SCAFCO Steel Studs, EPDs, and the spec game

SCAFCO at a glance

SCAFCO Steel Stud Company is the steel framing arm within the SCAFCO family, headquartered in Spokane with a second plant in Stockton. They focus on cold‑formed steel systems for drywall and light framing, not a sprawling mixed portfolio, which keeps the brand tightly associated with studs, track, and accessories (SCAFCO site, 2025).

What they make

The catalog spans nonstructural and structural studs, track, furring, shaftwall, resilient sound channel, headers and jambs, plus a deep bench of clips and connectors. Count the size, gauge, and coating combinations and you are into the hundreds of SKUs. That breadth lets them cover offices, education, healthcare, and interiors where drywall rules the day.

EPD coverage, in plain English

SCAFCO publishes a product‑specific Type III EPD for Steel Framing Studs, Track, and Accessories, verified by SCS Global Services, valid from May 12, 2025 to May 11, 2030. Scope is cradle‑to‑gate and aligns with ISO 14025 and UL’s Part A and Part B PCRs. In short, it is the right document for LEED teams that ask for product‑specific EPDs rather than industry‑wide ones (SCAFCO EPD, 2025). (SCAFCO EPD, 2025)

How much of the line that EPD likely covers

The EPD describes studs, track, and accessories, and explicitly lists headers, jambs, clips, connectors, and acoustical framing components among included products. That signals strong coverage across core SKUs many specifiers submittal‑check first (SCAFCO EPD, 2025).

Plants and spec geography

SCAFCO manufactures in Spokane, WA and Stockton, CA. Plant‑specific disclosures are useful when owners prefer facility data that matches their region to trim transport assumptions. Their published EPD documentation aligns with facility production for this family, which helps on West Coast and Pacific Northwest specs where regional sourcing is watched closely (SCAFCO EPD, 2025; SCAFCO locations page, 2025).

Where gaps may remain

Specialty assemblies that mix non‑steel materials can fall outside a steel‑framing EPD’s boundary. If a submittal hinges on a proprietary clip with coatings or a pre‑engineered header package that adds non‑steel elements, teams sometimes ask for a separate document or a clarifying letter. SCAFCO shares sustainability and LEED materials in one hub, which helps streamline that back‑and‑forth (SCAFCO LEED and Sustainability, 2025). If a must‑have SKU is missing, it is faster to scope a plant‑matched add‑on EPD than to debate exceptions during buyout.

Competitors you will meet on the same bid list

Cold‑formed steel is a competitive field. ClarkDietrich, Marino\WARE, CEMCO, Telling Industries, and regional roll formers regularly face SCAFCO on drywall and light framing scopes. Several publish product‑specific EPDs, and some also offer low‑embodied‑carbon variants with optimization reports that can be weighted higher in LEED calculations, for example ClarkDietrich and Marino\WARE in 2024 news and guidance pages (ClarkDietrich, 2024; Marino\WARE, 2024). (ClarkDietrich EPD resources, 2024) (Marino\WARE Sustainability, 2024)

Why this matters for LEED v4.1 and the shift to v5

In LEED v4.1, product‑specific Type III EPDs count at a 1.5 product weighting under MR EPD Option 1, which moves projects to the finish line faster when the schedule is tight (USGBC, 2024). LEED v5, ratified by USGBC members on March 28, 2025, keeps disclosure and raises the bar on embodied‑carbon performance, so verified EPDs remain the currency of choice for wall and ceiling packages (USGBC, 2025). (USGBC BPDO EPD Guide, 2024) (USGBC LEED v5 timeline, 2025)

The commercial takeaway

On many projects, a SKU without a product‑specific EPD forces teams to use conservative default factors, which can push them toward an alternative that does have one. SCAFCO’s current EPD positions the core line for smooth submittals and fewer late‑stage swaps. If a frequently specified SKU sits outside the current EPD’s scope, closing that gap usually pays for itself in avoided churn, fewer RFIs, and a cleaner LEED scorecard. Dont leave that to chance.

What great EPD partners will do for a steel framer

The best partners make data collection painless across plants and shifts, benchmark against the common PCR competitors use, and publish with a program operator specifiers recognize. They also plan renewals and optional optimization studies so teams can tap higher LEED weightings without thrash. That discipline turns an EPD from paperwork into a repeatable spec advantage.

Bottom line for SCAFCO watchers

SCAFCO is a focused steel‑framing manufacturer with EPD coverage on the products most often requested in submittals. Competitors are pressing on low‑carbon claims and optimization, so keeping disclosures current and plant‑specific will keep bids crisp, especially as LEED v5 becomes the norm.