_intermediate_mass_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Finishing electricity (finishing_electricity)

Electrical energy for polishing, extraction, aqueous cleaning, pumps and drying is recorded for the included finishing operations.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to surface finishing and cleaning
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_process_energy
• Sources: ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

Sodium hydroxide for aqueous cleaning (finishing_sodium_hydroxide)

Sodium hydroxide entering the declared alkaline cleaning bath is recorded as neat chemical-equivalent mass with solution concentration retained.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide e0abcced-0611-4c24-9290-5a2c5a0c4169
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchased or issued neat-equivalent mass consumed by bath make-up and replenishment
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_inputs
• Sources: ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

Process water for cleaning and rinsing (finishing_process_water)

Process water supplied to cleaning, rinsing and included bath make-up is measured at the finishing-line boundary.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured process-water mass entering cleaning, rinsing and bath make-up
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_inputs
• Sources: ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

White fused alumina polishing abrasive (finishing_white_fused_alumina)

White fused alumina issued to mechanical polishing is recorded net of clean recovered abrasive returned to use.

• Selected flow: White Fused Alumina 429f2b7f-592a-434c-92e2-43a6b4859300
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued mass minus clean reusable abrasive recovered within the reporting period
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_inputs
• Sources: us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Waste flows

No waste input is prescribed for this process.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed for this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Inspected article before packaging (prepack_article_output)

Dry articles meeting the declared finish and inspection requirements are weighed before packaging.

• Selected flow: Inspected stainless-steel household article before packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or count-converted accepted article mass transferred to packaging
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg inspected pre-packaging article output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_finished_product
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Waste flows

Alkaline metal-finishing wastewater (alkaline_finishing_wastewater)

Combined wastewater from the declared alkaline cleaning and rinse steps is recorded before any off-site transfer or on-site treatment unit outside this process card.

• Selected flow: Alkaline metal-finishing wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured wastewater mass leaving the finishing-line boundary, with pH and metal content retained as qualifiers
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater
• Sources: ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

Captured grinding and polishing dust (grinding_dust_output)

Dust collected by filters, local extraction or housekeeping from the declared grinding and polishing operation is weighed as a separate waste.

• Selected flow: Dust from Grinding and Sieving e0f3b3af-7794-4c25-ae58-5e4302b226d2
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured collected dust mass sent to the declared treatment destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dust_and_pm
• Sources: ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

Elementary flows

Direct PM10 from mechanical finishing (pm10_air_output)

Uncaptured particles (PM10) from mechanical finishing are recorded only when measured or calculated for a confirmed receiving-air compartment; the compartment-specific Tiangong UUID remains under review.

• Selected flow: particles (PM10), direct emission to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: source-tested or validated calculated direct PM10 mass leaving the foreground site
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dust_and_pm
• Sources: ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

Process: Final inspection and packaging (final_inspection_and_packaging)

Inputs

Product flows

Inspected article input (prepack_article_input)

The accepted dry article crosses into packaging as an internal product transfer.

• Selected flow: Inspected stainless-steel household article before packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: mass transferred from finishing to packaging
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_finished_product
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Packaging-line electricity (packaging_electricity)

Electrical energy used for final inspection, labelling, sealing and packaging is recorded separately from upstream production energy.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity attributable to final inspection and packaging
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_process_energy
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Corrugated board box (corrugated_box_input)

Corrugated boxes supplied with the reference product are weighed from packaging bills of material or verified supplier specifications.

• Selected flow: corrugated board boxes 4f197bec-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: packaging bill-of-material mass consumed for saleable product
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_materials
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

LDPE protective film (ldpe_film_input)

Low-density polyethylene film supplied with the reference product is weighed from packaging bills of material or verified supplier specifications.

• Selected flow: Low-density polyethylene foil (PE-LD) 2cecd3a7-d90e-44b4-aec5-1d9dfb907477
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: packaging bill-of-material mass consumed for saleable product
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net finished article
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_materials
• Sources: ec-pef-method-2021

Waste flows

No waste input is prescribed for this process.

