An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD®) is a disclosure document that provides quantitative environmental impact data based on products' life cycles. The reported data can be used in the material selection process for construction projects.
Although it currently is unusual for roofing project specifications to require roofing products with EPDs, using roofing products with EPDs is becoming more common in the roofing industry. It's a good idea to become familiar with how EPDs are developed and how they may be required.
How are EPDs developed?
EPDs are a type of ecolabel, which is a document that discloses or reports environmental or sustainability data for products, including construction materials, to assist consumers with selecting products. Ecolabels are developed based on the International Standards Organization (ISO) 14000 series of environmental standards. ISO 14020, "Environmental Labels and Declarations—General Principles," establishes three main types of ecolabels:
EPDs result from a Type III ecolabel development process according to ISO 14025. As part of EPD development, ISO 14025 requires an LCA be conducted to determine the environmental impact data to be reported in EPD documents. LCAs evaluate how products are made (raw materials acquisition, manufacturing and transportation), used (installation, use and maintenance) and disposed (disposal, reuse or recycling). For EPDs, LCAs are conducted according to ISO 14040, "Environmental management—Life Cycle Assessment—Principles and Framework," and ISO 14044, "Environmental management—Life Cycle Assessment—Requirements and Guidelines."
An important aspect of EPD development programs is the process requires a program operator. Program operators are independent companies, trade associations, public authorities, agencies or independent scientific bodies that serve as impartial administrators. Some common program operators are ASTM International, ICC Evaluation Service, NSF International and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL).
The process also requires the use of Product Category Rules (PCRs) to ensure EPDs for similar construction products use the same development rules so EPD data can be compared among similar products. Construction-product-related PCRs are developed according to ISO 21930, "Building Construction—Sustainability in Building Construction—Environmental Declaration of Building Products."
If existing, relevant PCRs exist, they can be used or adapted by program operators. If a PCR doesn't exist, program operators develop new PCRs by working with product manufacturers, trade groups and other interested stakeholders. The process requires a panel of experts to review and verify new PCRs conform to ISO 21930. Also, new or adapted PCRs must include a process where interested parties have an opportunity to comment, and all comments must be addressed.
Following is a typical process product manufacturers may use to develop an EPD:
Not all EPDs will report all the values noted in the sidebar. The PCR that governs a particular EPD development will determine which of the possible impact categories will be reported. Also, two kinds of EPDs are possible:
The roofing industry's progress
Currently, there are few EPDs available for common U.S. roofing products such as membranes or shingles though three PCRs have been published. The available roofing product-related PCRs follow:
Although there may be other roofing product EPDs in development based on these PCRs, the following were published at press time:
Are EPD-products required?
Although it currently is unusual for roofing project specifications to require products with EPDs, the use of products with EPDs is becoming more common to comply with environmental credit-rating systems such as the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) LEED® Version 4 (LEED v4) and The 2030 Challenge by Architecture 2030.
Administered by USGBC, LEED is a points-based certification program commonly used for public sector or high-profile commercial projects to highlight construction and operation methods that are focused on sustainability. In June 2013, LEED v4 was approved. It officially was launched by USGBC in November 2013 and will be required for all new LEED projects registered on or after June 1, 2015.
Developing LEED v4 was controversial and included six rounds of public comments before its approval. Considered a significant overhaul of the rating system, LEED v4 includes a reworking of material and resource credits to incorporate disclosure of environmental and health effects, including the submission of EPDs for specified construction products; the submission of EPDs was not part of previous LEED versions.
Although not all LEED projects will pursue credits that require the submission of EPDs, projects using LEED v4 may contain requirements for roofing-related products to have published EPDs. When bidding on or preparing submittal packages for LEED v4 projects, review project specifications and LEED checklists carefully for requirements of EPDs for roofing-related products and confirm with specified product manufacturers that EPDs for desired products are available. If EPDs are not available for products required to have EPDs, consult with project design teams or owners' representatives before submitting bids or material submittals.
The 2030 Challenge is a voluntary initiative administered by Architecture 2030, a nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by architect Edward Mazria. Current adopters of The 2030 Challenge include individuals, architectural and engineering firms, and material and product manufacturers. Individuals and companies taking part in The 2030 Challenge are asked to pursue a commitment to reducing fossil fuel and energy consumption in new construction and major retrofit projects.
To encourage design professionals to specify products and manufacturers to produce products in line with The 2030 Challenge goals, The 2030 Challenge for Products was developed. To comply, products must meet a maximum carbon-equivalent footprint of 30 percent below the product category average.
Design professionals adopting The 2030 Challenge for Products also are asked to "pledge to request third-party expert verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and, where possible, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) results from product manufacturers and specify low-carbon building products that meet the Challenge targets."
Adopting product manufacturers are asked to "pledge to conduct and publish third-party expert verified LCAs and, where possible, EPDs for your products and commit to reducing the carbon-equivalent footprint of your products to meet the Challenge targets."
At press time, hundreds of adopters of The 2030 Challenge, as well as local, state and federal legislative resolutions that reference The 2030 Challenge, were listed on Architecture 2030s website, www.architecture2030.org. There are far fewer companies that have specifically adopted The 2030 Challenge for Products.
When reviewing bidding documents or preparing submittal packages, examine project specifications carefully to see whether EPDs are required as part of The 2030 Challenge requirements. If so, at this time, it may be difficult or impossible to show compliance for roofing-related products.
According to The 2030 Challenge staff, there is not an established method for evaluating products from organizations that have not adopted The 2030 Challenge or for products from industries without an industry-wide EPD.
At press time, only one industry-wide EPD for a roof covering product used in the U.S. has been developed, so the documentation does not yet exist for most commonly used roofing products to determine whether a roof system would comply with The 2030 Challenge. If you find yourself in this situation, consult with project design teams or owners' representatives before submitting bids or material submittals.
The future of roofing EPDs
Currently, most roofing-related material manufacturers seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach to EPD development. Reasons why a roofing material manufacturer may be delaying EPD development include:
Working together
Despite the challenges of EPD development, some roof covering manufacturers indicate they are moving forward with developing EPDs using published PCRs, but the process may take some time because of the complexities of completing LCAs needed for EPD development. Others have reported a desire to create additional industry-wide EPDs for roofing products.
As roofing product-related EPDs are released, Professional Roofing will share the news.
Jason Wilen, AIA, CDT, RRO, is an NRCA director of technical services.
Commonly reported impact categories for construction-product-related EPDs
Did you know?
NRCA has published LEED v4: Roofing-related Provisions, a guide that explains the roofing-related provisions of the most recognized sustainable building rating system, the LEED® Rating System, Version 4 (LEED v4). The guide explains background information, descriptions of possible roofing-related credits and prerequisites for rating systems for the Building Design and Construction and Building Operations and Maintenance categories. Also included is a listing of typical LEED-related submittals and an accounting of the roofing-related provisions that have changed in LEED v4 versus previous LEED editions.
For more information, visit shop.nrca.net or contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.
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