2026 Ready-Mix Concrete PCR Update: How New Product Category Rules Affect EPDs

Concrete EPDs are only as useful as the rules behind them. Those rules are called Product Category Rules, or PCRs. For ready mix concrete, the PCR tells producers, LCA practitioners, EPD tool providers, verifiers, and program operators how environmental impacts should be measured and reported.

NSF 1112-26 Concrete Version 3 is the latest major update to the concrete PCR used for Environmental Product Declarations for concrete in North America. It applies to concrete produced at batching plants, including permanent plants, mobile plants, and volumetric mixing, and it supports cradle-to-gate EPDs for concrete delivered in ready-to-use form. The PCR is valid through April 30, 2031.

For concrete producers, the update matters because EPDs are becoming more common in bids, submittals, DOT programs, LEED projects, Buy Clean policies, data centers, universities, and owner-driven low-carbon specs. Version 3 pushes the industry toward clearer rules, better upstream data, better comparability, and more transparent reporting.

Key Takeaways

• A PCR is the rulebook for creating an EPD. It defines what data is required, what life cycle stages are included, how GWP is calculated, and how results must be reported.
• Concrete PCR Version 3 updates and harmonizes the rules for ready mix concrete EPDs. It builds on earlier concrete PCRs, aligns with ISO 21930, and improves consistency with upstream PCRs where possible.
• Producers should prepare by cleaning up mix, plant, supplier, energy, transportation, and EPD data now. The new PCR places more emphasis on specific data, transparent data sources, and clear reporting.

What Is a PCR?

A Product Category Rule, or PCR, is the rulebook used to create an Environmental Product Declaration for a specific type of product. It explains how the Life Cycle Assessment should be done, what data should be collected, what life cycle stages should be included, and how the results should be reported.

A simple way to think about it is this: an EPD is the report, the LCA is the calculation behind the report, and the PCR is the rulebook that tells everyone how to do the calculation. Without a PCR, two producers could measure similar products in different ways, making the results hard to compare.

For concrete, the PCR matters because ready mix is highly variable. Mixes can differ by strength, cement type, SCM content, aggregate source, admixtures, water-cement ratio, plant location, delivery method, and performance requirements. The PCR creates a more consistent structure for reporting those differences.

“The EPD tells the result. The PCR tells everyone how that result was calculated.”

Why PCRs Matter for Concrete EPDs

Concrete EPDs are used to communicate environmental impact data, especially Global Warming Potential, or GWP. GWP is the carbon footprint number usually reported as kg CO2e per declared unit. For concrete, that declared unit is commonly one cubic meter of fresh concrete, with results often also shown per cubic yard.

The PCR determines how that GWP number is calculated. It defines the scope, data quality requirements, life cycle modules, upstream data rules, impact assessment methods, and reporting requirements. That means the PCR directly affects what appears in a concrete EPD.

PCRs also help improve comparability. A concrete mix with 4,000 psi compressive strength should not be casually compared to a mix with different strength, durability, exposure class, or performance requirements. The PCR helps define what information must be reported so producers and project teams can understand whether comparisons are fair.

A Brief History of the Concrete PCR

The concrete PCR has evolved as demand for EPDs and embodied carbon data has grown. The first version was published by the Carbon Leadership Forum in 2012. A revision followed in 2013, then Version 2 was issued in 2019.

Later updates included Version 2.1 in 2021 and several deviations and extensions between 2022 and 2026. Concrete PCR Version 3 was issued in May 2026. This history shows how quickly the market has moved from early carbon transparency efforts toward more structured, policy-relevant, project-ready EPD rules.

The new PCR also reflects how much the concrete EPD market has matured. Early EPDs helped introduce the idea of concrete carbon reporting. Now, EPDs are being used in Buy Clean programs, DOT work, federal and state procurement, LEED projects, large private projects, and low-carbon material specs.

How Concrete PCR Version 3 Was Developed

Concrete PCR Version 3 was revised by NSF staff with support from the NSF Product Category Rules for Concrete Committee. The revision process ran from October 2023 through May 2025. The committee included representation from government, industry, trade associations, users, LCA experts, and NSF.

