Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.
The first of two phases in development of a standard Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)—aimed at assisting ready mixed producers on projects where customers target certification under the new LEED v4 green building rating system—has produced a survey report and list of participating companies and plants, posted (below opening tables) here.
The report offers a cradle to gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for ready mixed concrete and industry average EPD based on data from NRMCA members who have issued plant-specific or company-wide declarations for individual mix designs, or a range of mixes. The LCA and EPD encompass concrete for a variety of applications, strengths, durability classes, slump or spread characteristics, and regions. The final EPD will represent concrete typically used on a variety of projects from homes to high rises in different climate zones and different markets. LEED v4 requires producers submitting a company-specific EPD on a project to provide data for and be listed, respectively, in industry-wide LCA and EPD.
NRMCA staff will use LCA and survey data in the second phase to establish industry baselines for all environmental impacts, allowing concrete producers to participate further in LEED v4 by demonstrating they outperform the baseline. A number of baselines will be established at the national and regional levels, including those reflecting mix designs with 100 percent portland cement and low to high volume supplementary cementitious materials. NRMCA started the LCA and EPD project late last year, targeting a November 2014 completion. Additional information can be obtained from Senior Vice President, Sustainable Development Lionel Lemay, 847/918-7101; [email protected].