Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency invites comments through April 4 on “Criteria for Product Category Rules (PCRs) to Support the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials.” Posted here, the 30-page document offers guidelines to improve PCRs by establishing consistent data quality and transparency requirements for Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). The proposed criteria…
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ASTM, ICC ES pool resources in PCR-, LCA-, EPD-centered consortium
Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff
Officials from ASTM, the (International Code Council) ICC Evaluation Service and Michigan-based NSF International have announced the first Program Operator Consortium, serving as an expert resource for creating product category rules (PCR), reviewing life cycle assessment (LCA) reports, plus verifying and publishing environmental product declarations (EPD).
Read MoreLife Cycle Factors Gain in ISO 14001:2015
A new version of a global standard behind 300,000 certifications annually, including parties developing Product Category Rules (PCR) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) backing green building rating measures, places increased emphasis on life-cycle thinking, considering each stage of a product or service, cradle to grave. Released last month from Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems likewise addresses users’ recognition of the need to factor both external and internal elements that influence their impact, including climate volatility, plus proactive initiatives for greater environmental protection.
Read MoreLife cycle factors gain in revised benchmark environmental standard
Sources: International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva; CP staff
A new version of a global standard behind 300,000 certifications annually, including parties developing Product Category Rules (PCR) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) backing green building rating measures, places increased emphasis on life-cycle thinking, considering each stage of a product or service, cradle to grave. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems likewise addresses users’ recognition of the need to factor both external and internal elements that influence their impact, including climate volatility, plus proactive initiatives for greater environmental protection.
Read MoreMajor auditor NSF attains accreditation for PCR development, EPD verification
Global public health organization NSF International, Ann Arbor, Mich., is among the first organizations to be recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a program operator for product category rules (PCR) development and environmental product declarations (EPD) verification. As a PCR and EPD program operator, NSF International will help meet growing demand for standardization of science-based environmental data, reporting and verification.
Construction life cycle assessment pioneer retools Pavement software
Sources: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, Ottawa; CP staff
The developer of a life cycle assessment (LCA) tool informing ready mixed and manufactured-concrete interests’ product category rules (PCR) and environmental product declarations (EPD) has released Pavement LCA Version 2.1, succeeding the Impact Estimator for Highways software. Athena Institute envisioned the charter program for major freeway and arterial roadway assessment, but notes the tool can now gauge the environmental footprint of any roadway cross-section along its length and over its service life.
Read MoreASTM publishes Product Category Rules for Concrete Masonry Products
A National Concrete Masonry Association-led team of producers and allied interests has finalized “Product Category Rules for Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration for Manufactured Concrete and Concrete Masonry Products.” The 21-page document presents baseline data for life cycle assessments detailed in Environmental Product Declarations. In turn, EPD support concrete product customers seeking certification or recognition under new or emerging green building rating systems.
Read MoreASTM publishes Product Category Rules for Concrete Masonry Products
Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff
An NCMA-led team of producers and allied interests has finalized “Product Category Rules for Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration for Manufactured Concrete and Concrete Masonry Products.” The 21-page document presents baseline data for life cycle assessments producers detail in Environmental Product Declarations.
Read MoreASTM publishes C150, C595 and C1157 product category rules
Sources: Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
With guidance from 10 PCA member companies, ASTM International has released product category rules (PCR) for six grades of binder under Committee C01 on Cement—portland, portland-limestone, blended hydraulic, masonry, mortar, and plastic (stucco)—providing producers and their customers a tool central to emerging green building practice: environmental product declarations (EPD).
Read MoreASTM, Slag Cement group publish C989-suited Product Category Rules
Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; Slag Cement Association (SCA), Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff
ASTM and SCA-developed Product Category Rules (PCR) will support customers seeking to issue an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for slag cement concrete or mortar, especially on green building projects where specifications stipulate or incentivize disclosure of raw material processing methods and chemical content.
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