BHMA Sustainability
Definitions
Product Category Rules (PCR) identify and define the rules and requirements for Life-Cycle Assessments (LCA) in a specific product category. PCRs are vital for the environmental declarations outlined in ISO 14025, as they enable transparency and comparability among different Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) within the same PCR.
The set of rules for any type of product comprises a Product Category Rule.
Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique to assess quantitatively, and according to a set of rules, the environmental impact associated with all the stages of a product's life: There are two acceptable product life cycles that can be quantified in an LCA:
- “cradle-to-grave” which assesses the entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling:
- “cradle-to-gate” so-called because this LCA quantifies the environmental impacts of a product only up to the point that it passes out of the factory gate of its manufacturer.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized way of quantifying the environmental impact of a product or system. Declarations include information on the environmental impact of raw material acquisition; energy use and efficiency; content of materials and chemical substances; emissions to air, soil, and water; and waste generation. Product and company information is also included. The quantification of impacts requires a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their project.
For more information about LEED certification, please visit gbci.org or usgbc.org/LEED.
BHMA Product Category Rules FAQ
Product Category Rule (PCR) for Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Product Group Builders Hardware
Product Category Rule (PCR) Power-Operated Pedestrian Doors and Revolving Doors