That matters because PCRs affect many different groups. Producers need rules they can actually follow. Buyers and project teams need EPDs they can trust. LCA experts and verifiers need technical clarity. Public agencies and owners need data that can support procurement and carbon reporting.

The committee included voices from organizations connected to EPA, FHWA, Colorado DOT, GSA, concrete and cement producers, the American Cement Association, Building Transparency, the University of Toronto, Walter P Moore, Climate Earth, Carbon Leadership Forum, and LCA expertise. The PCR was also developed with support from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.

“A good PCR has to balance technical rigor with real-world usability.”

What Concrete PCR Version 3 Covers

Concrete PCR Version 3 applies to concrete manufactured in a batching plant and delivered to a construction site in ready-to-use form. This includes concrete produced at permanent plants, mobile plants, and volumetric mixing operations.

The PCR addresses UN CPC Group 375 and MasterFormat 03 30 00 for cast-in-place concrete. It is developed for use where applicants use standards such as ASTM C94, ASTM C476, CSA A23.1/A23.2, and UNSPSC code 30111500.

The PCR covers conventional concrete, lightweight concrete, high-performance concrete, ultra-high-performance concrete, flowable fill, slurry, and cementitious grout products produced by ready mix concrete facilities. It does not apply to precast concrete or concrete masonry, which have their own subcategory PCRs.

This distinction is important. A ready mix EPD is not the same as a precast EPD or a masonry EPD. If a producer makes multiple product types, they need to make sure they are using the correct PCR for each product category.

Scope: Cradle-to-Gate, A1-A3, With Optional A4

Concrete PCR Version 3 supports cradle-to-gate EPDs for Modules A1 to A3. It also allows optional reporting of Module A4, which covers transportation to the construction site.

Here is the simple breakdown:

1. A1: Raw material supply
   This includes the production of concrete constituents such as cement, SCMs, aggregates, admixtures, batch water, fibers, and pigments.
2. A2: Transportation to the concrete plant
   This includes transportation of raw materials to the concrete facility by truck, rail, freighter, barge, or other applicable modes.
3. A3: Manufacturing
   This includes concrete production at the plant, plant energy, fuels, ancillary materials, wash water, manufacturing waste, and certain fleet energy assumptions.
4. A4: Transportation to site, optional
   A4 may be reported if the EPD includes transportation from the concrete plant to the jobsite. If included, the reference scenario should describe the transportation distance, mode, and assumptions.

The PCR does not allow reporting of A5 installation, B use stage modules, C end-of-life modules, or Module D benefits beyond the system boundary. This keeps the EPD focused on product-stage impacts and optional delivery to site.

What Changed in Version 3?

Concrete PCR Version 3 is not just a minor formatting update. It updates the document throughout and harmonizes with upstream PCRs where possible. That matters because concrete EPDs rely heavily on upstream materials like cement, SCMs, aggregates, admixtures, fuels, electricity, and transportation.

The update also improves clarity around portable batch plants and mobile volumetric mixers. It adds definitions for those terms and modifies related language in the modeling rules. This is important because more project-specific or mobile production scenarios can create confusion if they are not modeled consistently.

Version 3 also places strong emphasis on data quality, transparency, and specificity. Producers and EPD developers need to pay closer attention to facility-specific data, upstream supplier data, declared units, performance characteristics, transportation assumptions, renewable electricity claims, and EPD content requirements.

Major update areas

• Broader harmonization with upstream PCRs
• Clearer treatment of permanent plants, portable equipment, and volumetric mixing
• More detailed data quality requirements
• Stronger hierarchy for upstream data
• More transparent EPD content requirements
• Clearer performance characteristic reporting
• Updated guidance on A1, A2, A3, and optional A4
• More specific rules for renewable electricity claims
• More detailed expectations for product, facility, and EPD identification

Declared Unit: One Cubic Meter of Fresh Concrete

Concrete PCR Version 3 uses one cubic meter of fresh concrete as the declared unit. Results may also be presented per U.S. cubic yard. This is important because the declared unit is the basis for reporting environmental impacts like GWP.

A declared unit gives the EPD a common reference point. Without it, the numbers would not mean much. A GWP value must always be tied to a unit, such as kg CO2e per cubic meter or kg CO2e per cubic yard.

