ACA Sets New EPD Framework for Metal Coatings
Image courtesy of the American Coatings Association.
The American Coatings Association has released a Product Category Rule for metal coil and extrusion coatings, establishing a standardized framework for measuring and reporting their environmental impacts.
ACA developed the PCR with NSF International, an independent organization involved in standards development, certification, testing, auditing and environmental risk management.
Product Category Rules define the criteria manufacturers must use when conducting product life-cycle assessments. The results can then support publication of verified Environmental Product Declarations.
The new rule covers extrusion coatings applied through electrostatic spray processes to metal extrusions, typically aluminum or steel. It also covers coatings applied to continuous metal coils that are unwound, cleaned, surface-treated, coated, heat-cured and rewound in a continuous operation.
Powder coatings and products covered by ACA’s architectural coatings PCR are excluded.
The rule requires a cradle-to-grave assessment that addresses production, construction, use and end-of-life stages. Reporting of benefits and loads beyond the system boundary is optional.
Metal coil and extrusion coatings must be evaluated as a complete product system rather than as individual coatings or layers.
ACA said standardized life-cycle assessments can help manufacturers prepare EPDs, document durability and resource efficiency, and meet growing demand for environmental information from green-building programs, specifiers and customers.
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