Epd To Spec

• 03 30 00 Cast-in-Place Concrete: GWP max 350 kg CO2e/m3
• 05 12 00 Structural Steel Framing: GWP max 1.16 kg CO2e/kg [VERIFY THRESHOLD]
• 07 21 00 Thermal Insulation: GWP max 1.2 kg CO2e/kg [VERIFY THRESHOLD] Ask: "Does this mapping look correct? Any thresholds to adjust?" Step 2: Generate specification sections For each material, write a three-part outline spec. The EPD-specific language is concentrated in Part 1 (submittals, quality assurance, sustainability) and Part 2 (environmental performance requirements). Part 1 — General 1.01 Section Includes Standard scope of work for the material. No EPD-specific changes. 1.02 Related Sections Standard cross-references. Add: "Section 01 81 13 — Sustainable Design Requirements" (if the project has a sustainability section) 1.03 References Standard material references PLUS: ISO 14025, Environmental labels and declarations — Type III environmental declarations — Principles and procedures ISO 21930, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services (for North American EPDs) EN 15804+A2, Sustainability of construction works — Environmental product declarations — Core rules for the product category of construction products (for European EPDs, if applicable) ISO 14044, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines 1.04 Submittals Add the following to standard submittal requirements: D. Environmental Product Declarations:
  1. Submit product-specific Type III Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) conforming to ISO 14025 and ISO 21930.
  2. EPD shall be published by a program operator accredited per ISO 14025, including but not limited to: UL Environment, NSF International, SCS Global Services, Environdec (International EPD System), IBU, or ASTM International.
  3. EPD shall be current and valid at the time of submittal. Expired EPDs are not acceptable.
  4. EPD shall be third-party verified by an independent verifier approved by the program operator.
  5. Industry-average or sector EPDs are acceptable only when a product-specific EPD is not available for the specified product category. Submit documentation demonstrating unavailability.
  6. EPD shall report environmental impacts for life cycle stages A1 through A3 (raw material supply, transport to manufacturer, manufacturing) at minimum. 1.05 Quality Assurance Add: C. Environmental Performance Verification:
  7. Manufacturer shall demonstrate that the supplied product meets the maximum GWP thresholds specified in Part 2.
  8. If the product is sourced from a different manufacturing plant than the one covered by the submitted EPD, provide documentation that the EPD is representative of the actual production facility. 1.06 Sustainability Requirements (new article — add if not already in the section) A. Environmental Product Declaration Requirements:
  9. Provide products with Type III Environmental Product Declarations meeting the requirements of Article 1.04.D.
  10. Maximum Global Warming Potential (GWP): a. [Product]: [VALUE] kg CO2e per [DECLARED UNIT], measured for life cycle stages A1 through A3.
  11. GWP shall be calculated in accordance with ISO 21930 and reported using characterization factors from IPCC AR5 or later.

B. LEED Documentation (if applicable):

1. Provide EPD documentation in format required for LEED v4.1 MRc2 credit submission.
2. Coordinate with Owner's LEED consultant for documentation requirements. 1.07 Delivery, Storage, and Handling Standard. No EPD-specific changes. 1.08 Warranty Standard. No EPD-specific changes. Part 2 — Products 2.01 Manufacturers Standard manufacturer list with "or approved equal" language. Add: B. All manufacturers shall provide a current, valid Type III EPD meeting the requirements of Article 1.04.D. Manufacturers unable to provide a conforming EPD are not acceptable. 2.02 Materials/Products Standard material specifications. No EPD-specific changes. 2.03 Environmental Performance Requirements (new article) A. Maximum Global Warming Potential (GWP):
3. [Product]: Maximum [VALUE] kg CO2e per [DECLARED UNIT], for life cycle stages A1 through A3 (raw material supply, transport, manufacturing).
4. GWP value shall be as reported in the product-specific EPD submitted under Article 1.04.D.

B. Additional Environmental Performance (if applicable):

1. Recycled Content: Minimum [VALUE] percent by weight, post-consumer and pre-consumer combined.
2. Regional Materials: Preference shall be given to products manufactured within [DISTANCE] miles of the project site. 2.04 Finishes Standard. No EPD-specific changes. 2.05 Accessories Standard. No EPD-specific changes. Part 3 — Execution Standard execution language for the material. No EPD-specific additions. Follow the same pattern as /spec-writer : 3.01 Examination 3.02 Preparation 3.03 Installation 3.04 Quality Assurance 3.05 Cleaning and Protection Step 3: Add LEED language (if applicable) If the user mentions LEED v4.1, add a dedicated LEED section at the end of the specification:

Appendix — LEED v4.1 MRc2: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization

Option 1 — Environmental Product Disclosure (1 point)

Use at least 20 permanently installed products sourced from at least five different manufacturers that have Type III EPDs conforming to ISO 14025.

