MarinoWARE: cold‑formed steel with EPDs that matter
MarinoWARE builds the nuts‑and‑bolts of many interiors and façades. Think studs, track, joists, clips, shaftwall and firestopping. The catalog runs into the hundreds of SKUs, spread across a handful of clear product families. The big question for specifiers today is simple. Are these covered by product‑specific EPDs that keep bids moving and LEED v5 targets in play?
Who they are and what they sell
MarinoWARE is a U.S. manufacturer focused on cold‑formed steel framing and adjacent accessories. Their portfolio centers on structural and non‑structural studs and track, open‑web joists, shaftwall components, slotted deflection track, a broad ClipSource line of connectors, and a branded firestopping range. Signature systems like ViperStud, StudRite and JoistRite anchor the lineup.
In breadth, this is not a niche single‑product player. Expect multiple product families with variations by depth, gauge and coating. SKU count lands in the hundreds, which is typical for steel framing where one profile spawns many sizes.
Explore their sustainability hub for primary documents and downloads on one page (MarinoWARE Sustainability).
EPD coverage at a glance
MarinoWARE offers product‑specific Type III EPDs that cover its cold‑formed steel framing systems, plus a Low Embodied Carbon (LEC) EPD variant for products produced with EAF steel. They also publish an EPD Optimization Assessment that signals modeled GWP improvement relative to a baseline. In plain terms, everyday studs, track, joists and many system bundles are covered, which is exactly where project teams start.
Validity windows and exact counts change over time, but coverage today spans multiple current declarations across core framing families. That means most day‑to‑day submittals for studs and track can include a product‑specific EPD rather than falling back to generic or industry‑wide numbers.
Where the gaps likely are
Two areas may need attention. First, specialty items like firestopping beads and some connectors often sit outside steel framing PCR scopes. If a project team wants EPDs for those accessories, check whether they are explicitly included in the steel framing EPD scope or require a separate PCR route. Second, sound‑optimized systems such as SoundGuard are specialized. Confirm whether they are covered by the steel EPD umbrella or should carry an additional declaration of their own.
Neither gap is unusual. It is simply a reminder that spec coverage is strongest when every high‑runner has a clear EPD reference attached to its submittal sheet.
How they compare on publishable proof
Cold‑formed steel is a mature EPD category in North America. Alongside company‑specific EPDs, the Steel Framing Industry Association maintains an industry‑wide EPD for CFS framing that remains valid through May 27, 2026, providing a baseline when brand‑specific data is missing (BuildSteel and SFIA, 2025) (BuildSteel and SFIA, 2025).
Key competitors in daily specs include ClarkDietrich for studs, track and clips, CEMCO and Super Stud for framing packages, and The Steel Network or Simpson Strong‑Tie for many connector conditions. Several of these publish product‑specific framing EPDs, and some promote LEC portfolios with supporting documentation. When a submittal stack includes an optimization assessment or a portfolio EPD that clearly covers studs, track and joists, it reduces back‑and‑forth with GC sustainability teams and keeps bids from stalling.
Commercial stakes on LEED and owner policies
More owners now prefer or require EPDs in procurement, and several U.S. states specify EPDs for certain building products during public purchasing. Program operators like UL note that verified EPDs help manufacturers become preferred suppliers in such contexts and are recognized by rating systems like LEED and Green Globes (UL Solutions, 2024) (UL Solutions, 2024). If a best‑seller component lacks a product‑specific EPD, specifiers often apply a conservative default that can make a brand less competitive in tight comparisons.
What to prioritize next
If we were inside their product meeting, the shortlist would read like this.
- Confirm and publish explicit scope language that ties the portfolio EPDs to named SKUs and system bundles in every submittal. Clear mapping prevents substitution pressure at the last minute.
- Tackle specialty categories that live just outside the steel PCR, starting with top‑volume firestopping profiles and the most common deflection clips. Even a small set of accessory EPDs can punch above its weight in healthcare and education projects.
- Refresh older declarations well ahead of expiry to avoid scramble periods that risk project‑by‑project exceptions. A well‑timed update is invisible to the market, which is exactly the point.
Choosing an LCA and EPD partner that removes work
Teams win when the data collection grind is handled for them. Look for a partner that leads the internal data chase across operations, aligns to the prevailing steel PCRs used by competitors, and can publish with your preferred operator in the U.S. or EU without extra effort. The right model keeps engineers on engineering while the paperwork moves. That is definitley how specs get protected.
Bottom line for specability
MarinoWARE is a broad steel framer, not a single‑SKU brand. Their core framing families are covered by product‑specific EPDs, with an LEC option and an optimization assessment that resonate on LEED‑driven projects. Tighten the story for accessories and any specialized systems, and they will be hard to swap on projects that score every submittal for transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which MarinoWARE products are most likely covered by current EPDs?
Cold‑formed steel framing families such as studs, track, joists, shaftwall components and many system bundles are covered by product‑specific Type III EPDs, with an additional LEC EPD option highlighted on their sustainability page.
Do industry‑wide EPDs still help if a product‑specific EPD is missing?
Yes. SFIA’s industry‑wide EPD for cold‑formed steel framing remains valid through May 27, 2026 and can provide baseline data when a brand‑specific EPD is unavailable (BuildSteel and SFIA, 2025) (BuildSteel and SFIA, 2025).
Which competitors most often appear on the same bid lists?
ClarkDietrich, CEMCO, Super Stud, The Steel Network and Simpson Strong‑Tie regularly show up for similar framing and connector packages. Many publish product‑specific framing EPDs and some promote LEC lines with supporting documentation.
Where can I find MarinoWARE’s sustainability documents quickly?
Their centralized page collects EPDs, the LEC EPD optimization assessment and HPD materials in one place (MarinoWARE Sustainability).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
