{"id":211360,"date":"2025-03-27T12:25:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=211360"},"modified":"2025-07-29T11:41:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T15:41:42","slug":"specifying-low-embodied-carbon-steel-framing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/specifying-low-embodied-carbon-steel-framing\/","title":{"rendered":"Specifying low embodied carbon steel framing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Electric<\/a>
Photo \u00a9\u0415\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0430 \u0411\u0438\u043e\u043d\u044b\u0448\u0435\u0432\u0430-\u0410\u0431\u0440\u0430\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In December 2021, the United States placed a federal emphasis on climate-friendly construction materials by implementing the Buy Clean initiative. This initiative leverages the U.S. government\u2019s purchasing power to help spur \u201ca large and stable demand signal to the marketplace\u201d for American-made products with lower embodied emissions in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for nearly one-third of the nation\u2019s total greenhouse gas (GHG).1<\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2022, the effort was strengthened by the Inflation Reduction Act<\/em> (IRA<\/em>), which provided more than $4 billion to federal agencies, including the General Services Administration (GSA), to source climate-friendly materials on federally funded construction projects. As of writing, much of the funding related to low-embodied carbon projects has already been disbursed, but it is unclear how future funding may be impacted.<\/p>\n

The U.S. is not the only country cracking down on embodied emissions. France, Switzerland, and the Nordic countries have led the charge with similar programs that require mandatory embodied carbon calculations.2<\/sup> Canada also took action in 2022 with its \u201cStandard on Embodied Carbon in Construction,\u201d which requires disclosing and reducing the carbon footprint of structural materials in major construction projects.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

Since the onset of these efforts, terms such as \u201clow embodied carbon\u201d have grown more commonplace in the construction sector. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), low embodied carbon steel products \u201chave less climate impact associated with mining, manufacturing, and transportation.\u201d Essentially, this term correlates to a product\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions, measured across its entire supply chain.<\/p>\n

Steel production has historically been a significant source of carbon emissions.4<\/sup> However, growing awareness of the lower embodied carbon in steel from electric arc furnaces drives a shift towards this more sustainable production method.<\/p>\n

How production differs for low embodied carbon steel<\/h2>\n

Steelmaking is a multi-step process with varying methods and production routes. Each choice along the way, from raw materials to manufacturing processes, influences the sustainability of the final product. Ultimately, how the steel is sourced and produced determines whether it will qualify as low embodied carbon steel framing. The World Steel Association has a comprehensive breakdown of the steelmaking process,5<\/sup> categorizing it into seven basic steps: raw materials, raw materials preparation, ironmaking, steelmaking, semi-finished products, hot-rolled products, and finishing operations.<\/p>\n

Raw materials<\/em><\/h3>\n

The journey toward a sustainable steel product begins at the raw materials stage. Using recycled steel at this early juncture sets a benchmark for low embodied carbon by effectively bypassing several energy-intensive processes. New steel is conventionally made via the basic oxygen furnace (BOF). This relies on iron ore, which necessitates mining, transportation, raw material preparation, and ironmaking\u2014each step contributing significantly to embodied carbon emissions. In contrast, recycled steel, predominantly used in an electric arc furnace (EAF), enters the steelmaking phase after being sorted, generally circumventing the raw materials preparation and ironmaking steps. This fundamental shift in raw material sourcing underscores the pivotal role recycling plays in decarbonizing the steel industry and establishes a greener foundation from the outset.<\/p>\n

Raw materials preparation<\/em><\/h3>\n

The raw materials are then processed to optimize suitability for subsequent ironmaking or steelmaking processes. Iron ore headed to a BOF mill must undergo extensive preparation, including processes to enhance the iron content and remove impurities, as well as crushing and grinding the ore into smaller, uniform pieces. By contrast, EAF mills using recycled steel typically demand less extensive sorting and sizing preparation before the material is charged into the furnace.<\/p>\n

Ironmaking<\/em><\/h3>\n

In this step, iron ore is transformed into molten iron using a blast furnace. Iron ore, coke (derived from coal), and limestone are heated, with coke acting as fuel and reducing agent. Limestone removes impurities such as slag. Notably, this step applies only to the BOF route; the EAF route completely bypasses this energy-intensive stage.<\/p>\n

