Layher in 2025: scaffolding powerhouse, EPDs still pending
Layher is synonymous with modular scaffolding on complex jobsites. The portfolio is deep and global, yet public, product‑specific EPDs are hard to find for its flagship lines. If a project team filters submittals by verified EPDs, that silence can cost real specifications in markets now standardizing around LEED v5 and procurement rules that reward disclosure.
What Layher makes, at a glance
Layher focuses on access and temporary works. The core is modular Allround Scaffolding and SpeedyScaf frame systems, supported by shoring towers, temporary roofs like Keder Roof XL, stairs and bridges, rolling towers, event structures, ladders, and planning tools. It is a pure play in scaffolding and access, with adjacent protection and event systems rather than unrelated product families (Layher sustainability).
Across regions and generations of components, the catalog runs to hundreds of SKUs. Think standards, ledgers, decks, guardrails, couplers, lattice beams, roof bays, stairs, and a long tail of accessories.
Product coverage by EPDs
We searched the public libraries of major program operators commonly used by building products and found no product‑specific EPDs published by Layher as of December 20, 2025. This does not rule out work in progress or private datasets, yet market‑visible coverage appears low today. EPDs are typically valid for five years, so one well planned wave can support sales for a full cycle before renewal is needed (International EPD System FAQ, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Why the gap matters commercially now
LEED v5 was ratified by USGBC members on March 28, 2025 and opened to project certification later in the year. Embodied carbon and verified product data are central, which keeps EPDs on submittal checklists across building types (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC LEED v5, 2025). On projects that score transparency or set portfolio rules, a product without a product‑specific EPD often gets modeled with conservative defaults. Teams trying to hit targets will prefer the alternative that comes with third‑party‑verified numbers.
Likely best sellers without an EPD
Allround Scaffolding and SpeedyScaf drive most Layher conversations. If one had to pick starting points for disclosure, high volume components like steel decks, standards, ledgers, and guardrails are prime. These parts concentrate mass and have clear unit definitions, which makes scoping and data collection straightforward inside a single reference year.
Competitors that already show EPDs
Component manufacturers in the scaffolding space have begun publishing. Marcegaglia Buildtech, for example, has EPDs for scaffold steel planks and toeboards, tubular structures, and cold‑formed joining elements in the International EPD System, each valid until June 5, 2029 (International EPD System, 2024) (EPD-IES-0014490, 2024, EPD-IES-0014496, 2024). While those particular records are not EN 15804 compliant, they still give specifiers product‑level emissions data, which can tip a bid in tight, disclosure‑driven competitions.
In day‑to‑day tenders, Layher competes with PERI, Altrad, HAKI, Scafom‑Rux, and MJ‑Gerüst, along with large regional rental and service providers. Where a like‑for‑like component has a public EPD from a rival, the product with verified numbers enjoys fewer obstacles at prequalification.
PCR alignment for scaffolding
For building projects, EN 15804 or ISO 21930 based EPDs are the safest path. In the International EPD System, the construction‑products PCR 2019:14 moved to version 2.0.0 in 2025 and the older v1.3.4 reached its sunset on June 20, 2025, so new work should reference the current line to avoid rework (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International guidance, 2025). Picking the same PCR family as peer products helps comparability during review.
Sustainability signals already in place
Layher publishes sustainability content that highlights ISO‑certified energy management, recyclable materials, and CO₂‑reduced steel deck variants. These are useful proof points, yet they do not replace third‑party‑verified EPDs on submittals. Turning that narrative into declarations for priority SKUs is the unlock (Layher sustainability).
Fastest credible route from gap to coverage
Start with one system family and a single reference year, then expand. Prioritize decks and main frame members, confirm the PCR and operator up front, and line up production and purchasing data before modeling. EPDs normally run on five‑year validity, so planning renewals six to nine months before expiry avoids scramble and protects specs in flight (International EPD System FAQ, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
If public EPD coverage stays minimal while competitors publish, the product with numbers gets the nod more often in disclosure‑sensitive work. That is not about green gloss, it is about friction at speficiation time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Layher currently publish product-specific EPDs for its scaffolding systems in major public libraries?
As of December 20, 2025, we could not locate any Layher product‑specific EPDs in the public libraries of leading program operators commonly used by building products. This may change, so always recheck operator portals before submittals.
Which scaffolding components are the easiest starting point for an EPD?
High‑volume parts with clear declared units and substantial mass, such as steel decks, standards, ledgers, and guardrails. These concentrate impacts and simplify data collection for a single reference year.
Do EPDs expire and how often must they be updated?
Program operators state that EPDs are normally valid for five years, with mid‑cycle updates required if changes exceed defined thresholds. Plan renewals 6 to 9 months before expiry to avoid submittal gaps (EPD International FAQ, 2025).
Which competitors are most likely to appear on the same bid lists?
PERI, Altrad, HAKI, Scafom‑Rux, MJ‑Gerüst, and large regional service firms. Some component makers also publish EPDs that cover scaffolding parts, for example Marcegaglia Buildtech in the International EPD System with records valid to 2029 (EPD International, 2024).
Which PCR should scaffolding products use for EN 15804 style EPDs?
For the International EPD System, align to PCR 2019:14 Construction products, current version series 2.0.x, since v1.3.4 reached sunset on June 20, 2025 (EPD International, 2025). Confirm operator and PCR before modeling to reduce rework.
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
