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RCP v1.0 Full Framework Document — The Complete Restoration Carbon Protocol Standard

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will_tygart

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The Restoration Carbon Protocol (RCP) is an open industry self-standard for calculating, documenting, and reporting Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from restoration contractor work. It is the first framework purpose-built for the restoration industry to enable contractors to provide defensible, auditor-acceptable emissions data to commercial property managers, REITs, institutional investors, government agencies, and ESG reporting platforms.

This document is the complete RCP v1.0 specification. It supersedes and consolidates all individual RCP knowledge nodes published at tygartmedia.com/esg-restoration. This is the document you share with RIA, with software vendors, with ESG consultants, and with any organization that wants to understand, adopt, or build on the standard.

Version: RCP v1.0
Published: April 2026
Published by: Tygart Media — tygartmedia.com
License: Open — free to use, implement, and build upon with attribution
GHG Protocol alignment: Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard
Emission factor vintage: EPA 2025 GHG Emission Factors Hub, EPA eGRID 2023, EPA WARM v16

Part I: Purpose and Scope

Why RCP Exists

Commercial property managers, REITs, hospital systems, and institutional facility owners face mandatory Scope 3 greenhouse gas disclosure requirements under California SB 253 (effective 2027 for Scope 3), the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and growing pressure from GRESB, CDP, and institutional investors. Restoration contractor work — water damage, fire and smoke, mold remediation, asbestos and hazmat abatement, and biohazard cleanup — generates Scope 3 emissions that appear in the property manager’s inventory as Category 1 (purchased goods and services) and Category 4 (upstream transportation) emissions.

No standard existed for how restoration contractors should calculate, document, or report these emissions. Without a standard, each contractor produced different data in different formats, making it impossible for property managers to aggregate across their vendor base. The Restoration Carbon Protocol fills that gap.

What RCP Covers

RCP v1.0 defines the emissions calculation methodology, data capture requirements, reporting format, proxy estimation procedures, and emission factors for five core restoration job types:

  1. Water damage restoration (IICRC S500)
  2. Fire and smoke restoration (IICRC S700)
  3. Mold remediation (IICRC S520)
  4. Asbestos and hazmat abatement
  5. Biohazard and trauma scene cleanup

RCP v1.0 covers the Scope 3 emissions generated on behalf of commercial clients. Contractor Scope 1 and 2 emissions (the contractor’s own buildings, fleet, and purchased energy) are a separate accounting obligation under the GHG Protocol and are not addressed by the RCP.

Part II: GHG Protocol Alignment

Scope 3 Categories Addressed

Restoration contractor work generates client-facing Scope 3 emissions primarily across four GHG Protocol categories:

GHG Protocol Category What It Covers in Restoration Work Included in RCP v1.0
Category 1 — Purchased Goods and Services Consumable materials, chemicals, PPE, containment, equipment energy (when building-powered) ✅ Yes
Category 4 — Upstream Transportation All vehicle trips to/from job site, equipment hauls, waste transport ✅ Yes
Category 5 — Waste Generated in Operations Disposal of demolished materials, contaminated waste, PPE, wastewater ✅ Yes
Category 12 — End-of-Life Treatment Embedded carbon in building materials removed and disposed of ✅ Yes
Category 7 — Employee Commuting Technician commuting to contractor’s office ❌ No — contractor’s own Scope 3
Category 2 — Capital Goods Embedded carbon in equipment (dehumidifiers, vehicles) manufactured ❌ No — contractor’s own Scope 3

Part III: The Five Emissions Calculation Domains

Every RCP calculation is organized into five domains. Each domain has a primary data source, a calculation method, and a set of proxy values for when primary data is unavailable.

Domain 1: Equipment Energy

Electricity consumed by contractor-deployed drying, filtration, and remediation equipment. Primary method: metered kWh. Proxy method: equipment wattage × runtime hours × proxy unit power draws.