\"Neatly<\/a>
Government-supported initiatives, such as Buy Clean, are just the tip of the sustainability iceberg. Photo \u00a9Andrei\/Generated by AI\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Steelmaking<\/em><\/h3>\n

In the steelmaking process, molten iron, derived from ironmaking or recycled steel, is transformed into steel. In BOF mills, oxygen is blown into the BOF to reduce the carbon content of the molten iron and remove impurities, resulting in steel. EAF mills, on the other hand, use electrical energy, sometimes supplemented with oxygen injection, to melt scrap steel and adjust its chemical composition by adding alloys.<\/p>\n

Semi-finished products, hot-rolled products, and finishing operations<\/em><\/h3>\n

Steel is cast into a semi-finished shape, such as slabs, billets, or blooms. It is then hot-rolled into various products, including rebar, coils, structural shapes, etc. Several finishing procedures can then occur, including painting, galvanizing, and cold rolling, to further reduce the thickness of a hot-rolled plate or coil product. After this final step, the steel is shipped to companies such as steel framing manufacturers, where it is formed into end-use products.<\/p>\n

In most cases, LEC steel is made with high percentages of recycled content and processed at an EAF mill, resulting in up to 30 percent less embodied carbon than steels using different raw material inputs. LEC steel framing has the proper data to back this up, including environmental product declarations (EPDs), life cycle assessments (LCAs) and more.6<\/sup><\/p>\n

It is worth noting that while a low embodied carbon perspective would have all steel ideally coming from EAF mills, BOF mills do still have a benefit in today\u2019s market. There is currently not enough steel being recycled to supply the total market demand for new steel products,7 <\/sup>and maintaining a balance between EAF and BOF sources supports a resilient supply chain, help mitigate price volatility, and allow for quick and flexible adaptations to demands.<\/p>\n

BOF mills are also exploring many ways to produce more sustainable steel, such as hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI); carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); electric smelting furnace (ESF); oxygen-enriched blowing; and increased scrap utilization, to name a few.8<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Construction<\/a>
When specifying low embodied carbon (LEC) steel, look for readily available third-party environmental product declarations (EPDs), life cycle assessments (LCAs), or even EPD optimization reports that compare the LEC product against a baseline product. Photos courtesy ClarkDietrich<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Specifying LEC steel<\/h2>\n

According to the Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, U.S. manufacturing accounts for nearly one-third of the country\u2019s total greenhouse gas emissions, and half of those emissions come from asphalt, concrete, glass, and steel production.9<\/sup> In 2023, the GSA launched a pilot program to test new requirements for\u00a0 LEC construction materials in 11 initial IRA<\/em>-funded projects, focusing on those four key materials. To date, the GSA has seen an increase of more than 17,000 new EPDs in the four material categories (including more than 5,000 during the six-month trial program alone), indicating the industry is following suit with the new push for increased transparency and lower emissions. Following the pilot\u2019s success, the GSA announced $2.51 billion in funding for more than 150 projects across the U.S. that meet its LEC material requirements.10<\/sup> Projects that use LEC steel verified by a third-party Type III EPD qualify for funding from the GSA.11<\/sup><\/p>\n

The federal government is not the only agency encouraging the use of LEC materials. The initiative has flourished at the state level as well. Through the Federal-State Buy Clean Partnership\u2014which currently includes 13 states: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington12<\/sup>\u2014LEC materials are also being prioritized in state-funded projects.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>
Projects that use low embodied carbon (LEC) steel verified by a third-party Type III environmental product declaration (EPD) qualify for funding from the General Services Administration (GSA), which has announced $2 billion in support for more than 150 projects that meet its LEC material requirements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

California is taking things a step further, becoming the first state to mandate a reduction in embodied carbon emissions as part of its building code. Effective July 2024, the code change offers three paths to meet the new standards for commercial buildings of more than 9,290 m2<\/sup> (100,000 sf) and schools of more than 4,645 m2<\/sup> (50,000 sf). According to the U.S. Green Building Council, \u201cThe first calls for the reuse of at least 45% of an existing structure, the second requires the use of materials (steel, glass, mineral wool, and concrete)13<\/sup> that fall within specified emission limits, and the third is a performance-based compliance path that allows the use of a whole building life cycle assessment analysis.\u201d14<\/sup><\/p>\n

