The Metal Construction Association issued three new Environmental Product Declaration updates in April covering metal composite material panels, insulated metal panels and roll formed aluminum and steel cladding for roofs and walls.
According to the Metal Construction Association, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can help the industry “use sustainable building materials and develop more energy efficient and environmentally responsible buildings.”
In accordance with ISO 14025 (Type III Environmental Declarations) international standard, EPDs are documents, verified by third parties, that report environmental data of products based on Life Cycle Assessment.
At its core, EPDs are like executive summaries that demonstrate the environmental impact of products in a variety of categories. All three EPDs were issued on April 1, 2020 and are valid for five years.
EPD: Metal Composite Material Panels
The first EPD covers metal composite material panels which are typically a polyethylene or
fire-resistant core between two sheets of coated metal.
While the metal skins in metal composite material panels can include zinc, copper, stainless steel and titanium, this EPD covers the use of aluminum, the most widely used metal skin for this application.
According to the EPD the benefits of using metal composite material panels includes “aesthetics, durability, rain screening, fireproofing, and reduced energy costs.
Read the entire EPD which includes product specifications, composition, manufacturing, packaging and transportation as well as cradle-to-gate life cycle impact assessment results.
EPD: Insulated Metal Panels
Insulated metal panels, rigid foam sandwiched between two sheets of coated metal, are facings that provide long-term thermal stability and create a vapor, air and moisture barrier.
Since the 1960s, insulated metal panels have been used successfully in the building of manufacturing facilities, universities and schools, healthcare facilities, cold-storage and food processing plants, aircraft hangars and service facilities, distribution and warehousing centers, sports complexes and convention centers.
Product specifications in the EPD include performance standards for acoustocal, air tightness, fire, and structural.
EPD: Roll Formed Aluminum and Steel Cladding for Roofs and Walls
No core is used in the production process of roll formed aluminum and steel as a factory roller is used on aluminum coated coils to reach a desired profile.
Primary products studied in the EPD were 0.028 inches (24 Gauge) steel coil for roll formed steel cladding and 0.024 inches (22 Gauge) aluminum coil for roll formed aluminum cladding.
Roll formed aluminum and steel cladding are used for a variety of roof and wall applications Strengths of the application include:
- Long-term durability
- Wide variety of finish and color options
- Low maintenance
- Ability to improve energy efficiency in applications such as solar roof and wall systems
- Rainscreen applications
Technical data in the EPD include substrate performance, metal roof performance, metal wall performance, paint finish performance, fire performance, and model codes or standards.
