Hot Rolled Sections EPDs in Europe, the ultimate guide
Hot‑rolled sections, structural steel sections, universal beams, H‑ and I‑beams. If you make or sell them in Europe, this 2026 snapshot shows the real EPD landscape so you can plan renewals, pick the right PCR, and avoid blind spots when tenders ask for product‑specific declarations.
What we looked at and why it matters
Hot‑rolled sections power frames, floors, and long spans. We mapped every current, public EPD for this category in Europe, then grouped results by manufacturer, program operator, and PCR. The goal is simple, help your team choose the fastest credible path to a declaration that wins specs instead of slowing them down.
Five‑year snapshot of activity
Across the last five calendar years the registry shows 28 current EPDs from 18 manufacturers, handled by 6 program operators and referencing 13 distinct PCRs. That is a healthy, competitive field, not a niche.
Latest on record is “Steel beams” for BE Group, issued Jul 1, 2025 under EPD Hub’s Core PCR v1.1 and valid through Jun 30, 2030. That freshness signals active publishing and a long runway before renewal.
Release cadence since 2021
Steady beats surge, with a visible bump in 2024.
| Year | EPDs |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 5 |
If your portfolio lacks a 2024 or 2025 issue, you risk looking quiet next to peers who refreshed recently. A quick reality check with sales is worth it, because teams often avoid specs that require an EPD if they know none exists and do not raise the flag internally.
Who is publishing
ArcelorMittal leads with 8 EPDs. Tibnor AB follows with 3. Eleven other brands post one each, including BE Group, Peiner Träger GmbH, Stahlwerk Thüringen GmbH, Liberty Ostrava, ÖZKAN Celik Steel, and Celsa Barcelona among others. The mix includes a few distributors and steel service groups, which tells us buyers accept credible, product‑specific EPDs from more than just primary mills when scope and product definition are tight.
Program operators that matter in Europe
Volume and diversity both count. Here is how the 28 EPDs are distributed.
- EPD International AB, 8 EPDs across 7 manufacturers, broad use and good competitive comparability.
- SCS Global Services, 7 EPDs across 1 manufacturer, high volume but concentrated in a single portfolio.
- EPD Hub, 6 EPDs across 4 manufacturers, steady traction and recent issues.
- IBU, 5 EPDs across 5 manufacturers, one per brand pattern that specifiers know well in the EU DACH markets.
- CENIA and EPD Turkey, 1 each, niche placements.
As rough shares, EPD International AB is about 29 percent of current EPDs, SCS about 25 percent, EPD Hub about 21 percent, and IBU about 18 percent. When operator choice is open, align with what your direct competitors use in specs you chase, then weigh language, platform familiarity of reviewers, and lead time.
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The PCR rulebooks in play
Think of PCRs as the rulebook of Monopoly, ignore them and the game falls apart. The table shows what gets used most and how far each pushes your renewal horizon.
| PCR name | EPDs | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Part B: Designated Steel Construction Products | 7 | Mar 4, 2029 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) (1.3.3) | 6 | Feb 12, 2028 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR version 1.1, 5 Dec 2023 | 4 | Jun 30, 2030 |
| Part B: Requirements on the EPD for Structural Steels | 3 | Mar 10, 2029 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804:A2) | 2 | Apr 9, 2029 |
| Part B: EPD requirements for structural steels | 1 | Jul 27, 2028 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR version 1.0, 1 Feb 2022 | 1 | Jun 30, 2028 |
| Product Category Rule for “Steel products with secondary processing for construction” | 1 | Feb 8, 2030 |
| CEN standard EN 15804 | 1 | Feb 22, 2026 |
| EN 15804:2012+A2:2019 core rules | 1 | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Unknown PCR | 1 | Sep 26, 2026 |
Two useful signals pop out. Part B steel PCRs dominate late‑decade expiries, so a cohort of competitors will likely renew around early 2029. EPD Hub Core PCR v1.1 points to 2030 expiries, giving anyone choosing it today a long glide path.
