HUB · LEED v4.1 EPD ROADMAP
LEED v4.1 Turkish Marble EPD — Roadmap, Submittal Package, US Spec Support
Under USGBC LEED v4.1, Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) adoption for Turkish natural stone is still emerging. Sipahi Marble is in the preparation phase for cut-to-size cladding and flooring EPDs, while providing the Chain-of-Custody, ADA DCOF and California Prop 65 documentation US architects, LEED consultants and general contractors need for spec submittal today. This page summarizes MR Credit 2/3 contribution structure, the declared vs specified stone distinction, PCR process and Sipahi's roadmap steps for architects and sustainability consultants.
30-SECOND SUMMARY
- LEED v4.1 credit contribution: MR Credit 2 (EPD/HPD 1-2 pts), MR Credit 3 (Chain-of-Custody 1-2 pts), EQ Credit 2 (VOC), Regional Priority (Turkish stone outside radius).
- Turkish producer EPD status: Sector PCR framework being developed by İMİB/TÜMMER through 2024-2026. Several large producers have initiated LCA studies.
- Sipahi roadmap: Priority SKU selection (2026 Q4), LCA measurement (2027), EPD publication target (2028). Roadmap, not firm commitment; contingent on sector development.
- Available today: Chain-of-Custody, ADA DCOF, California Prop 65, İMİB Registry 336480, TS EN + ASTM test reports — 3-5 business day turnaround.
- Coverings 2027: Orlando visit April 6-9, 2027 — LEED consultant meetings and physical submittal package sharing planned.
1 · WHAT IS LEED v4.1
USGBC LEED v4.1 — Credit Structure for Natural Stone
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the world's most widely applied green building certification system. LEED v4.1, active since 2019, expands performance thresholds from the earlier v4 system and restructures the material transparency credit family (source: USGBC LEED v4.1 BD+C Reference Guide 2020).
Natural stone products are evaluated under LEED v4.1 across four primary credits within the Materials and Resources (MR) and Environmental Quality (EQ) categories. The grid below summarizes the credits Sipahi Marble focuses on for architect, GC and LEED consultant submittal support:
MR Credit 2 — Building Product Disclosure
Products with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) or Health Product Declaration (HPD): 20+ compliant products → 1 point; industry-average-optimized EPDs on 20+ products → 2 points. EPD adoption in natural stone is still emerging.
MR Credit 3 — Sourcing of Raw Materials
Responsible sourcing evidence via Chain-of-Custody → 1-2 points. Sipahi's İMİB member status (Registry 336480) and extensive Turkish quarry network are used directly for this credit.
EQ Credit 2 — Low-Emitting Materials
VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions threshold. Natural stone is inherently zero-VOC; filled travertines and resin-treated marbles require separate VOC documentation for the fill material.
Regional Priority (RP)
Sourcing within a 500-mile radius of the project location. Turkish marble is outside this radius; alternative contribution paths (EPD, HPD, responsible sourcing) come into play.
2 · EPD REQUIREMENT
Environmental Product Declaration — Why, How, Who Publishes
An EPD is a third-party verified document, produced under ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards, that quantifies the environmental impact of a product (carbon footprint, water use, resource use) across raw material sourcing, manufacturing, transport, use and end-of-life stages. Standard verification steps:
- PCR (Product Category Rules): The reference framework defining measurement methodology for the product category. EN 16908 (natural stone products) is the European PCR reference; USGBC accepts ISO 14025 compliant PCRs for US projects.
- LCA (Life Cycle Assessment): Energy, water, carbon and waste measurement across the quarry → workshop → shipment chain. ISO 14040/14044 methodology. Data should cover at least 12 months of operational data.
- Third-party verification: Independent program operators (Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. / IBU, ASTM, UL Environment, etc.) verify the LCA report and publish the EPD.
- Publication and validity: EPDs are typically valid for 5 years; the LCA is refreshed at renewal. For LEED v4.1 MR Credit 2, USGBC accepts documents registered in the USGBC EPD Library.
Turkey status: EPD certification in the natural stone sector is being developed through 2024-2026 under İMİB and TÜMMER (Turkish Marble Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers' Association) leadership. Several large Turkish producers have started LCA studies for their own SKU groups.
