5. 4. 1. Limits for odour emissions from flooring

Odour emissions may considerably affect one's well-being. They may lead to symptoms such as headaches, sleeping disorders, nausea, loss of appetite, concentration problems and dizziness. According to the WHO definition, in the case of impaired well-being due to odours, negative effects on health may be assumed.

Low-odour textile and flexible flooring must be used.

Proof:

Odour grade < 4; test report in accordance with 

• test specifications defined by the Austrian ÖTI Institute for Ecology, Technology and Innovation: maximum odour intensity grade 3 (no odour unrelated to the product), or
• test report in accordance with the natureplus test specifications: maximum odour grade 3, or
• test report in accordance with the GuT test specifications: maximum odour grade 3.

 

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

Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure practical conditions prevail that correspond to those under which the tests have been performed (e.g. a sufficient period of storage between production and installation in the building).

Flooring awarded one of the following eco labels meets these criteria:

• Österreichisches Umweltzeichen (Austrian eco label guideline UZ 35 on textile floor coverings and UZ 42 on flexible floor coverings)
• natureplus quality label (Award Guideline RL1200: Flexible floor coverings).
• natureplus quality label (Award Guideline RL1400: Textile floor coverings)
• Blauer Engel/Blue Angel (RAL-UZ 128 label on low-emission textile flooring)
• GuT label.

 

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

Odour testing in accordance with GUT (German Association of Environmentally Friendly Carpets)

http: //www.pro-dis.info/smell.html?&L=1

 

A round sample of approx. 144 cm² is stored in an air-tight, closed desiccator (volume: approx. 2 l) at 37 °C and a relative humidity of 50% for at least 15 hours. For setting the relative humidity, a saturated magnesium nitrate solution is used (approx. 100 ml).

Under these conditions, at least 5 (preferably 7) test persons assess the intensity of the odour they perceive, by briefly opening the desiccator. The intensity of the odour is assessed on the basis of a grading scale ranging from 1 (no odour) to 5 (very strong odour). After one test person has completed their assessment, the desiccator is closed again, and the sample remains there under the above conditions for at least another 30 minutes.

The sample has passed the test if the mean of the grades assigned is 3 or less.

 

Odour testing in accordance with natureplus

http: //www.natureplus.org

 

Product tested	Building products, materials for interior furnishing
Test container	Desiccator, capacity approx. 2–3 litres
Temperature (1)	23 °C
Relative humidity	50% (100 ml of saturated magnesium nitrate solution used for setting)

 

 

Sample preparation (specimen production)

Sample size	Load desiccator in accordance with test chamber requirements (see applicable test specifications). Note: In the case of materials that are not intended for test chamber emission testing, individual sample sizes have to be defined.
Effective sample surface	Depending on test chamber loading
Sample carrier	Glass plate, china cup, desiccator insert
Loading of desiccator	Immediately after producing the test specimen

 

Sampling

Sampling time(2)	24 h after loading desiccator
Number of test persons	4 or more; in the case of differences of ≥ 2 grades:   5 or more
Desiccator operation	Open desiccator stopper for odour testing, close again after testing, keep desiccator closed for at least 5 minutes between individual odour tests.

 

Assessment

Odour intensity	1  = unnoticeable 2 = noticeable, unobtrusive 3 = distinctly noticeable, but not yet obtrusive 4 = obtrusive 5 = very obtrusive 6 = unbearable Note: Half-grades may be assigned.
Geruchsart	Describe
Endnote	Mean of grades assigned by the individual test persons.

 

(1) Other temperatures are admissible if justified.

(2) Other sampling times may be defined.

 

Odour testing in accordance with ÖTI

Sensory determination of intensity and nature of odours of construction products and indoor air samples, with containers in accordance with ONR 195702, Section 7.4, assessment based on Table 3 on odour intensity.

 

Note	Descripition of intensity
0	No odour
1,00	Very weak odour
1,25
1,50
1,75
2,00	Weak odour
2,25
2,50
2,75
3,00	Medium-strong odour
3,25
3,50
3,75
4,00	Strong odour
4,25
4,50
4,75
5,00	Very strong odour

 

 

ONR 195702: Sensory determination of intensity and nature of odours of construction products and indoor air samples – Requirements for laboratory tests.