On 4th of July 2012, the German Federal Environment Agency published the updated AgBB scheme - a relevant guideline for tests and health-related evaluation of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC and SVOC) off construction products. New, however, is the inscription of the pilot phase of odour tests according to ISO 16000-28 respectively VDI 4302 with benchmarks after 28 days. The limit values and the process of emissions testing according to the standard series ISO 16000 remain unchanged as compared to the previous version.
Additionally to the AgBB scheme the new LCI list 2012 has been released. Relevant changes are, for example, the lowering of the LCI (lowest concentration of interest) values of naphthalene, 2-ethylhexanol, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, octanol and further saturated n- and iso alcohols. The LCI values of triethyl phosphate and acetic acid have been raised.
"The LCI value of acetic acid has been raised from 500 µg/m3 to 1250 µg/m3. So, for the example, the parquet industry can be thrilled about this, since in the context of the national technical approvals (abZ) for parquet flooring (granted by the DIBt ) the former low LCI values of acetic acid off oak wood products frequently posed a problem due to the natural wooden substance acetic acid: the lower a LCI value is the more rigid it is evaluated within the AgBB scheme." so Daniel Dipl. Holzwirt Tigges explains, marketing manager of UL ECO-INSTITUT in Cologne, an approved testing laboratory for emissions and odour testing according to AgBB.
New additions to the LCI list are tetrahydrofuran (THF) (1500 µg/m³) and dimethylformamide (15 µg/m³), 3-Methoxy-1-butanol (500 µg/m³), 1,2-propanediol-n-propyl ether (1400 µg/m³), 1,2-propanediol-n-butyl ether (1600 µg/m³), diethylene glycol -phenyl ether (1450 µg/m³) and neopentyl glycol (1000 µg/m³).
Since the odour off construction products might result in inconveniences and health detriment the aim of the two year pilot phase is to examine diverse construction products and to road-test the applicability of the suggested method. Further two round robin tests are performed. The odour tests are to take place in cooperation with interested circles of industrial associations, manufacturers and testing laboratories. The UL ECO-INSTITUT contributed to the development of these testing standards.
"During odour testing of products the intensity and hedonic tone are to be evaluated by a trained panel of 8 persons. At this, the intensity is compared to different acetic standards and then evaluated", so Daniel Tigges further says. "The method of odour tests is quite complex but, during the last performed interlaboratory comparisons, has been very easily reproducible."
Further information you find at: www.eco-institut.de
Additionally to the AgBB scheme the new LCI list 2012 has been released. Relevant changes are, for example, the lowering of the LCI (lowest concentration of interest) values of naphthalene, 2-ethylhexanol, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, octanol and further saturated n- and iso alcohols. The LCI values of triethyl phosphate and acetic acid have been raised.
"The LCI value of acetic acid has been raised from 500 µg/m3 to 1250 µg/m3. So, for the example, the parquet industry can be thrilled about this, since in the context of the national technical approvals (abZ) for parquet flooring (granted by the DIBt ) the former low LCI values of acetic acid off oak wood products frequently posed a problem due to the natural wooden substance acetic acid: the lower a LCI value is the more rigid it is evaluated within the AgBB scheme." so Daniel Dipl. Holzwirt Tigges explains, marketing manager of UL ECO-INSTITUT in Cologne, an approved testing laboratory for emissions and odour testing according to AgBB.
New additions to the LCI list are tetrahydrofuran (THF) (1500 µg/m³) and dimethylformamide (15 µg/m³), 3-Methoxy-1-butanol (500 µg/m³), 1,2-propanediol-n-propyl ether (1400 µg/m³), 1,2-propanediol-n-butyl ether (1600 µg/m³), diethylene glycol -phenyl ether (1450 µg/m³) and neopentyl glycol (1000 µg/m³).
Since the odour off construction products might result in inconveniences and health detriment the aim of the two year pilot phase is to examine diverse construction products and to road-test the applicability of the suggested method. Further two round robin tests are performed. The odour tests are to take place in cooperation with interested circles of industrial associations, manufacturers and testing laboratories. The UL ECO-INSTITUT contributed to the development of these testing standards.
"During odour testing of products the intensity and hedonic tone are to be evaluated by a trained panel of 8 persons. At this, the intensity is compared to different acetic standards and then evaluated", so Daniel Tigges further says. "The method of odour tests is quite complex but, during the last performed interlaboratory comparisons, has been very easily reproducible."
Further information you find at: www.eco-institut.de
