Which PCR fits mineral wool insulation
Confused by rock wool, glass wool, stone wool, and which rules apply where? Here is the straight path to pick the right Product Category Rules for a product-specific EPD, avoid rework, and line up with what specifiers expect. If you arrived wondering about “pcr for mineral wool insulation,” you’re in the right place.
PCRs in one minute
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly: ignore it and the game falls apart. It defines functional unit, scenarios, datasets, and formatting so your mineral wool EPD is comparable and trusted by reviewers.
Your main options by market
Picking a PCR follows your publication venue and sales footprint.
- International EPD System: “Construction products” PCR 2019:14 used together with the complementary PCR for Thermal insulation products (EN 16783). The insulation c‑PCR was refreshed in April 2025 and is valid until April 7, 2030 (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
- North America: UL Solutions’ Part B “Building Envelope Thermal Insulation” is active with a new edition published November 3, 2025 (current through November 30, 2030). This is the typical fit for wall, roof, and cavity insulation made of mineral wool (UL Solutions, 2025) (UL Solutions, 2025).
- Europe (EN 15804 programs like IBU): Use the operator’s Part A plus the Part B for insulating materials. EPDs published at IBU carry a five‑year validity before renewal is needed (IBU, 2025) (IBU, 2025).
Mineral wool, glass wool, stone wool: what’s in scope
Mineral wool falls squarely under “thermal insulation products.” The EPD International c‑PCR ties to EN 16783, which covers factory‑made and in‑situ formed insulation. If you sell both building envelope and mechanical insulation, check whether envelope PCRs or mechanical and specialty insulation PCRs apply to each line. Splitting families early prevents mixed assumptions about service life or installation.
The EN 15804+A2 lens you must meet
Your insulation EPDs will be read through EN 15804+A2. Expect 13 core impact indicators and the split of climate change into fossil, biogenic, land‑use change, and total. That is table‑stakes for EU‑style programs and widely adopted elsewhere (EMIDAT, 2025). End‑of‑life modules C1–C4 and Module D are now consistently reported, which is where recycling and energy recovery scenarios are scored (EMIDAT, 2025).
How to choose the “best” PCR for your product
Two checks guide the call.
- Match your competitors where it helps comparability and submittal ease. Review a few recently published mineral wool EPDs in your target markets and note the operator and PCR.
- Align with the program operator your channel prefers. North American reviewers know UL Parts A and B. EU buyers gravitate to IBU and ECO Platform members. If you plan to cross‑list, confirm mutual recognition or c‑PCR alignment first.
Bonus practicality: some operators currently quote verification queues of several months, so plan the window accordingly (IBU, 2025).
Data the PCRs will test hard
Think in three buckets.
- A1–A3 manufacturing reality: melt energy mix, cullet or slag inputs, binder recipe, yield, on‑site waste, and packaging. Small changes here move GWP and PM noticeably.
- A4–A5 logistics and install: compression ratio and truck utilization can swing transport impacts more than most teams expect.
- C1–C4 end‑of‑life and Module D: realistic demolition, sorting, and recovery rates matter. Avoid “best case everywhere” scenarios that break plausibility checks.
Common traps that delay insulation EPDs
Using a building envelope PCR for mechanical insulation products or vice versa. Declaring R‑value improvements as if they reduce product GWP by allocation (reviewers will flag it). Modeling biogenic carbon or binder emissions inconsistently with A2 rules. Publishing seperately for each plant without deciding whether a weighted-average EPD would serve sales better.
Timeline and expiry planning for 2026 launches
If you publish under the EPD International system, use PCR 2019:14 with the Thermal insulation c‑PCR. Version 1.3.4 of the main PCR was phased out in June 2025 with Version 2.0.x now in force, so check templates and verifier expectations before you freeze the background report (EPD International, 2025). IBU publications run on a five‑year validity clock, so pencil a refresh into your roadmap the day you release the first EPD (IBU, 2025).
A quick path that keeps teams sane
Pick the operator and PCR first. Map one clean reference year of melt and binder data by plant. Lock installation and end‑of‑life scenarios that match where your product is specified most often. Then let experienced LCA hands translate everything into the right A2 tables and c‑PCR specifics so sales can point to a crisp, comparable EPD without the back‑and‑forth.
If you started here by typing “pcr for mineral wool insulation,” your next step is simple. Decide the operator lane, confirm the c‑PCR or Part B, and commit to the data pull. The rest is straightforward work, not guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which PCR should a manufacturer use for mineral wool sold mainly in North America for walls and roofs?
Use UL Solutions’ Part B “Building Envelope Thermal Insulation,” active for the 2025–2030 cycle. It aligns with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 structures and is familiar to North American reviewers (UL Solutions, 2025) (UL Solutions, 2025).
Is there a current insulation PCR in the International EPD System and is it specific enough for mineral wool?
Yes. Use PCR 2019:14 Construction products together with the complementary PCR for Thermal insulation products (EN 16783). The c‑PCR was refreshed in April 2025 and is valid until April 7, 2030, which fits mineral wool well (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
How long will an EPD remain valid if published under IBU?
Five years, after which renewal and a fresh verification are required (IBU, 2025) (IBU, 2025).
What changed with EN 15804+A2 that affects insulation EPDs the most?
Mandatory reporting expanded to 13 core impact indicators and requires end‑of‑life modules C1–C4 plus Module D. Climate change is split into fossil, biogenic, land‑use change, and total categories (EMIDAT, 2025).
We make both building envelope and mechanical insulation. Can one PCR cover both lines?
Not cleanly. Use the building envelope PCR for wall and roof insulation and the mechanical or specialty insulation PCR for HVAC and process lines so service life, installation, and scenarios remain credible to reviewers.
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.