For U.S. producers, the ability to also show cubic yard values is practical. Many ready mix producers, contractors, and project teams think in cubic yards. Still, the default declared unit in the PCR is metric.

Performance Characteristics Matter More Than Ever

Concrete is not just one product. A mix designed for one application may not be functionally equivalent to another mix, even if both are called concrete. Version 3 addresses this by requiring and encouraging clearer reporting of performance characteristics.

Mandatory performance characteristics include specified compressive strength and whether the mix is lightweight concrete. Optional characteristics include later-age strength, high-early strength, exposure class, flexural strength, unit weight, portable equipment status, slump or slump flow, water-to-cementitious ratio, cement type, air content, SCM content, SCM type, fiber reinforcement, lightweight aggregate, and typical application.

This is practical because GWP comparisons are only useful when the mixes being compared can perform the same job. A lower-carbon mix that does not meet the required strength, durability, workability, or exposure class is not a valid substitute.

“Concrete EPD comparisons only matter when the concrete mixes are functionally equivalent.”

Better Rules for Average EPDs

Version 3 includes rules for average EPDs for groups of similar products. Examples include industry-average, manufacturer-average, facility-average, performance categories based on compressive strength and cure time, lightweight concrete, and ready mix production categories.

The PCR also addresses variation inside averaged groups. If environmental indicators for products included in the average differ by more than plus or minus 10%, the minimum and maximum must be reported. Another option is to report the highest impact value for each impact category across the grouped products or plants.

This matters because average EPDs can be useful, but they can also hide variation. A broad average may not show the actual impact of a specific mix or plant. Version 3 encourages transparency and notes that product-specific and manufacturer-specific EPDs are encouraged.

Comparability: What Producers and Buyers Should Know

The PCR makes an important point: construction product comparisons should be made in the context of the construction works. In plain English, that means you should not compare concrete EPDs in isolation without understanding how the concrete will be used.

For A1-A3 or A1-A4 comparisons between concrete mixes, the declared units must be the same, the mixes must be functionally equivalent, and relevant performance characteristics must be considered. This helps avoid misleading comparisons where one mix looks lower carbon but does not serve the same function.

For producers, this is a sales and technical point. If a customer asks for the lowest GWP mix, the right response is not only a number. The right response is a mix that meets the project’s performance requirements with verified carbon data.

“A lower GWP number is only useful if the concrete still does the job.”

Data Quality: The Bigger Shift Behind Version 3

One of the most practical changes in Version 3 is the emphasis on data quality. Facility-specific datasets for A3 must include 12 consecutive months of data beginning within five years of the EPD publication date. Deviations must be justified and disclosed.

Foreground data should be based on utility bills, energy bills, sales records, product designs, and similar records. For facility-specific EPDs, foreground data must be specific to the facility. Company averages are not allowed for facility-specific EPDs.

This means producers need better internal data systems. If plant energy, fuel, production volume, mix design, supplier, and transportation data are scattered across spreadsheets or disconnected systems, the EPD process becomes harder. Version 3 rewards producers who have organized, specific, and defensible data.

Practical data producers should organize

• Mix designs
• Plant location
• Plant energy use
• Fuel use
• Production volume
• Cement supplier data
• SCM supplier data
• Aggregate supplier data
• Admixture data
• Batch water and wash water assumptions
• Transportation distances
• Returned concrete or material loss data
• Sales records
• Product IDs and mix IDs
• Utility bills and supporting records

Upstream Data: More Specific Is Better

Concrete EPDs depend heavily on upstream inputs. Cement, SCMs, aggregates, admixtures, fuels, electricity, and transportation can all affect the final result. Version 3 creates a hierarchy for upstream data.

The preferred upstream data source is a valid product-specific and facility-specific EPD. If that does not exist, the PCR allows certain industry-average EPDs, specified datasets, or critically reviewed LCA studies. Publicly available, critically reviewed LCA studies may also be used when better data is not available.

The practical takeaway is simple: producers should ask suppliers for better EPD data. If a cement, SCM, aggregate, or admixture supplier has product-specific or facility-specific data, that can improve the quality of the downstream concrete EPD. Better upstream data can also help producers understand where GWP is really coming from.