Accreditation programs such as LEED also support products with environmental transparency and lower embodied carbon. In LEED v4.1, for example, building teams can earn up to two points under the \u201cMaterial and Resources Credit: EPDs.\u201d To earn these points, teams must achieve one or more of the following options: Option 1\u2014Environmental Product Declaration (1 point), or Option 2\u2014Embodied Carbon\/LCA Optimization (1 point). Option 1 requires that a project include at least 20 different products from at least five different manufacturers that meet certain disclosure criteria. Option 2 requires that projects include at least five products from at least three manufacturers that have a compliant embodied carbon optimization report or action plan separate from the LCA or EPD.15<\/sup><\/p>\n

In achieving these LEED credits, it is important to understand the distinction between LEED \u201cpoints\u201d and \u201cproducts.\u201d Various environmental disclosures contribute differently toward the required product count. For instance, an LCA, a Product-Specific Type III EPD (not third-party certified), or an Industry-Wide Type III EPD each count as \u201cone whole product.\u201d Meanwhile, a third-party certified Product-Specific Type III EPD counts as \u201c1.5 products\u201d toward the required total. Under Option 2, products with demonstrated reductions in Global Warming Potential (GWP) can be weighted differently. For example, a single product with a 20 percent or greater reduction in GWP and at least a five percent reduction in two additional impact categories may count as two products toward the five-product requirement.<\/p>\n

In addition to understanding how different environmental disclosures contribute toward product counts, the EPD credit specifically aims to promote the use of products with available lifecycle information that demonstrate environmentally, economically, and socially preferable impacts. It rewards project teams for selecting products from manufacturers with verified environmental improvements.<\/p>\n

Demand for LEC building materials is higher than ever. Specifiers should be aware of legislative actions and code changes that emphasize such products and which manufacturers are adapting to these new standards. For instance, only a handful of products on the market meet the criteria for the embodied carbon\/lifecycle analysis optimization point (\u201cOption 2\u201d) under LEED v4.1\u2019s MR Credit: EPDs. (As of writing, there is only one steel framing manufacturer with the data available to help achieve credit for this option.) Therefore, specifiers may need to source strategically to meet specific accreditations or standards requirements.<\/p>\n

Luckily, with the growing demand for LEC steel, it is easier to specify than before. At least one manufacturer offers LEC steel framing products with a nationwide footprint, and others may additionally serve smaller geographic regions. When specifying LEC steel, look for readily available third-party EPDs, LCAs, or EPD optimization reports that compare the LEC product against a baseline product. Some manufacturers even have a dedicated sustainability platform to make finding product environmental data simple and streamlined. The EPA has also announced a new label program for LEC construction materials, which, when in effect, will identify \u201cclean\u201d products and list them in a centralized, public registry to make sourcing and purchasing LEC materials easier.16<\/sup><\/p>\n

Many groups are also dedicated to educating about and advocating for reducing embodied carbon within the construction industry. For years, the Carbon Leadership Forum has worked to transform the building sector by \u201cradically reduc[ing] the greenhouse gas emissions attributed to materials (also known as embodied carbon) used in buildings and infrastructure.\u201d17<\/sup> In 2019, the group issued a challenge that \u201call structural engineers shall understand, reduce, and ultimately eliminate embodied carbon in their projects by 2050.\u201d As a result, SE 2050, or Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program, formed, \u201cdesigned to ensure substantive embodied carbon reductions in the design and construction of structural systems by the collective structural engineering profession.\u201d18<\/sup> Both of these groups are examples of industry professionals collaborating for the mission of reducing embodied carbon in buildings and materials. Closely following groups like these can help specifiers and building teams stay informed on the latest carbon reduction policies, regulations, or updates from manufacturers.<\/p>\n

When incorporating low-embodied carbon cold-formed steel framing into construction projects, specifiers might be unsure where to specify it in their documents. This is a common question, and for good reason. While LEC requirements can appear in various sections, it is recommended to focus on these three key areas:<\/p>\n

\"Interior<\/a>
Demand for low embodied carbon (LEC) building materials is higher than ever, and specifiers need to remain aware not only of legislative actions and code changes that place an emphasis on such products, but also of which manufacturers are adapting to these new standards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n