  • National grid emission factor: 0.3499 kg CO₂e/kWh (EPA eGRID 2023 national average)
  • Use subregion-specific factor where available (EPA Power Profiler at epa.gov/egrid)
  • Proxy unit power draws: LGR dehumidifier 1.1 kWh/hr, air mover 0.25 kWh/hr, HEPA air scrubber 0.50 kWh/hr, desiccant dehumidifier 2.8 kWh/hr

Domain 2: Vehicle Transport

All fuel combustion from vehicles operated for job-related purposes. Primary method: fuel volume in gallons. Proxy method: miles × 1/mpg × emission factor.

  • Diesel (mobile combustion): 10.21 kg CO₂e/gallon (EPA 2025 EF Hub)
  • Gasoline (mobile combustion): 8.89 kg CO₂e/gallon (EPA 2025 EF Hub)
  • Proxy fleet mpg: diesel service van 20 mpg; gasoline pickup 18 mpg; diesel dump truck 8 mpg
  • Debris haul: 0.186 kg CO₂e/ton-mile truck freight (EPA 2025 EF Hub)

Domain 3: Consumable Materials

Embedded carbon in materials consumed during the job but not remaining in the structure: chemicals, PPE, containment materials. Primary method: purchase records by product. Proxy method: standard consumption rates by job type and crew size.

  • Antimicrobial treatments (default): 2.8 kg CO₂e/liter
  • Polyethylene containment sheeting: 0.22 kg CO₂e/meter
  • Disposable Tyvek suit: 1.8 kg CO₂e/unit
  • N95 respirator: 0.4 kg CO₂e/unit
  • Nitrile glove pair: 0.12 kg CO₂e/pair

Domain 4: Waste Disposal

Emissions from disposing of materials removed from the property. Primary method: disposal facility manifests by weight and disposal type. Proxy method: weight estimated from demolition scope or volume.

  • Mixed C&D waste, landfill: 0.021 tCO₂e/short ton (EPA WARM v16)
  • Drywall/gypsum, landfill: 0.006 tCO₂e/short ton (EPA WARM v16)
  • Wood debris, landfill: 0.039 tCO₂e/short ton (EPA WARM v16)
  • Regulated hazmat, incineration: 0.42 tCO₂e/short ton (EPA AP-42)
  • Biohazardous waste, medical incineration: 0.88 tCO₂e/short ton (DEFRA 2024)

Domain 5: Demolished Materials

Embedded carbon in building materials removed from the structure as a result of restoration work. Primary method: demolition scope by material type and weight. Proxy method: sqft × standard weight/sqft by material type × emission factor.

  • Standard drywall (½”): 0.12 kg CO₂e/kg (production) — EPA WARM v16
  • Fiberglass insulation batts: 1.35 kg CO₂e/kg — EPA WARM v16
  • Carpet (nylon face): 5.40 kg CO₂e/kg — DEFRA 2024
  • LVP/vinyl flooring: 3.10 kg CO₂e/kg — DEFRA 2024
  • Dimensional lumber: 0.45 kg CO₂e/kg — EPA WARM v16

Part IV: The RCP 12-Point Data Capture Standard

Every RCP-compliant job record requires twelve data points captured at the time of the job. These are the minimum inputs needed to produce a defensible Scope 3 emissions calculation. Full definitions, good vs. poor capture examples, and calculation mapping for each data point are documented at: tygartmedia.com/12-data-points-restoration-job-scope-3/

# Data Point Capture Stage GHG Category
1 Vehicle log (type, trips, miles, fuel) Daily / GPS Cat. 4
2 Waste transport log Close-out Cat. 4
3 Equipment power source (building or generator) Setup Cat. 1 / Cat. 4
4 Chemical treatments log (volume by type) During / Close-out Cat. 1
5 PPE consumption log During / Close-out Cat. 1
6 Containment materials log Setup / Close-out Cat. 1
7 Debris volume by waste category (weight) Close-out / Manifest Cat. 5
8 Disposal method and facility Close-out Cat. 5 factor selector
9 Demolished materials by type and weight Demo scope / Close-out Cat. 12
10 Replacement materials (if in contractor scope) Close-out Cat. 1
11 Job classification (type, category, class, sqft) Initial assessment Proxy rate selector
12 Job timeline (start date, completion date) System-generated Period assignment

Part V: Proxy Estimation Methodology

When primary data is unavailable — whether for historical jobs, field situations where documentation was incomplete, or data points that current job management systems don’t capture — the RCP authorizes proxy estimation. All proxy calculations must be labeled as estimated in the data quality section of the Job Carbon Report.

