Why electronics EPDs vary by function
Electronics and electrical products cover an especially wide range of functions — a fire detector, a solar inverter, and a length of cable have almost nothing in common beyond both involving electrical components, and each is covered by its own Product Specific Rule (PSR) under PEP Ecopassport rather than a single umbrella standard. This is a genuinely different system from the construction-product PCRs used elsewhere in this directory, not just a relabeling of the same process.
Key materials typically covered
"Electronics" EPDs relevant to buildings span several distinct product types, each generally declared under its own PSR:
- Electrical cable and wiring — a wide range of gauges and jacket types
- Fire and life-safety detection components — detectors, bases, and related devices
- Solar inverters and PV system components — distinct from the panels themselves
- Lighting fixtures — covered separately from the electrical components inside them
- Panel and distribution equipment — electrical distribution hardware
Key standards and PCRs
PEP Ecopassport maintains its own family of Product Specific Rules (PSRs) for Electronic and Electrical Products and Systems (EEPS), separate from EN 15804 and ISO 21930. The International EPD System published its first non-construction c-PCR — for industrial sensors — in December 2025, and a 2025 mutual recognition agreement between EPD International and PEP Ecopassport is starting to harmonize the two systems for products at their boundary.
Top EPD program operators for Electronics
Electronics-sector EPDs concentrate around a program operator built specifically for this category:
- PEP Ecopassport — the dedicated global operator for electrical, electronic, and HVAC products, founded 2010
- UL Solutions — hosts the SPOT directory covering 180,000+ product families, including electrical/electronic EPDs, and is a common discovery path for specifiers
- EPD International — increasingly overlaps with PEP Ecopassport following their 2025 mutual recognition agreement, particularly for industrial sensors and similar boundary products
Notable producers of Electronics
Major electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers — including companies like Siemens — have published product-specific EPDs across fire-detection, distribution, and related product lines. Coverage varies significantly by manufacturer and product type; check a specific manufacturer's own published EPDs rather than assuming coverage.
Sample EPDs for Electronics
To see what an actual electronics EPD looks like, EPD-Global's public registry publishes full documents for building-related electrical components — for example, Siemens AG's EPD for point fire detector bases, searchable by NEPD number. PEP Ecopassport's own directory covers a much broader range of electrical and electronic products beyond construction.
How to Get an Electronics EPD: Step-by-Step
Getting an EPD for an electrical or electronic product follows a process similar in spirit to construction products, but through PEP Ecopassport's own Product Specific Rules rather than a construction PCR: identifying the applicable PSR, collecting primary production data, building the LCA, and having it independently verified before publication. See How to Get an EPD: Step-by-Step for the general process this mirrors.
Frequently asked questions
What is PEP Ecopassport?
A dedicated global EPD program built specifically for electrical, electronic, and HVAC equipment, founded in 2010 by a consortium of tech manufacturers. It functions as a Type III EPD program operator with its own rules distinct from the construction-product PCR system used elsewhere on this site.
Do electronics EPDs use the same PCR system as construction products?
Not typically — PEP Ecopassport uses its own Product Specific Rules (PSR) rather than EN 15804 or ISO 21930-based construction PCRs, though a 2025 mutual recognition agreement between PEP Ecopassport and the International EPD System is starting to bridge the two systems for products that sit at the boundary, like industrial sensors.
What's a PSR, exactly?
Product Specific Rules — PEP Ecopassport's equivalent of a PCR, defined per specific product category (inverters, cables, fire-detection components, and so on) rather than as one broad electronics standard.
Are electronic components in a building covered by the building product's own EPD?
No — electrical and electronic components (lighting fixtures, sensors, inverters) installed in or alongside a construction product are typically declared separately under their own EPD, distinct from the structural or envelope product they're paired with.
Who verifies PEP Ecopassport EPDs?
PEP Ecopassport's own accredited verifiers, operating under its program rules — a separate verification network from the construction-focused program operators (NSF, UL, and others) covered elsewhere in this directory.
Where can I see an example of a real electronics EPD?
Public EPD registries such as EPD-Global publish full electronics EPD documents for building-related components — see Sample EPDs below. PEP Ecopassport's own directory covers a much broader range of electrical and electronic products.
Sources
- PEP Ecopassport, Product Specific Rules (PSR) for Electronic and Electrical Products and Systems (EEPS)
- International EPD System, PCR 2024:06-c-PCR-005, Industrial sensors