Simpson Strong‑Tie: product breadth and EPD coverage
Simpson Strong‑Tie is on almost every framing set and submittal. The question specifiers ask more often in 2025 is simple: which of those connectors, fasteners and anchors come with a product‑specific EPD, and where are the gaps that could cost a spec on projects targeting low‑carbon outcomes?
Who they are
Simpson Strong‑Tie is a structural solutions manufacturer covering wood, steel and concrete applications. The portfolio spans connectors, structural wood screws and nails, mechanical and chemical anchors, epoxy and repair mortars, cold‑formed steel and structural steel connectors, FRP strengthening systems, lateral systems, Quik Drive auto‑feed screw systems, software, and mass‑timber hardware. Practically, that is well over a dozen distinct product families and in the hundreds of SKUs.
What they sell most often on jobsites
On light‑frame and mass‑timber projects, the everyday kit includes joist hangers, angles and straps, post bases, hurricane ties, Strong‑Drive structural screws, nails, and common anchors. In concrete and retrofit work, designers reach for SET adhesives, wedge and screw anchors, and CSS FRP wraps or laminates. It is a broad mix, not a pure play in one category.
EPDs they do have today
Across Simpson’s European sites there is a dedicated EPD hub for three high‑volume ranges: connectors, screws and nails. The pages state that IBU conducted the LCA and verification in line with EN 15804, and list downloadable certificates for representative series used on CLT and conventional timber projects (Simpson Strong‑Tie EPD pages, 2025).
The North American snapshot
As of December 19, 2025, we did not find product‑specific EPDs for Simpson Strong‑Tie published in major US operator directories for the flagship US portfolio. European EN 15804 EPDs can sometimes be recognized across programs, though the IBU notes that countries such as the United States may impose additional national rules, so portability is not automatic (IBU Mutual Recognitions, 2025) (IBU, 2025).
Coverage, at a glance
Good coverage in Europe for three core families: connectors, screws, nails. Limited public EPD visibility in the US for those same families, and no public EPDs located for anchors, chemical anchoring, or FRP systems in the US listings as of the date above. If that remains the case at bid time, specifiers may default to conservative carbon assumptions that make substitution more likely on projects chasing embodied‑carbon targets under owner policies or LEED v5.
A missed‑spec example
Take workhorse structural wood screws such as SDWS or SDWH. If a project team filters for screws with current EPDs, Hilti’s Structural Timber Screw portfolio shows a verified EN 15804 EPD with five‑year validity published in 2024, and Hilti’s stud anchors have similar coverage via the same program (EPD Hub, 2024–2025) (EPD Hub, 2024) (EPD Hub, 2024). On a shortlist that requires product‑specific EPDs, that difference can be the tie‑breaker.
Competitors you’ll see on the same spec
Project by project, Simpson competes with MiTek on wood connectors and screws, Hilti on anchors, screws and adhesives, and in mass timber often with Rothoblaas, SPAX and HECO. For example, MiTek has a product‑specific EPD for connector plates in Australasia valid to 2029 (EPD Australasia, 2024). Several European screw makers, including Hilti and HECO, have 2024–2025 EN 15804 EPDs listed with reputable operators (EPD International, 2024–2025). Those give specifiers low‑friction options when EPDs are a box to tick.
Why this matters commercially
When an EPD is missing, project teams often must apply default or penalized factors in their carbon accounting, which can nudge them toward an alternative with a verified declaration. You don’t want a commodity price fight where paperwork decides the winner. Getting EPDs across core, high‑runner families keeps you in the conversation without extra justification and usually pays back with even one mid‑sized project win.
Where to start if you are building coverage
Pick the rulebook first. Identify the PCR your closest competitors use for each family so your EPDs are apples‑to‑apples in submittals. Prioritize high‑runner lines and assemblies that span many SKUs so one declaration unlocks the most specifications. Plan data collection around a clean 12‑month reference year and line up your program operator with an eye to mutual recognition if you sell in both the US and EU. The ease of gathering plant utility, packaging and scrap data is the timeline killer, so pick an LCA partner who will do the heavy lifting, not hand you spreadsheets.
A quick note on sustainability communications
If corporate ESG context is useful for owner dialogues, Simpson Manufacturing publishes an annual CSR report with safety and resource metrics that can be referenced alongside product data (Simpson Manufacturing CSR, 2025). That is not a substitute for product‑level EPDs, but it rounds out the story.
The move that changes the spec math
For a brand this visible, aligning US‑market EPDs to the same three European families would cover a big slice of Simpson’s spec exposure. Add anchors and a representative adhesive, and the coverage becomes compelling. The rest is disciplined execution on data and verification. It’s not glamorous, but it’s definately what wins more specs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do European EN 15804 EPDs automatically count in the US?
Not automatically. IBU confirms cross‑program recognition pathways, but notes additional national rules in countries such as the United States. Check operator requirements before relying on a European EPD for US submittals (IBU Mutual Recognitions, 2025) (IBU, 2025).
Which competitor EPDs illustrate the bar in screws and anchors?
Hilti lists a verified EPD for its Structural Timber Screw portfolio and for a stud anchor with 2024 publication and 2029 validity on EPD Hub (EPD Hub, 2024–2025) (EPD Hub, 2024).
Where can I see Simpson’s current EPD communication?
Simpson’s European sites host EPD pages for connectors, screws and nails, stating IBU verification against EN 15804, with links to certificates (Simpson Strong‑Tie EPD pages, 2025).
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