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed for this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Factory-gate reference product (reference_product_output)

The saleable article is weighed net of packaging and linked to a complete product specification; no exact public Tiangong reference-product UUID was found.

• Selected flow: Finished metal household article
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: fixed reference output of 1 kg net finished article
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Generic (generic)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg net finished article at factory gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)
• Sources: un-cpc-3-0-2025

Waste flows

No generic packaging-waste row is permitted. Record each actual box, film, label or rejected-product waste as a separate concrete waste exchange when generated.

Elementary flows

No direct elementary output is prescribed for this process.

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivide_first	shared lines and utilities	First subdivide by process, product family, batch, meter or machine time so only inputs and outputs directly attributable to the declared product remain.	ec-pef-method-2021
allocation_physical_relation	inseparable shared operations	If subdivision is not possible, apply a documented relevant physical relationship: machine time or metered energy for utilities and measured mass for material losses. Demonstrate why the relationship represents causation and disclose the factor.	ec-pef-method-2021
allocation_other_relation	no defensible physical relationship	Use another relationship only after documenting why subdivision, system expansion and a relevant physical relationship are infeasible; report a sensitivity check and do not use an undocumented default.	ec-pef-method-2021
allocation_scrap_boundary	separated scrap and recovered abrasive	Record gross foreground inputs and outgoing waste or internally recovered material separately. Do not add an avoided-production credit inside this factory-gate inventory unless the downstream method and expanded boundary are explicitly declared.	ec-pef-method-2021; ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006

