Environmental and health related criteria for buildings - ANEC

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IBO - Environmental and Health related Criteria for Buildings European regulations regarding emissions from building materials to indoor air Emissions of hazardous substances to indoor air Building products are important indoor sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) which belong to the most common indoor air pollutants. VOC are an extremely heterogeneous and multifaceted group of substances and a standard definition is still missing. The definition in use is always linked to the applied sampling method. The most usual VOC definition in Europe (in the context of solvents) is the VOC definition of the Solvent Emissions Directive (EC Directive 1999/13/EC). According to this directive VOCs are functionally defined as organic compounds having at 293.15 K (i.e. 20 °C) a vapour pressure of 0.01 kPa or more, or having a corresponding volatility under particular conditions of use. For hydrocarbon solvents, a vapour pressure of 0.01 kPa at 20 ºC grossly corresponds to a boiling point in the range 215–220 ºC. The EU "Paint Directive" 2004/42/EC and the European Eco-Labelling scheme (2002/739/EC amending 1999/10/EC) for paints and varnishes define a VOC as an organic compound having an initial boiling point lower than or equal to 250 ºC at an atmospheric pressure of 101.3 kPa. (ESIG) VOC in a broader sense has been defined by a working group of the World Health Organisation (WHO): • Very volatile organic compounds (VVOC): boiling point from 0 °C to 50–100 °C • Volatile organic compounds (VOC): retention range from C6 to C16 (boiling point from 50–100 °C to 240–260 °C). • Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC): retention range from C16 to C22 (boiling point from 240–260 °C to 380–400 C) • Organic compounds associated with particulate matter or particulate organic matter (POM, e.g. PAH): boiling point > 380 °C Experience shows that with increasing Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) concentration the likelihood of complaints and adverse health effects also increases. So TVOC can be and is widely used as a measure for indoor air quality. Nevertheless a common approach for TVOC definition along with an upper limit for TVOC is still missing. Additionally, there is a consensus that TVOC should not be used alone as an indicator. VOC emissions from building products can be measured in test chambers. Harmonised European standards are still not available but elaborated by CEN TC 351. In the meantime ISO 16000-series standards – with variations – are mostly used for measurement. Important parameters that have an influence on the result are temperature, air exchange rate, relative humidity, air velocity in the test chamber, the amount or surface area of the material in the chamber and the method of sample preparation. European regulation While much progress has been made in Europe in tackling outdoor air pollutants with Community legislation, the European Community recognised only in recent years the importance of indoor air pollutants. „Action 12“ of EU Action Plan on Environment and Health (COM (2004) 416 final) intends to develop work on improving indoor air quality (SCHER, 2007). Final Report 132 31 03 2011
IBO - Environmental and Health related Criteria for Buildings Nevertheless, restrictions for emissions from construction products are sparse till now. It is primarily voluntary labelling systems for material emissions that are available in different EU countries. Only Germany has adopted an assessment scheme for flame retardant floor coverings and glues for indoor use (AgBB) which is part of the technical approval requirements since October 2004. In France a mandatory labelling of emissions of building materials based on the “Grenelle de l’environnement” is in preparation. In some member states directives concerning the emission of formaldehyde exist. The formaldehyde release from wood-based-panels can be determined in test chambers. The product can be classified as E1 if the equilibrium concentration of formaldehyde in the air of a test chamber is ≤ 0.1 ml/m³ (≤ 0.12 mg/m³). In the following countries the class E1 105 is required for specified wood-based-panels in order to use the CE mark, place the product on the market and / or use it: - Austria - Germany - Denmark - Sweden CEN TC 351 Despite the common market there is no harmonised system for material emission rating available in Europe. Consequently the European Commission has developed a mandate (M/366) to CEN for the implementation of the essential requirement No 3 "Hygiene, health and the environment" of the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) 106 As a response to the mandate, CEN established the Technical Committee CEN/TC 351 "Construction product: Assessment of the release of dangerous substances”. This CEN/TC will adopt harmonised test methods to determine the emission of dangerous substances from construction products in support of requirements for health safety and environment. These methods will then be incorporated in the technical specifications for the standardisation and authorisation of construction products taking into account the intended conditions of use of the product (AGBB 2005). The draft Standard “Determination of emissions to indoor air” comprises: - Sampling at the production site - Creating a test specimen - Analysing the chamber air on VOC - Reporting the concentration of emitted VOC and SVOC In contrast to diverse statements and expectations, CEN TC 351 will not give any requirements on dangerous substances used in or emitted from building materials. All it aims for is to develop harmonised testing methods which will be implemented in the product specific standards. These standards won’t include any requirements or benchmarks. Additionally, CEN TC 351 deals only with regulated substances, which means that dangerous substances which are not regulated in any member state won’t be considered. 105 determination and parameters not exactly defined in the same way yet 106 and the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) respectively Final Report 133 31 03 2011
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