Emission testing
for volatile organic compounds in textile floorcoverings.
Due to improved building insulation, there is now less exchange between used indoor air and fresh outdoor air. This means that pollutant levels in indoor air would rise if emissions were not limited from the outset. The testing of emissions in textile floorcoverings is part of the extensive product testing carried out by GUT. Find out more details on this topic here.
Textile floorcoverings should have low emissions
Indoor air can be polluted by a complex mixture of fibers, particles, radon (from natural sources), microbiological substances, allergens, tobacco smoke and other combustion products. In addition, indoor air contains formaldehyde and VOCs such as acetone, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, n-hexane, and other solvents that can be emitted by building materials such as paints, adhesives or furniture, as well as design or fashion items. The user themselves (including their activities) is another source of emissions that should not be neglected. The use of cleaning and personal care products (hairspray, body or room deodorants) as well as everyday activities such as cooking contribute to indoor air pollution.
As a result of improved building insulation, the exchange between used indoor air and fresh outdoor air has decreased considerably nowadays. Consequently, the concentration of pollutants indoors can also rise unintentionally. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to use only emission-controlled building materials that have low emissions from the outset. This can make a significant contribution to a healthy living environment.
Floorcoverings are of particular importance in this regard, especially when they have been freshly installed, as they usually occupy the largest single surface area of a room.
Not only the floorcovering itself, but also the installation materials used for laying (adhesives, fixings and leveling compounds) should therefore be “very low emission” as a matter of principle.
GUT-tested carpets have low emissions
GUT limit values for VOC emissions
VOC limit values after 3 and 28 days
How is the emission behavior of building products tested?
The test chamber method
A method that has been established for years and is now standardized for determining emissions from building products is the test chamber method. Details of the procedure can be found in standard EN 16516. This standard is based on a series of predecessor standards, such as the ISO 16000 series.
The evaluation of VOC emissions is carried out as part of GUT product testing based on the AgBB scheme, which was developed by the Committee for Health Evaluation of Building Products and is in turn based on the European research report of the working group “Indoor Air Quality and its Impact on Man – Evaluation of VOC Emissions from Building Products, Solid Flooring Materials”. To evaluate VOC emissions, the GUT system uses harmonized European LCI values (lowest concentration of interest for individual substances). If such values are not available, the corresponding NIK values from AgBB are used where available. The LCI values were developed based on careful risk assessment and taking into account the special requirements for elderly people, sick people and small children.
Details of this concept can be found on the relevant pages of the Federal Environment Agency website.
Stainless steel chamber for determining VOC emissions
