Congrats, Firth Steels: first EPDs go live
Firth Steels just entered the transparency arena. In December 2025, the UK manufacturer published its first wave of product‑specific Environmental Product Declarations covering core building‑envelope and structural decking lines. That puts verified data where specifiers expect it, and it quietly changes the math in shortlists where a missing EPD adds friction or a penalty in whole‑building LCA models.
What launched
Firth Steels now lists five current, product‑specific EPDs. The set spans two floor‑deck family EPDs, two roof‑deck family EPDs, and a system‑level EPD for the Protex Classic RS01 built‑up roof. The most recent issuance landed in December 2025, rounding out a 2025 publishing run.
Scope in plain English
The deck EPDs represent families, not one‑off SKUs. Roof‑deck profiles cover common depth ranges used across industrial and logistics roofs, and the floor‑deck range spans typical 50 to 220 mm depth classes used for composite slabs. The Protex Classic RS01 system EPD models the whole assembly in one place, including steel liner, insulation, fasteners, and the profiled outer sheet. That makes submittals cleaner because spec teams can point to a single, verified record instead of stitching parts together.
Who verified it
These EPDs are published with EPD Hub, a program operator recognized by ECO Platform as an Established ECO EPD Programme in December 2025. If your projects run across EU markets, that recognition helps with visibility in the ECO Portal. For teams comparing operators, here is a quick primer on EPD Hub. EPDs generally carry a five‑year validity window across major programs, which gives sales and spec teams a long runway to earn back the effort (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
If an LCA or consulting partner is listed publicly for these declarations, we did not see it stated alongside the records. That is common and not a blocker.
Why this matters for specability now
When an EPD is missing, project tools default to conservative datasets. That can nudge a product out of contention even when price and performance are solid. With product‑specific EPDs on its roof and floor deck families and on a built‑up roof system, Firth Steels removes that drag. It becomes simpler for designers to document A1 to A3 impacts and keep the envelope selection stable through design development.
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Quick company context
Firth Steels manufactures profiled steel roof and wall systems, structural roof deck, and composite floor deck for commercial and industrial projects across the UK. Think warehouses, retail parks, transport hubs, and fast‑track builds where clear span, speed, and supply assurance matter. A system EPD for Protex Classic RS01 also signals intent in the built‑up envelope space where design teams often compare against insulated panel packages.
Competitive snapshot
- Euroclad Group appears with multiple current EPDs for Eurobond insulated metal panels under the same program operator. That means envelope buyers can already find verified data on rival panel systems when they search.
- Kingspan maintains broad EPD coverage across insulated panels and related envelope lines in Europe and North America, which keeps them visible in cross‑border specs. For a concise overview, see Kingspan in brief.
- Tata Steel’s UK construction portal shows limited current, product‑specific EPD coverage for deck and cladding in public listings at the time of writing. For buyers who want deck data right now, that gap is an opening.
The takeaway is simple. Firth Steels has caught the pack in the public transparency race for core decking and moved the built‑up roof conversation to a system EPD that appears on the same playing field as panel competitors.
Where to find the documents
Firth Steels highlights EPD availability on its Protex pages and NBS Source entries. See the Protex overview with EPD callouts and links to certificates, including Voyage, on the company site here: Protex Systems | NBS Specification Made Simple. The Protex Classic system page adds context for the built‑up roof system: Protex Classic.
Visibility wins. Keep those links live on product pages and mirror the files in a central technical library so submittal authors grab the right PDF fast. If an EPD is updated mid‑cycle, add the new record beside the prior one and note the validity dates to avoid version mix‑ups, which definately helps during audits.
What to watch next
- Extend coverage. Wall cladding assemblies and any specialized deck variants are logical next candidates so the whole schedule benefits from product‑specific data.
- Keep PCR choice aligned with competitors. Teams often compare under the same rulebook to make numbers comparable. A good rule of thumb is to track which operators competitors use and meet buyers where they look first.
- Make renewal a non‑event. Plan for data pulls that fit fiscal years and utility cycles so the five‑year refresh lands on time with minimal factory distraction (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Firth Steels has entered the transparency arena. With EPDs covering deck families and a flagship built‑up roof system, they just made it easier for project teams to choose their steel and move on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many first‑time EPDs did Firth Steels publish and what do they cover?
Five current product‑specific EPDs are live covering two floor‑deck families, two roof‑deck families, and a Protex Classic RS01 built‑up roof system.
Which program operator verified Firth Steels’ first EPDs?
EPD Hub verified and published the declarations. See our overview of EPD Hub for context on recognition within ECO Platform.
When were these EPDs first issued?
The wave was published across 2025, with a system EPD issued in December 2025 rounding out the set.
Is an LCA developer named for these documents?
We did not see a developer organization stated publicly alongside the EPD listings. That is common and does not limit use.
Where can specifiers download Firth Steels’ EPDs?
Firth Steels links EPDs from product pages and an NBS Source explainer. Start at the Protex systems page that includes EPD callouts and certificate links.
About the Author
Hazel Brooks is an editor at EPD Guide covering EPDs and the fast-evolving sustainability data landscape. She tracks program-operator updates, standards and guidance changes, and new EPD releases, connecting the dots across the market to report on trends, shifting expectations, and the competitive EPD landscape. Her work focuses on making complex data sets easier to navigate and access, so manufacturers and sustainability teams can act with clarity and confidence.
