ASTM International and the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) have collaborated to publish Product Category Rules (PCR) for single ply roofing membranes. Single ply roofing membranes are flexible sheets of compounded synthetic materials that are manufactured to strict requirements.

The PCR details the rules and guidelines for developing an environmental declaration for single ply roofing products that fulfill equivalent functions. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are verified to ensure that life cycle assessment (LCA) data accurately describes the environmental aspects of a product. To view a PDF of the new ASTM PCR for Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration for Single Ply Roofing Membranes, visit www.astm.org/EPDs or contact Nicholas Matarangas (nmatarangas@astm.org).

“This PCR demonstrates the environmental commitment of the single ply membrane roofing community, and ASTM’s leadership in the development process was essential,” notes Stanley Graveline, SPRI PCR task force chair, and member of ASTM International Committees D08 on Rooofing and Waterproofing and E60 on Sustainability. The PCR includes: thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), ketone ethylene ester (KEE), poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC), and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), and provides requirements for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer EPDs.

ASTM International is a global Program Operator for PCR development and EPD verification as well as a technical resource for the roofing industry through its standards-writing committees on roofing and waterproofing and sustainability. EPDs are a highly regarded way to demonstrate a company’s commitment to sustainability, quality and responsibility. Partnering with ASTM is a convenient, credible and cost-effective way to develop PCR and verify EPDs.

“We are excited about having completed our first PCR and we look forward to continuing to assist the single ply roofing industry with meeting their sustainability objectives,” says Tim Brooke, vice president of certification, training and proficiency testing, ASTM International.

For more information about developing new PCR and verifying EPDs contact Chris Surak, ASTM International (csurak@astm.org).

The next meeting of ASTM Committee D08 will be held on Dec. 8-11, 2013, in Jacksonville, Fla.  For more information, contact Joe Hugo, ASTM International (jhugo@astm.org).

ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.

SPRI is the association representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry. SPRI members develop industry standards, sponsor research, publish informative guidelines and publications for the industry as a whole, and, in general, continue as a group to advance roofing technology.

ASTM Staff Contact: Chris Surak, Phone: 610-832-9711; csurak@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #9513