ISO 14404-1:2013

Overview

ISO 14404-1:2013 - Calculation method of carbon dioxide emission intensity from iron and steel production - Part 1: Steel plant with blast furnace defines a standardized method to calculate CO2 emission intensity for steel plants that operate a blast furnace (integrated steel works). The standard specifies how to set site boundaries, define material and energy flows, and apply CO2 emission factors, including treatment of direct emissions, upstream emissions (imports), and credit concepts for exported materials or energy. ISO 14404-1:2013 supports site-level greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting but is not intended for product carbon footprints, benchmarking or comparing internal production processes.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Boundary definition: Establishes the site boundary for calculations (categories defined in the standard) so that all relevant flows are consistently captured.
• Emissions classification: Distinguishes direct CO2 emissions, upstream CO2 emissions (e.g., from imported materials, electricity, steam), and credit CO2 emissions for exports.
• Material and energy flow definitions: Requires identification and accounting of fuels, by-product gases (BFG, COG, BOF/LDG gas), auxiliary materials and other inputs commonly recorded by plants.
• Emission factors: Specifies the use of emission factors for different fuels and by-product gases; Annexes provide explanatory material and templates.
• Principles for calculation: Emphasizes relevance, completeness, consistency, accuracy and transparency in reporting.
• Annexes: Informative annexes include energy conversion and intensity calculation guidance, templates for emission-factor application, worked examples and explanations of by-product gas factors.

Practical applications and intended users

• Who uses it: Steel producers (integrated plants), sustainability and environmental managers, corporate GHG reporting teams, regulatory compliance officers, external auditors, consultants and supply‑chain sustainability specialists.
• What it supports:
  • Site-level CO2 intensity reporting for internal management, target-setting and improvement planning.
  • Consistent calculation of net site emissions including upstream and credit treatments.
  • Converting material and energy flows into CO2 intensity metrics (see Annex A for energy conversion).
• Limitations: Not suitable for establishing regulatory emission caps, cross-region benchmarking, or product-level carbon footprinting.

Related standards

• ISO 14064-1 (GHG accounting and reporting) - ISO 14404-1 maps its direct, upstream and credit emission concepts to ISO 14064-1 categories.
• ISO 14404-2 - companion part covering electric arc furnace (EAF) steel plants.

Keywords: ISO 14404-1:2013, CO2 emission intensity, steel plant, blast furnace, carbon dioxide calculation method, emission factors, integrated steel works, greenhouse gas accounting.