The complete proxy value reference table is published at: tygartmedia.com/rcp-proxy-estimation-methodology/

The hierarchy of calculation quality, from highest to lowest:

  1. Primary data: Metered, weighed, or directly measured values from job records
  2. Derived primary: Calculated from primary data using standard conversion factors (e.g., miles from GPS × mpg = gallons)
  3. Proxy — job-specific: Estimated using job classification (type, category, class, sqft) with RCP standard rates
  4. Proxy — national average: Used only when job classification is also unavailable. Lowest quality; flag prominently in data quality notes

Part VI: The RCP Job Carbon Report

The Job Carbon Report is the output document delivered to commercial clients. It is the vehicle by which contractor emissions data enters the client’s Scope 3 inventory. The report has two valid formats: document (PDF or structured text) and machine-readable (JSON per RCP-JCR-1.0 schema).

The full report template, field definitions, and example values are published at: tygartmedia.com/rcp-job-carbon-report-template/

The RCP-JCR-1.0 JSON schema is published at: tygartmedia.com/rcp-json-schema-v1-machine-readable-standard/

Required report sections:

  1. Job Identification (contractor, client, property, job type, dates)
  2. Emissions Summary (total tCO₂e and breakdown by GHG Protocol category)
  3. Transportation Calculation (Category 4 detail)
  4. Materials Calculation (Category 1 detail)
  5. Waste Disposal Calculation (Category 5 detail)
  6. Demolished Materials Calculation (Category 12 detail)
  7. Data Quality Notes (primary vs. proxy data points, preparer, date)

Part VII: Scope Boundaries

Included in RCP v1.0 Scope

  • All electricity consumed by contractor-deployed drying and remediation equipment from setup to retrieval
  • All vehicle fuel combustion for all trips directly associated with the job
  • Embedded carbon in consumable materials used during the job
  • Disposal emissions for all materials removed as part of the restoration scope
  • Embedded carbon in building materials removed and disposed of

Excluded from RCP v1.0 Scope

  • Emissions from the original loss event (pipe break, fire, flood) — property owner’s Scope 1/2
  • Employee commuting to/from contractor’s office — contractor’s own Scope 3 Cat. 7
  • Capital equipment manufacturing emissions — contractor’s own Scope 3 Cat. 2
  • Administrative overhead, insurance, office operations
  • Wastewater treatment facility emissions from discharged extraction water (flagged for v2.0)
  • Subcontractor emissions not within the primary contractor’s scope of work

Part VIII: Per-Job-Type Calculation Guides

Each job type has a dedicated technical calculation guide with job-type-specific emission factors, worked examples, and proxy values. These are the source-of-record methodology documents for each restoration category:

Part IX: Emission Factor Reference

The complete consolidated emission factor reference table — every value used in RCP calculations, with source citations — is published at: tygartmedia.com/rcp-emission-factor-reference-table/

All emission factors in RCP v1.0 are drawn from:

  • U.S. EPA 2025 GHG Emission Factors Hub (January 2025 update)
  • U.S. EPA eGRID 2023 (published January 2025)
  • U.S. EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM) v16
  • DEFRA UK Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors 2024
  • IPCC AR5 Global Warming Potentials (100-year)

Part X: Governance, Versioning, and Contribution

Governance Model

RCP v1.0 operates under a founder-steward governance model. Tygart Media, as the originating organization, maintains editorial control over the standard and is responsible for version releases, emission factor updates, and scope boundary decisions. This model is appropriate for an early-stage standard where consistency and speed of iteration matter more than distributed governance.

As the standard matures and industry adoption grows — particularly if RIA, IICRC, or another industry body formally endorses or houses the standard — governance may transition to a stewardship board model with representation from contractors, property managers, ESG consultants, and software vendors.