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_material_receipts	stock_receipt_and_preparation	stainless-steel stock	scale ticket, receiving record and bill of material	receipt mass; accepted mass; alloy grade; thickness; supplier; recycled content; lot id	reconcile calibrated receiving scale with purchasing and production issue records	kg	each delivery and production lot	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all receiving points serving included production	sum attributable accepted and rejected mass, then normalize by accepted net product	scale calibration, material certificate and reconciliation log
cp_process_energy	all applicable processes	electricity	submeter or meter-group log	start and end reading; kWh; meter id; process; product lot; operating time	direct submeter preferred; otherwise documented machine-time allocation from a stable meter group	kWh and MJ	each batch or at least monthly	same period as production	all included factory processes	subtract documented non-production loads, convert kWh to MJ and normalize	meter calibration and allocation worksheet
cp_intermediate_mass_transfer	stock, forming, thermal and finishing processes	internal product transfer	scale or verified count record	gross mass; tare; item count; mean item mass; source process; destination process; lot id	weigh transfer container or convert verified counts using measured mean item mass	kg	each lot	same period as production	all included transfers	reconcile matched input and output transfers by lot	scale calibration, sampling record and transfer reconciliation
cp_scrap_waste	stock and forming processes	post-industrial steel scrap	scrap-container weight and waste-transfer record	gross mass; tare; grade; contamination; source process; destination; date	weigh segregated scrap containers before internal recycling or off-site transfer	kg	each container or shipment	same period as production	all included scrap points	sum net scrap by source process and product allocation	scale calibration and destination receipt
cp_cutting_fluid	forming_and_trimming	cutting fluid and waste cutting oil	inventory issue, return, recovery and waste-transfer record	issued mass; unchanged return; recovered mass; waste mass; formulation; water content; lot id	mass balance purchased or issued fluid, reusable return and off-site waste	kg	each replenishment and waste shipment	same period as production	included trimming equipment	consumed fluid equals issues minus reusable returns, adjusted for stock change	stock reconciliation and waste manifest
cp_thermal_fuel	thermal_treatment	natural gas	calibrated gas-meter and furnace campaign log	volume; temperature; pressure; dry or wet basis; meter id; campaign; product mass	read dedicated meter or documented shared-meter allocation	m3	each campaign or daily	same period as thermally treated production	included furnace units	aggregate reference-condition volume by product campaign	meter calibration and conversion record
cp_direct_co2	thermal_treatment	fossil carbon dioxide	direct monitor or fuel-carbon calculation record	measured CO2; fuel volume; carbon content; oxidation factor; reference conditions; campaign	use direct measurement or calculate from collected fuel and documented facility-specific carbon data	kg	each campaign or reporting month	same period as fuel record	included on-site combustion sources	sum direct fossil CO2 and normalize; exclude upstream fuel and electricity emissions	monitor calibration or signed calculation sheet and supplier carbon data
cp_surface_treatment_inputs	surface_finishing_and_cleaning	water, sodium hydroxide and abrasive	line meter, bath log and material issue record	water; chemical solution mass; concentration; abrasive issue; recovered abrasive; bath id; product lot	meter water and reconcile chemical or abrasive issues, returns and stock change	kg	each shift or batch	same period as finished production	all included finishing operations	calculate neat chemical and net abrasive consumption, then normalize	meter calibration, bath analysis and stock reconciliation
cp_wastewater	surface_finishing_and_cleaning	alkaline finishing wastewater	discharge meter, tank-volume and laboratory record	wastewater mass or volume; density; pH; metal concentration; treatment; destination; time	meter discharge or use calibrated tank change with density conversion	kg	each discharge or continuously	same period as finishing production	all included finishing drains	aggregate before dilution and avoid double-counting treatment recirculation	meter calibration, laboratory report and transfer receipt
cp_dust_and_pm	surface_finishing_and_cleaning	captured dust and direct PM10	filter weight, container weight, source test or validated calculation	gross and tare mass; filter change; PM10 result; airflow; run time; release point; compartment	weigh captured dust separately and measure or calculate uncaptured PM10 for the confirmed release point	kg	each filter or container change and each required source test	representative production period	all included finishing extraction points	reconcile captured and released particulate without double-counting	scale calibration, source-test report and release-point record
cp_packaging_materials	final_inspection_and_packaging	corrugated box and LDPE film	packaging bill of material and supplier specification	component id; unit mass; units issued; return; waste; product units; lot	verify unit mass by weighing and reconcile issues and returns	kg	each packaging lot	same period as finished production	all included packaging lines	net component mass supplied with saleable product divided by net product mass	supplier specification, sample weighing and stock reconciliation
cp_finished_product	finishing and packaging processes	inspected and reference product	final scale, item-count and release record	net product mass; item count; mean item mass; rejects; specification; packaging tare; lot id	weigh accepted dry product before packaging and reconcile released quantity	kg	each production lot	representative 12 months or declared campaign	all included product lines	sum accepted net mass and set reference output to 1 kg	scale calibration, inspection release and count-to-mass record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	all foreground rows	normalized amount = attributable exchange amount / accepted net finished-product mass	attributable exchange; accepted net mass	exchange per 1 kg net finished article	ec-pef-method-2021
calc_count_to_mass	count-only records	mass = item count × measured product-specific mean item mass	item count; sampled item masses	kg product or packaging	ec-pef-method-2021
calc_electricity_mj	electricity	MJ = metered kWh × 3.6	metered kWh	electricity in MJ
calc_cutting_fluid_consumption	cutting fluid	consumed mass = opening stock + purchases or issues - closing stock - unchanged return - clean recovered fluid	stock, issue, return and recovery records	net cutting-fluid consumption	us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995
calc_direct_fossil_co2	natural-gas combustion	use direct measured CO2; otherwise apply the documented facility-specific fuel-carbon and oxidation calculation to collected gas	direct monitor or gas volume, carbon content and oxidation method	kg direct fossil CO2	ec-pef-method-2021
calc_metal_balance	metal-bearing flows	input metal mass = net product metal + outgoing scrap + captured metal-bearing dust + direct metal release + documented stock change and retained intermediates	stock, product, scrap, dust, release and stock records	mass-balance difference and reconciliation ratio	us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	reference product	Retain product drawing or specification, material certificate, measured net mass, finish, component and packaging configuration and service-life claim.	approved specification, certificate and inspection release
dq_temporal_alignment	all foreground data	Use one common representative period; disclose campaigns, shutdowns, rework and any extrapolation.	dated production, meter, stock and waste records
dq_meter_traceability	mass, energy, water and gas	Identify each meter or scale, calibration status, resolution and allocation boundary.	current calibration certificate and meter map
dq_completeness	process inventory	Reconcile purchasing, stock change, production output and waste transfers; explain every missing or estimated exchange.	signed reconciliation and completeness checklist
dq_route_specificity	conditional processes	Document whether thermal treatment, chemical finishing, coating, joining and each packaging component applies; do not average absent operations into the product.	route sheet, batch traveller and bill of materials
dq_background_linkage	purchased inputs	Use upstream datasets compatible with material state, alloy or formulation, supplier geography, technology and delivery boundary; disclose every proxy.	dataset metadata and proxy justification

