Western Tube’s first EPDs, well played
Western Tube just published its first Environmental Product Declarations, putting hard numbers to products specifiers touch daily in power, data, and safety systems. This is transparency that moves bids, not just blogs. Here is what they released, who verified it, and how the coverage stacks up against the conduit field.
Why this debut matters
Western Tube manufactures steel electrical conduit for commercial and industrial projects, from hospitals to data centers. When a product shows up with an EPD, it removes guesswork for carbon accounting and keeps the spec team from reaching for a substitution that already has one. That is real spec agility.
What Western Tube published
Based on records current as of January 29, 2026, Western Tube released a wave of 22 product‑specific EPDs in May 2025. The set covers two steel conduit families used across new build and retrofit: Fabricated Intermediate Metal Conduit and Fabricated Rigid Metal Conduit, including size‑specific declarations that run from 1⁄2 inch up to 6 inches where applicable. The declarations sit under MasterFormat 26 05 33.13 Electrical Conduit, are operated by UL, and list WAP Sustainability as the LCA and EPD developer. Translation into project speak: the specs now match how the product is actually bought and installed.
Scope notes that help specifiers
The portfolio includes family‑level EPDs for IMC and RMC plus size‑specific entries. Granularity matters when owners or GCs push for apples‑to‑apples comparisons between trade sizes in takeoffs. It also helps electrical contractors defend choices without burning cycles on back‑and‑forth emails.
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Competitive snapshot
Atkore, which includes Allied Tube and other conduit brands, entered earlier with a broad conduit set that spans EMT, IMC, RMC, stainless, and PVC. Their EPDs run under Smart EPD with development credited to TrueNorth Collective and in‑house teams, current through May 2029. Coverage is wide, so Western Tube’s May 2025 launch puts it squarely in the same transparency conversation for steel conduit.
Wheatland Tube, another well‑known conduit maker, published multiple steel conduit EPDs in May 2025 with UL as operator and WAP Sustainability as developer. That means key buyers will now see parity among these brands on IMC and RMC transparency. No one wins a spec by hiding their numbers.
Nucor shows a single current steel electrical conduit EPD verified by ASTM International and valid to late 2028. It proves presence, yet it is not as granular across trade sizes or conduit subtypes. Western Tube’s catalog‑like spread is a clearer fit for the way estimators and engineers actually select items.
What changes commercially
More projects are asking for product‑specific declarations in Division 26 packages. Without one, teams pay a penalty in modeled impacts that can push a product off the list. With one, submittals move faster, substitutions are easier to fend off, and conversations focus on performance, not paperwork. One well‑timed EPD can decide a mid‑sized job, and the price of that credential is often dwarft by the revenue it unlocks.
Where to find the PDFs
Western Tube lists EPD downloads in its resource library. See RMC and IMC here: Fabricated Rigid Metal Conduit EPD and Fabricated Intermediate Metal Conduit EPD. Their library also includes an EMT EPD. Visibility is strong when these links also live on product pages and in spec download hubs, which reduces hunting during bid week.
A quick note on rulebooks
Every declaration follows a Product Category Rule. Think of the PCR as the Monopoly rulebook. Ignore it and the game falls apart. Western Tube’s conduit EPDs reference the Part B PCR for Electrical and Telecommunications Conduit, which aligns comparisons to the same playbook.
The takeaway
Western Tube has entered the transparency arena with a practical, spec‑ready set that mirrors how conduit is purchased and installed. The portfolio meets the market where it buys, and it gives estimators a cleaner handoff to the field. For teams planning their own first EPDs, the lesson is simple. Pick a partner that makes data collection painless and targets the exact products buyers specify most, then publish with a program operator your market already trusts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operator verified Western Tube’s first EPDs and who developed them?
UL is listed as the program operator, and WAP Sustainability is listed as the LCA and EPD developer for the conduit set.
Which conduit types are covered by Western Tube’s first release?
Fabricated Intermediate Metal Conduit and Fabricated Rigid Metal Conduit, including multiple trade sizes that align with how products are specified and purchased.
When were the EPDs issued and how many are current?
Issued in May 2025, with 22 current EPDs as of January 29, 2026.
How does the coverage compare to peers?
Atkore shows broad conduit coverage under Smart EPD through May 2029. Wheatland Tube published steel conduit EPDs in May 2025 with UL. Nucor lists one current steel conduit EPD valid to late 2028.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
