American Gypsum: products, EPDs, and the spec math
American Gypsum is a focused wallboard maker with a broad catalog. The punchline for specifiers is simple. Do their Environmental Product Declarations cover the boards that actually win bids, or are teams stuck reaching for industry‑wide paperwork while competitors show product‑specific proof?
Who American Gypsum is
American Gypsum manufactures gypsum wallboard and related panels across the U.S., listing five plants and six lines with annual capacity near four billion square feet (American Gypsum, 2025) (American Gypsum, 2025). That makes them a scale player that mostly competes head to head in interiors, multifamily, healthcare and light commercial.
What they sell, in plain English
The range spans regular gypsum board, fire‑rated Type X and Type C, mold and moisture resistant M‑Bloc variants, glass‑mat exterior sheathing, shaftliner, soffit and ceiling boards, plus abuse and impact resistant options. That is several families and, conservatively, dozens of SKUs. Not a one‑trick lineup.
If you want the company’s sustainability hub, start here: American Gypsum Sustainability.
EPD coverage you can find today
Their EPD page points to industry‑wide declarations for 5/8 in Type X gypsum board and for glass‑mat panels, rather than product‑specific Type III EPDs for American Gypsum‑branded SKUs. The Type X industry EPD from the Gypsum Association is listed by NSF as EPD 10270 and shows validity through January 15, 2026 (NSF, 2025) (NSF, 2025). The glass‑mat industry EPD was revised in 2021 and verified by ASTM, which kept many projects covered for sheathing at the time (Gypsum Association, 2021) (Gypsum Association, 2021).
Why that matters commercially
On owner‑driven and LEED v5‑oriented projects, product‑specific EPDs usually simplify submittals and avoid the penalty of defaulting to conservative generics. Teams prefer brand and plant specificity because it maps cleanly to procurement. That can be the difference between staying in a spec or getting swapped late in design.
A likely bestseller with a documentation gap
Standard 5/8 in Type X is a core volume driver. If a project explicitly asks for product‑specific or even plant‑specific EPDs, an industry‑wide document may not clear the bar. Competitors increasingly publish board‑level EPDs with fresh validity windows, which makes their cut sheets friction‑free.
Who they meet in the spec lane
Expect to face USG, CertainTeed, National Gypsum, Georgia‑Pacific, and PABCO on most interiors packages. National Gypsum lists multiple plant‑specific EPDs for Fire‑Shield or EVOLVE X Fire‑Shield boards with validity through 2030 on NSF’s registry, which is exactly the kind of proof submittals love (NSF, 2025) (NSF, 2025). Georgia‑Pacific’s DensDeck roof boards also carry NSF‑listed EPDs running to 2030 for several thicknesses, useful on schools and healthcare projects where roofing submittals are tightly reviewed (NSF, 2025).
Product families covered vs uncovered
Covered today by industry‑wide EPDs: typical 5/8 in Type X wallboard and glass‑mat sheathing. Visible gaps for product‑specific coverage: flagship Type X by plant, Type C, M‑Bloc mold‑resistant boards, shaftliner, soffit and abuse‑resistant variants. If any of these are go‑to SKUs in your region, the absence of product‑specific EPDs can slow down approvals or reduce preference when the spec language is strict.
Rough size of the portfolio
Across thicknesses, lengths, and performance variants, the American Gypsum catalog comfortably lands in the dozens of SKUs. This is a full interior and envelope toolkit, not a narrow specialty. That breadth is a strength, adn it also means EPD work should be sequenced.
How to close the gap fast
Start with a wave one that maps to revenue and submittal pain. Most teams begin with plant‑specific EPDs for 5/8 in Type X at all five plants, then add glass‑mat sheathing, Type C, and the top M‑Bloc boards. Pick the prevailing PCR your competitors use, pick an operator that your customers recognize, and run an efficient data pull so verification stays on schedule. Keep the renewal cadence in a shared calendar so documents never age out mid‑bid.
The takeaway for specability
American Gypsum brings scale, distribution, and a broad, proven board set. Converting the industry‑wide coverage into product‑specific EPDs for the top sellers would remove friction for owners and GCs and make late‑stage substitutions less likely. That is real commercial upside with minimal drama.
Sources for the numeric statements above: plant count and capacity from the company site, the Gypsum Association Type X EPD number and validity from NSF’s registry, and competitor EPD validity windows from NSF’s registry as well. Citations are placed inline where used (American Gypsum, 2025) (NSF, 2025) (Gypsum Association, 2021).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does American Gypsum list product-specific Type III EPDs for its flagship 5/8 in Type X board?
As of December 11, 2025, their public page highlights industry‑wide EPDs rather than product‑specific declarations for American Gypsum‑branded Type X boards (American Gypsum, 2025).
Are the Gypsum Association’s industry-wide EPDs still valid for submittals right now?
NSF lists the GA 5/8 in Type X EPD as EPD 10270, valid through January 15, 2026, which is still current today (NSF, 2025).
Which competitors visibly carry product-specific or plant-specific EPDs through 2030?
National Gypsum publishes multiple plant‑specific EPDs for core boards with five‑year validity to 2030 on NSF’s public listings. Georgia‑Pacific shows DensDeck roof board EPDs with 2030 validity as well (NSF, 2025).
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
