A more sustainable future relies on the use of copper. The need to build structures that are healthy for their occupants and use less electricity and water, makes copper the top material choice for architectural and interior elements, building system controls, plumbing and HVAC equipment, mechanical systems and appliances, and energy generation, storage, and electrical applications.
Why is copper critical to a green and healthy building?
Copper’s versatility is a plus for better building construction, needed for structural necessities to aesthetic adornments, including roofing, wiring, renewable energy applications, and plumbing.
Building Better: A Guide to Copper in Green and Healthy Buildings [PDF - 2.16 MB]
3rd Party Verified Heath Product Declarations (HPDs)
Copper is one of the few materials to have products with HPDs verified by a 3rd party.
Click to view a list of third party verified HPD declarations
Life Cycle Assessment - Copper Tube and Sheet
As an association committed to promoting the sustainable use of copper materials, CDA developed a life cycle assessment (LCA) for copper tubes and sheets produced in North America.
Life Cycle Assessment - Copper Tube and Sheet [PDF - 1.64 MB]
3E Exchange
CDA is committed to bringing material health transparency to green and healthy building products through the publication of over 700 copper alloy shared materials.
Sustainable Minds
CDA has joined Sustainable Minds, making it easier for architects, engineers, and contractors to find and specify copper products with transparency disclosures.
Why is copper critical to a green and healthy building?
Copper’s versatility is a plus for better building construction, needed for structural necessities to aesthetic adornments, including roofing, wiring, renewable energy applications, and plumbing.
Building Better: A Guide to Copper in Green and Healthy Buildings [PDF - 2.16 MB]
3rd Party Verified Heath Product Declarations (HPDs)
Copper is one of the few materials to have products with HPDs verified by a 3rd party.
Tube & Fittings Applications |
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Copper Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Tube - Type ACR - per ASTM B280 |
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Copper and Copper Alloy Press-Connect Pressure Fittings per ASME B16.51-2018 |
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Copper Medical Gas Tube per ASTM B819 |
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Wrought Copper and Copper Alloy Solder-Joint Pressure Fittings per ASME B16.22 |
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Copper Natural Gas and Liquified Petroleum (LP) Gas Tube – Type GAS – per ASTM B837 |
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Copper Water Tube - Type K, L, or M - per ASTM B88 |
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Rod & Bar Applications |
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Copper and Copper Alloy Forging Rod, Bar, and Shapes per ASTM B124 |
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Free-Cutting Brass Rod, Bar and Shapes per ASTM B16 |
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Antimicrobial Applications |
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Copper-Nickel Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar with EPA Reg. for Antimicrobial Claims per ASTM B122 |
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Building Construction |
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Copper Sheet and Strip for Building Construction per ASTM B370 |
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Busbar Application |
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Copper conductor bar, rod, and shapes for electrical (bus) applications |
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Life Cycle Assessment - Copper Tube and Sheet
As an association committed to promoting the sustainable use of copper materials, CDA developed a life cycle assessment (LCA) for copper tubes and sheets produced in North America in accordance with ISO 14040/44 and ISO 21930. With a cradle-to-gate scope, this LCA can be used by manufacturers as an input to their own product-specific LCAs and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Additionally, this data was incorporated into the GaBi database allowing for quick and efficient use of the results. For a list of participating manufacturers, please contact sustainability@copperalliance.us
Life Cycle Assessment - Copper Tube and Sheet [PDF - 1.64 MB]
3E Exchange
One of the biggest hurdles for today’s manufacturers exploring options to streamline the safety of their products is gathering product and material data efficiently from suppliers. CDA and 3E Exhange have improved manufacturers’ abilities to achieve full material disclosure for safer product design through their publication of over 700 shared materials, which represent all the active wrought and cast copper and copper alloy products registered in the Unified Numbering System (UNS) for alloy designations, on the 3E Exchange platform. Each shared material contains information on the alloy’s contents, potential health, safety, and environmental impacts, and their status with various regulatory schemes like REACH and RoHS. This puts material transparency directly at the fingertips of manufacturers using or seeking to use copper and copper alloys, supporting their ability to meet product compliance requirements and obtain sustainable certifications for their products more easily.
3E Exchange [External website]