For our Environment
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
VOC Seminar 2015
Outi Ilvonen
Section III 1.4 / Substance-related Product Issues
Contents
1 EMISSION EVALUATION ACCORDING TO AGBB PROCEDURE 2015
1.1 current criteria
1.2 harmonised fundamentals
2 EUROPEAN APPROACH
2.1 declaration models
2.2 comparison of national approaches
3 COMMUNICATION ABOUT VOC
3.1 available instruments
3.2 missing puzzle pieces
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products 2
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
1. evaluation
after 3 daysTo be checked:
Carcinogens3 EU cat. 1A und 1B < 0.01 mg/m³ ?
TVOC28 < 1.0 mg/m³?
Carcinogens28 EU cat. 1A und 1B < 0.001 mg/m³ ?
2. evaluation
after 28 days
TVOC3 < 10 mg/m³?
SVOC28 < 0.1 mg/m³?
Reject
Reject
Reject
Reject
Reject
Flow chart for the evaluation of VVOC, VOC and SVOC
emissions from building products
Committee for Health-
related Evaluation of
Building Products
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products 3
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products 4
N-hexane
N-hexadecane
Benzene,
CARC 1A
Urethane,
CARC 1B
VVOC: very volatile organic compound;
volatile organic compound eluting before n-hexane on the gas
chromatographic column
VOC: volatile organic compound;
organic compound eluting between and including n-hexane and n-
hexadecane on the gas chromatographic column
SVOC: semi-volatile organic compound;
organic compounds which elute after n-hexadecane
on the gas chromatographic column
Carcinogens of EU cat. 1A und 1B: volatile carcinogens classified in
categories CARC 1A und CARC 1B (under Regulation (EC) No.
1272/2008)
TVOC: sum of the concentrations of the identified and
unidentified volatile organic compounds
Terms for the health-based evaluation of VVOC, VOC and
SVOC emissions from building products
yes
To be checked:2. Evaluation after
28 days (second
part)
no
no
yes
Assessable compounds:
all VVOC, VOC, SVOC with LCI
(including carcinogens with LCI)
R = Ci/LCIi < 1?
Non-assessable compounds:
sum of VOC without LCI
VOC28 < 0.1 mg/m³?
Product is suitable
for indoor use
Reject
Reject
Sensory testing (pilot phase)
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products 5
New in AgBB procedure
2015: LCI for
formaldehyde = 100
µg/m3
─ CARC 1B from
1.1.2016
How do product emissions reflect to concentrations in indoor air?
CONVENTION: STANDARDIZED REFERENCE ROOM
1. Requirements = concentrations in reference room =
building level
2. The AgBB procedure refers to the harmonized reference
room of CEN/TS 16516
3. All test results ─ irrespective of chamber volume ─
reported as reference room concentrations
4. Direct link between product testing and
requirements on the building level:
Test chamber as a tool to
assess and verify product
performance;
Declaration of results for
the reference room
6
4 m
Reference room
Air volume: 30 m³
Surfaces:
Floor: 12 m²
Ceiling: 12 m²
Walls: 31.4 m²
1 door – 1.6 m²
1 window – 2 m² 3 m
2,5 m
Test chamber
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products
Assessable compounds ─ compounds with LCI values
LOWEST CONCENTRATION OF INTEREST
LCI values:
• Instruments for the health-based evaluation of individual
substances in the context of VOC emissions from products
•Update approx. In two year intervals
• Issued only as part of the complete AgBB procedure
• For substances not listed yet ─ application for the
derivation of an LCI value with available data to AgBB
possible
•AgBB 2015: includes 184 LCI values
https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/health/commissi
ons-working-groups/committee-for-health-related-
evaluation-of-building
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Examples for LCI values
n-heptane: 21 000 μg/m³→uncritical substance with a high LCI value
2-ethoxyethanol: 8 μg/m³→Objectionable substance with a very low LCI value
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
Harmonization of LCI values → EU-LCI
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products 8
Substance groups EU-LCI + NIK
AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS 12 19
ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS 3 5
TERPENES 5 -
ALIPHATIC ALCOHOLS 7 8
AROMATIC ALCOHOLS 2 1
GLYCOLS / GLYCOLETHERS 17 29
ALDEHYDES 9 12
KETONES 6 4
ACIDS 2 8
ESTERS 15 11
CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS 1 -
OTHER COMPOUNDS 5 12
∑ 84 109
Still to harmonize
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
VOC classes ─ possible future tool for communication via CE marking
CURRENT PROPOSAL
• Five classes for VOC (A – E)
TVOC
French criteria
German + belgian criteria
• F für formaldehyde
f1 to f4 (or to f6)
• Compatible with German
requirements:
VOC class A
So far: f3 or better for
formaldehyde
From 2016: separate f
classification not necessary as
formaldehyde already included
in the VOC class A via the R
value
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Source: Dr. Edmund Vankann, Harmonized EU VOC Classes, May 2015
Publication of the final negotiation results expected
for instance in the following format:
DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) No xxxx/2016 of
THE COMMISSION
of xx.yy.2016
on the classification of products covered by
Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European
Parliament and of the Council and intended for use in
building interiors as regards their VVOC; VOC and
SVOC emissions
(Text with EEA relevance)
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
Quellen: http://rundum-natur.de/images/leinos/ue-emissionsgeprueft-240-245_kl.jpg; http://www.developpement-
durable.gouv.fr/IMG/jpg/site_MEDDTL_etiquetage_produits_construction.jpg
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Belgium Germany France
Products Floor and wall
coverings
Selected products All building
products for
interiors
Criteria Similar to AgBB Health-based
criteria
Four classes, no
minimum standard
Marking so far So far none, in the
future with CE
Ü mark* with
reference to
emission test
A+; A, B or C
Level of obligation Compliance
prerequisite for
marketing
Compliance
prerequisite for
use
Marking
prerequisite for
marketing
Pros Easy
implementation
High level of
protection
No gaps
Cons invisibility Limited scope Weak criteria
WHEN IS COMMUNICATION ON VOC EMISSIONS IN CE MARKING PURSUED?