Versioning Policy

Version Type When Issued What Changes Backwards Compatible?
Patch (v1.0.x) Annually or when EPA updates emission factors Emission factor updates only Yes — same schema
Minor (v1.x) When new fields or job types are added Additive changes — new optional fields, new job type guides Yes — existing records remain valid
Major (v2.0) When scope boundaries change significantly New required fields, scope expansions (e.g., wastewater treatment), LCA-based material factors Migration path provided

How to Contribute

The RCP is an open standard. Contributions from contractors, software vendors, ESG consultants, property managers, and researchers are actively welcomed. The current contribution process:

  1. Propose: Email rcp@tygartmedia.com with the proposed change, the technical rationale, and any supporting sources. Emission factor changes require a peer-reviewed or regulatory source.
  2. Review: Tygart Media reviews within 30 days and responds with acceptance, modification request, or rejection with explanation.
  3. Publish: Accepted contributions are credited by organization in the version release notes and reflected in the next patch or minor version.

Priority contribution areas for v1.1:

  • LCA-based emission factors for specific replacement material types
  • EV fleet proxy values (kWh/mile × grid factor)
  • Regional proxy rates for markets outside the continental US
  • Subcontractor emissions inclusion methodology
  • Wastewater treatment facility emission factors by treatment type

Open Source License

The RCP v1.0 specification, all calculation methodology, the RCP-JCR-1.0 JSON schema, and all associated proxy value tables are released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). You are free to use, share, adapt, and build commercial products on top of this standard with attribution to “Restoration Carbon Protocol v1.0, Tygart Media, tygartmedia.com.”

Part XI: Commercial Application and Regulatory Context

California SB 253

California SB 253 requires companies with California revenues over $1 billion to report Scope 3 emissions for their 2026 fiscal year by 2027. Commercial property managers and REITs in scope must collect contractor Scope 3 data across their vendor base. RCP-compliant Job Carbon Reports provide a standardized format for this data collection. Full context: tygartmedia.com/california-sb-253-2027-restoration-contractors/

GRESB

GRESB Real Estate Assessment submissions (due July annually) require Scope 3 data from property managers’ supply chains, including restoration contractors. RCP Job Carbon Reports in JSON format integrate with major ESG data management platforms (Measurabl, Deepki, Yardi Elevate, Atrius) that aggregate GRESB submissions. Full context: tygartmedia.com/restoration-work-gresb-cdp-disclosures/

CDP Supply Chain

CDP Supply Chain program participants request annual Scope 3 data from their contractors via standardized questionnaire. RCP portfolio-level data aggregation (sum of per-job records by client property) provides the input for CDP Supply Chain responses.

EU CSRD

The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires double-materiality ESG disclosure from large companies, including US-based organizations with EU operations or EU-listed investors. For restoration contractors serving CSRD-obligated property clients, the RCP data format provides the supply chain emissions input required under ESRS E1 (Climate) reporting standards.

Part XII: Software Integration

The RCP is designed to be implemented natively in restoration job management platforms. The 12 data points map directly to field types that existing platforms (PSA/Canam, Dash/Next Gear Solutions, Xcelerate, Encircle, Albiware) already capture or can capture with minimal custom field additions. The RCP-JCR-1.0 JSON schema provides the standard data exchange format for platform-to-platform and platform-to-ESG-tool data transfer.

For software implementation guidance: tygartmedia.com/rcp-json-schema-v1-machine-readable-standard/

For a call to restoration software vendors to adopt RCP: see the software integration guide (coming April 2026 at tygartmedia.com/esg-restoration).

Part XIII: Version History

Version Date Changes
RCP v1.0 April 2026 Initial publication. Five job types, 12-point data standard, RCP-JCR-1.0 JSON schema, proxy estimation methodology, emission factor reference table, full framework document.

All RCP v1.0 Knowledge Nodes

The following articles constitute the complete RCP v1.0 knowledge base. Each is a standalone reference document that can be read independently or cited as a component of this framework:

Contact and Contribution

To contribute to the RCP standard, propose changes, report errors, or inquire about software implementation: rcp@tygartmedia.com

To discuss RCP adoption at the industry level, partnership with RIA, or integration with restoration job management platforms: will@tygartmedia.com

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