EPDs for Data Cabling in the United States
The 2026 landscape for data cabling EPDs in the United States is clearer than ever. Whether you call it structured cabling, communications cabling, LAN cable, Cat 6 and Cat 6A, or optical fiber cabling, this guide shows who is publishing, which rulebooks they follow, and when renewals will bite. If you are scoping your first EPD or refreshing a portfolio, you will see exactly where the bar sits today.
Why this market is heating up in 2026
Owners want comparable numbers on copper and fiber products that weave buildings, campuses, and data centers together. EPDs make those comparisons credible and fast, so sales cycles stop stalling at the sustainability questionnaire step.
The five year picture at a glance
In the last five years, the United States saw 67 valid EPDs for data cabling from 8 manufacturers, issued through 7 program operators and based on 7 distinct PCRs. Momentum peaked in 2023 and cooled in 2024 and early 2025, which tracks with many teams regrouping around new PCR editions and verification slots.
EPDs issued per year
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Small 2025 counts often reflect publication lag in public registries rather than a true market pause.
Manufacturers publishing the most
Legrand, North and Central America leads with 46 EPDs, covering a broad set of structured cabling products and accessories. CommScope Inc follows with 7. A second cluster of participants publishes in low single digits, including General Cable with 3 and Owens Corning with 3. The long tail features CMC with 2, Midal Cables with 2, Master Builders Solutions with 3, and Subzero Engineering with 1. This is a category where one portfolio holder can definitley tilt the picture.
What this means for planning. If your portfolio competes with Legrand on like for like products, assume buyers already have benchmarks in hand. If you compete in niches where only a few EPDs exist, a targeted release can reset comparisons in your favor.
Program operators US teams actually use
Seven operators appear in the data set. Association P.E.P dominates through 47 EPDs across 2 manufacturers, a sign that electronics oriented rulesets are familiar ground for structured cabling. UL shows 5 across 2 manufacturers and ASTM International lists 4 across 2. EPD Norway contributes 6 across 3, with smaller counts at INIES with 2, EPD International AB with 2, and NSF International with 1. Diversity is healthy, although Association P.E.P is the common path when large structured cabling catalogs move together.
Practical point. If sales targets cross the Atlantic, Association P.E.P can travel well in spec reviews that include electronics heavy scopes. UL and ASTM can align neatly with US submittal habits. Pick the operator that matches your buyers and your verification slot availability.
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PCRs that rule structured cabling
One rulebook matters most. Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products accounts for 51 EPDs and includes the newest expiry in the set on Mar 1 2030. Part A: Construction Products and Services covers 9. PSR Specific Rules for Wires, Cables and Accessories shows 3 with latest expiry May 17 2029. PCR 2019:14 Construction products EN 15804 A2 counts 2 with latest expiry Mar 20 2027. NPCR 027 Part B for Electrical cables and wires appears once with expiry Jan 6 2027. ISO 21930 2017 appears once with expiry Jul 17 2029.
How to use this. If your competitors publish under the electronics oriented PCR, follow suit for clean comparability unless a better fit exists for your product boundary. If your product family blends into construction materials, Part A can be a functional fallback. Your next renewal can always pivot to the newer edition when it lands.
The renewal horizon you should calendar
Here is what expires next.
2026 has 18 expiries. Part A accounts for 6, all on Nov 15. Electronics HVAC‑R PCR accounts for 12, earliest Apr 12 and latest Dec 28.
2027 has 14 expiries. NPCR 027 has 1 on Jan 6. EN 15804 A2 has 2 on Mar 20. Part A has 1 on Dec 1. Electronics HVAC‑R PCR has 10, earliest Mar 1 and latest Dec 1.
2028 has 20 expiries. PSR Wires Cables has 2 on Nov 1. Part A has 2 on Aug 1. Electronics HVAC‑R PCR has 16, earliest Sep 1 and latest Nov 1.
2029 has 12 expiries. ISO 21930 has 1 on Jul 17. PSR Wires Cables has 1 on May 17. Electronics HVAC‑R PCR has 10, earliest Feb 1 and latest Aug 1.
2030 has 3 expiries. All are under the Electronics HVAC‑R PCR, earliest Jan 1 and latest Mar 1.
If you are within twelve months of expiry, queue your data collection now. Renewal lead time is an easy place to beat competitors who wait for panic season.
The latest EPD we see in the registry
Splitter concept and its mounting accessories issued Mar 1 2025 by Legrand, North and Central America under Association P.E.P using Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products with expiry Mar 1 2030. This fits the overall pattern of large catalogs moving in batches.
Who is using EPD consultants and when it helps
Ten of the 67 EPDs list an external developer or EPD consultant, roughly 15 percent. That is a signal, not a mandate. Use an EPD service provider like Parq when your catalog is broad, the data wrangling is heavy, or timing matters for a bid window. The right partner makes stakeholder interviews, utility data pulls, and verification rounds simple so your engineers stay focused on product.
Notably absent or underrepresented names in US data cabling
A few big US structured cabling brands do not appear with current, product specific EPDs in this data set for the United States.
Belden shows no current EPDs in this category despite historic activity in prior years. Superior Essex Communications also shows no current EPDs after past releases. These gaps create open air for competitors to frame benchmarks product by product. By contrast, Siemon has begun publishing on select items with 2030 expiries and Panduit lists EPDs for accessories rather than core data cables. Global cable majors such as Nexans and Prysmian publish extensively, although much of that portfolio targets power or non US scopes rather than US structured cabling SKUs.
If you are one of these brands, a focused set of first wave EPDs around top selling Cat 6A and fiber SKUs can reset the comparison table fast.
How to pick your path in 30 days
- Map your top 10 SKUs by revenue across copper and fiber, then line them up against the PCR your closest competitors use.
- Confirm your preferred program operator based on buyer familiarity, verifier availability, and your geographic sales mix.
- Lock a reference year and data owners for materials, energy, scrap, and packaging. Set one calendar with weekly checkpoints.
- Build with module coverage your buyers expect, then publish and backfill the long tail SKUs in waves.
A quick note on data freshness and where to go next
This guide relies on the global public registry most architects and specifiers use. Due to loading delays, some EPDs from the second half of 2025 may not yet appear. If you want the full, up to date background dataset used here or want help pressure testing the best fit PCR for your next release, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a note. I am happy to hop on a quick call, free, to help you shape a plan that balances speed, ease, quality and completeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many valid data cabling EPDs are in the US set today and how concentrated are they by manufacturer?
There are 67 valid EPDs in the last five years across 8 manufacturers. Legrand holds 46 of them, CommScope 7, with the rest spread thinly among 6 manufacturers.
Which program operators are most common for data cabling EPDs in the United States?
Association P.E.P dominates with 47 EPDs across 2 manufacturers. UL has 5 across 2, ASTM International 4 across 2, EPD Norway 6 across 3, and smaller counts at INIES, EPD International AB, and NSF International.
Which PCRs should a data cabling manufacturer consider first for comparability?
Start with Product Category Rules for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC‑R Products since it hosts 51 EPDs. If construction oriented coverage is a better fit, Part A: Construction Products and Services is a viable path. Other PCRs are used far less in this category.
When do most renewals hit and how far ahead should we plan?
Expiries cluster in 2026 with 18 EPDs and in 2028 with 20. Twelve months of lead time is smart so verification windows do not become a bottleneck.
Do we need an external EPD consultant or can we do it in house?
Only 10 of 67 EPDs list a developer organization. Teams with many SKUs or time critical bids often benefit from an EPD service provider like Parq for faster data collection, smooth reviews, and on time publication.
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.