Products with product-specific EPDs: 1 product = 1 product count Products with industry-wide (generic) EPDs: 1 product = 0.5 product count

Option 2 — Environmental Product Optimization (up to 2 points)

Products that demonstrate impact reduction below baseline:

• Products with EPDs showing impact reduction compared to industry average earn additional credit
• Third-party verified product-specific EPDs preferred
• Whole-building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) per ISO 14044 may be used as an alternative compliance path

Documentation Requirements

1. Maintain a product EPD log tracking all qualifying products
2. For each product, document: manufacturer, product name, EPD registration number, program operator, GWP (A1-A3), and declared unit
3. Submit EPD log to LEED reviewer as part of MRc2 credit documentation Step 4: Add spec notes Apply [REVIEW REQUIRED] flags when: GWP thresholds are based on industry baselines rather than project-specific targets The section covers life-safety materials (firestopping, fire-rated assemblies) Performance criteria are assumed Apply [VERIFY THRESHOLD] flags when: GWP values are industry baselines that should be confirmed with current data Declared units need confirmation for the specific product being specified Step 5: Write output Compile all sections into a single .md file organized by division number. Default output path : ./epd-specs-[project-slug].md Derive [project-slug] from the project name or type (lowercase, hyphenated) If no project name: epd-specs-draft.md If no client context: ./deliverables/ Ask the user if they want a different path File structure:

EPD Specifications — [Project Name]

Generated: [date] Project Type: [type] Divisions: [count] Sections: [count] LEED Target: [if applicable]

Division 03 — Concrete

Section 03 30 00 — Cast-in-Place Concrete

Part 1 — General

...

Part 2 — Products

...

Part 3 — Execution

...

Division 05 — Metals

Section 05 12 00 — Structural Steel Framing

... Step 6: Summary After writing the file, report: EPD specifications written: X sections across Y divisions Output: [file path] GWP thresholds set:

• 03 30 00 Concrete: 350 kg CO2e/m3
• 05 12 00 Steel: 1.16 kg CO2e/kg [VERIFY THRESHOLD] Sections flagged for review: [count]
• [list flagged sections] Writing Style Use specification language throughout: "shall", "provide", "verify", "submit", "conform to" Write in imperative mood, third person Do not use contractions Do not use first person ("we", "our") Capitalize "Architect", "Owner", "Contractor", "Installer" when referring to project roles Reference standards by full designation on first use, abbreviated thereafter Use "approved equal" rather than "or equal" Measurements in imperial units unless the user specifies metric GWP values always include the unit (kg CO2e) and declared unit (per m3, per kg, per m2) Edge Cases Single material : Generate one section. Still include the full three-part structure. No GWP threshold provided : Do not use approximate baselines. Ask the user to provide an EPD, run /epd-research , or state a specific threshold. If the user asks to proceed without data, use [THRESHOLD TBD] placeholders and flag every one. Materials outside common EPD divisions : Some materials (Division 10 specialties, Division 12 furnishings) rarely have EPDs. Note: "EPDs are uncommon for this product category. Consider requiring manufacturer environmental data sheets as an alternative submittal." Mixed metric/imperial : GWP declared units follow industry convention — concrete in kg CO2e/m3, steel in kg CO2e/kg. Don't convert these to imperial. Multiple concrete mixes : Create separate GWP thresholds per strength class (3000, 4000, 5000 PSI) if the user specifies different mixes. LEED + non-LEED sections : If some materials are for LEED credit and others aren't, include EPD submittal requirements for all but only add LEED documentation language where applicable. Notes This skill generates spec language, not data. It reads from the EPD sheet or conversation context but writes .md specification files. Pair with /spec-writer for complete specs. This skill adds EPD/sustainability requirements to specific sections. The general /spec-writer produces full outline specs without EPD language. For a complete specification package, use both. No hardcoded baselines. Never use approximate GWP baselines from training data. Always require the user to provide an EPD or a specific threshold. EC3 API integration is in progress and will automate baseline lookups. Buy America / regional sourcing : Some projects (federal, state-funded) require domestic materials. The regional materials preference in Part 2 can be strengthened to a requirement if needed.