ULMA Architectural: product lines and EPD coverage
ULMA Architectural Solutions is a polymer‑concrete specialist with three clear plays in construction: trench drains, ventilated facades and architectural precast. If you sell into projects where product-specific EPDs unlock compliance and preference, their current coverage is better than many peers, yet there are smart moves left to win more specs with less friction.
Who they are, what they make
ULMA Architectural Solutions, part of Spain’s ULMA Group, focuses on engineered stone and polymer‑concrete. Their portfolio centers on three families that show up on a lot of specs in civic, healthcare, office and education work.
- Drainage channels for pedestrian, commercial and heavy‑duty areas.
- Stoneo ventilated facade panels in multiple textures and formats.
- Architectural precast details such as copings, window sills, lintels and custom trims.
How broad is the catalog
Across these families, the selectable options add up fast. Channel sizes, gratings and load classes easily run into the hundreds of SKU combinations. Facade formats, substructure choices and finishes land in the dozens. Precast details come in standard series with made‑to‑measure variants, also in the dozens.
EPD coverage today
ULMA has recent third‑party verified EPDs for the core families. Polymer‑concrete trench drains and Stoneo facade panels both carry program operator EPDs with validity to December 2027 (EPD International, 2022). Architectural precast does as well with the same 2027 horizon (EPD International, 2022). In June 2025 ULMA added a plastic drainage channels EPD, valid to June 2030, which strengthens coverage for lighter applications (EPD International, 2025).
For trench drains in polymer‑concrete specifically, ULMA’s EPD remains current through December 2027 (EPD International, 2022). That is the product type most often queried by civil and site engineers, so having it verified is useful when LEED v5‑aiming teams want product‑specific declarations.
What this means for specs
Projects that require or prefer product‑specific EPDs can use ULMA’s declarations across typical applications without penalty. One practical watch‑out, the channel EPD usually covers the body, while gratings or rails may be separate line items in submittals. Coordinating that scope early keeps sustainability submittals clean and avoids last‑minute back‑and‑forth with reviewers.
If you need a central home for ULMA credentials, start with their facade download hub, which also links to Environmental Management and Product environmental declaration documents (ULMA facade downloads).
Where gaps could still appear
Coverage is strong, not perfect. Accessories and mix‑and‑match components are the usual blind spot in drainage. For facades, the family EPD is product‑specific at the panel level, yet unique perforations or highly customized panels can trigger project reviewer questions that benefit from a clarified scenario in the EPD background. That is solvable with a quick addendum or an update.
Competitive set you will meet
- Trench drains compete most with ACO, MEA and BIRCO. MEA publishes polymer‑concrete channel EPDs in EN 15804 A2 formats (EPD International, 2026). BIRCO’s drainage channel EPD is current to late 2028 (EPD International, 2028).
- Ventilated facades are often cross‑shopped with terracotta, HPL and fiber‑cement. NBK Keramik has IBU‑hosted terracotta facade EPDs valid into 2029, a frequent alternative on civic and higher education jobs (IBU, 2029).
- Architectural precast details can face local cast‑stone makers or metal coping systems. EPDs exist in those categories, but availability is uneven by region.
Commercial angle, plain and simple
When a family has a product‑specific EPD, teams avoid defaulting to generic or penalized factors in carbon accounting. That keeps you in the room on EPD‑mandated bids without a pricing cliff to compensate for paperwork. We often see teams move faster when a partner handles the data wrangling and program‑operator publishing end to end, so engineering and product managers can stay focussed on design.
Quick plays for product managers
- Audit accessory coverage. If a best‑seller grate or rail is critical to the installed system, confirm whether its impacts are already included or need a short addendum.
- For custom facade patterns, pre‑agree the declared unit and cut pattern assumptions to speed any reviewer queries.
- Time renewals. The 2027 expiries leave headroom today, yet aligning refresh work with a single reference year of data keeps cost and effort low while avoiding a scramble.
Bottom line
ULMA is a focused multi‑category player rather than a single‑product pure play. The catalog spans three meaningful categories with dozens to hundreds of selectable SKUs, and their EPD set covers the hits. Tidy up a few accessory edges, plan the 2027 refresh, and this portfolio is specification‑ready for LEED‑minded clients. It is definately positioned to win when the paperwork is as crisp as the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What EPDs has ULMA Architectural Solutions published and how long are they valid for?
Polymer‑concrete trench drains, Stoneo ventilated facade panels, and architectural precast each have EPDs valid to December 2027, and a plastic drainage channels EPD is valid to June 2030. Sources, EPD International 2022 and 2025, see polymer concrete and plastic drainage listings.
How many product categories and SKUs does ULMA offer roughly?
Three core categories, drainage, ventilated facades and architectural precast. Options across sizes, loads, finishes and custom pieces equate to dozens to hundreds of SKU combinations.
Who are typical competitors for ULMA’s products on projects?
For drains, ACO, MEA, BIRCO. For facades, terracotta systems like NBK, fiber‑cement and HPL panels. For precast details, local cast stone and metal coping fabricators.
Where can I find ULMA’s sustainability files?
Their facade downloads page links to Product environmental declarations, Environmental Management System, LEED information and ETAs, which is a practical start point.
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.
