Roof Paver Systems: Key EPD Metrics Every Architect Should Know

In modular rooftop design, raised-deck pedestal systems like Bison’s ScrewJack®, Versadjust®, and Level.IT® pedestals create level, functional surfaces over sloped or uneven roof structures. Each pedestal supports and elevates modular deck surfaces, allowing for proper spacing, drainage, and accessibility - without compromising the roof membrane. Structural performance comes from precise pedestal height adjustment and the continuous load path that transfers weight safely to the supporting structure, ensuring long-term stability and reliability. The result is a durable, adaptable system that can be reconfigured or serviced as project needs evolve.

Architects can reference Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for these Bison pedestal systems to access verified data about material sourcing, manufacturing, and life cycle performance - helping them compare options and meet sustainability documentation standards.

Bison Innovative Products combines modular deck system design with a clear commitment to transparency through EPDs. These independently verified reports detail product life cycle data, giving architects the information they need to make confident, well-documented design choices. By providing EPDs for its pedestal systems, Bison helps project teams design with clarity, consistency, and environmental accountability.

Applications and Advantages of Roof Paver Systems

Built for adaptable outdoor spaces, roof paver systems supported by raised-deck pedestal systems combine lasting strength with design flexibility.

• Rooftop terraces and plazas
• Pop-up parks and green roofs
• On-grade outdoor spaces

For specifiers, the advantages include:

• Modularity: Easily remove or reconfigure individual pavers or decking sections
• Precision: Adjustable pedestals ensure a uniform, level surface across varying slopes
• Durability: Engineered to support high loads while maintaining stability and drainage
• Serviceability: Allows easy access to underlying systems without damaging the deck surface

Why Environmental Product Declarations Matter

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized, third-party verified document that outlines the environmental performance of a product across its life cycle. EPDs are built on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data and follow international standards (e.g., ISO 14025).

Architects use EPDs to:

• Demonstrate alignment with LEED, SITES, and WELL criteria
• Evaluate environmental impact across multiple life cycle stages
• Specify products with data-backed environmental profiles

Key EPD Metrics Architects Should Review

EPDs deliver architects and contractors quantified lifecycle data for: 

• LEED v4.1 & BREEAM Compliance Product-specific EPD supports Materials & Resources credits
• Client Sustainability Requirements Third-party verified data proves environmental commitment
• Informed Material Selection Comparative lifecycle impacts across all environmental categories
• Project Documentation Credible data that satisfies green building certification requirements

EPD data covers raw materials through manufacturing, installation, and end-of-life, independently verified to ISO 14025 and ISO 21930 standards.

These metrics offer insight into how a product performs not just functionally but environmentally, providing architects with a framework for comparing decking systems based on verified data.

How EPDs Influence Roof Paver System Decisions

When modular deck and roof paver systems are supported by verified EPDs, architects can:

• Compare material options using consistent, verified environmental data
• Ensure that product choices align with project-specific targets
• Build confidence with clients and regulators by documenting environmental impacts

Because interlock construction inherently supports modularity and reuse, it pairs effectively with products whose environmental profile is transparent and verifiable. This combination helps project teams reduce uncertainty and align with high-performance building strategies.

Bison's Commitment to Transparency

Bison supports architects from inspiration to installation with transparent documentation that enables confident, well-informed decisions. Bison’s modular systems are designed to integrate with pedestal supports and can be reconfigured or serviced without demolition, combining design flexibility with clarity and accountability. To see these principles in action, explore the Bison project gallery.

Roof Paver Systems + EPDs: A Reliable Specification Strategy

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) give architects verified insight into how building products perform over their entire life cycle - from raw material extraction to manufacturing and end of life. This transparency transforms the specification process by replacing assumptions with quantifiable, third-party verified data.

For rooftop design, understanding EPD metrics helps architects make performance-aligned decisions when specifying roof paver systems supported by raised-deck pedestal systems. These metrics help project teams:

• Compare materials based on verified environmental impact rather than marketing claims
• Demonstrate compliance with LEED, SITES, and WELL documentation requirements
• Confidently select systems that align with long-term sustainability goals

Because Bison’s ScrewJack®, Versadjust®, and Level.IT® pedestal systems have published EPDs, architects can evaluate their environmental performance using standardized metrics, supporting both design transparency and client accountability.

To learn more about how EPD data supports modular rooftop design, architects can explore Bison’s technical resources and product documentation.

FAQs

Q1: Can EPDs be used for LEED and SITES documentation?

EPDs don’t earn points on their own, but they can support LEED, SITES, and WELL documentation by providing the verified data needed to select and report on materials with lower environmental impact.

Q2: What life cycle stages are typically included in an EPD?

Many EPDs include cradle-to-gate stages (raw material extraction through manufacturing). Some also include use and end-of-life phases, depending on the product category rules.

Q3: Are roof paver systems structurally sound, and do they require fasteners?

Yes. Bison’s roof paver systems are engineered for stability and safety when properly designed and installed. The system’s strength comes from the pedestal supports and the continuous load path they create to the roof structure. Bison also provides compatible fasteners and accessories that allow for secure placement and easy removal of pavers during maintenance or reconfiguration. For all projects, Bison recommends consulting a structural engineer to verify load capacities and safety factors.

Important Notice: Bison Innovative Products recommends that all rooftop deck systems should be installed by a licensed contractor with at least 2 years of proven experience. Plans/designs for a rooftop deck should be reviewed by a safety/structural engineer before commencing construction. The roof must be able to safely carry the static and live load weights of the rooftop deck, and any amenities added along with the appropriate density of any insulation to resist crushing and damaging the waterproof membrane. Adding items such as hardscaping features, hot tubs, or pools to a rooftop deck requires additional guidance and oversight from an engineer.

Property owners should research and abide by any building codes and other regulations to obtain the required permits prior to having a rooftop deck installed. Please read all product specifications posted on Bisonip.com to review all information prior to any installation.