EPD Recertification, Explained For Manufacturers
Five years passes fast. EPD recertification is not a rubber stamp, it is a new verification against today’s rules and your latest data. Get the timing, the PCR choice, and the data story right and you keep bids clean and specs sticky. Miss the window and you invite avoidable last‑minute drama.
What “recertification” really means
EPD recertification is a full renewal of your declaration, verified again against the current Product Category Rules and program instructions. For construction products, program operators commonly set a five‑year validity for EPDs, which is why most teams plan around a five‑year cycle (IBU, 2024) (UL Solutions, 2025) (EPD International FAQ, 2024).
The clock you must watch
The validity runs from the publication date printed on the EPD, not from the data’s reference year. Treat it like a vehicle service interval. If publication landed in April 2021, your renewal target is April 2026 unless your operator specifies otherwise. Aim to finish early so sales cycles never cross an expiry.
PCR changes drive the rules of renewal
PCRs are the rulebooks. They often revise on five‑year cycles, and some operators publish current PCRs with explicit expiration dates you can track (UL Solutions, 2025). An expired PCR does not void your existing EPD, but your next renewal must follow the latest applicable PCR. Strategy tip: align your product line under the same PCR when practical, so one ruleset governs multiple SKUs.
Off‑cycle updates: do we need them?
Yes, sometimes. EPD International instructs owners to update during the validity period if any indicator worsens by more than 10 percent compared with the published results (EPD International FAQ, 2024) (EPD International FAQ, 2024). If your process changes push impacts upward or downward materially, plan a recalculation and re‑verification rather than waiting for the five‑year mark.
Data expectations for recertification
Think fresh, representative production data and transparent assumptions. Most building programs expect a full recent production year for factory inputs, utilities, waste, and outputs, documented in the background report, which mirrors common EN 15804 practice (BRE, 2025) (BRE, 2025). Keep supplier EPDs, energy contracts, and transport data organized so verification moves quickly.
Publication timelines can stretch
Day‑to‑day, operators can publish within a few days once verification clears. During big transitions, queues grow. In mid‑2025, EPD International temporarily extended publication timelines to up to 10 working days during the switch to PCR 2019:14 v2.0.0 (EPD International, 2025). Build buffer time into your plan, especially if your renewal lands near a PCR change.
What happens if the EPD expires
You can still keep the PDF online for information, but it is not usable for marketing and will fail many procurement checks until renewed (EPD International FAQ, 2024). Sales teams hate surprises. Keep a shared tracker that flags EPDs entering the renewal window.
Picking the right verification route
Whether you work with a consultant or an internal LCA team, the real time sink is data wrangling across plants and systems. Favor partners who take on collection and evidence gathering, not just modeling, and who can publish with your chosen operator in the US or EU. Speed comes from clean inputs and proactive project management more than clever spreadsheets.
A quick checklist for smooth renewal
- Confirm the governing PCR now and note its sunset date.
- Lock the reference year and start data pulls early across energy, materials, transport, and waste.
- Freeze the product bill of materials for modeling or clearly document changes.
- Run a sensitivity scan to spot >10 percent swings that may trigger an interim update.
- Align comms with sales so bids never cross a validity end date.
Stay ahead of the spec
Treat EPD recertificiation like planned maintenance. A little foresight keeps your declarations current, your teams calm, and your products in play when the shortlist forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an EPD valid before it needs recertification?
Most program operators set a five‑year validity for EPDs in construction materials, after which renewal with fresh verification is required (IBU, 2024) (UL Solutions, 2025).
Does a PCR expiring make our current EPD invalid right away?
No. Your EPD remains valid until its own end date, but the renewal must use the latest applicable PCR. Many operators show PCRs with five‑year review cycles and explicit expiry dates (UL Solutions, 2025).
When do we need an off‑cycle update instead of waiting five years?
If any published indicator worsens by more than 10 percent, EPD International requires an update during the validity period (EPD International FAQ, 2024) (EPD International FAQ, 2024).
What data window should we prepare for a renewal LCA?
Plan for a recent 12‑month production period to represent factory operations, in line with common EN 15804 practice for building products (BRE, 2025) (BRE, 2025).
Can publication lead times affect our renewal date?
Yes. During busy transitions, publication can take longer. In 2025, EPD International temporarily stretched publication to up to 10 working days around the construction PCR update (EPD International, 2025).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