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_identity	reference product	Fail the data package if product family, principal metal, alloy, net mass, route, finish, component set, factory geography, packaging or service-life qualifier is missing.	un-cpc-3-0-2025; ec-pef-method-2021
validate_reference_amount	reference flow	Confirm that the published reference output is exactly 1 kg net finished article and excludes all packaging mass.	ec-pef-method-2021
validate_inventory_identity	every inventory row	Require one atomic selected flow with a confirmed UUID or an explicit unresolved identity finding; reject umbrella utilities, materials, wastes or emissions.
validate_process_coverage	product route	Match every required process and each applicable conditional process to production records; record a justified not-applicable decision for omitted conditional stages.	us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995; ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006
validate_metal_balance	metal-bearing inventory	Investigate and disclose any unreconciled difference among input stock, net product, scrap, captured dust, direct release, stock change and retained intermediate mass.	us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995
validate_utility_conversion	electricity, gas and water	Recompute kWh-to-MJ, gas reference-condition and water volume-to-mass conversions from retained raw records.	ec-pef-method-2021
validate_waste_destination	all waste outputs	Require measured mass, source process, composition qualifier and treatment or recycling destination for each concrete waste flow.	ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006
validate_ranges	important quantitative flows	Treat the absence of two independent compatible sources as an unresolved range-evidence need; do not invent an acceptance range or use a single published case as a range.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Candidate foreground manufacturing dataset that may become a secondary_dataset or background_dataset after methodology review, UUID closure and dataset quality review
downstream_use	Product-specific gate-to-gate process datasets and lifecyclemodel inputs for declared metal household articles
allowed_use	Modelling the declared factory, product, alloy, route, finish and packaging configuration after all required qualifiers and unresolved identities are addressed
excluded_use	Unqualified CPC-wide averages; automatic substitution among steel, copper, aluminium and iron products; cradle-to-grave or comparative claims without distribution, use, lifetime and end-of-life modelling
required_metadata	PCR id; product specification; CPC context; principal metal and alloy; net mass and item count; route and conditional stages; finish and coating; site and period; energy and water supply; allocation; packaging; UUID and proxy status
required_quality_disclosure	Measurement coverage and calibration; count-to-mass sampling; metal balance; meter allocation; data gaps; estimates; background-dataset compatibility; waste destinations; direct-release method; unresolved UUIDs and range evidence needs
update_trigger	Material change in product design, alloy, supplier, forming or finishing technology, thermal route, packaging, energy or water supply, allocation, regulation, foreground period, or Tiangong flow identity

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, official CSV, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv, retrieved 2026-09-05	Official CPC 42912 classification identity and listed product scope
us-epa-fabricated-metal-sector-notebook-1995	Official guidance (official_guidance)	U.S. EPA, Profile of the Fabricated Metal Products Industry, EPA/310-R-95-007, September 1995, https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=50000DGC.TXT, retrieved 2026-09-05	Metal shaping, surface preparation, finishing, material inputs, wastes and route decomposition
ec-jrc-stm-bref-2006	Official guidance (official_guidance)	European Commission Joint Research Centre, Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for the Surface Treatment of Metals and Plastics, August 2006, https://bureau-industrial-transformation.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2019-11/stm_bref_0806.pdf, retrieved 2026-09-05	Water-based surface-treatment process boundary, utilities, chemicals, rinsing, wastewater, sludge, dust and direct releases
ec-pef-method-2021	Standard (standard)	Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279, Annex I Product Environmental Footprint Method, consolidated 30 December 2021, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A02021H2279-20211230, retrieved 2026-09-05	Functional unit, reference-flow normalization, system boundary, company-specific data, data quality and allocation hierarchy