2. 2. 3. Ban of substances with greenhouse effects (especially in XPS, PUR/PIR)

In the past, substances of the (H)CFC group were used as expanding agents in foam insulation materials made from XPS and PUR/PIR. After (H)CFC was prohibited under the Montreal Protocol (due to its damaging effects on the stratospheric ozone layer), manufacturers tended to use to HFCs, which are chemically similar, and, even though they do not damage the ozone layer, like (H)CFCs, are highly potent greenhouse gases (with GWP100 levels around 10³).

  

Even though the Austrian Regulation on HFC, FC and SF6 (Federal Collection of Statutes BGBl II 447/2002 as amended) prohibits the production and marketing of the majority of rigid foams with HFCs, a few exceptions apply:

• For boards thicker than 8 cm, certain types of HFC (i.e. with GWP100 < 300) continue to be admissible.
• In the context of indirect federal administration, the provincial governors may grant additional exceptions (of nationwide validity). In the past, such exceptions have been granted repeatedly.

 

HFKW-Verordnung 2002. Bundesgesetzblatt für die Republik Österreich Nr. II 447/2002 über Verbote und Beschränkungen teilfluorierter und vollfluorierter Kohlenwasserstoffe sowie von Schwefelhexafluorid. Vienna, 10 December 2002.

 

Products that consist entirely or partially of plastics foamed with HFCs or of materials containing recycled (H)PFCs or (H)CFCs are not permitted.

 

The following product groups are affected:

• XPS insulation boards (in particular over 8 cm thick)
• PUR/PIR insulation materials (especially made from recycled PUR/PIR)
• Phenolic resin, melamine resin, Resol rigid foam boards
• PU installation foams, PU cleaners, marking sprays and similar products in pressurized gas packagin

 

The exclusion applies to all fully or partially halogenated organic compounds with a GWP > 1.

 

Products made from recycled materials potentially containing (H)HFCs or (H)CFCs (e.g. PUR) are only permitted if it can be demonstrated that
that all (H)PFCs or (H)CFCs escaping from the raw materials in the course of reprocessing have been eliminated by suitable technologies
completely destroyed during the production process.

 

Verification:

Confirmation from the manufacturer or, if applicable, the raw material supplier

Products that have been awarded one of the following eco-labels fulfill these requirements:

• Austrian Ecolabel (Guideline UZ 43)

Proof can also be provided by appropriate labeling in baubook (www.baubook.info/oea).

20250509 AK: Text for criteria catalogue 2020 restored; from April 17, 2025, to May 9, 2025, the following sentence was mistakenly deleted:

• The exclusion applies to all fully or partially halogenated organic compounds with a GWP > 1.

This change is only planned for the 2025 criteria catalogue, which is currently being drafted.