CSC enters the EPD arena for joists and deck
Specifiers keep asking for verified carbon data. This week, Canam Steel Corporation (CSC) answered with their first Environmental Product Declarations, giving project teams a faster path to document embodied carbon for two workhorse categories that live in almost every commercial build.
What CSC just published
As of January 5, 2026, CSC has five current product EPDs covering two core families. The set spans Open Web Steel Joists and Joist Girders (MasterFormat 05 21 19) and Steel Roof and Floor Deck (MasterFormat 05 31 00). The program operator is UL, and the LCA developer listed is Sphera. These are family EPDs that represent multiple profiles, making them immediately usable across a broad slice of CSC’s catalog without waiting for SKU‑by‑SKU paperwork.
Why this matters for specs and bids
Project teams are penalized when a product lacks a product‑specific, third‑party verified EPD. Penalties show up as conservative defaults in carbon models and fewer points on green building scorecards, so products with EPDs often stay in the spec while others get swapped. With joists and deck now covered, CSC gives design teams fewer reasons to hesitate and more reasons to keep the package intact.
The competitive picture in plain view
CSC just stepped into a field with three familiar names. Evidence in public EPD registries shows New Millennium Building Systems holds current EPDs for both steel joists and steel deck under ASTM International, ASC Steel Deck carries current deck EPDs through SCS Global Services, and Nucor’s Vulcraft or Verco brands show expired coverage at the moment. Said simply, CSC has caught New Millennium on coverage breadth and leapfrogged others on recency for joists. That changes shortlists.
What it says about CSC’s go‑to‑market
CSC builds for commercial and industrial projects where joists and deck define schedule and cost. Publishing verified LCAs signals a willingness to be compared apples‑to‑apples on embodied carbon, not only price and lead time. For sales teams, this turns carbon questions from speed bumps into standard talking points. For engineers, it removes a spec risk that can stall approvals.
Scope notes worth flagging to your team
These EPDs are product‑family level, not single‑item declarations, which is practical for early design and procurement. The joist EPDs reflect custom‑engineered members that vary project to project, so a family EPD is the right on‑ramp. Where owners ask, project‑specific calculations can layer on mill source and transport to tighten results further. That is often the sweet spot between speed and precision.
Where to find the documents
CSC’s Sustainability page discusses EPDs and offers a request path, though we did not see direct, downloadable EPD PDFs posted on the site at the time of writing. You can start here and ask for the documents to be emailed: CSC Sustainability. Visibility matters for specifiers, so posting the PDFs alongside product literature will definately help.
Quick advice for manufacturers watching this move
Joists and deck are complex to model because the bill of materials flexes with each project. The fastest way to publish without distracting your plant teams is to pick an LCA partner who can gather plant‑level data once, map it to the right Part B rule set, and manage the operator review. That saves cycles for engineering while still giving sales what they need to win.
Takeaway for project teams
CSC is now in the transparency arena with five joist and deck EPDs. That puts them shoulder‑to‑shoulder with established players where it counts and gives owners another credible option when the spec asks for proof, not promises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which product categories are covered by CSC’s first EPDs?
Open Web Steel Joists and Joist Girders (05 21 19) and Steel Roof and Floor Deck (05 31 00).
Who issued and developed CSC’s EPDs?
Program operator is UL. The listed LCA developer is Sphera.
How many EPDs did CSC debut with and are they current?
Five current EPDs as of January 5, 2026, valid through mid‑2029 based on the posted expiries.
Do competitors have similar coverage?
New Millennium has current joist and deck EPDs. ASC Steel Deck has current deck EPDs. Some Vulcraft or Verco coverage appears expired.
Where can I download CSC’s EPDs?
CSC references EPDs on its Sustainability page and provides a request route. We recommend posting the PDFs directly on product pages for easier spec use.
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.
