SFS Group: fastening systems with real EPD traction
SFS is a Swiss manufacturer best known in construction for fasteners and subframe systems. Think flat roof attachments, rainscreen brackets, facade screws and rivets. The product span runs across dozens of families with hundreds of SKUs. Below is where their Environmental Product Declarations show up today, where gaps might still exist, and what that means for getting specified more often when projects or owners prefer EPD‑backed products.
Who SFS is and what they sell
SFS Group (sfs.ch) operates globally across fastening systems and engineered components. In construction they offer flat roof fastening systems (isofast, isotak, isoweld), rainscreen subframes under the NVELOPE brand, facade and curtainwall fasteners, blind rivets, timber screws, and related tools. It is not a single‑product company, it is a wide portfolio play with dozens of categories and easily hundreds of SKUs.
Where SFS already has EPDs
Flat roof systems: SFS publishes third‑party verified EPDs for isofast, isotak and isoweld flat roof fastening systems, valid to 2029 and developed to EN 15804+A2 (SFS isofast EPD, 2024; SFS isotak EPD, 2024; SFS isoweld EPD, 2024).
Rainscreen subframes: SFS holds a BRE‑verified average EPD for NVELOPE mill‑finish aluminium brackets and rails, declared per 1 kg and covering NV, NH and floor‑to‑floor profiles manufactured in the UK (BRE EPD 000473, 2021).
Mechanical fasteners: SFS also publishes a BRE‑verified average EPD that covers a broad basket of roofing and cladding screws (sandwich panel, metal cladding, standing seam, fibre cement and more) declared per 1 kg with modules A1–A3 and C1–C4, D (BRE EPD 000568, 2024).
SFS’ own sustainability pages state that EPDs are increasingly provided across fastening ranges for metal lightweight construction, facade technology, flat roof and strip technology, with most of these assortments already covered (SFS Sustainability, 2025).
Signals beyond product EPDs
SFS reports a jump in renewable electricity share to 75.2% and a 38.8% cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024 versus 2023, equal to a 74.6% reduction per value‑added franc compared with 2020. That operational trend supports future LCA baselines (SFS Annual Report, 2025). The company confirms the sustainability report period ended November 30, 2024 and was published March 7, 2025 (SFS Sustainability Report Notes, 2025).
Likely coverage and notable gaps to watch
From what is public, coverage is strong for European flat roof systems and the NVELOPE subframe family, and broad for mixed fastener families via an average EPD. For specific facade screws and visible rivets sold in North America, we did not find operator‑hosted, product‑specific EPDs listed alongside US product pages. If those exist, they were not easy to locate from the US catalog at the time of writing. That matters because product‑specific and clearly discoverable EPDs often carry greater weight in owner specifications and in rating frameworks under the emerging LEED v5 approach.
Why this matters commercially
On projects that require whole‑building carbon accounting, a product without a verified EPD can force teams to use conservative default factors. That is like stepping onto the field a touchdown behind. Product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs reduce friction in submittals and keep you in contention without price‑only positioning.
Competitors SFS meets at the spec table
When specs cite EPDs explicitly, SFS is often compared with:
- EJOT, which offers EPDs for CROSSFIX substructures, flat roof fastening systems and rear‑ventilated facade fasteners (EJOT EPDs, 2025).
- Simpson Strong‑Tie in Europe, which publishes EPDs for screws and connectors that show full module reporting (Simpson Strong‑Tie EPDs, 2025).
- Hilti Eurofox and other rainscreen subframe providers are common alternates in UK and EU bids; public EPD availability varies by system and market.
What a manufacturer should do next
If you sell into facades or flat roofs, map your top 20 SKUs by revenue and by spec frequency, then align each to a visible, downloadable, third‑party verified EPD. Where an average EPD exists, upgrade the top movers to product‑specific first. Pick the PCR your competitors already publish under so buyers can make clean, apples‑to‑apples comparisons. Invest early in painless data collection across plants so updates are routine, not heroic.
Bottom line on SFS
SFS’ EPD momentum is real on flat roofing and subframes, with broad average coverage for mechanical fasteners. Unlock the next wins by making US‑facing facade fastener EPDs product‑specific and dead‑simple to find. That keeps them shortlisted when projects prefer or require verified declarations. It is the boring administrative edge that wins specs, again and again. And it should happen fastly.
Helpful link: sustainability overview and EPD stance on SFS’ site (Sustainability at SFS).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SFS publish third‑party verified EPDs for its flat roof fastening systems?
Yes. SFS provides externally verified EPDs for isofast, isotak and isoweld flat roof fastening systems that are valid to 2029 under EN 15804+A2 (SFS isofast EPD, 2024; SFS isotak EPD, 2024; SFS isoweld EPD, 2024).
Is there an EPD for SFS’ NVELOPE rainscreen subframe brackets and rails?
Yes. A BRE‑verified average EPD covers mill‑finish aluminium brackets and rails for NVELOPE subframes, declared per 1 kg and including NV and NH families (BRE EPD 000473, 2021).
Does SFS have EPDs for individual facade screws and rivets?
We found a BRE‑verified average EPD that covers a broad basket of roofing and cladding screws declared per 1 kg (BRE EPD 000568, 2024). Product‑specific EPDs for named SKUs on US pages were not readily visible at the time of writing.
Where can I verify SFS’ corporate sustainability metrics that feed LCAs?
SFS reports 75.2% renewable electricity and a 38.8% Scope 1 and 2 reduction in 2024 vs 2023, as well as the 2024 reporting period and publication date, in its 2024 Annual Report and sustainability notes (SFS Annual Report, 2025; SFS Sustainability Report Notes, 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.
