EPDs for Metal Doors and Frames in the United States
Planning an EPD for hollow metal doors, steel doors, or steel frames in 2026? Here is the clearest snapshot of who is publishing, which program operators they use, and which PCRs shape the rules. We turn five years of U.S. data into practical guidance you can act on.
What counts as “Metal Doors and Frames” in this guide
This article covers product‑specific EPDs for metal doors, hollow metal doors, steel frames, and closely related builders hardware that often travels in the same spec package as the door and frame. Many manufacturers publish hardware EPDs alongside door and frame declarations because project teams evaluate the opening as a system.
The 2021 to 2025 publishing wave, in numbers
Activity surged early in the period, then tapered. That pattern matters for your renewal planning in 2026 and 2027.
Total valid EPDs on record for the last five years: 88. Distinct manufacturers: 10. Distinct program operators active: 5. Distinct PCRs referenced: 9.
EPDs issued per year
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Who is publishing the most
Output is concentrated among a few familiar names. ASSA ABLOY leads with 53 EPDs. Allegion and Detex each add 8. DE LA FONTAINE contributes 7. Curries Door shows 3. JELD‑WEN, Metallic Building Company, National Guard Products, National Ready Mix, and SARGENT fill out the remainder.
The mix includes many builders hardware declarations that sit next to metal door and frame EPDs in submittals. That is a useful signal if a competitor’s hardware portfolio keeps showing up in project specs.
Win A $50 Amazon Gift Card in One Click!
Enter weekly raffle in one click • Help us get to know our readers and improve!
Program operators U.S. manufacturers choose
Five program operators account for recent activity, with one small pocket of unlabeled records. UL hosts 68 EPDs across 6 manufacturers, the clear hub for this category. NSF International carries 8 EPDs for 1 manufacturer. ASTM International has 7 EPDs for 1 manufacturer. IBU appears with 2 EPDs for 2 manufacturers. EPD Hub shows 1 EPD for 1 manufacturer. Two EPDs have no operator listed, which is not ideal for spec clarity.
This split hints at practical selection criteria. UL is widely recognized by U.S. specifiers for door hardware and openings, while IBU is common for European publishing. The right choice is usually the operator your buyers already trust in your segment.
PCRs that set the rules, and what they imply
Nine PCRs appear across the set. Two dominate the landscape. “Part B: Builders Hardware” underpins 44 EPDs, and “Part B: Commercial Steel Doors and/or Steel Frames” underpins 23 EPDs. Thirteen EPDs cite an unknown PCR, which can complicate benchmarking if you are trying to compare like for like.
Less common entries are single EPDs under broader or adjacent PCRs. Examples include “Insulated Metal Panels & Metal Composite Panels, and Metal Cladding”, “PCR 2023:01 Fabricated metal products, except construction products”, and “c‑PCR‑007 Windows and doors”. These can be valid choices for certain product scopes, but they are not the mainstream for hollow metal doors or steel frames.
If you are planning a new declaration, start by checking which PCR leads your competitive set. A good LCA partner will match that choice or explain a better route, then map implications for modules, scenarios, and background data.
Expiry outlook from 2026 to 2030
The renewal wave is real. Here is the near‑term picture for expiring EPDs.
2026 shows 41 expiries, concentrated in Builders Hardware, Commercial Steel Doors and Frames, and EPDs with unknown PCRs. Dates cluster from Jul 1 to Dec 19. 2027 brings 31 expiries, again led by Builders Hardware along with Commercial Steel Doors and Frames, plus a handful under niche PCRs. 2028 is quieter with 7 expiries, 2029 has 8, and 2030 has 1.
Translation for planning. If your current EPDs were published in 2021 or 2022, your team should budget time in the first half of 2026 or 2027 to refresh inventory data, utilities, and transport. Renewal is smoother when factories provide the full reference‑year dataset early. Cutoffs slip when the data sprint starts late, and that costs momentum in bids.
The latest EPD on record
The most recent addition in this category arrived on Aug 1, 2025. Manufacturer is JELD‑WEN. Program operator is EPD Hub. PCR is “EPD Hub Core PCR version 1.1, 5 Dec 2023”. Expiry is Aug 1, 2030. If you are entering the market now, this shows that newer Core PCR pathways are open for U.S. publishing when a product scope fits.
How many teams used an EPD service provider
Seventy six of the 88 EPDs were issued with a third‑party EPD consultant or service provider, which is about 86 percent. This is typical in categories where product variants are many and data lives across plants and ERP systems. The lift is less about modeling and more about collecting dependable inputs and managing reviews.
If you evaluate partners, ask three simple questions. Will they shoulder data collection with your plants or will your engineers do it alone. Can they publish with UL, IBU, NSF, EPD Hub, ASTM, or Smart EPD, so you stay operator agnostic. Do they plan renewals against your SKU roadmap rather than just the calendar. As an example, Parq focuses on ruthlessly efficient data collection and end‑to‑end project management so your technical team can stay on core work. That is where speed and low stress come from.
Practical moves for manufacturers starting in 2026
Pick the PCR that maps to your buyers and your competition. For hollow metal and steel frames, the Part B PCRs are the common path. Align plants and SKUs into a set you can defend. One EPD that covers a true family is better than several that each miss a variant people actually order.
Lock a clean reference year. If the product just launched, a prospective approach can work, then update once a full year of production data exists. Keep transport modeling honest with real carrier lanes and weights. Small changes there can flip results in close comparisons.
Finally, choose a program operator your specifiers recognize. The right logo on the PDF shortens questions in submittals. It does not win the job alone, but it removes a reason to slow down.
One place to double check before you act
The numbers above come from the global public registry of EPDs that architects and specifiers routinely use. Due to normal loading delays, some EPDs issued in the second half of 2025 may not appear yet. If you want the full, up‑to‑date background dataset for this article, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a quick note. I am happy to share the file, answer questions, or hop on a short call to pick the best fit PCR for your upcoming EPDs. You will save alot of time by making those choices early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many valid EPDs exist for metal doors and frames in the U.S. from the last five years?
There are 88 valid EPDs on record for the last five years in this category.
Which program operator hosts most EPDs for metal doors and frames in the U.S.?
UL hosts 68 EPDs across 6 manufacturers, which makes it the primary hub in this category.
What are the most commonly used PCRs in this category?
“Part B: Builders Hardware” with 44 EPDs and “Part B: Commercial Steel Doors and/or Steel Frames” with 23 EPDs dominate recent publications.
When will most renewals come due for current EPDs?
Renewals are concentrated in 2026 with 41 expiries and in 2027 with 31 expiries, based on the five‑year issuance pattern.
Do most teams use an EPD consultant or service provider?
Yes. 76 of the 88 EPDs used a third‑party service provider, roughly 86%.
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.
