Open Plan

Declaration details

Manufacturer

CertainTeed Saint-Gobain

Program operator

Smart EPD

Declaration number

SmartEPD-2024-020-0118-01

Date of issue

May 13, 2024

Valid until

May 13, 2029

Product category rules (PCR)

Part B: Non-Metal Ceiling and Interior Wall Panels (version 2)

Standard

ISO 14025:2006 and ISO 21930:2017

Functional unit

0.093 m2 of installed product

System boundary

Cradle to gate with other options (A1 - A3, A4, A5, C1 - C4)

Product specificity

Product Specific

Manufacturing specificity

Facility Specific

Manufacturing plant

CertainTeed Architectural Solutions (1415 Pilgrim Rd, Plymouth, WI, USA)

Product category

Finishes › CeilingPanel › AcousticalCeilings

Product service life

30 years

Verifier

Tom Etheridge, EarthShift Global

LCA software

GaBi 10.0

Program instructions

Smart EPD General Program Instructions v.1.0, November 2022

Life cycle assessment results

Results per 0.093 m2 of installed product.

Environmental Impact Assessment Results

Resource Use Indicators

Waste and Output Flow Indicators

Carbon Emissions and Removals

ND = not declared. Life cycle modules: A1-A3 product stage, A4-A5 construction process, B use stage, C end of life, D benefits and loads beyond the system boundary.

Material composition

Hazardous substances

No regulated hazardous or dangerous substances are included in this product.

Scenarios

Transport to the building site (A4)

Fuel type

Diesel

Vehicle type

Standard Freight Trailer

Weight of products transported

1.1 kg

End of life (C1-C4)

Landfill

0.0117 kg

Product or material for final disposal

1.1 kg

Product description

The Open Plan fiberglass ceiling system manufactured by CertainTeed at Plymouth, WI is an optimal solution for large indoor areas that require a balance between functionality and aesthetics. This versatile system offers high quality and durability owing to its fiberglass construction, making it an ideal choice for various commercial construction projects. The unique open-cell design of the Open Plan system enhances the visual appeal of any indoor space, adding a touch of sophistication to it. The system is customizable as it comes in various sizes, colors, and finishes that suit project requirements and match design styles.

Apart from its aesthetic appeal, the Open Plan system is designed to provide an excellent acoustic performance by absorbing sound waves, thereby reducing the reverberation time in a space. Its perforated surface enables sound to pass through and be absorbed by the insulation above the ceiling. This feature makes it an ideal choice for large open areas where noise pollution is a concern.

The density of the product is 43.25 kg/m^3, and the reference flow is 1 kg. The Open Plan system is available in different thicknesses, including 1'' and 1.5''. The material composition does not vary based on thickness. This Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) represents the 1'' Open Plan system with a service life of 30 years.

The Open Plan system is suitable for modular installation of suspended ceiling panels in commercial buildings. The edges of the panels are square, and the finished surface comes in textured fiberglass called "Nubby". The finished surface color options include white or black. The core composition of the system is fiberglass, and it contains 35% recycled content, including 0% pre-consumer and 35% post-consumer materials.

Interpretation

The data pertaining to the operation of the Plymouth, WI facility, along with the transportation distances and modes, were directly obtained from CertainTeed Corporation. The data were meticulously scrutinized for internal consistency, and cross-verified with plant personnel. The researchers recommend sub-metering of energy use for each critical stage in the manufacturing process to allow for a more detailed analysis. It is important to note that the findings of this research are limited by the inherent uncertainty of creating a representative model through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The modeling of the product system involved numerous assumptions, including representative processes and datasets. While quality control measures were implemented at each step of building the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and conducting the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), the results are inevitably subject to uncertainty since the data represents only one year of manufacturing information from Plymouth, WI. A detailed evaluation of more time periods would serve to reduce this uncertainty. The outcomes of the life cycle assessment reveal that the life cycle impacts are predominantly influenced by the raw materials and the manufacturing processes. Enhancing energy efficiency is a viable approach to curtail the overall environmental impacts associated with the two categories of products. In addition, the incorporation of more recycled content in the product is recommended to mitigate the environmental impacts of the raw materials phase in the life cycle of the ceiling panels. As the recycled content increases, the raw materials driving the impacts will decrease, thereby improving the overall environmental impacts. Fiberglass, being the largest contributor to the raw material impacts for the ceiling product lines, was found to be responsible for over 80% of the environmental impact potentials in several categories. The substitution of virgin fiberglass with recycled content will significantly reduce the usage of these materials and their impacts on the environment.