What producers should ask suppliers for

• Product-specific EPDs
• Facility-specific EPDs
• Industry-average EPDs if specific data is not available
• Current publication date and validity period
• Declared unit
• GWP methodology
• Transportation assumptions
• LCI database and version
• Any known data gaps

“Better supplier data creates better concrete EPDs.”

Transportation Updates: A2 and Optional A4

Transportation has always been important in concrete EPDs, but Version 3 provides more specific guidance. Module A2 includes transportation between the raw material production facility and the concrete facility. For truck transport, the PCR applies a correction factor to account for empty backhauls.

The PCR also gives a hierarchy for ocean shipping data for imported materials. If an EPD for the raw material includes shipping data to a distribution terminal, that primary data should be used. If that is not available, route-specific shipping distance should be used. If no specific data is available, default distances or equivalent tools may be used.

A4 transportation to site remains optional. If included, it should describe the reference scenario, including the construction site location, transportation distance, and mode. For large projects with multiple locations more than 50 miles apart, an average may be used.

This matters because transportation assumptions can change results. A concrete producer close to cement, aggregate, or SCM sources may have a different impact profile than a producer relying on long-haul or imported materials. Version 3 makes those assumptions more transparent.

Portable Batch Plants and Mobile Volumetric Mixers

One of the clearer practical updates in Version 3 is around portable equipment and mobile volumetric mixing. The PCR adds definitions and improves clarity around how these production methods should be handled.

Portable equipment includes mobile, compact, often self-erecting units designed to produce wet or dry batch concrete directly at construction sites or remote locations. Mobile volumetric mixers store raw ingredients in separate compartments and mix them as needed on site.

For portable equipment, the EPD is only considered valid for the location and period that the mix is produced at the location indicated in the EPD. A4 is anticipated to be zero for portable equipment. The PCR also includes rules for using proxy data when new portable equipment does not yet have 12 months of primary data.

For producers, this matters because portable operations can be attractive for large projects, remote projects, and project-specific production. But they need to be modeled correctly. A portable plant EPD is not automatically interchangeable with a permanent plant EPD.

Practical advice for portable equipment

• Track the exact project location
• Track raw material transportation to that location
• Track energy, consumables, emissions, waste, and production volume
• Clearly disclose proxy data when used
• Update proxy data when 12 months of primary data becomes available
• Do not assume a portable EPD applies beyond the stated location and time period

Renewable Electricity, RECs, and PPAs

Version 3 includes guidance for renewable electricity instruments such as RECs and PPAs. These claims can affect EPD results, but they need to be handled carefully and transparently.

The PCR allows the ACLCA guidance for quantifying renewable electricity instruments in EPDs. Renewable electricity claims must be tied to the concrete manufacturer, not upstream products, and are limited to Module A3. Results must be reported with and without RECs.

The PCR also calls for documentation such as allocation records, electricity balance sheets, certificate details, retirement documentation, temporal alignment, verification or audit records, and commitment documentation for the EPD validity period.

This is important because renewable electricity claims can be misunderstood. Producers should not assume buying RECs automatically solves carbon reporting. The claims must be documented, allocated, retired, and verified properly.

“Renewable electricity claims need paperwork behind them, not just good intentions.”

What Version 3 Means for EPD Content

Version 3 also makes EPD content expectations more detailed. The EPD must include key information such as product name, manufacturer name and address, specified compressive strength and cure time, lightweight concrete status, plant name and address, program operator, EPD unique ID, PCR version, EPD type and scope, declared unit, geographic market, date of issue, validity period, data year, known data gaps, tool developer, software, database, and LCIA methodology.

It also requires clearer identification of the EPD type. This may include facility-specific, industry-average, manufacturer-average, product-average, product-specific, or product- and facility-specific EPDs.

For tool developers and LCA producers, Version 3 also includes EPD unique ID requirements. This matters because the industry is moving toward more digital EPD workflows, mix-level identifiers, and clearer traceability.

EPD content producers should be ready to provide

• Product name
• Producer and plant information
• Mix ID
• EPD unique ID and version
• Reference PCR and version
• EPD type and scope
• Declared unit
• Specified compressive strength
• Cure time
• Lightweight concrete status
• Year of primary data
• Known data gaps
• LCA software and version
• LCI database and version
• LCIA methodology and version
• Verification information

Impact Categories and GWP Reporting

Version 3 requires environmental impacts to be calculated using IPCC AR5, or the most recent applicable characterization factors, for GWP. It separates GWP into total, fossil, biogenic, and land use and land use change categories. Other impact categories use TRACI 2.2.

