by Brianna Crandall — January 18, 2017 — The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) and NSF International have created the first product category rule (PCR) in North America for roof coating materials. PCRs enable product environmental information to be more transparent and useful to the marketplace, enabling builders and specifiers to source products that meet their environmental goals, note the partners. Products covered in this PCR include fluid-applied and adhered coatings used for roof maintenance or roof repair, or as a component of a roof covering system or roof assembly.
Based on international environmental management guidelines (ISO 14025), a PCR defines how to conduct a life-cycle assessment for a particular product group and what to include in the resulting report, explain the organizations. A life-cycle assessment measures inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a product across its lifespan. The environmental product declaration (EPD) is the third-party-verified report that explains the data generated from a life-cycle assessment. What is included in the EPD is also defined by the PCR.
The NSF International National Center for Sustainability Standards (NCSS) utilized an open consultative process to develop the PCR with participation from an expert panel of RCMA members, suppliers, regulatory agencies, environmental organizations and end-users. RCMA is the industry voice promoting the benefits of roof coatings and representing manufacturers of asphaltic and solar reflective roof coatings as well as suppliers to the roof coatings industry.
Verified environmental product declarations (EPDs) as defined by this PCR may help building projects qualify for points through the LEED v4 Materials and Resources credits and to comply with the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), point out the partners.
The RCMA Web site offers the “Development of a Product Category Rule for Roof Coatings” presentation from the 2016 International Roof Coatings Conference and RCMA Summer Membership Meeting. For more information, see the NSF PCR/EPD Documents Web page.
