2. 6. 2. Limit for free formaldehyde

Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers, which slowly liberate formaldehyde, are used as preservatives in emulsion-based paints and adhesives. Formaldehyde is a strong allergen and has been classified as carcinogenic by the WHO.

The maximum content of free formaldehyde in coatings and plastering paste is 10 ppm (0.001% by weight). Formaldehyde releasers may only be added in quantities that do not result in an overall free formaldehyde content over 10 ppm.

N-formals (e.g. hexahydrotriazine) and O-formals (e.g. (benzyloxy)methanol) are admissible provided that the product's maximum content of free formaldehyde is 0.01% by weight (100 ppm).

Supporting documents:
Safety data sheet in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 as amended by Regulation (EU) No 453/2010, or manufacturer's confirmation.

In the case of powder plastering and spackle, this criterion is regarded as met.

 

All products bearing one of the following organic labels meet these criteria:

• natureplus quality label (Award Guidelines RL0600ff on wall paints, and RL0700ff on surface coatings from renewable raw materials)
• Österreichisches Umweltzeichen eco label (Guideline UZ 01 on glazes, varnishes and wood sealing, and Guideline UZ 17 on wall paints)
• Blauer Engel/Blue Angel (Environmental Labels RAL-UZ 102: Low-emission wall paints, and RAL 123a: Low-pollutant varnishes).

Alternatively, the corresponding baubook declaration may serve as evidence (www.baubook.info/oea).

VdL 03 /1997

German guideline determining the formaldehyde concentration in water-thinnable emulsion paints and related products: Richtlinie zur Bestimmung der Formaldehydkonzentration in wasserverdünnbaren Dispersionsfarben und verwandten Produkten, issued in May 1997: http: //www.lackindustrie.de