This matters because GWP is the number most buyers focus on, but it is not the only impact category in an EPD. EPDs also include additional environmental indicators such as acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, resource use, water use, waste, and other LCA-derived measures depending on the reporting requirements.

The PCR also notes that when biogenic carbon is present, GWP with and without biogenic carbon must be reported. This helps avoid confusion when product systems include materials or processes where biogenic carbon may matter.

What Version 3 Means for Concrete Producers

For producers, Concrete PCR Version 3 is really a data readiness signal. It shows where the market is headed: more specific data, more transparent assumptions, more supplier EPDs, more facility-level reporting, and more careful comparisons.

If a producer has clean data, Version 3 can make EPD creation easier and more defensible. If a producer does not have organized data, Version 3 can make the gaps more obvious. Either way, the PCR pushes producers to treat EPDs as part of normal business operations, not as a one-off sustainability project.

The producers who will be best prepared are the ones that can connect mix designs, plant data, supplier data, energy data, transportation assumptions, and EPD outputs in a repeatable workflow. That is especially important as project teams ask for EPDs earlier in the bid and submittal process.

Practical steps producers should take now

1. Identify which plants and mixes are most likely to need EPDs.
   Start with high-volume mixes, DOT mixes, common structural mixes, and mixes used in data centers, universities, public work, and owner-driven low-carbon projects.
2. Organize 12 months of plant data.
   Make sure utility bills, fuel use, production volumes, and supporting records are accessible and tied to the right facility.
3. Clean up mix design records.
   Make sure mix IDs, cement type, SCM content, admixtures, aggregate sources, strength, slump, air, w/cm, and performance details are accurate.
4. Request EPDs from suppliers.
   Ask cement, SCM, aggregate, admixture, and other upstream suppliers for product-specific or facility-specific EPDs where available.
5. Track transportation distances.
   Raw material transportation can matter, especially for imported cementitious materials, SCMs, and aggregates.
6. Document returned concrete and material loss.
   Version 3 includes a default material loss assumption unless primary data is available and transparently reported.
7. Prepare for REC and renewable electricity documentation.
   If using renewable electricity claims, make sure allocation, retirement, and temporal records are ready.
8. Make EPDs usable for sales and technical teams.
   EPDs should be searchable by plant, mix, product, region, GWP, and expiration date.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Under Version 3

The first mistake is assuming Version 3 is only an LCA expert problem. It is not. The PCR affects sales, operations, QC, procurement, sustainability, and executive teams because all of those groups touch the data that goes into an EPD.

The second mistake is waiting for a customer request before organizing the data. When an owner, contractor, DOT, or design team asks for an EPD, they often need it quickly. Producers who start from scratch at that point may lose time.

The third mistake is comparing EPDs without checking performance. A lower GWP mix may not be functionally equivalent to another mix. Strength, cure time, exposure class, w/cm, slump, air content, unit weight, and application all matter.

The fourth mistake is relying on generic upstream data when better supplier data exists. Version 3 makes upstream data quality more important. Producers should ask suppliers for current EPDs and data specificity.

The fifth mistake is treating renewable electricity claims casually. If RECs or PPAs are used, they need clear documentation and results must be reported with and without RECs.

Version 3 Readiness Checklist

Before creating or updating concrete EPDs under Version 3, producers should confirm:

• Which plants are included
• Which mixes are included
• Whether the EPD is facility-specific, product-specific, manufacturer-average, product-average, or industry-average
• Whether the declared unit is one cubic meter and optionally cubic yards
• Whether A1-A3 only or A1-A4 will be reported
• Whether raw material transportation distances are documented
• Whether supplier EPDs are available for cement, SCMs, aggregates, and admixtures
• Whether 12 consecutive months of A3 facility data is available
• Whether data begins within five years of EPD publication
• Whether portable equipment or volumetric mixing rules apply
• Whether material loss is based on default or primary data
• Whether REC or PPA claims are being used
• Whether results are reported with and without RECs if applicable
• Whether performance characteristics are complete
• Whether known data gaps are disclosed
• Whether EPD IDs, tool developer, software, database, and LCIA method are documented

How Climate Earth Helps Producers Prepare for Concrete PCR Version 3

Climate Earth helps concrete producers create, manage, and use EPDs across mixes, plants, materials, and project requirements. Our platform is built to make concrete carbon data easier to calculate, update, and use in bids, submittals, and low-carbon project conversations.

