Knight Wall Systems’ first EPDs deserve congratulations

What Knight just published

Knight Wall Systems has five new, product‑specific EPDs covering its core cladding‑support portfolio, issued by Sustainable Minds and developed with the same organization as LCA/EPD developer. Publication month is June 2025, which means these declarations are fresh for current bid cycles (Knight Wall Systems press release, 2025) (Sustainable Minds, 2025).

Covered families at a glance:

• CI system
• HCI system
• MFI system
• ThermaZee
• PanelRail and RevealRail

EPD scope aligns to a rainscreen‑specific rulebook referenced by Knight that was shaped within RAiNA, so the numbers speak to North American assemblies rather than a generic metal profile story (Knight Wall Systems press release, 2025).

Why this matters in specs

Without an EPD, whole‑building LCA tools default to conservative factors. That often sidelines otherwise competitive products, or it forces discounts to stay in the mix. A current, product‑specific EPD lets teams model the actual subframe, which keeps the assembly in play when owners ask for verified data. Think of it like switching from a mystery fuel gauge to a calibrated one, the route planning gets easier.

Where Knight plays

Knight manufactures ventilated rainscreen attachment systems that reduce thermal bridging and work with foam and mineral fiber CI. The portfolio targets architects, façade engineers, and installers that need predictable layout, fast detailing, and broad cladding compatibility across commercial, education, healthcare, and multifamily projects.

Competitive snapshot in the attachment category

Cascadia Windows & Doors publishes current product‑specific EPDs for its Cascadia Clip components, issued January 2024 and valid into 2029, which sets a clear benchmark for rainscreen subframing transparency in North America (Sustainable Minds, 2024).

Advanced Architectural Products previously held GREENGirt EPDs that expired in November 2024, so those documents no longer count as current today. One was under EPD International AB and one under EPD Australasia, both now past their validity window (EPD International AB, 2024) (EPD Australasia, 2024).

What this means competitively is simple. Knight’s first five EPDs close a visibility gap against established players with live declarations and create daylight versus brands whose coverage has lapsed. On projects where verified data is requested, that can be the difference between a quick yes and a time‑consuming variance or substitution.

Reading the room on program operators

Sustainable Minds appears here as both program operator and EPD developer, a pairing that many North American teams choose when speed and reviewer familiarity matter. The practical upside for specifiication is fewer back‑and‑forths on format and scope when submittals land.

Can buyers find the EPDs on Knight’s site?

Knight has publicly announced the EPDs in its pressroom, which is a good start. We did not see the EPD PDFs listed on the Downloads page yet, so adding a dedicated EPD section there would make submittals smoother and shorten review cycles for GCs and envelope consultants (Knight press release, 2025).

The takeaway for teams in this space

Knight Wall Systems has entered the transparency arena with category‑specific, product‑level EPDs that cover the assemblies specifiers actually buy. For attachment systems, that puts them shoulder to shoulder with competitors that already show up with current declarations, and ahead of those whose documents have lapsed. If your product is in the same short list, treat this as your cue to publish, renew, or widen EPD coverage so the better engineering you built is rewarded in the bids.