Berkeley 4.405.1 and Your Concrete Mix
Pouring concrete in Berkeley now comes with a simple, high‑impact rule: cut cement in every mix by at least 25 percent or secure an approved exception. That single line in the city’s CALGreen amendment moves real carbon and real specs, and it changes how submittals land on a reviewer’s desk. The good news is it dovetails neatly with EPDs, so you can document performance and lower embodied carbon in one go. ([Berkeley Municipal Code, 2024](https://berkeley.municipal.codes/BMC/19.37.040))
What Section 4.405.1 actually requires
Berkeley adds Section 4.405.1 to CALGreen for residential projects, and mirrors it in 5.405.1 for nonresidential. It instructs project teams to reduce cement in concrete mix designs by not less than 25 percent using SCMs like fly ash, slag, silica fume, or rice hull ash. The Engineer of Record can approve a smaller reduction where high early strength or an accelerated schedule is essential. (Berkeley Municipal Code, 2024)
Why this matters to EPDs
Cement is the emissions heavyweight in concrete. Although it is a small share of mass, it drives about 88 percent of concrete’s CO₂ footprint, so every point of cement you eliminate shows up clearly in a Type III EPD’s A1–A3 results. That makes the cement cut a compliance tool and a sales enabler when owners track embodied carbon. (Center for American Progress, 2024)
What owners and plan reviewers will look for
Reviewers want to see two things work together. Mix designs that hit the 25 percent cement reduction with clear SCM proportions, and documentation that quality criteria stay intact, typically via strength histories and standard test results. An EPD for the optimized mix helps close the loop by quantifying the new GWP and keeping submittal caluclations tidy.
Hitting the target without hurting performance
Think of cement like hot sauce. Great in moderation, overwhelming if you tip the bottle. To reach 25 percent and keep finish, pumpability, and set times in range, combine SCMs, robust aggregate grading, modern water reducers, and strict w/c control. Portland‑limestone cement swaps are a fast win, often trimming concrete’s CO₂ by roughly 10 percent while staying within current specs and DOT norms. (PCA, 2024)
Does Berkeley’s rule apply to my scope
If your project is subject to CALGreen within city limits, 4.405.1 and 5.405.1 apply. That includes new buildings and certain additions or alterations, with enforcement handled through the building permit process. The Engineer of Record and the local enforcing agency decide on feasibility and any exceptions. (Berkeley Municipal Code, 2024)
Using EPDs to prove progress
An EPD is not explicitly mandated here, yet it is the cleanest way to demonstrate the carbon effect of your cement reduction. Publish product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs for your optimized mixes and keep them current so estimators can specify with confidence. The EPD becomes a single source of truth for A1–A3 GWP during bid reviews and carbon accounting.
Practical submittal checklist
- Present side‑by‑side mix designs showing original and optimized cement content, SCM types, and percent replacement.
- Attach performance evidence, including field strength data or trial batches, and note any curing adjustments.
- Include an EPD for the optimized mix and highlight the GWP delta from the baseline.
- Flag any portions of the project needing high early strength and cite the code’s exception language with the Engineer of Record’s approval.
Material choices that make the math easier
Work with your cement and admixture partners to preload your library with low‑carbon choices. Portland‑limestone cement is widely accepted by transportation agencies and delivers about a tenth off embodied carbon, which frees headroom for SCM tuning and schedule needs. (PCA, 2024) Where available, natural pozzolans or calcined clays can carry meaningful replacement rates while keeping strength on track. Public procurement at scale using limestone calcined clay cement could cut U.S. cement emissions by up to 9 percent, a signal that supply chains are ready to move. (ACEEE, 2024)
The commercial angle
Berkeley’s requirement means mixes that keep cement high will face pushback or delays. Teams that arrive with proven 25 percent reductions plus EPDs move faster in permitting, get shortlisted more often on low‑carbon projects, and avoid penalty factors in embodied‑carbon budgeting. Reliable average costs are hard to pin down because each scope differs, but the payback from repeat specifiying commonly dwarfs the paperwork.
Edge cases and exceptions
When high early strength is critical or the schedule is unusually tight, the Engineer of Record may approve a smaller cement reduction. Use that headroom sparingly. Keep optimizing elsewhere with aggregate packing, admixture selection, temperature control, and curing, and document the rationale so reviewers can say yes quickly. (Berkeley Municipal Code, 2024)
Wrap up
Berkeley 4.405.1 sets a clear expectation. Use less cement, keep performance, and show your math. If your mix library, test data, and EPDs are organized, compliance becomes routine and your bids read stronger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Berkeley’s 4.405.1 rule require me to publish an EPD for each mix?
No. The code targets cement reduction in concrete mixes. EPDs are not required by the section, but a product‑specific, third‑party verified EPD is the most credible way to document the embodied‑carbon impact for reviewers and customers.
What if my precast elements need high early strength and I cannot hit 25 percent cement reduction?
The Engineer of Record may approve a lower reduction for high early strength or accelerated schedules. Document the need, optimize other levers, and keep the exception narrow. (Berkeley Municipal Code, 2024)
Is Portland‑limestone cement acceptable on Berkeley projects?
Yes in most cases subject to project specifications, and all 50 state DOTs now accept PLC, which typically cuts embodied CO₂ by about 10 percent relative to ordinary portland cement. (PCA, 2024)
How much does cement actually influence my EPD number?
Cement drives the lion’s share of concrete’s CO₂. Analyses attribute around 88 percent of concrete emissions to cement production, which is why reducing cement translates directly into lower GWP in A1–A3. (Center for American Progress, 2024)
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
