A new Product Category Rule (PCR) document, produced by Marietta, Ga.-based UL Environment, is now available from the Glenview, Ill.-based Metal Construction Association. The PCR document addresses three products: insulated metal panels, metal composite panels, and metal cladding. Metal cladding includes roof and wall panels. The 37-page "Product Category Rules for preparing an environmental product declaration (EPD) for Product Group: Insulated Metal Panels & Metal Composite Panels, and Metal Cladding: Roof and Wall Panels" is offered free of charge as a PDF document from the MCA website.
The PCR is needed to determine the product group specific rules for the development of an EPD, to calculate a life-cycle assessment (LCA), and to create the project report on the LCA. The PCR provides a common platform for communication of the LCA results and other environmental information for the three product groups. The information is intended to complement existing environmental impact metrics.
"This is an important step in our sustainability activities at MCA,” explains Scott Kriner, technical director of MCA. “With the PCR now completed, our attention will turn to developing environmental product declarations in order to communicate the environmental impact of our products. As the building construction industry prepares for LEED v4, which contains provisions for LCA and EPD transparency, MCA will be better positioned to allow building projects to qualify for more LEED points when using insulated metal panels, metal composite panels or metal cladding.”
The critical review of the PCR document was conducted by Thomas P. Gloria of Industrial Ecology Consultants in Newton, Mass.; Jamie Meil of Athena Sustainable Materials Institute in Ottawa, Ont.; and Bob Zabcik of NCI Group in Houston. To learn more and download the document, visit www.metalconstruction.org/pubs/.