Environmental Product Declaration
Thrubeam Composite Trench Covers and Manhole Covers
by Structural Science Composites Ltd
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Thrubeam Composite Trench Covers and Manhole Covers, manufactured by Structural Science Composites Ltd. Declaration SmartEPD-2026-146-0962-01.3, prepared according to EPD International PCR for Construction Products 2019:14 (EN 15804:A2:2019/AC:2021) v2.0.1, valid until June 29, 2031.
- Declared unit
- 1 kg of product of a composite manhole or trench cover
- Valid until
- June 29, 2031
- PCR
- EPD International PCR for Construction Products 2019:14 (EN 15804:A2:2019/AC:2021) v1.3.4
Declaration details
- Manufacturer
- Structural Science Composites Ltd
- Program operator
- Smart EPD
- Declaration number
- SmartEPD-2026-146-0962-01.3
- Date of issue
- June 29, 2026
- Valid until
- June 29, 2031
- Product category rules (PCR)
- EPD International PCR for Construction Products 2019:14 (EN 15804:A2:2019/AC:2021) v2.0.1 (version 2.0.1)
- Standard
- ISO 14025:2006 and EN 15804+A2:2019/AC:2021
- Declared unit
- 1 kg of product of a composite manhole or trench cover
- System boundary
- Cradle to gate with other options (A1 - A3, A4, A5, C1 - C4, D)
- Product specificity
- Product Specific
- Manufacturing specificity
- Facility Specific
- Manufacturing plant
- Structural Science Composites Ltd (James Freel Court, James Freel Close, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2NG, United Kingdom)
- Product category
- CastDecksAndUnderlayment
- Verifier
- Rifat Karim, Independent Consultant
- LCA software
- SimaPro 10.2
- Program instructions
- Smart EPD General Program Instructions v.2.0, March 2025
Life cycle assessment results
Results per 1 kg of product of a composite manhole or trench cover.
Environmental Impact Assessment Results
| Indicator | Unit | A1-A3 | A4 | A5 | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GWP-total | kg CO2 eq | 4.59e+0 | 1.01e-1 | 6.91e-3 | 0 | 1.37e-2 | 9.86e-1 | 3.35e-3 | -5.93e-1 |
| GWP-biogenic | kg CO2 eq | 7.01e-3 | 5.60e-5 | 6.11e-3 | 0 | 8.38e-6 | 1.12e-4 | 1.59e-5 | -6.59e-3 |
| GWP-fossil | kg CO2 eq | 4.58e+0 | 1.01e-1 | 7.97e-4 | 0 | 1.37e-2 | 9.86e-1 | 3.33e-3 | -5.86e-1 |
| GWP-luluc | kg CO2 eq | 3.65e-3 | 3.78e-5 | 1.25e-7 | 0 | 4.92e-6 | 8.61e-6 | 8.37e-7 | -2.79e-4 |
| ODP | kg CFC11 eq | 2.02e-6 | 2.16e-9 | 7.39e-12 | 0 | 3.00e-10 | 4.49e-10 | 1.12e-10 | -2.81e-8 |
| AP | mol H+ eq | 2.15e-2 | 5.40e-4 | 2.01e-6 | 0 | 4.54e-5 | 2.96e-4 | 3.75e-5 | -1.50e-3 |
| EP-freshwater | kg P eq | 1.13e-3 | 6.88e-6 | 6.94e-8 | 0 | 9.67e-7 | 3.39e-6 | 5.74e-6 | -5.17e-5 |
| EP-marine | kg N eq | 4.15e-3 | 1.62e-4 | 1.73e-6 | 0 | 1.54e-5 | 5.74e-4 | 9.36e-6 | -4.59e-4 |
| EP-terrestrial | mol N eq | 4.30e-2 | 1.78e-3 | 8.85e-6 | 0 | 1.68e-4 | 1.44e-3 | 1.01e-4 | -5.06e-3 |
| POCP | kg NMVOC eq | 1.94e-2 | 6.63e-4 | 3.08e-6 | 0 | 7.19e-5 | 4.05e-4 | 3.65e-5 | -1.80e-3 |
| ADP-minerals&metals | kg Sb eq | 1.65e-4 | 2.71e-7 | 9.56e-10 | 0 | 3.85e-8 | 6.30e-8 | 5.61e-9 | -3.34e-6 |
| ADP-fossil | MJ | 8.53e+1 | 1.46e+0 | 5.05e-3 | 0 | 2.01e-1 | 2.77e-1 | 7.88e-2 | -1.28e+1 |
| WDP | m3 depriv. | 1.51e+0 | 6.44e-3 | -2.25e-4 | 0 | 9.12e-4 | 6.78e-4 | -4.37e-2 | -3.73e-2 |
Resource Use Indicators
| Indicator | Unit | A1-A3 | A4 | A5 | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERE | MJ | 6.37e+0 | 2.12e-2 | 8.70e-5 | 0 | 3.00e-3 | 9.39e-3 | 1.47e-3 | -1.21e+0 |
| PERM | MJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PERT | MJ | 3.52e+0 | 9.46e-3 | 3.79e-5 | 0 | 1.34e-3 | 4.23e-3 | 5.39e-4 | -1.08e+0 |
| PENRE | MJ | 8.53e+1 | 1.46e+0 | 5.05e-3 | 0 | 2.01e-1 | 2.77e-1 | 7.88e-2 | -1.28e+1 |
| PENRM | MJ | 5.05e+0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PENRT | MJ | 8.32e+1 | 1.44e+0 | 4.97e-3 | 0 | 1.97e-1 | 2.69e-1 | 7.73e-2 | -1.09e+1 |
| SM | kg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Waste and Output Flow Indicators
| Indicator | Unit | A1-A3 | A4 | A5 | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HWD | kg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHWD | kg | 0 | 0 | 2.70e-5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RWD | kg | 1.22e-4 | 3.87e-7 | 1.47e-9 | 0 | 5.52e-8 | 1.35e-7 | 2.39e-8 | -3.43e-5 |
| CRU | kg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MFR | kg | 3.31e-2 | 0 | 9.09e-3 | 0 | 0 | 5.00e-2 | 0 | 0 |
| MER | kg | 4.47e-2 | 0 | 2.48e-3 | 0 | 0 | 6.08e-1 | 0 | 0 |
| EE | MJ | 1.38e+0 | 0 | 4.49e-2 | 0 | 0 | 1.87e+1 | 0 | 0 |