Different answers depending on EU member state
/ Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products
* until 15.10.2016 (for products covered by CE)
Quelle: https://www.rakennustieto.fi/material/images/5ewvNaG3D/5oxBGgrpW/M1englanti139x139.gif
Parameter VOC declaration proposal for EPD
R value Declared value with two significant
figures (e.g. 0.2 or 1.6)
TVOC Declared value in mg/m3 with two
significant figures
(e.g. 0.2 mg/m3 or 1.6 mg/m3)
∑VOC LCI* Declared value in µg/m3 with one
significant figure
(e.g. 100 µg/m3 or 900 µg/m3)
∑VOC without LCI Declared value in µg/m3 with one
significant figure
(e.g. 40 µg/m3 or 300 µg/m3)
TSVOC Declared value in µg/m3 with one
significant figure
(e.g. 40 µg/m3 or 300 µg/m3)
Carcinogens Declared value in µg/m3 with one
significant figure (e.g. 1 µg/m3 or 5
µg/m3) or not detectable
Voluntary communication: different approaches
BLUE ANGEL AND OTHER
ECOLABELS
• Stricter criteria possible
• Not available for all relevant
product groups
EPD
• Mere declaration, no evaluation
• So far VOC emissions often not
included
COMPREHENSIVE LABELS
• e.g. M1 in Finland
• Available for all product groups
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WHEN THERE IS NO CE MARK OR IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH INFORMATION
/ Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products
* EU-LCI as soon as available, until then indication of the used LCI list necessary
Further reading for those interested in the original sources
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BEFI
LT DK
FRPL
Arrêté royal établissant les niveaux
seuils pour les émissions dans
l'environnement intérieur de produits de
construction
Décret n° 2011-321 du 23 mars 2011
relatif à l'étiquetage des produits de
construction ou de revêtement de mur
ou de sol et des peintures et vernis sur
leurs émissions de polluants volatils
Lithuanian Hygiene Norm HN 105:2014
"Polymer construction products and
polymer furniture materials"
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
communikation for
construction products
regulated by law
Interface manufacturer / user
Manufacturer
13
COMMUNIKATION VS. INFORMATION GAP
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products
User
Product X Product Y Product Z
Compliance with
legally required
minimum standards
communication for
selected
construction
products
Information beyond legal
standards
Information gap
European Technical Assessment (ETA) as a new communication option
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Specific features:
Tight deadlines:Publication in the Official Journal < 8 months after application
Scope: only the charcteristics the manufacturer requests
This option has not been used yet.
Always voluntary
Request of a manufacturer for the issuing of an ETA
Product performance ─ here VOC emissions ─ not covered by hEN
Technical file of the manufacturer
Development of a European Assessment Document (EAD)
Drafting and issuing of an ETA
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
When can we expect Declarations of Performance with information on
VOC?
Mandate amendments:
until 2013 issued for 10
product groups
Test methods of CEN/TC 351:
from 2013 as CEN/TS and
from 2016 / 2017 as EN
Declaration of Performance / CE marking
with information on VOC
In standards (hEN)
from 2014 possible;
until 2018 mandatory.
In ETAs
from 2014 possible.
15
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products
COMMUNICATION AS CHANCE AND OBLIGATION
15
Conclusion ─ Harmonization: good provisional results, more work necessary to reach the final goals
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• Harmonized test
method CEN/TS
16516
• Harmonized reference
room
• Test report covers all
obligatory and
voluntary
requirements
• Harmonization of reference values, EU-LCI
• Necessary as basis for future requirements and
for transparency in the common market
• Notified bodies /
test labs recognized
according to EU
rules
• Co-operation of test
labs in the Group of
Notified Bodies
AgBB, VOC classes, formaldehyde ... Different national approaches to evaluate emissions into indoor air
28.10.2015 / Very Latest News on VOC emissions and (S)VOC Content of Construction and Decorative Products 17
Thank you for your attention!
For further questions:
Outi ILVONEN
+49 – (0)340 / 2103 3538
https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/economics-consumption/products/building-products
www.uba.de/http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/umwelt-gesundheitsvertraegliche-bauprodukte
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