EPDs for Cabinets, Racks and Enclosures in Europe
If you make electrical enclosures, control cabinets, server racks, or switchgear housings and you want the full 2026 picture, this guide is for you. We mapped the most active manufacturers, the program operators they use, the PCRs that dominate, and the renewal clifflines you should plan around.
The 2026 snapshot at a glance
Cabinets, racks and enclosures in Europe are busy terrain. Over the last five years, 328 product‑specific EPDs have been issued by 20 manufacturers using 6 program operators and 7 distinct PCRs. The most recent filing landed on Jul 24, 2025 for Hager Group’s Combi module IP kit for intercom modular under Association P.E.P with expiry on Jul 24, 2030.
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. In this category the rules are remarkably consistent, which is good news for comparability across brands.
Issuance trend by year
Momentum built through 2024, then eased in 2025 as portfolios caught up and teams started preparing the next renewal wave.
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2023 | 93 |
| 2024 | 128 |
| 2025 | 59 |
If your roadmap is empty in 2026, you risk being quiet when competitors refresh. Thats a big signal to specifiers that your data may be stale.
Who is publishing the most
Output is concentrated. ABB S.p.A. leads with 98 EPDs, followed by SAS International Ltd. with 68 and Hager Group with 52. These three account for roughly two thirds of all declarations in the period. Severfield plc adds 29, Delta Dore 24, and SOMFY 18. A long tail of brands contributes single digits.
What this means commercially is simple. Active brands are visible in databases and on submittals, which shortens the path to getting listed and keeps price from being the only differentiator when low‑carbon targets are in play.
Program operators used
Association P.E.P dominates with 302 EPDs across 14 manufacturers, making it the default home for electrical equipment in Europe. INIES accounts for 19 EPDs from 5 manufacturers. EPD International AB counts 4, while ASTM International, EPD Italy and EPD Hub each host a single declaration.
Two takeaways stand out. First, buyers of electrical enclosures often expect PEP format because it is familiar to their teams and tools. Second, operator diversity is real but thin, so switching operators mainly affects workflow and branding rather than market acceptance for this category.
Want the latest EPD news?
Follow us on LinkedIn to get relevant updates for your industry.
The PCRs that actually get used
Most manufacturers rally around two rule sets, which keeps comparisons clean and review cycles predictable.
| PCR | EPD count | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products | 288 | Jul 24, 2030 |
| Specific rules for electrical switchgear and control gear solutions | 33 | May 1, 2029 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) v1.3.3 | 4 | Jun 18, 2028 |
| EN 15804:2012+A2:2019 Core rules | 1 | Aug 10, 2027 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR v1.0 | 1 | Jan 26, 2029 |
| ISO 21930:2017 | 1 | Dec 13, 2029 |
Put differently, about 88 percent use the broad Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R PCR, 10 percent use the switchgear‑specific PCR, and the remaining 2 percent choose general construction frameworks. If you build server racks, control cabinets, junction boxes or data enclosures, plan to align to one of the first two so your results sit next to competitors in the registries users actually search.
Renewal horizon you should calendar
The renewal wave crests in 2028 and 2029, so teams that plan now will avoid last‑minute scrambles.
| Year of expiry | EPDs expiring | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | All under the Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R PCR |
| 2027 | 40 | Mostly Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R, plus 5 switchgear‑specific |
| 2028 | 93 | Mix of Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R and switchgear‑specific |
| 2029 | 127 | Heavy year for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R plus 10 switchgear‑specific |
| 2030 | 59 | All Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R, including the latest Hager filing |
If you have multiple families, stagger them. Renewal batching creates internal bottlenecks and risks gaps in validity that complicate bids.
Where EPD consultants show up
At least 39 of the 328 EPDs were prepared with the help of an external EPD consultant or service provider. That is about 12 percent. Teams usually choose a partner to speed up data requests, model consistently and route publication without clogging their own calendars. If you want the white‑glove version of this, Parq handles data wrangling, LCA modeling and publication while your engineering and operations people keep building product.
Notable absences and underrepresentation
A few big electrical enclosure names do not appear strongly in this category view. Rittal has recent EPDs for cooling units under Kiwa, not for the core enclosure lines visible here. Schneider Electric and Legrand both show EPD activity, often under Association P.E.P, although the entries concentrate on transformers, wiring devices and related gear rather than racks and enclosures. nVent shows an EPD for splicing and anchoring products, which suggests their enclosure portfolio is not yet surfaced in this category. If you compete with these brands, that gap is a very intersting opening for specs where product‑specific declarations are requested.
Picking the right operator and PCR for 2026
If your products are electrical enclosures or server racks, Association P.E.P and the Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R PCR remain the most direct route to sit next to peers. The switchgear‑specific PCR is a strong alternative for control gear solutions. INIES can make sense for France‑centric portfolios already present in that ecosystem. The key is to mirror your competitive set and check expiry dates so the next refresh lines up with your product roadmap.
Practical go‑to‑market tips
Publish for your top sellers first so reps have a credible EPD to point to on every structured bid. Align the PCR choice with competitors so buyers can compare like with like. Make a renewal calendar for 2028 and 2029 and back‑solve the data windows you will need for the LCAs. Keep the short list of SKUs that drive most revenue alive with current declarations. It sounds obvious, yet it wins deals.
Get the full dataset and a sanity check
This article uses the global public registry most specifiers rely on. Due to loading delays, some EPDs from the last half of 2025 may not be reflected yet. If you want the complete, up‑to‑date pull behind these charts or a quick call to choose the best fit PCR for your next EPD, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a note. I am happy to share the background data and talk through options for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How concentrated is EPD activity among manufacturers for European cabinets, racks and enclosures?
Very. ABB, SAS International, and Hager Group together account for roughly two thirds of all EPDs issued in the last five years.
Which program operator do most electrical enclosure EPDs use in Europe?
Association P.E.P hosts about 92 percent of EPDs in this category, making it the most common operator for electrical equipment in Europe.
Which PCR should enclosure makers typically choose in 2026?
Most use the Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R PCR. Products closely tied to control gear also use the switchgear‑specific PCR. Match what your direct competitors use so results remain comparable.
When is the next renewal crunch for this category?
Expiries peak in 2028 and 2029. Planning renewals now helps avoid validity gaps that complicate submittals.
Do I need an EPD consultant to publish?
Not strictly, but about 12 percent of declarations here used an external service provider. A white‑glove partner can speed data collection, modeling and publication so internal teams stay focused.
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.