As PCR rules become more detailed, producers need more than a one-time report. They need a scalable way to manage mix data, plant data, supplier inputs, GWP results, EPD versions, and customer requests.

Why choose Climate Earth?

• Built for concrete producers: Designed around mixes, plants, materials, and project workflows.
• Ready for EPD demand: Helps teams respond when owners, contractors, DOTs, and agencies ask for carbon data.
• Supports scalable EPD workflows: Avoid rebuilding the process from scratch for every mix or project.
• Makes GWP easier to understand: Helps teams see what is driving carbon across mixes and materials.
• Useful for sales and technical teams: Keeps EPD data accessible for bids, submittals, and customer conversations.
• Prepared for changing rules: Helps producers stay organized as PCRs, Buy Clean policies, and project requirements evolve.

Ready to Get Started?

If your customers are asking for EPDs, GWP data, or low-carbon concrete documentation, Climate Earth can help you prepare.

Schedule a demo to see how easy it can be to create, manage, and use concrete EPDs across your business.

Common Questions About Concrete PCR Version 3

What is a concrete PCR?

A concrete PCR is the product category rule used to create Environmental Product Declarations for concrete. It tells producers and LCA practitioners what data to collect, what scope to use, how impacts should be calculated, and how results should be reported.

What is NSF 1112-26 Concrete Version 3?

NSF 1112-26 Concrete Version 3 is the updated Product Category Rule for concrete EPDs. It applies to concrete produced in batching plants, including permanent, mobile, and volumetric mixing operations, and supports cradle-to-gate EPDs for concrete delivered in ready-to-use form.

What products are covered under Concrete PCR Version 3?

The PCR applies to concrete produced by ready mix facilities, including conventional concrete, lightweight concrete, high-performance concrete, ultra-high-performance concrete, flowable fill, slurry, and cementitious grout products. It does not apply to precast concrete or concrete masonry, which use separate PCRs.

What life cycle stages are included?

The PCR covers A1 to A3 as the required cradle-to-gate product stage. A4 transportation to site is optional. A5 installation, B use stage modules, C end-of-life modules, and Module D are not included under this PCR.

What is the declared unit?

The declared unit is one cubic meter of fresh concrete. Results may also be presented per U.S. cubic yard using the conversion factor provided in the PCR.

What changed in Version 3?

Version 3 updates the document throughout, harmonizes with upstream PCRs where possible, improves clarity around portable batch plants and mobile volumetric mixers, strengthens data quality expectations, clarifies EPD content requirements, and provides more detailed rules for upstream data, transportation, renewable electricity claims, and performance reporting.

Why does Version 3 matter for producers?

Version 3 matters because concrete EPDs are being used more often in bids, submittals, Buy Clean programs, LEED projects, DOT work, data centers, universities, and owner-driven low-carbon specs. Producers need better data systems to respond quickly and accurately.

Can producers still compare EPDs?

Yes, but comparisons must be fair. Mixes need to use the same declared unit, be functionally equivalent, and consider relevant performance characteristics. Comparing GWP numbers without checking performance and scope can be misleading.

Summary: Why Concrete PCR Version 3 Matters

Concrete PCR Version 3 reflects where the market is going. EPDs are becoming more important, and the rules behind those EPDs are becoming more specific. Producers need to understand not only what their GWP numbers are, but how those numbers were calculated.

The update pushes the industry toward better data, better comparability, better documentation, and better alignment with upstream materials. It also gives producers a clearer structure for reporting ready mix concrete impacts in a way that project teams, owners, agencies, and verifiers can understand.

For producers, the practical message is simple: get your data organized now. The companies that can manage mix, plant, supplier, transportation, and EPD data in a repeatable way will be better prepared for the next wave of EPD requests, Buy Clean requirements, DOT programs, and low-carbon concrete projects.