EN 15804 A2, in plain English
If the letters and numbers in EN 15804 feel like alphabet soup, you are not alone. This standard is the rulebook most construction-product EPDs follow in Europe and often beyond. Understanding what changed with the A2 update gives product, operations, and sales teams a faster path to credible, comparable EPDs that actually help win specs, not slow them down.
What EN 15804 actually does
EN 15804 is the core product category rule for construction products. It tells everyone which life‑cycle stages to model, which impacts to report, and how to present results so specifiers can compare like for like. It sits under ISO 14025 for Type III declarations, and aligns its impact methods with the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint work to keep comparisons fair across markets (Nordic Council of Ministers, 2024).
A1 vs A2, the short version
The 2019 A2 amendment refreshed impact methods to align with the latest PEF characterisation factors and tightened how results are reported across the life cycle. Because the factors changed, mixing A1 and A2 results in one analysis can distort comparisons, so keep datasets consistent by version (Nordic Council of Ministers, 2024). Program operators have been updating their rulesets to embed A2 and newer GPI guidance since 2022, with formal transition windows continuing in 2025 for key PCRs such as construction products (EPD International, 2025).
Scope you must declare
Under A2, the minimum scope for construction‑product EPDs covers modules A1–A3 for production, C1–C4 for end of life, and Module D for benefits and loads beyond the system boundary. That means you must declare realistic end‑of‑life scenarios and the downstream effects of recycling or energy recovery, even if market routes are still maturing (CEN, 2019).
Indicators, simplified
A2 expands the core environmental indicators and adds additional ones that focus on human health and land use. Carbon is now split into fossil, biogenic, land‑use change, plus a combined total, which helps reveal trade‑offs for bio‑based materials. GWP‑total remains the headline figure most project teams read first, but the sub‑splits are where reviewers check for credibility (EPD International, 2024).
What program operators changed in 2024–2025
International EPD System updated its default indicator list under GPI 5 to adopt the A2 core indicators as mandatory, while keeping an extra GWP‑GHG metric for certain users. It also clarified process‑certificate validity and sunset dates for older PCR versions to keep the market synchronized (EPD International, 2024). For the construction‑products PCR, version 1.3.4 sunsets on 20 June 2025, then work must follow PCR 2019:14 v2.0.0 under GPI 5 (EPD International, 2025).
Will my EPD expire sooner under A2
No. Most EPDs are valid for five years, and that has not changed. Program operators confirm that validity is normally five years, with updates required if results worsen by a defined margin during that period (EPD International, 2025). If the PCR revises during your validity window, your current EPD stays valid. You use the new PCR at renewal.
EN 15804 vs ISO 21930 in North America
Many North American buyers accept EPDs that conform to ISO 21930 or EN 15804, as long as they are ISO 14025 Type III and third‑party verified. LEED explicitly recognizes EPDs consistent with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 or ISO 21930 for its materials credits, which keeps your European and U.S. portfolios aligned without duplicate work (USGBC, 2024).
Data you will need, without drama
A2 does not add red tape if your collection plan is clear. Gather one reference year of site‑specific data for each producing plant, plus transparent scenarios.
- Utility use by process and by energy source, with market‑based electricity where relevant.
- Bill of materials, packaging, and scrap rates at each step.
- Inbound and outbound transport modes and distances, averaged realistically.
- Waste handling routes with recovery yields you can defend.
- End‑of‑life scenarios that match current practice, not wishful thinking.
A white‑glove LCA partner should handle cross‑functional requests, nudging data owners, and QA so your experts stay focused on production and R&D rather than spreadsheet hunting. That is where speed and completeness come from, definately.
Avoid these A2 pitfalls
Small modeling choices now matter more because A2’s indicator set is broader.
- Mixing A1 and A2 EPDs in one comparison. Keep versions consistent or you will compare apples to a fruit salad (Nordic Council of Ministers, 2024).
- Omitting Module D reasoning. Declare what actually happens after disposal and show the calculation logic you used for credits.
- Treating biogenic carbon as a permanent sink. Under A2, storage is balanced with release across the life cycle, so document flows carefully.
- Publishing without machine‑readable data when required by your operator. Several operators now expect digital fields alongside the PDF.
Picking a program operator, quickly
Choose an operator that your target buyers recognize and that supports A2 cleanly. In the U.S., Smart EPD is common. In Europe, IBU is frequently used. What matters most is clear PCR governance, reliable verification capacity, and support for digital EPDs that import smoothly into databases buyers actually use.
What this means for commercial teams
The practical win is simpler qualification. Projects tracking embodied carbon prefer product‑specific, current EPDs because using generic data carries a penalty in many schemes. An A2‑aligned, third‑party verified EPD keeps your product in play when specifiers shortlist on carbon and documentation, not just price.
Keep moving, not reworking
Plan your next renewal the day your EPD publishes. Track PCR revision roadmaps, watch operator bulletins, and keep one tidy data room per plant so updates take weeks, not months. A2 is not a hurdle. It is a clearer set of rules that reward good data discipline with faster specs and fewer re‑submissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed between EN 15804 A1 and A2 that affects manufacturers most?
A2 aligned the impact methods with the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint, expanded the core indicator set, split carbon into fossil, biogenic, land‑use change and total, and made end‑of‑life declarations plus Module D standard practice for construction‑product EPDs (Nordic Council of Ministers, 2024; CEN, 2019).
Can we still use an A1 EPD?
Existing A1 EPDs remain valid until their printed validity date, but avoid mixing A1 and A2 results in one comparison because characterisation factors differ (Nordic Council of Ministers, 2024).
How long is an EN 15804 EPD valid?
Typically five years, with updates during that period if results change beyond defined thresholds, per operator guidance (EPD International, 2025).
What deadlines matter in 2025 for construction products?
In the International EPD System, PCR 2019:14 v1.3.4 sunsets on 20 June 2025, after which v2.0.0 and GPI 5 apply (EPD International, 2025).
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.
