SAS International, a leading manufacturer of interior fit-out solutions, says it has gained independent verification for its environmental product declarations (EPDs).

This important verification for the company’s entire range of suspended ceiling systems means that specifiers can quickly make well-informed, environmentally-based decisions to meet building project demands in the GCC, says a senior company executive.

Andrew Jackson, director, SAS International, explains: “With EPDs that are independently verified, SAS International stands out in a marketplace crowded with sustainable or environmental product claims. With independent verification of our EPDs, the specifier can rest assured that the data is reliable and trustworthy. Independent verification makes it simpler for specifiers to select truly sustainable solutions.”

SAS International’s EPDs were originally assessed by engineering and design consultancy Atkins in 2012. The entire lifecycle from ‘cradle to grave’ was assessed, which included raw materials, transport to factory, manufacturing and delivery to multiple global sites including to the Middle East/Dubai in the UAE.

SAS International is the first UK manufacturer to achieve 15 individual ISO 14025 EPDs, covering over 145 different grid and acoustic backing options. Having achieved independent verification for all EPDs on its ceiling systems, SAS International demonstrates its leadership in the market, he says.

Jackson says it is now considered best practice for the underlying data, data handling and the EPD itself to be subject to independent verification and official registration.

“In SAS International’s case, the third-party EPD validation proves that the data collected was in accordance with the applicable PCR (product category rule) and ISO requirements. The EPDs have been certified as meeting the latest ISO 14025 PCR for construction products – BS EN 15804:2012,” he adds.

He adds that clients, architects and customers are demanding more information about how manufacturers can demonstrate environmental credentials. It is becoming an important requirement for ceiling specification.

“The demand for environmental compliance has been growing to achieve high credits in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed), Estidama’s Pearl and Breeam (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) rating schemes. EPDs are included in Leed V4 in new criteria for the materials and resources category.

“Leed has been a driver in the GCC, along with new green building codes for the region, for optimising designs and responsible sourcing of materials. A high Leed rating can help make properties stand out from the crowd to gain early rental.

“EPDs are a key consideration when designers and clients need to make a comparison as to the environmental performance of two or more similar products before specifying a solution,” says Jackson.

“In the past, manufacturers would often get EPDs completed in accordance with general raw materials only, or through specialist product associations. This meant individual EPDs on specific ceiling products, over the entirety of their life cycle, were not widely available. This made full environmental impacts much harder to determine clearly, on a case-by-case basis,” he says.

SAS International is a British manufacturer of interior fit-out products, driven by delivering quality, innovation and providing maximum value to clients and specifiers worldwide. With more than 40 years of experience, the company produces high-performance metal products including ceiling systems and architectural metalwork solutions. Ongoing investment in manufacturing facilities and processes ensure that the company provides value-engineered solutions across the built environment.

SAS International operates across the globe to help support clients, specifiers, contractors and engineers, from concept to completion and has offices and staff across Europe and in the Middle East. From commercial, education and healthcare projects to large-scale infrastructure and transportation hubs, the sustainable and practical solutions SAS International delivers provide considerable benefits and savings whilst exceeding design briefs, Jackson concludes.