Epd Parser

/as:epd-parser — EPD PDF Parser

Harness note: use /as:<skill> on Claude Code and $<skill> on Codex. Resolve <skill-root> as the directory containing this loaded SKILL.md and <plugin-root> as the plugin root that contains skills/, and use equivalent native tools when host tool names differ.

Extract structured environmental impact data from EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) PDF files. Uses PyMuPDF for text extraction and Claude's reasoning to parse varying EPD formats into a standardized 42-column schema.

EPDs follow ISO 14025 / ISO 21930 / EN 15804 and report life cycle environmental impacts of building products. This skill reads those PDFs and structures the data for comparison, specification, and LEED documentation.

Input

The user provides EPD PDFs in one of these ways:

1. File paths — one or more PDF file paths
2. Folder path — a directory containing PDFs (will process all .pdf files)
3. Just invoked — ask the user for file paths or a folder

Output Schema

Use the canonical 42-column contract in schema/epd-schema.md. It is separate from the 33-column FF&E product schema. Never substitute or persist an FF&E-shaped record as EPD data. Leave unavailable values empty and use a plain URL for EPD Link.

Material Category Vocabulary

Use ONE normalized term: Concrete, Steel, Aluminum, Wood/Timber, Insulation, Gypsum, Glass, Ceramic/Tile, Carpet, Resilient Flooring, Roofing Membrane, Sealant, Paint/Coating, Masonry, Stone, Composite Panel, Acoustic, Cladding, Rebar, Cement, Aggregate, Furniture, Other.

EPD-specific data in Notes (col AO)

EPDs contain fields that don't have dedicated columns. Append these to Notes:

• EPD Type: Type: Product-specific or Type: Industry-average or Type: Sector
• Verification: Verified by: [verifier name]
• EN version: EN 15804+A1 or EN 15804+A2 (important for comparability)
• Source File: Source: holcim-readymix-epd.pdf
• LCA Software: LCA: GaBi or LCA: SimaPro or LCA: openLCA
• Biogenic carbon note: If the EPD reports biogenic carbon storage separately

Example Notes cell: Type: Product-specific | Verified by: Underwriters Laboratories | EN 15804+A2 | LCA: GaBi | Source: holcim-readymix-epd.pdf

LEED Eligibility Logic (col AI)

• Yes: Product-specific, third-party verified EPD conforming to ISO 14025
• Partial: Industry-average or sector EPD (counts for LEED Option 1 but not Option 2)
• No: Self-declared, unverified, or non-conforming

Workflow

Step 1: Get input

Parse the user's input to identify PDF file(s) and output preferences.

• If given a folder, list all .pdf files and report count
• If no PDFs found or path is invalid, ask the user
• Report: "Found N EPD PDF(s) to process."

Step 2: Extract text from PDF

Use PyMuPDF (fitz) to extract text from each PDF. Run this Python script via Bash:

import fitz
import sys
import json

pdf_path = sys.argv[1]
doc = fitz.open(pdf_path)
pages = []
for i, page in enumerate(doc):
    text = page.get_text()
    pages.append({"page": i + 1, "text": text})
doc.close()

print(json.dumps({"filename": pdf_path.split("/")[-1], "total_pages": len(pages), "pages": pages}))

For each PDF, extract all pages and keep the JSON output transiently for parsing; do not create a persistent JSON artifact.

Step 3: Parse EPD data

Read the extracted text and identify all environmental impact data. This is the core intelligence step.

For small EPDs (<=30 pages): Process all pages at once.

For large EPDs (>30 pages): Process in chunks of 15 pages. Carry forward context between chunks.

Parsing instructions:

1. Identify the EPD structure — EPDs typically have these sections:

   • General information (pages 1-2): manufacturer, product, declared unit, program operator, validity
   • Product description (pages 2-3): materials, manufacturing process, application
   • LCA information: system boundary, data sources, allocation rules
   • Impact indicator tables: the core data — usually 1-3 pages of tables
   • Resource use and waste tables
   • Additional information: scenarios, biogenic carbon, recycled content

2. Extract product identity first — manufacturer, product name, declared unit, functional unit. These are always on page 1-2.

3. Extract EPD metadata — registration number, program operator, PCR, standard, dates, system boundary. Usually on page 1 or in a header/sidebar.

4. Find and parse impact indicator tables — This is the most critical step:

   • Look for tables with life cycle stage columns (A1, A2, A3 or A1-A3 combined, A4, A5, B1-B7, C1-C4, D)
   • Impact categories are rows: GWP, ODP, AP, EP, POCP, ADP (or ADPE/ADPF)
   • EN 15804+A2 EPDs split GWP into: GWP-total, GWP-fossil, GWP-biogenic, GWP-luluc. Capture all that exist.
   • EN 15804+A1 EPDs report a single GWP row. Put this value in GWP-total (A1-A3).
   • If A1, A2, A3 are reported separately (not combined), sum them for the A1-A3 total.
   • Units are standardized: GWP = kg CO2e, ODP = kg CFC-11e, AP = kg SO2e (or mol H+ eq for +A2), EP = kg PO4e (or mol N eq / kg P eq for +A2), POCP = kg C2H4e (or kg NMVOC eq for +A2).