3 · TURKISH PRODUCER ROADMAP
Sector Framework and İMİB/TÜMMER Leadership
Turkish natural stone exports exceeded USD 1.9 billion in 2024 (source: İMİB Export Statistics 2024). At this export scale, the sector's transition to comprehensive sustainability documentation is positioned as one of the most critical structural shifts of the second half of the 2020s. With İMİB and TÜMMER member firm participation:
- PCR reference framework: The European standard EN 16908 (natural stone products) serves as the Turkish PCR alignment base. Sector-scale PCR publication work is progressing through 2025-2026.
- LCA data protocols: Common measurement methodology and data infrastructure for the quarry → workshop → shipment chain, designed with sector-scale cost sharing.
- Pilot producer studies: Large-scale Turkish producers have initiated third-party verified LCA studies for their own SKU groups. Pilot experience will transfer to the broader sector.
- USGBC EPD Library integration: Published EPDs are registered with the USGBC EPD Library, making them directly usable in LEED submittal workflows.
4 · SIPAHI EPD ROADMAP
Sipahi Marble EPD Preparation — 2026 → 2028 Target
The steps below are contingent on sector development and İMİB/TÜMMER PCR publication timelines. Roadmap, not a firm commitment.
2026 Q4
Priority SKU Selection
SKU groups for the PCR reference basis identified — cut-to-size cladding and flooring products. Preparation aligned with İMİB/TÜMMER PCR development.
2027
LCA Measurement Phase
Carbon footprint, energy and water consumption measurement across the quarry → workshop → shipment chain with third-party consulting support. Interim data sharing target with US LEED consultants at Coverings 2027.
2028 Target
EPD Publication Candidacy
First EPD documents in publication candidacy; USGBC EPD Library registration target. Transition to declared stone status for LEED v4.1 MR Credit 2 and direct use in US export projects.
5 · MRc4 · DECLARED vs SPECIFIED
Material Ingredients and Transparency Distinctions
MR Credit 4 (Material Ingredients): Another material transparency credit under LEED v4.1. It requires disclosure of product content to a 0.1% threshold — typically supplied via HPD (Health Product Declaration). Natural stone is inherently a mineral composition; HPD reporting for unfilled products is relatively straightforward.
Declared stone: A stone product documented with an EPD or HPD. The project can contribute directly to MR Credit 2.
Specified stone: A stone named in the project spec sheet but without a transparency document. LEED consultants track this distinction during submittal; transition from specified to declared status requires EPD or HPD work.
Sipahi transition strategy: Until the EPD publishes, HPD (Health Product Declaration) is offered as an alternative document on a project-by-project basis. This does not provide equivalent contribution to MR Credit 2, but is an intermediate step toward declared status.
6 · SIPAHI SUBMITTAL PACKAGE TODAY
Documentation Available Now — 3-5 Business Day Turnaround
- Chain-of-Custody: Quarry origin region (region + partner count), block/slab traceability number, workshop processing records, shipment container and customs documentation. İMİB member firm certificate (Registry 336480) attached.
- Material test reports: TS EN 12372 (flexural strength), TS EN 13755 (water absorption), TS EN 12371 (freeze-thaw), ASTM C170 (compressive strength), ASTM C880 (flexural strength — US equivalent), ASTM C97 (density/absorption).
- ADA DCOF slip resistance: Dynamic Coefficient of Friction data for honed and leathered surfaces, wet/dry condition; reported against the ADA minimum threshold (≥0.42).
- California Prop 65 compliance letter: Testing results for chemicals listed under California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.6; negative detection confirmed for natural stone products.
- Origin and mineralogical statement: Quarry region (quarry firm name not disclosed in public marketing), production workshop (Sakarya, Turkey), mineralogical composition (calcite, dolomite, etc.) statement.
- EPD roadmap confirmation letter: PCR development status, EPD publication target date (2028) and alternative contribution paths — a document that can be shared directly with the project's USGBC LEED consultant.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
7 Critical Questions for Architects and LEED Consultants
Is EPD mandatory for natural stone under LEED v4.1?
