Do I need both ISO 14025 and ISO 21930 for a construction-product EPD?

Yes. ISO 14025 gives the general Type III rules, while ISO 21930 layers on construction-specific requirements such as A-through-D life-cycle modules and biogenic carbon accounting.

How often should I update my EPD under these standards?

At least every five years or sooner if a material, process, or energy mix changes significantly. Both ISO documents flag data older than ten years as non-conformant.

Can an internal team member act as the third-party verifier?

No. ISO 14025 demands impartiality. The verifier must be independent of both the manufacturer and the LCA practitioner.

Is Module D reporting mandatory under ISO 21930?

Yes for construction products if the PCR references EN 15804:2019. Module D captures potential benefits from reuse, recycling, or energy recovery beyond end-of-life.

What happens if the PCR revision date lapses mid-project?

You must switch to the updated PCR before publication. An EPD issued under an expired PCR will likely be rejected by program operators and building rating tools.

ISO 14025 & 21930: Your Type III Declaration GPS

Why two ISO standards, not one map?

Think of ISO 14025 as Google Maps and ISO 21930 as the construction-site overlay. Both lead you to a credible Type III EPD, but 21930 zooms in on building products, adding extra coordinates for modules A1 to C4, traceability, and recycling content (ISO, 2023).

What makes a Type III declaration “Type III”?

ISO splits environmental claims into three buckets. Type I carries eco-labels, Type II covers self-declared claims, and Type III is data-rich, third-party-verified, and rules-bound. If your declaration skips peer review or omits a Product Category Rule (PCR), it falls straight out of the Type III bucket—no badge, no tender points.

ISO 14025: the framework

Published in 2006 and reaffirmed in 2022, 14025 sets the ground rules for all industries. It mandates:

a PCR vetted by stakeholders,
third-party verification,
transparent disclosure of system boundaries,
five-year shelf life unless major process changes occur. Fail one bullet and your EPD becomes just another brochure.

ISO 21930: the construction-site remix

Originally a supplement, 21930 was overhauled in 2023 to sync with EN 15804:2019 and to plug data gaps around reuse, recovery, and biogenic carbon (ISO, 2024 draft revision). It now requires:

Module D reporting when secondary materials leave the site,
factory energy disclosed as renewable vs non-renewable,
construction waste split by material stream. These tweaks let architects compare apples to apples when juggling low-carbon design options.

How the duo drives EPD credibility—and sales

A 2025 survey of 212 US specifiers found that 78 % require ISO-aligned EPDs on at least half of their projects (NIBS, 2025). When bids tie on price, the compliant EPD often tips the scale. Translation: losing ISO alignment risks revenue, not just reputation.

Compliance pitfalls most teams trip on

Copy-pasting a PCR older than five years.
Mixing regional electricity datasets without justification.
Forgetting to update declared unit after packaging tweaks.
Publishing through an operator that lacks ISO 17065 accreditation.

Choosing a program operator that fits the rules

Operators must validate your LCA against the latest PCR and the two ISO standards. Smart EPD and IBU both align, while some smaller registries still run on pre-2020 templates. Always ask for the verifier’s competency certificate before signing.

Move forward with clarity

ISO 14025 and 21930 are not red tape. They are the GPS coordinates that keep your enviromental claims on-course with regulators, specifiers, and the growing cohort of carbon-budget-watching investors. Nail them, and your next EPD becomes a sales enablement tool, not a compliance chore.