5. 1. 3. Limits for emissions from covering materials products for flooring installation and adhesives

Covering materials may emit various substances, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOC emissions become lower in the course of time. How long the emission period lasts depends on the character of the compound in question, the indoor conditions, especially the degree of ventilation, as well as the room temperature.
VOCs have numerous effects on human health and well-being, ranging from sensory impressions (smell, irritation) already at low concentrations, to toxic long-term effects, which usually occur only at higher concentrations. An important factor here is that part of the low-concentration effects are sensory impressions or other effects that cannot be (fully) examined in the context of animal testing. VOC mixtures may cause non-specific effects even at low concentrations, particularly irritations of the mucous membranes of the eyes and the nose, and the respiratory tract. In addition, exposure may result in non-specific symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, concentration problems, nausea, or elevated body temperature. If the use of emulsion-adhesive bonding is technically possible, this should be given preference over PU adhesives (particularly two-component systems). Solvent-free products shall always be given preference.

Covering materials must meet the following criteria:

 

Parameter	µg/m³ after 3 days	µg/m³ after 28 days
TVOCs	≤ 1000	≤ 100
TSVOCs		≤ 50
Total TVOCs + TSVOCs + TVVOCs		≤ 150
Formaldehyde	≤ 50
Acetaldehyde	≤ 50
Any volatile 1A/1B substance		≤ 1
Volatile 1A/1B substances total	≤ 10

 

Proof:

Test report, with test chamber procedure in accordance with EN ISO 16000-6,-9,-11.

Test specifications issued by the German Association for the Control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation, Adhesives and Building Materials (GEV).

Test certificates must not be more than 5 years old.

Products awarded the following label meet these criteria:

 

• EMICODE EC1, EMICODE EC1 PLUS or EMICODE EC1-R awarded by GEV.
• Indoor Air Comfort GOLD

 

In the case of powdery covering materials, this criterion is regarded as met.

Alternatively, the corresponding baubook declaration may serve as evidence (www.baubook.info/oea).

Test standards

• EN ISO 16000-6 – Indoor air – Part 6: Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and test chamber air by active sampling on Tenax TA® sorbent, thermal desorption and gas chromatography using MS/FID (ISO 16000-6: 2004);
• EN ISO 16000-9, Indoor air – Part 9: Determination of volatile organic compounds from building products and furnishing – Emission test chamber method;
• EN ISO 16000-11, Indoor air – Part 11: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from building products and furnishing – Sampling, storage of samples and preparation of test specimens.

 

GEV / Emicode

• German Association for the Control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation, Adhesives and Building Materials (GEV): www.emicode.com.
• Note: As of 1 September 2010, the EMICODE EC1 label has been available for very low emission products.