Environmental Product Declaration

SAFRAIL™ Handrail and Ladder systems

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for SAFRAIL™ Handrail and Ladder systems, manufactured by Strongwell. Declaration SmartEPD-2026-150-1040-01.2, prepared according to EPD International PCR for Construction Products 2019:14 (EN 15804:A2:2019/AC:2021) v2.0.1, valid until August 25, 2031.

Download the EPD (PDF)

Declared unit: 1 kg of product
Valid until: August 25, 2031
PCR: EPD International PCR for Construction Products 2019:14 (EN 15804:A2:2019/AC:2021) v1.3.4

Declaration details

Manufacturer: Strongwell
Program operator: Smart EPD
Declaration number: SmartEPD-2026-150-1040-01.2
Date of issue: August 25, 2026
Valid until: August 25, 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
System boundary: Cradle to gate with other options (A1 - A3, A4, A5, B1 - B7, C1 - C4, D)
Product specificity: Product Specific
Manufacturing specificity: Facility Specific
Manufacturing plant: Strongwell Chatfield, MN Plant (1610 U.S. 52, Chatfield, MN 55923, USA)
Product category: CastDecksAndUnderlayment
Verifier: Terrie Boguski
LCA software: SimaPro 10.3
Program instructions: Smart EPD General Program Instructions v.2.0, March 2025

Life cycle assessment results

Results per 1 kg of product.

Environmental Impact Assessment Results

Indicator	Unit	A1-A3	A4	A5	C1	C2	C4
GWP- total	kg CO2 eq	2.74e+0	3.86e-1	1.28e-1	2.91e-3	1.11e-2	6.51e-3
GWP- fossil	kg CO2 eq	3.43e+0	3.86e-1	9.16e-2	2.91e-3	1.11e-2	6.51e-3
GWP-biogenic	kg CO2 eq	-6.93e-1	5.87e-5	3.62e-2	-1.93e-7	2.90e-6	2.16e-6
GWP-luluc	kg CO2 eq	1.31e-3	2.12e-4	4.96e-5	0	5.19e-6	3.69e-6
ODP	kg CFC11 eq	2.04e-7	5.98e-9	6.56e-10	4.50e-11	1.76e-10	1.90e-10
AP	mol H+ eq	1.14e-2	2.24e-3	3.02e-4	7.17e-6	2.92e-5	4.47e-5
PM	disease incidence	1.58e-7	3.14e-8	5.03e-9	1.27e-10	1.07e-9	1.05e-9
IRP	kBq U235 eq	1.76e+8	4.38e-3	8.88e+5	8.88e+5	1.37e-4	9.14e-5
POCP	kg NMVOC eq	9.39e-3	2.97e-3	2.62e-4	6.97e-6	4.40e-5	6.97e-5
EP-fw	kg P eq	2.06e-3	3.82e-5	1.95e-5	4.01e-9	1.23e-6	5.71e-7
EP-marine	kg N eq	2.89e-3	8.03e-4	2.13e-4	2.22e-6	7.65e-6	1.77e-5
EP-terrestrial	mol N eq	2.64e-2	8.82e-3	7.96e-4	2.47e-5	8.20e-5	1.93e-4
SQI	dimensionless	3.93e+1	4.55e+0	5.28e-1	3.59e-4	1.64e-1	3.12e-1
WDP	m3 world eq deprived	-8.63e+0	2.53e-2	-9.64e-2	-4.73e-2	8.24e-4	6.87e-3
ADP-fossil	MJ, net calorific value	2.93e+1	5.41e+0	9.45e-1	3.38e-2	1.62e-1	1.57e-1
ADP-minerals&metals	kg Sb eq	6.56e-6	1.05e-6	3.17e-7	3.53e-10	3.20e-8	9.67e-9

