EPDs for Busbars and Busways in Europe: The data-based guide
Planning an Environmental Product Declaration for busbars, busways, busbar trunking, or bus duct in 2026? Here is the complete picture for Europe based on the latest five‑year snapshot. We translate who is publishing, which program operators and PCRs dominate, and when expiries cluster so you can time your submittal with confidence.
2026 snapshot at a glance
Nine current EPDs for Busbars and Busways are visible in Europe over the last five years, published by five manufacturers using two program operators and three PCRs. The most recent issue in this set is May 1 2024, a declaration for PrismaSet M Copper Busbar Floor Standing Switchboards up to 4000A by SAS International Ltd., published with Association P.E.P and expiring May 1 2029.
Who is publishing EPDs
This is a concentrated yet diverse field. The top counts are Severfield plc with three EPDs, Holcim and SAS International Ltd. with two each, then ABB S.p.A. and Hager Group with one each. That mix signals a category still maturing, where early movers can shape the reference points buyers will compare against.
Where declarations live: program operators
Two operators handle everything in this dataset. Association P.E.P accounts for seven EPDs spread across four manufacturers, which shows healthy cross‑manufacturer adoption. EPD Italy carries two EPDs from a single manufacturer, which means concentration there is high. The practical takeaway is simple. If your product is squarely electrical, Association P.E.P is the common home. If your core market is Italy, EPD Italy can be a fit. Operator choice affects audience reach and format conventions, not the rigor of a compliant LCA.
PCRs in use: the rulebooks
Think of a PCR as the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. Three PCRs show up here. The dominant one is Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products with seven EPDs and far‑future expiries reaching May 1 2029. Two single‑entry PCRs appear as outliers, each expiring in 2026. Renewal cycles typically run on five years under EN 15804 and ISO 14025, so these cliffs are predictable and plan‑able (EN 15804, 2019; ISO 14025, 2018).
PCR details and recency
| PCR | EPDs | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products | 7 | May 1 2029 |
| NPCR 028: Part B for Cable pipes | 1 | Aug 20 2026 |
| Unknown PCR | 1 | Jun 18 2026 |
What this means for teams planning a 2026 submittal. If your product aligns with electrical equipment, publishing against the widely used electrical and HVAC‑R PCR maximizes comparability. If your design deviates, confirm scope and modules early with your verifier so your numbers land where specifiers expect.
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Release pace since 2021
Issuances accelerated in 2024. Nearly half of the current set landed that year. Quiet years like 2022 and 2025 show how timing, program updates, and portfolio cycles shape volumes.
EPDs issued per year
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 0 |
Expiry watch: 2026 through 2030
Three EPDs will expire in 2026. One uses NPCR 028 and ends Aug 20. One uses the electrical and HVAC‑R PCR and ends Aug 23. One tied to an unknown PCR ends Jun 18. No expiries fall in 2027. Two expire in 2028, with dates between Jun 1 and Sep 1. Four expire in 2029, with dates between Feb 12 and May 1. If you are entering the market now, publishing before competitor expiries creates a defensible window where your declaration is newer and easier to compare during bids.
How much outside help is used
Two of the nine EPDs list an external EPD consultant or service provider, about twenty‑two percent. Many teams still go it alone. Others pull in an EPD service provider like Parq to speed data collection, keep reviewers happy, and publish with fewer revisions. The right partner keeps senior engineers focused on product, not spreadsheet archaeology.
Latest EPD spotlight
The freshest entry in this set is the PrismaSet M Copper Busbar Floor Standing Switchboards up to 4000A, issued May 1 2024 by SAS International Ltd. under Association P.E.P. It uses the Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products and is valid until May 1 2029. If you make busbar trunking or busway assemblies, this is a useful benchmark for scope and format.
Picking your path in 2026
Choose a PCR that your closest competitors already use unless there is a strong technical reason not to. Aligning on the electrical and HVAC‑R PCR will usually make your numbers easier to line up in a spreadsheet on a Thursday afternoon. Pick a program operator your buyers already browse. For electrical equipment in Europe that is often Association P.E.P. If your sales are centered in Italy, EPD Italy is credible and familiar to local specifiers.
Scope cleanly. Capture A1 to A3 fully, justify transport and installation assumptions, and make end‑of‑life choices transparent. If you are short on a full reference year of data for a new line, a prospective approach can work, then you refresh once twelve months of production are available. Small gaps become large review delays, so pull utility and waste records early.
What this means commercially
Having a current, third‑party verified EPD keeps your product in contention on projects that score embodied carbon. Without one, buyers often must use conservative default factors with penalty adders, which makes your offer look heavier on paper than it is. An EPD is not a trophy. It is a ticket to play, so you do not have to compete on price alone. Teams that schedule the LCA work in parallel with product or market launches avoid last‑minute scrambles and RFQ slippage.
Want the underlying dataset or a second opinion
If you want the full, up‑to‑date dataset behind this article, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a quick note. I am happy to share the workbook, talk through operator pick, or hop on a short call to pinpoint the best‑fit PCR for your product based on the competitive landscape. If you prefer, we can also discuss how a white‑glove team like Parq takes over the heavy lifting so your experts dont lose a week chasing meters and manifests.
Note on coverage. This overview reflects the global public registry that most architects and specifiers rely on. Due to loading delays, some EPDs issued in the second half of 2025 may not appear yet. We will keep tracking updates and accross‑check new records as they post.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many current EPDs exist for Busbars and Busways in Europe over the last five years?
Nine. They come from five manufacturers and are published through two program operators.
Which program operator is most common for European busbar and busway EPDs?
Association P.E.P, with seven EPDs spread across four manufacturers. EPD Italy hosts two EPDs from one manufacturer.
Which PCR is most used for these EPDs and why does it matter?
“Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products” dominates with seven EPDs. Using the common PCR improves comparability for buyers reviewing multiple submittals.
When do most expiries occur between 2026 and 2030?
Three declarations expire in 2026, none in 2027, two in 2028, and four in 2029. Planning around these windows helps with competitive timing.
How often do manufacturers use external EPD consultants or service providers?
About twenty‑two percent of the EPDs in this set list an external service provider.
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.
