유니벨 PVC관 협회(PVCPA)가 NSF 인터내셔널의 세계공공보건부서인 NSF Sustainability에 의해 보증된 상하수관에 관한 산업 전반의 첫 환경제품 선언문(EPD)을 공식적으로 발간했다.

 

이번 EPD는 국제환경관리 가이드와 7개 PVC관의 수명주기 전반에 걸친 영향 기준점을 준수해 개발됐으며, 여기에는 식수, 재생수 등을 위한 PVC 압력 파이프와, 우수 및 위생하수 시스템 등을 위한 PVC 비압력 파이프가 포함된다.

 

 

 

The Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association (PVCPA), the authoritative source of information on PVC pipe, has officially published the first North American industry-wide environmental product declaration (EPD) for water and sewer piping, which has been verified by NSF Sustainability, a division of global public health organization NSF International.

 

The EPD was developed in compliance with international environmental management guidelines (ISO 14025) and benchmarks the impacts of seven PVC pipe products across their lifecycles. This includes PVC pressure pipe for potable water, reclaimed water and sewer force main systems, and PVC non-pressure pipe for storm sewer and sanitary sewer systems. NSF Sustainability reviewed and verified the lifecycle assessment and EPD documents to ensure that no unsubstantiated claims were made and that the EPD followed all applicable rules.

 

NSF International also maintains certification programs that provide independent confirmation on products meeting the requirements of American National Standards designed to ensure products are appropriate for these end uses. PVCPA members are certified to NSF/ANSI 14 for physical performance, health effects and quality requirements of pipe products and NSF/ANSI 61 for potable water contact products.

 

Both standards establish strict criteria for products to be considered safe for use. This third-party-verified, ISO 14025-compliant EPD was the next step in validating the safety and sustainability of PVC piping products. Further, with the completion of this EPD, PVCPA members have demonstrated their continued commitment to product safety and transparency.

 

EPDs are increasingly used across many industries by product manufacturers to provide transparent environmental data to customers. This EPD is based on an industry-wide lifecycle assessment (LCA) prepared by Sustainable Solutions Corporation that identifies the full lifecycle environmental impacts of PVC pipe. PVCPA members can use the LCA and EPD report as a baseline for continuous improvement, identifying opportunities throughout the product lifecycle for further environmental impact reductions.

 

This positions PVC pipe manufacturers as leaders in their industry and provides transparent environmental impact data to builders and municipalities for building and construction standards such as the Envision™ Sustainable Infrastructure certification (see "Rating System Helps Infrastructure Projects Meet Long-Term Sustainability Goals") and other green building and sustainability programs.

 

The EPD pinpoints areas of greatest environmental impact as well as the environmental benefits of utilizing PVC piping. For example, the use phase of pressurized potable water pipe, during which pumps overcome friction to move water through pipe, was found to contribute the greatest environmental impacts throughout the product's entire lifecycle. The EPD also identified advantages in this stage such as the smooth interior surface of PVC pipe that minimizes friction and energy consumption. PVC pipe is also corrosion-resistant and has a proven durability in excess of 100 years, requiring less frequent replacement.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 5월 19일]