Resource Use Indicators

Indicator	Unit	A1-A3	A4	A5	C1	C2	C4
PERE	MJ	5.35e+0	7.15e-2	6.60e-2	7.40e-6	2.20e-3	1.42e-3
PERM	MJ	6.92e+0	0	0	0	0	0
PERT	MJ	1.23e+1	7.15e-2	6.60e-2	7.40e-6	2.20e-3	1.42e-3
PENRE	MJ	3.15e+1	5.48e+0	1.01e+0	3.38e-2	1.64e-1	1.58e-1
PENRM	MJ	1.17e+1	0	0	0	0	0
PENRT	MJ	4.32e+1	5.48e+0	1.01e+0	3.38e-2	1.64e-1	1.58e-1
ADP-fossil	MJ	2.93e+1	5.41e+0	9.45e-1	3.38e-2	1.62e-1	1.57e-1
SM	kg	0	0	0	0	0	0
RSF	MJ	0	0	0	0	0	0
NRSF	MJ	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	m3	-1.71e-1	7.00e-4	-2.00e-3	-9.58e-4	2.26e-5	1.63e-4

Waste and Output Flow Indicators

Indicator	Unit	A1-A3	A5	C4
HWD	kg	0	0	0
NHWD	kg	1.13e-1	4.24e-1	1.04e+0
RWD	kg	0	0	0
CRU	kg	0	0	0
MFR	kg	7.56e-3	0	0
MER	kg	0	0	0
EEE	MJ	0	0	0
EET	MJ	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

Product composition
Material/Component Category	Origin	kg Mass
Calcium carbonate	U.S.	8.65E-02
Mat 1	U.S.	1.61E-01
Pigment	U.S.	6.85E-03
Roving 1	U.S.	5.07E-01
unsaturated Polyester Resin	U.S.	2.78E-01
Veil	U.S.	1.07E-02
Miscellaneous	U.S.	6.42E-02
90˚ Corner Connector	U.S.	1.67E-02

Packaging
Packaging material	Origin	Mass (kg)
Cardboard	U.S.	0.00101
Plastic wrap	U.S.	0.0144
Plywood	U.S.	0.296
Steel	U.S.	0.00472
Wood Crate	U.S.	0.108

Biogenic carbon
Biogenic carbon content	kg C per kg
Biogenic carbon content in product	0
Biogenic carbon content in accompanying packaging	0.183

Hazardous substances

Scenarios

Transport to the building site (A4)

Fuel type: Diesel
Vehicle type: Truck
Transport distance: 1960 km
Capacity utilization: 50%
Weight of products transported: 1 kg
Packaging mass: 0.424 kg

End of life (C1-C4)

Collected with mixed construction waste: 1.019 kg
Landfill: 1.019 kg
Product or material for final disposal: 1 kg

Product description

SAFRAIL™ Handrail and Ladder system comprises of fiberglass components and fiberglass connectors manufactured using the pultrusion process, in which continuous glass fiber reinforcements are drawn through a thermosetting resin bath and shaped through a heated die to produce constant cross-section composite profiles. Product is widely used in commercial railing systems for stair rails, platform and walkway handrails, and guardrails, and are particularly well-suited to corrosive environments like those found in industrial, chemical, and wastewater treatment plants, as well as commercial structures with urban and salt air corrosion, and is manufactured at Strongwell's Chatfield, Minnesota facility. Although the product carries a warranty of 1 year, it is expected to last the lifetime of the structure on which it is installed.

Interpretation

The cradle-to-gate GWP of SAFRAIL™ Handrail and Ladder Systems is 2.74E+00 kg CO₂ eq per kg of declared product. Raw material extraction (A1) is the dominant contributor at 71% of total GWP, driven by glass fiber reinforcement and polyester resin production. Transport of raw materials (A2) contributes 7%, reflecting the distribution of raw material supply distances. The manufacturing stage (A3) accounts for 22% of GWP, primarily from electricity consumption at the MN facility using the US-MRO grid. Acidification potential (AP) is 1.14E-02 mol H⁺ eq. Abiotic depletion potential for fossil resources (ADP-fossil) is 2.93E+01 MJ, NCV. Net water deprivation potential (WDP) is negative (−8.63E+00 m³ world eq.), indicating a net water benefit at the system boundary. Photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) is 9.39E-03 kg NMVOC eq. Freshwater eutrophication potential (EP-fw) is 2.06E-03 kg P eq. No secondary materials or renewable secondary fuels are used in the production of this product.

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.