How much does an FDES configurator cost and when does it pay off?

“How much does it cost?” It is often the first question a manufacturer asks us, and there is no catalogue answer. Producing FDES one at a time means costs for every new declaration. A configurator requires an initial investment, which can then be spread across all the FDES or configurations it produces. This guide explains both approaches and gives you what you need to calculate with your own figures.

Recurring costs do, however, depend on the type of configurator: a generator automates the production of FDES, but each one still goes through a verification and publication process. A distributor, once verified and registered, adapts the results to the authorised configurations without systematic individual re-verification.

The amounts mentioned on this page, including in the simulator, are for guidance only: they are in no way a price list, nor Ailoop’s rates.

How much does a single FDES cost?

On average, an individual FDES costs around €13,000 on the market. This price covers three items: producing the FDES, its verification by a third-party verifier approved by INIES, and the INIES submission token.

Producing several FDES therefore inevitably increases the bill: even if part of the work can be reused from one declaration to the next, each new FDES has its price, and it ties up your teams again.

Single FDES or configurator: how do costs evolve?

Producing FDES one at a time and using a configurator rely on different economic models. A configurator requires an initial investment to develop the LCA model and the application. After that, the costs of each new FDES depend on the type of configurator chosen: generator or distributor.

It all depends on the type of configurator:

• With a generator, each FDES is still verified and then published on INIES. But since the configurator has already been verified, this verification is lighter: its cost falls to around €200 per FDES, plus the INIES submission token.
• With a distributor, once the configurator has been verified and recognised for RE2020 (the French environmental regulation for new buildings), there is no cost per FDES at all: the declarations are used directly in building calculation software.

Beyond price, the way you work changes too: your teams become self-sufficient. The tool is designed around their roles, and an FDES is available on demand, in a few clicks, without waiting for a new study.

What does an FDES configurator budget include?

The cost of building an FDES configurator depends on the project scope, the availability of data, the complexity of the LCA models and the features you expect. Several items make up this investment.

Discover the stages of building an FDES configurator

How many FDES before a configurator pays off?

There is no universal number of FDES beyond which a configurator becomes cheaper than producing them one at a time.

The break-even point depends in particular on the number of declarations planned, the diversity of the products, how far LCA models can be shared and the type of configurator chosen.

Estimate the payback of your project with our simulator, comparing the costs of the different approaches using your own assumptions.

How do you calculate your break-even point?

Break-even is reached when cumulative savings offset the investment in the configurator. The calculation compares two totals over the same period.

The simulator gives an order of magnitude, not a decision. It does not take into account possible synergies between single FDES, your teams’ time, or everything a configurator brings beyond the calculation.

What are the benefits of an FDES configurator for manufacturers?

Part of a configurator’s value does not show up in a cost per FDES: it lies in the time saved, the coverage of the catalogue and the ability to keep up as it evolves.

What does the payback of an FDES configurator depend on?

The payback of an FDES configurator depends on the number of declarations to produce, the characteristics of the products and the costs associated with each solution. Several factors come into play:

• The volume of FDES to produce: the more declarations over the configurator’s lifetime, the more the initial investment can be spread.
• Product similarity: products that share common characteristics can rely on the same parametric LCA model, which limits modelling costs.
• Product variability: the ability to generate different configurations from one model means more product references can be covered.
• The initial investment: it depends in particular on the availability of data, the complexity of the LCA models and the features you expect.
• Costs over time: verification of declarations, maintenance, updates and any further development of the configurator must be taken into account.

Payback should therefore be assessed over several years, comparing the total cost of the configurator with that of producing FDES without one, while taking possible synergies into account.

To go further: read our guide to assessing whether an FDES configurator is worthwhile.

Key takeaways

A single FDES is paid for with every declaration; a configurator is paid for mostly upfront, then spread across all the FDES it produces. The break-even point can be calculated with your figures. Price is only part of the decision: your teams’ time and the coverage of your catalogue matter too.