One of the key steps in the creation of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is verification. The purpose of verification is to ensure that the conducted analysis and related documents comply with requirements and are accurate. Verification is a standardized and regulated process. It can only be carried out by an independent third party with the necessary qualifications. This means that neither the EPD owne, author nor anyone associated with their company can verify this particular EPD. The competence of the verifier is assessed by the EPD program that publishes the EPD after verification.

The Verification Process

Depending on the chosen EPD program, the EPD creator or manufacturer must either find a verifier themselves or have one assigned by the program operator. If the verifier needs to be selected independently, the program’s website provides a list of qualified verifiers. For example, here:

Once an agreement is made, the completed documents must be submitted to the verifier. The verifier reviews the EPD, the project report, and any supporting information. They then provide their comments and observations in a communication log. This log is an essential document that must be submitted to the program operator after verification. All communication between the verifier and the EPD author must be documented, and any changes made need to be recorded. Email exchanges should be avoided, as they are harder to track within the communication log.

The precise review process depends on the verifier and their methodology. Some verifiers may request an online meeting where the EPD creator presents the model, while others may require direct access to the model through their EPD software.

Once the EPD author receives the initial feedback, necessary corrections need to be made. If the EPD author is experienced and the project is simple, one review round may suffice. However, for more complex projects, multiple review rounds are often required. While there is no official limit to the number of rounds, excessive iterations may indicate that the verifier is becoming too involved in the process. To avoid this, it is essential to ensure that the first submitted version is of high quality and well-prepared.

When all verifier comments have been addressed, the EPD is considered verified. The verifier then finalizes the communication log and typically prepares a verification report detailing the project information and the verification process.

Timeline

Predicting the exact verification timeline is challenging, as it depends on multiple parties and factors. In addition to the verifier, the EPD author's availability and efficiency also impact the schedule.

Generally, the first round of comments is provided within 2-4 weeks, but each verifier has their own methodology, so this should be confirmed individually.

Ensuring a Smooth Verification Process

Since the success of verification also depends on the EPD author, they can take several steps to streamline the process. The most critical factor is the quality of the analysis and the EPD itself. For example, the EPD creator can pre-check the verification checklist. This helps identify and correct simple errors quickly and pinpoint potential major issues.

The International EPD System’s verification report can be found here, and the Rakennustieto report is available here.

Below are some additional key aspects to keep in mind during verification:
  • The EPD verifier must be an independent third party who has not participated in the creation of the EPD. This also means that the verifier cannot provide guidance on how to resolve specific issues. They can only highlight non-conformities and reference the applicable re
    quirements, but the EPD author must determine the appropriate solution.
  • Verification is not an audit of the manufacturer's activities. The verifier does not assess whether the manufacturer meets environmental requirements or if their production is environmentally friendly. Their role is solely to ensure that the analysis and documentation comply with standards.
  • The verifier is not obligated to approve the EPD. Their responsibility is to ensure all requirements are met. If the EPD author refuses to make the necessary corrections, the verifier cannot and must not approve the EPD. Of course, all parties aim to avoid such situations.