Certification
Branch Technology, a construction-technology company that 3D prints façades for commercial buildings, recently received Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification from UL Solutions for its 3D-printed cladding solutions, BranchClad™ GFRC and BranchClad™ Stucco. The certifications signify that the BranchClad products conform with the stringent Type III environmental declarations set by UL Environment and the International Organization for Standardization.
EPDs help quantify environmental information regarding the cradle-to-grave life cycle of a building product. EPD certifications for BranchClad permit architects, specifiers, building owners, and other key stakeholders in the construction process to have a transparent view into the product’s sustainability benefits and environmental performance. This allows for a direct one-to-one comparison with other commercial exterior cladding products.
BranchClad is a mass-customized, ventilated rainscreen system that can be finished in either glass fiber reinforced concrete or stucco finishes. The high-performance cladding is digitally fabricated using Branch Technology’s state-of-the-art production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The company’s manufacturing process is designed to significantly reduce material waste as well as carbon and energy usage, all significant contributors to the BranchClad EPD certifications.
The installation requirements and the fact that BranchClad panels are prefabricated also earn it high marks for sustainability. According to the EPD certification reports, installation of BranchClad is manual, requiring no energy consumption. In addition, there is no material waste during installation, because panels are custom fabricated for each project. The lightweight panels also reduce transportation costs.
