What Does It Mean To Supply ISO 50001 Certified Hardware?

The ISO 50001 certification is designed to support organizations committed to addressing their environmental impact by improving & maintaining their energy management. This blog post will explain what the ISO 50001 Certification is, as well as why it is crucial for mass timber hardware suppliers to obtain it. It will also highlight its ability to emphasize sustainable development and how it can be leveraged in tandem with other certifications like LEED.

Approximately 5-minute read.

What is the ISO 50001 certification?

The ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Standard is an internationally recognized voluntary standard that provides organizations with a structured action plan to support energy management improvement. Launched in 2011 by the ISO Technical Committee, at the request of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the ISO 50001 standard helps integrate and implement energy efficiency standards and new energy-efficient technology into existing management practices. It focuses on energy use awareness, energy management behaviours, and making better use of existing energy-consuming assets and processes.

The implementation process of the ISO 50001 standards follows a PDCA [ Plan, Do, Check, Act/Adjust ] Framework.

• PLAN the objectives and processes required, using energy usage data, to deliver the desired results in high energy consumption
• DO the plan with design, training, communication structures, equipment, and process control.
• CHECK the data and results and compare it to the expected outcomes.
• ACT / ADJUST your process based on the results and differences measured to implement future improvement into a new PDCA

Why mass timber hardware should be ISO 50001 certified?

In 2020, the United Nations reported that steel manufacturing contributed to (approx.) 7-10% of the world’s emissions; the manufacturing of carbon steel & stainless-steel fasteners is no exception, requiring high energy-consuming processes that include [non-exclusively]: Coil wire material, punching, cold forming, heat treatments, and surface coating.

The growing interest in mass timber is not only found in its aesthetics & structural properties, but also because of the major role it plays in fighting climate change. Fasteners are critical elements in the construction of modern mass timber structures and must play a part in reducing the overall carbon footprint & greenhouse gas emissions of each building completed. As a result, MTC Solutions has ensured that all fasteners supplied since 2015 are ISO 50001 certified, matching our core values and beliefs on sustainable development.

LEED, ISO & MTC fasteners

LEED-certified building goals are, among others, to reduce contribution to global climate change by lowering carbon emissions, enhance economical outcomes by constructing healthier environments for individuals, or promote sustainable and regenerative material cycles. LEED buildings withstand collective ambition to address climate change, meet ESG [Environmental, Social, and Governance] goals, enhance resilience and support more equitable communities. Achieving a LEED certification requires a project to earn points by fulfilling prerequisites and accumulating points by addressing issues related to carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, etc. The LEED level is then matched to the building’s total accumulated points.

ISO 50001 sustainability objectives align with the energy targets required by LEED. The Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) were developed in conjunction with key leaders in the green building market, including the ISO & LEED practitioner, to help with this effort. Not all ISO certifications can directly transfer into LEED points, however; ISO 50001 is recognized by LEED, creating a convergence in the world of green building, and supporting LEED projects’ development.

MTC Solutions fasteners combine both environmental qualifications in one product, the ISO 50001 certifications, as well as participating in your LEED certifications, up to 2 points [MRc 4.1 & 4.2, 2 points], thanks to the percentage of post-consumer recycled steel used to manufacture them [superior to 25%].

For any references, please download our ISO 50001 Certification, available for all MTC fasteners series.

Our LEED certification letter is available upon request by contacting our Technical Support Team 😉.