Environmental Product Declaration Unveiled By fermacell

Specialist building panel manufacturer Fermacell has revealed that its gypsum fibreboards have been awarded an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

The certification (EPD-XEL-2009411-D) follows an independent* life cycle assessment that reviewed raw material extraction and energy generation, raw material transport and the actual production of coated gypsum fibreboards including packaging and disposal.

An EPD is an independently verified and registered document that communicates transparent and comparable information about the life-cycle environmental impact of products. About 450 EPDs from 150 companies are currently published and freely available in the international EPD system for a wide range of products.

The Fermacell boards were evaluated for renewable and non-renewable primary energy and the potential for global warming, acidification, eutrophication, as well as for photochemical ozone creation and ozone depletion.

The declaration covers Fermacell boards for internal walls and external rainscreen backing as well as ceilings and floors and includes the Greenline board which features a special coating designed to absorb and neutralise volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air for good.

The EPD according to ISO 14025 confirms that no special tools are required for the handling, processing and cutting of the boards, that the boards are recyclable and that they have a long useful life of at least 50 years.

In addition to the EPD, an independent report* has also identified several KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) in both the BREEAM and LEED green building certification schemes that are relevant to Fermacell’s gypsum fibreboards.

For BREEAM aspects, these related to construction site and life cycle impacts (the EPD playing a part in the latter) and responsible sourcing of materials, with potential for construction waste management and innovation.

For LEED aspects, these related to recycled content and regional materials, with potential for construction waste management and innovation in design.