Eurofins Services - VOC emission chamber testing

Most people in Europe spend more than 90% of her time indoors. Many factors influence quality of indoor air, among those the emissions of volatile chemicals into indoor air by e.g. wall paints, floor coverings, adhesives, textiles and furniture.

In worst cases this may lead to bad odour, headache, and irritation of eyes, nose and skin. Good indoor air quality can contribute to well-being and the safe feeling of not being exposed to chemical hazards.

Composition of a product does not allow conclusions on emissions; chamber tests under realistic conditions are the method of choice.

VOC Emissions testing and product quality:

VOC emissions tests enable manufacturers to handle the increasing demand of healthy and sustainable products - a.o. this means that products have low or even positive impact on indoor air quality. Compliance with legal requirements and with voluntary quality and ecolabels allow to distinguish low emission products from normal products and to position these on the market accordingly. Examples are German AgBB specification, used for DIBt regulation of floor coverings, GUT and EMICODE, Blue Angel, Austrian ecolabel, and specifications on sustainable buildings, e.g. LEED.

Examples of labels with low VOC emission criteria:

Information

You can see more information on labels and specifications with low VOC emissions on our website "Ecolabels and quality labels".

For further information you may download these small PDF files:

• Eurofins product testing portfolio, Overview
• Product certification "Indoor Air Comfort" and VOC emissions chamber testing
• AgBB/DIBT specifications on floor coverings and other construction products
• EMICODE - a label for low VOC emission flooring adhesives, sealants and related products
• VOC in paints and varnishes (Decopaint Directive)
• Product testing for compliance with LEED certification of sustainable buildings
• Microchamber - for quick pretests of VOC emissions
• Sample collection and preparation of test specimens for VOC emission testing
• Quality of VOC emissions testing

Eurofins offers:

Eurofins offers emission testing in accordance with European, US American and international testing standards. Eurofins has been approved or is accepted for testing by numerous labels and regulations, see an overview here.

Besides chamber testing, Eurofins offers also simpler testing, in use mainly for pre-testing and for production control.

Some examples of tested parameters:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOC),
• Formaldehyde, diisocyanates and many more chemical compounds,
• Odour.

Some examples of tested products:

• Construction and interior finishing products
  (floor coverings, paints and varnishes, adhesives, plates, insulation material,
  sealants, ...)
• Furniture, mattresses
• Consumer products
• Air fresheners, cosmetics
• Industrial products

Further information:

Please see more detailed information on our special website: www.product-testing.eurofins.com, or contact us by email to:

ProductTesting-UK@eurofins.com

Your direct contacts:

Sales and consulting: Reinhard Oppl, email ReinhardOppl@eurofins.com

Certification: Dr. Roland Augustin, email ccs@eurofins.com