5. 1. 2. Limit for formaldehyde emissions from wood-based products

Formaldehyde is one of the best known pollutants. It irritates the mucous membranes and may lead to discomfort, nausea, breathing difficulties and headaches. In the OEL list of maximum occupational exposure limit values, formaldehyde is classified as carcinogenic for human beings.

Wood-based products may only be put into circulation if the resulting steady-state formaldehyde concentration in the air of a test chamber, under defined conditions, is less than 0.1 ppm after 28 days of exposure (Class E1 products). However, if large surfaces are covered, paralleled by high relative humidity and low air exchange rates, even E1 products may in fact lead to concentrations higher than 0.1 ppm in rooms. As the odour detection threshold is between 0.05 ppm and 0.1 ppm, and neurophysiological effects such as headaches, vision problems or vertigo may already be felt at concentrations of 0.05 ppm, consumer organisations and eco-labelling programmes recommend limit values of 0.05 ppm or less.

Wood and wood-based materials that are installed on the room side of the airtight layer of the building must meet the following emission behavior requirements:

 

Parameter	Max. test chamber concentration after 28 days
Formaldehyde	0,05 ppm

 

In the case of unbonded, untreated solid-wood products (e.g. diagonal cladding) and inorganically bonded wood-based products, this criterion is regarded as met, without further evidence required.

 
Proof:
Test report of an accredited testing laboratory with test chamber procedure in accordance with the following standards:

• ÖNORM EN ISO 16000 -3,-6,-9,-11 with test specifications according to AgBB-Scheme 2018, with a space loading of ≥ 0.5 m²/m³ for wood and wood-based panels, or a space loading of ≥ 0.4 m²/m³ for flooring materials from wood or wood-based products, respectively.
• ÖNORM EN 717-1 or.  "Formaldehydverordnung" with point 1 of the respective implementing decree.
• ÖNORM EN 16516 Construction products: Assessment of the release of dangerous substances - Determination of emissions into indoor air

• Principles for the health assessment of construction products used in interiors of the German Institute for Building Technology (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik DIBt), based on the standard DIN (or ÖNORM) EN ISO 16000-9.

 

The test report must not be more than 5 years old.

 

For homogeneous panels, a test report for a thicker panel can be provided if the production conditions are otherwise the same. For non-homogenous panels (pressed panels such as OSB, MDF, HDF, porous fibreboard etc.), instead of a test report for the tendered panel thickness, a test report on a thinner and a thicker panel may be provided, if it is guaranteed that otherwise same production conditions prevail.

 

 

All products awarded one of the following eco labels meet these criteria:

• natureplus quality label
• Österreichisches Umweltzeichen (Austrian eco label, guideline UZ 07 on wood and wood-based products)
• Blauer Engel / Blue Angel for panel-shaped wood-based materials (Guideline DE-UZ 76 Low-Emission Panel-Shaped Materials (Construction and Furnishing Panels) for Interior Construction)
• Blauer Engel / Blue Angel for panels and floorings made of wood and wood-based materials (Guideline DE-UZ 176 Low-Emission Floor Coverings, Panels and Doors for Interiors made of Wood and Wood-Based Materials)

 

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

New phrasing "installed on the room side of the airtight layer of the building"

 

Date of criteria revise: 06/21/2022

Criteria revise valid from: 06/21/2022

Type of change: Minor - editorial

__________________________________________________

 

The following editorial changes were made:

• ÖNORM EN 16516 instead of CEN / TS 16516
• "The test report ..." instead of "The test certificate ..."

 

Date of criteria revise: 08/19/2021

Criteria revise valid from: 08/19/2021

Type of change: Minor - editorial