Carbon Emissions and Removals
| Indicator | Unit | A1-A3 | A4 | A5 | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bio Carbon Removal from Product | kg CO2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bio Carbon Emission from Product | kg CO2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bio Carbon Removal from Packaging | kg CO2 | -2.87e-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bio Carbon Emission from Packaging | kg CO2 | 2.87e-2 | 0 | ND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bio Carbon Emission from Waste during Manufacturing (renewable source) | kg CO2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Calcination Carbon Removal | kg CO2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carbonation Carbon Emission | kg CO2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carbon Emission from Waste during Manufacturing (non-renewable source) | kg CO2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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
| Material/Component Category | Origin | % Mass |
|---|---|---|
| Ancillary Component | UK | 0.03 |
| Auxiliary Chemical | UK | 3.21 |
| Metal | UK | 0.50 |
| Fiberglass and Mineral Fillers | UK | 43.85 |
| Polymeric Material | UK | 52.40 |
| Packaging material | Origin | Mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard | 0.000224 | |
| Pallet wrap | 0.0014 | |
| Wood pallet | 0.014 |
| Biogenic carbon content | kg C per kg |
|---|---|
| Biogenic carbon content in product | 0 |
| Biogenic carbon content in accompanying packaging | 0.01 |
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
- Truck and Trailer
- Transport distance
- 1627 km
- Capacity utilization
- 33%
- Weight of products transported
- 1.016 kg
- Packaging mass
- 0.01584 kg
End of life (C1-C4)
- Collected with mixed construction waste
- 1 kg
- Recycling
- 0.05 kg
- Landfill
- 0.342 kg
- Incineration
- 0.608 kg
Benefits and loads beyond the system boundary (D)
- Recycling rate of product
- 5%
- Net energy benefit from energy recovery in C3, declared as exported energy
- 11.6 MJ
Product description
Composite Access Covers and Trench Covers are lightweight Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) composite products designed for infrastructure, utility, industrial, commercial, and data center applications. The product range includes manhole covers, access covers, chamber covers, and trench cover systems manufactured in multiple load classes and dimensional configurations. Compared to traditional cast iron or concrete alternatives, the products are designed to provide reduced weight, corrosion resistance, improved handling safety, anti-slip surface performance, and long-term durability in demanding environments. Products are manufactured for applications including pedestrian areas, utility corridors, roadways, drainage systems, and cable management infrastructure.
Interpretation
The manufacturing of the products in this analysis involves the procurement of raw materials from suppliers, followed by transportation to the Structural Science Composites Ltd. manufacturing facility where materials are stored, processed, molded, cured, assembled, and packaged into finished composite access covers. The product stage (A1–A3) represents the largest contribution to environmental impacts, primarily due to the production of resin systems, fiberglass reinforcement, calcined bauxite, and the energy consumed during manufacturing.
For products with significant manufacturing energy impacts, continued efforts to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable electricity sources are recommended.
Given the significant contribution of raw materials to the overall environmental profile, opportunities should be explored to reduce material consumption, increase recycled content where technically feasible, and evaluate lower-impact material alternatives. Additionally, collaboration with suppliers to improve environmental performance, adopt sustainable manufacturing practices, and increase the use of renewable energy can further reduce the environmental impacts of the products assessed in this analysis.
LCIA results are relative expressions and do not predict impacts on category endpoints, the exceeding of thresholds, safety margins or risks. EPDs are comparable only when they follow the same PCR, functional unit and system boundary. The full EPD (PDF) contains the methodology, scenario assumptions and verification statement.