The "Committee for the Health Assessment of Building Products" (AgBB), in which the state health authorities, the Federal Environment Agency, the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt), the Conference of Building Ministers (ARGEBAU) and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) are represented, among others, sets out in its regularly updated AgBB assessment scheme In accordance with the applicable standard parts of DIN EN ISO 16000, the procedure for the health assessment of emissions of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from construction products, some of which are considered hazardous to health, including carcinogenic pollutants. A distinction is made between volatile organic compounds (TVOC - Total Volatile Organic Compounds) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC).
The AgBB scheme specifies VOC tests on the 3rd and 28th day after the product has been removed from its airtight packaging in the test laboratory. In summary, a product must currently (as of 02/2015) meet the following criteria in order to be suitable as a construction product for indoor use from a health point of view:
Measurement/testing after 3 days:
Measurement/testing after 28 days:
The scheme specifies the minimum requirements for the authorisation of a construction product that is harmless to health. Manufacturers can also declare better performance parameters (VOC emissions) of their products, e.g. with the help of quality seals such as the ECA 2012.
Source: bauwion
