Sustainable Construction - ASTM Latin America

ASTM Sustainable Construction Standards

As the demand for energy-efficient, environmentally responsible buildings continues to grow, ASTM International is helping lead the way with science-backed standards that drive innovation in sustainable construction.

Architects, engineers, contractors, and regulators increasingly rely on ASTM’s trusted standards to meet new expectations for climate resilience, material transparency, and energy performance.

With more than 200 standards directly supporting green building practices and over 500 referenced across global certification programs and building codes, ASTM provides a comprehensive foundation for advancing the design, construction, and operation of high-performance buildings.

Through ASTM Compass®, users gain digital access to sustainability-related standards and continuous updates that ensure alignment with the latest best practices and evolving policy requirements.

Book a Meeting With ASTM International

Responding to Environmental and Regulatory Challenges

Green construction is shaped by rising material costs, stricter energy codes, and increased scrutiny of environmental claims.

Without consistent performance metrics, reliable testing methods, and recognized evaluation protocols, project teams risk inefficient designs, regulatory delays, and reputational harm. ASTM standards help stakeholders manage these challenges by establishing credible benchmarks for evaluating building materials, systems, and performance outcomes.

From vegetative roofing systems and pervious concrete to solar panel installation and thermal insulation, ASTM supports the entire building life cycle.

These standards guide material selection, promote lifecycle thinking, and provide credible data to meet requirements from programs such as LEED, the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), and emerging ESG frameworks.

Sustainable Roofing Systems and Green Roof Innovation

Green roofs are a highly visible component of sustainable construction, offering benefits such as stormwater management, urban heat reduction, and increased roof longevity.

ASTM supports green roof development through standards like E2399, which provides methods to evaluate green roof performance under field-simulated conditions, and E2400, which guides plant selection and irrigation strategies.

The broader suite of ASTM standards for green construction address structural performance, waterproofing compatibility, and installation best practices.

ASTM standard E2777 offers a comprehensive approach to green roof planning and implementation, aligning with sustainability principles defined in ASTM E2432.

Green Building Materials and Industrial Byproducts

The sustainable construction sector increasingly incorporates recycled and industrial byproduct materials to reduce environmental impact.

ASTM standards on Geotechnics of Sustainable Construction include D7760 for tire-derived aggregates and D7762 for self-cementing fly ash, both of which support sustainable fill and stabilization practices.

ASTM standards on plastic lumber advances performance criteria for recycled plastic composites used in decking, bridges, and boardwalks. Standards like D6662 (polyolefin-based plastic lumber) and D7032 (deck board specification) provide important references for code adoption.

ASTM Committee C09 also contributes with standard C618 on fly ash and C989 on slag cement—both integral to reducing embodied carbon in concrete.

Energy Efficiency, Insulation, and Airtightness

Reducing operational energy use is a core goal of sustainable building. ASTM Committee C16 supports this with C739, a specification for loose-fill cellulosic insulation made from recycled materials, and C1338, which tests fungal resistance.

ASTM D7793 standard supports insulated vinyl siding applications, enhancing thermal performance.

Additionally, ASTM also has a focus on building envelope performance with standards like E779 and E1827 for air leakage testing, and E1105 for assessing water resistance.

These airtightness and thermal standards are foundational to achieving energy code compliance, minimizing heat loss, and improving indoor comfort in both residential and commercial applications.

Solar Technologies and Renewable Integration

As solar adoption accelerates, ASTM standards from Committee E44 support safe and efficient system design and deployment.

ASTM E2766 provides best practices for installing photovoltaic arrays on steep-slope roofs, while E903 supports performance assessment of solar materials by measuring solar absorptance, reflectance, and transmittance.

These standards enable engineers and contractors to evaluate component quality, optimize energy yield, and meet incentive program requirements.

With the continued decrease in solar technology costs, ASTM E44 standards play a vital role in scaling renewable energy integration across the built environment.

Water Conservation and Stormwater Management

Water management is essential to sustainable construction, particularly in drought-prone and flood-sensitive regions. ASTM Subcommittee E60.07 provides guidance through standards like E2635 (water conservation in buildings) and E2728 (water stewardship planning).

ASTM water conservation standards help architects and municipalities implement efficient plumbing systems and site-level strategies.

For stormwater control, ASTM has pioneered standards for pervious concrete. C1688 measures the density and void structure of fresh pervious concrete, while C1701 assesses in-place infiltration rates.

ASTM Committee C27 supports these efforts with stormwater management standards for precast components, reducing surface runoff and complying with U.S. EPA guidelines.

Product Transparency and Environmental Product Declarations

Green building certifications increasingly require verified lifecycle data. ASTM is a Program Operator for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), developing Product Category Rules (PCRs) in accordance with ISO 14025.

These tools allow manufacturers to quantify and communicate the environmental impacts of products across their full lifecycle—from raw material extraction to disposal.

ASTM supports PCR and EPD development across numerous sectors, including concrete, asphalt roofing, gypsum, and windows. Verified EPDs provide architects, specifiers, and developers with the data they need to meet procurement requirements, earn LEED points, and satisfy ESG reporting frameworks.

High-Performance Buildings and Indoor Environmental Quality

ASTM Committee E06 plays a leading role in defining performance metrics for high-performance buildings.

Standards such as E2634 for insulating concrete forms and E1333 for emissions testing of wood products support net-zero energy goals, material transparency, and occupant safety.

Indoor air quality, another pillar of sustainable design, is addressed by D22.05 on Indoor Air.

D6245 offers guidance on using carbon dioxide monitoring to assess ventilation adequacy, while E50’s E2797 supports energy performance assessments in commercial real estate, including for ENERGY STAR and LEED documentation.