5. Extract resource use — PERE, PENRE, fresh water, waste. Usually in a separate table following the impact indicators.

6. Extract additional data — recycled content %, manufacturing plant, country of origin, LCA software, verifier name.

7. Determine LEED eligibility — based on EPD type and verification status.

8. Leave fields blank rather than guessing — if a field isn't in the EPD, leave it empty.

Multi-product EPDs

Some EPDs declare impacts for multiple products, product groups, or concrete mix designs. Create one row per product/variant:

• If the EPD covers "Product A" and "Product B" with separate impact tables, create two rows
• If the EPD covers multiple concrete mixes (e.g., 3000 PSI, 4000 PSI, 5000 PSI), create one row per mix
• The product name should distinguish variants: "ReadyMix Concrete — 4000 PSI"

Step 4: Present results

Show a summary table for each parsed EPD:

## EPD Parse Results

### holcim-readymix-epd.pdf
| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Product | ReadyMix Concrete — 4000 PSI |
| Manufacturer | Holcim |
| Declared Unit | 1 m3 |
| GWP (A1-A3) | 312 kg CO2e |
| System Boundary | Cradle-to-gate |
| Program Operator | NSF |
| Valid | 2024-01-15 to 2029-01-15 |
| LEED Eligible | Yes |

Products extracted: 3 (3000 PSI, 4000 PSI, 5000 PSI)

The preview is the default result. It can pass directly to /as:epd-compare or /as:epd-to-spec without creating a file.

Step 5: Optional persistence

Do not create a file by default. Only when the user explicitly asks to save reusable records:

1. Resolve the nearest ancestor containing PROJECT.md; the target is <project-root>/epd-library.csv.
2. Build complete records using schema/epd-schema.md, with Parsed At as an ISO 8601 timestamp and Source as epd-parser.
3. Preview the records, target path, and whether this initializes or appends.
4. Use one confirmation gate; do not ask the same confirmation first in prose.
5. Serialize all approved records as one JSON array, preserving canonical field names. After approval, use python3 "<plugin-root>/skills/master-schedule/scripts/csv-library.py" init epd if needed, then invoke python3 "<plugin-root>/skills/master-schedule/scripts/csv-library.py" append epd --row-json <batch.json> exactly once. Never append in a per-record loop. The helper validates the entire file, rejects FF&E or malformed headers, and writes the whole batch atomically.

If no project root exists, keep the result in conversation and offer /as:project init; do not invent another CSV destination.

Edge Cases

• Scanned PDFs (image-only): PyMuPDF will return empty or garbage text. Detect this (very short text relative to page count) and tell the user: "This PDF appears to be scanned/image-based. Text extraction won't work — consider using an OCR tool first."
• Non-English EPDs: Common for European manufacturers (German, French, Spanish, Swedish). Impact indicator abbreviations (GWP, ODP, AP, EP, POCP) are the same internationally. Extract numeric data regardless; note the language in Notes.
• EN 15804+A1 vs +A2: Older EPDs use +A1 (single GWP row, different EP/AP units). Newer use +A2 (split GWP, different units for AP/EP/POCP). Always note which version in Notes. Map to schema as closely as possible.
• Multi-product EPDs: One row per product/variant. See Multi-product EPDs section above.
• Expired EPDs: Flag in Notes: EXPIRED — valid to YYYY-MM-DD. Still parse the data.
• Password-protected PDFs: PyMuPDF will fail to open. Catch the error and tell the user.
• Very large PDFs (50+ pages): Process in 15-page chunks. Give progress updates.
• EPDs with impact tables as images: Detect missing numeric data in what should be table sections. Flag: "Impact tables may be embedded as images — manual extraction needed."

GWP Baseline Policy

This policy is shared by all four EPD skills (epd-parser, epd-research, epd-compare, epd-to-spec) and must read identically in each. Industry-average GWP baselines are allowed only when cited with a named source and publication year (e.g., "NRMCA Industry-Wide Member EPD v3.2, 2022" or "AISC Fabricated Hot-Rolled Structural Sections EPD, 2021"). Uncited baseline numbers recalled from memory or training data are banned. If no source-and-year citation is available, ask the user to provide a baseline EPD or find one with /as:epd-research — never guess a baseline.

For this skill: report only values extracted from the parsed EPD itself. When contextualizing a parsed GWP against an industry average (e.g., in the parse-results summary), the baseline must carry a source-and-year citation or be omitted.

Error Reporting

After processing, always report:

Parsed: X products from Y EPD PDF(s)
- filename.pdf: N products extracted
- filename2.pdf: M products extracted
Issues: [list any problems — expired, scanned, missing tables, etc.]