Independent verification of EPDs is stipulated by ISO 14025 and EN 15804, and indicates that the EPD has been tested and approved by an independent expert (verifier) prior to publication. The review contains the following criteria:
- Plausibility
- Completeness
- Consistency
Using the EPD-Online Tool, the manufacturer submits its EPD to the IBU to be verified. The IBU selects a verifier from the verifier committee and assigns the EPD, allowing the required documents (EPD, background report, or other additional verification documents, if possible) to be made available to the verifier. In the event of questions or discrepancies, the verifier contacts the manufacturer so that the EPD can be revised. If all of the data is correct, the verifier releases the EPD so that it can be published by the IBU. The independence of reviewers is very important to the IBU, and therefore the IBU, rather than the manufacturer, selects the verifier. For this reason, the verification costs are not paid from the manufacturer to the verifier, but rather, the IBU charges a lump sum and pays the manufacturer for the verification.
The Verification is a document check. There is no on-site inspection.