New LEED v5 MEP Multi-Attribute Credit Using EPDs
Anuja R
LEED v5 introduces MRpc185, a new pilot credit published on 21 January 2026 for Multi‑Attribute Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Products in BD+C New Construction. This credit formally brings MEP components into LEED’s multi‑attribute product framework. MRpc185 is an extension of MRc4: Building Product Selection and Procurement. MRc4 focused on building products such as structural materials, enclosure systems, finishes, and fixtures. Many MEP components, such as ductwork, piping, and wiring, were not documented because they did not fall within MRc4 or within MRpc181, even though they contribute to embodied impacts. Over time, the MEP 2040 organisation highlighted these gaps, prompting the creation of MRpc185 to recognise and document MEP systems within LEED.
Scope
The MRpc185 credit evaluates MEP products against five criteria adopted from MRc4 as detailed below. An MEP product is considered ‘multi‑attribute’ when it demonstrates at least two of these criteria. The product’s environmental performance is documented through third‑party verified EPDs, which provide detailed life‑cycle impact data and can support multiple criteria for a single product.
- Climate health (mandatory criterion for each product)
- Human health
- Ecosystem health
- Social health & equity, and
- Circular economy
Eligible MEP Products
MRpc185 credit is applicable for MEP components defined as devices, apparatus, appliances, or equipment that:
- Provide heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or other mechanical environmental control functions
- Support facility power generation, electrical service distribution, and general power and lighting systems
- Form part of fire suppression and electronic safety systems
- Include piping and conduit, such as for landscape irrigation and data communications
- Include plumbing components such as piping and pumps, but exclude plumbing fixtures
Products that are already categorised under MRc4 or MRpc181 are not eligible to contribute to MRpc185, ensuring there is no overlap with existing product categories. Within the broader MEP scope, MRpc185 identifies a set of ‘targeted’ products. These product types require EPD coverage and documentation and can be used to pursue the Option 2 credit.
Projects can earn up to 2 credits using both options reported below; project teams must specify products from at least three manufacturers, with no double-counting between Option 1 and Option 2.
Option 1 – General MEP Products (1 Point)
The project must specify and install at least 10 different MEP products. All 10 products must meet at least two criteria, including Climate Health. The examples below illustrate product-counting logic only. The MRpc185 scope requirements determine product eligibility.
- Ten units of the exact lighting fixture model count as one product, not ten, when assessing product counts.
- Ten different lighting fixture models, each with its own documentation, count as ten products, provided products from at least three manufacturers are represented overall.
- A combination of four lighting fixture models, three piping products, and three cable tray products together counts as ten distinct products.
- A single qualifying ductwork, cable tray, or piping system installed across multiple floors still counts as one product.
Option 2 – Targeted MEP Products (1 Point)
The project must specify and install at least 5 different targeted products. Each product must meet at least two criteria, including Climate Health. The targeted products are:
- Pumps
- Terminal units
- Air terminals
- Boilers
- Heat exchangers
- Air handling units
- Ductwork
- Wiring
- Conduit
- Generators
- Panel boards
- Switchboards
- Transformers
- Cable trays
- Piping systems
If a project uses only Option 2, it needs 5 different targeted products.
Option 1 & 2 (2 Points)
If it uses Option 1 + Option 2, it needs:
- 10 different general MEP products (Option 1), plus
- 5 different targeted MEP products (Option 2), for a total of 15 different products with no double-counting.
MRpc185 marks an essential step in formally recognising the environmental impacts of MEP systems within LEED v5’s multi-attribute product framework. By extending the principles of MRc4 to include MEP components, the credit enables project teams to document embodied impacts that were previously difficult to account for. Third-party verified EPDs play a central role in demonstrating compliance across multiple criteria. At the same time, the two-option structure provides flexibility in how projects approach product selection and documentation. When applied carefully, MRpc185 allows teams to strengthen material transparency, support informed procurement decisions, and contribute meaningfully to overall LEED certification outcomes.