Expiry watch through 2030
Renewal waves can shape tender timing and marketing. The next five years look like this.
- 2026, 7 EPDs expire, a cleanup year for older EN 15804 references and a few early A2 variants.
- 2027, 2 EPDs expire, low pressure.
- 2028, 5 EPDs expire, mostly legacy PCR 2019:14 and one Part B structural steels.
- 2029, 9 EPDs expire, the biggest wave tied to Part B steel PCRs.
- 2030, 5 EPDs expire, including EPD Hub Core PCR v1.1 issues and one “secondary processing for construction” PCR.
If your key competitors sit in the 2029 cluster, launching earlier can win uninterrupted visibility in the spec databases when others briefly go dark during renewals.
The latest EPD on the board
The most recent listing is a BE Group “Steel beams” EPD from Jul 1, 2025 under EPD Hub. It references their Core PCR v1.1 and runs through Jun 30, 2030. For rivals, that sets a five year benchmark for freshness, scope description, and review cadence.
Consultant usage is the norm, not the exception
Twenty‑three of the 28 EPDs were issued with an external EPD service provider involved, roughly 82 percent. That is a signal that teams prefer partners to wrangle data collection and verification while engineering keeps lines running. If you want an example of this model, see Parq, a white‑glove EPD consultant that handles data, LCA, and publication with the operator you prefer.
Notably quiet or expiring names
- Tata Steel Europe shows no current, public EPDs in this category as of Jan 19, 2026 in the dominant registry used by specifiers. They have published previously, so this likely reflects renewals in progress or listings under adjacent scopes like hollow sections or strip. If Tata Steel is a direct comparator for you, keep an eye out for updates in 2026.
- British Steel holds structural sections EPDs that reach their validity limit on Jan 23, 2026. That is days away, which usually signals an update is imminent, or a brief gap is possible depending on verification scheduling. Timing your own release against that window can be strategically helpful.
How to pick a PCR without second‑guessing
Start with the competitive set you need to beat in specs. If most peers reference Part B for steel construction products, aligning there keeps results comparable in reviews. If speed and a longer runway to expiry are higher priorities, EPD Hub Core PCR v1.1 currently offers the longest visible tail into 2030. The best partner will translate that into a project plan with clear data asks and minimal drain on your production and R&D teams.
What this means for your 2026 roadmap
If you lack a current EPD, prioritize one product family with the highest spec volume, often UB or UC in common grades. Aim for a reference year with clean utility and scrap data, then publish and iterate for adjacent sizes. Sales can and should request bids that now prefer or require product‑specific EPDs, because coming to the table without one often forces a penalty in embodied carbon accounting that pushes you out of contention. The price of a single EPD is often dwarfed by one mid‑sized project win, and that is not hyperbole, it is commercial math.
One last thing
This article uses the global public registry most architects and specifiers rely on. Due to normal loading delays, some late 2025 EPDs may not yet appear. If you want the up‑to‑the‑minute background data, connect with me on LinkedIn and message me. I am happy to share the full dataset, answer questions, or jump on a quick call to help you pick the best fit PCR based on your competitive landscape. And yes, we can definitley dig into timing so you hit the next bid cycle with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operators are most used for hot‑rolled sections EPDs in Europe?
EPD International AB leads by manufacturer diversity, SCS Global Services has concentrated volume with one manufacturer, EPD Hub and IBU show steady adoption, and CENIA and EPD Turkey appear in single‑issuer cases. Shares are roughly EPD International AB 29%, SCS 25%, EPD Hub 21%, IBU 18% based on 28 current EPDs.
What PCR choice gives the longest time before renewal?
Among current listings, EPD Hub Core PCR v1.1 and the “Steel products with secondary processing for construction” PCR show latest expiries in 2030, which is a longer runway than Part B sets concentrated around early 2029.
How common is it to use an EPD consultant or service provider?
Very common. About 82% of the EPDs in this category over the last five years involved an external service provider. This aligns with manufacturers prioritizing minimal internal disruption while keeping verification credible.
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.