No, LEED v4.1 does not mandate EPD. However, MR Credit 2 (Building Product Disclosure and Optimization) rewards products with EPDs: a project sourcing 20+ EPD-backed products earns 1 point, and 20+ optimized EPDs (below industry-average) earn 2 points (source: USGBC LEED v4.1 BD+C Reference Guide, MR Credit 2). Natural stone EPD adoption is still emerging; Sipahi Marble is following the PCR (Product Category Rules) development track.
What is the difference between declared and specified stone?
Declared stone refers to a product with an EPD/HPD document — it can contribute directly to MR Credit 2. Specified stone is a product named in the project spec sheet but without a transparency document. LEED consultants track this distinction during submittal review; Turkish producers need PCR alignment and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) work to transition from specified to declared status (source: USGBC MR Credit 2 Reference).
Where are Turkish marble producers in the EPD process today?
İMİB (Istanbul Mineral Exporters' Association) and TÜMMER (Turkish Marble Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers' Association) are leading the sector-wide PCR framework and LCA data protocol work through 2024-2026. Several large Turkish producers have initiated third-party verified LCA studies for their own SKU groups. Sipahi Marble is in the preparation phase for cut-to-size cladding and flooring products; publication target is 2027-2028 (roadmap, not a firm commitment).
Does MR Credit 4 (Material Ingredients) apply to natural stone?
Yes. This credit requires ingredient disclosure to a 0.1% threshold — typically via HPD (Health Product Declaration) format. Pure natural stone carries a chemically inert mineral composition; however, resin-filled travertine and marble products require separate HPD documentation for the fill material. Sipahi Marble provides mineralogical composition disclosure and prefers unfilled products, noting this in the spec sheet.
Can Turkish stone qualify for Regional Priority (RP) points?
No. USGBC RP credit incentivizes sourcing within a 500-mile radius of the project location; Turkish marble falls outside this radius and cannot earn RP points. However, LEED v4.1 is flexible — EPD, HPD, responsible sourcing (Chain-of-Custody) and low-carbon production documentation offer alternative contribution paths. At Coverings 2027 in Orlando, Sipahi's priority discussion topic with US architects will be this strategic non-RP positioning.
Which LEED-relevant documents does Sipahi Marble provide today?
While EPD is on the roadmap, Sipahi prepares the following project-specific package: (1) Chain-of-Custody (quarry → workshop → shipment traceability), (2) material test reports (TS EN 12372, EN 13755, EN 12371 and US equivalents ASTM C170, C880, C97), (3) ADA DCOF slip resistance data, (4) California Prop 65 compliance letter, (5) İMİB member firm certificate (Registry 336480), (6) mineralogical composition statement. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days.
Can we discuss the LEED submittal package at Coverings 2027 in Orlando?
Yes. Sipahi Marble Managing Director Berkay Sipahi will attend Coverings 2027 in Orlando (April 6-9, 2027) as a visitor. Pre-scheduled meeting slots with US LEED consultants are being organized. The document package is presented physically in Orlando alongside sample kits; project-specific EPD alternative contribution paths are discussed one-on-one.
RELATED HUBS AND ENGINEERING PAGES
Other Components of the Spec Package
HUB
AISI 316 Anchor Turkish Marble Facade
Mechanical cladding anchor, seismic zone, TBDY 2018 / ASCE 7
HUB
Cut-to-Size Turkish Fabrication
±0.5 mm tolerance, edge profiles, finish types
HUB
Turkish Marble Quarry Network
Muğla, Denizli, Bilecik, Afyon origin network
B2B
Sipahi Trade Program
Architects, GCs, distributors — LEED submittal support
EVENT
Coverings 2027 Orlando
April 6-9, 2027 · LEED consultant meeting program
US HUB
Cut-to-Size (US Hub)
Custom dimension Turkish marble for US architects
Request a LEED Submittal Package for Your Project
Share project name, scale (LEED certification target Silver/Gold/Platinum) and the natural stone line item you're considering — we prepare a project-specific document package in 3-5 business days. Coverings 2027 Orlando meeting slots are prioritized for early inquiries.
Sipahi Mermer ve Granit San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti. · İMİB Registry 336480 · Sakarya, Türkiye