Literature review on the performance of diffusive samplers for the measurement of ammonia in ambient air and emissions to air

The information in this document has formed the basis from which a new standard on measurements employing ammonia diffusive samplers by CEN TC264 WG11 'Ambient air - Diffusive samplers' is being developed and provides an open reference document for the ammonia passive sampling techniques

Implementation of health aspects (ER N°3) in the Construction Products; Directive (CPD) regarding emissions to indoor air

Standardisation work on test methods for dangerous substances released in the indoor air by construction products is currently ongoing at European level. The paper presents a study conducted in Belgium, which compares methods in three different test chambers and aiming at assessing the performance of the products placed on the market

Product policy in the context of the indoor environmental quality

A. Context One of the objectives of the European Construction Products Directive (CPD) is to harmonize the technical specifications with regard to dangerous substances and construction materials. Construction products could emit or contain dangerous substances that have been defined as dangerous substances under Commission directives and national regulations. In the future construction products may only be placed on the market in the European Union if they accord with the (second generation) harmonized technical specifications including health aspects and bear the CE mark. B. Objectives The goal of this research project is to improve the flow of knowledge and information vis-à-vis normalisation activities in the domain of indoor air measurements, indoor product emission testing, labeling and certification by proposing an evaluation method and standardized assessment methods for a harmonized approach relating to emissions from building materials into indoor air for implementation in Belgium. This approach will comply with current European harmonizing efforts ongoing on European level. C. Conclusions International tendencies as well as national developments indicate the growing importance of building material emission testing Harmonisation of governmental schemes to assess volatile organic emissions in the context of the CPD is necessary to obtain transparency The topic of different limit values in different countries is a difficult problem to solve It was demonstrated that it is possible with alternative methods (µ-chamber and FLEC) to achieve a qualitative and quantitative correlation with the reference method. However there is a need to extend this comparative study to more materials The important influence of the quantification procedure on the emission results was demonstrated The possiblity to investigate microbial resistance of building materials with the so called µ-chamber technique was demonstrated A twofold methodology for the odour determination of building materials was developed: a quantitative method based on intensity and a qualitative method based on hedonic scale. Furthermore the basis for the development of an electronic nose specific for evaluation of building materials was laid down A possible evaluation scheme for Belgium on the basis of AFSSET/AgBB/prEN15052 was proposed with two modifications: - Time path modification (7 or 10 days) - Prescreening with alternative method (< 20 L) D. Contribution of the project in a context of scientific support to transfer of knowledge and innovation This research project for implementation of the essential requirement “Hygiene, health and the environment” of the Construction Products Directive has besides its informative and sensitizing role also performed a supporting role in the development of new innovative low emission construction products. The research project has also ensured a Belgian input in the validation work of the draft standard "Emissions into indoor air" - WI 351009 - Construction products - Assessment of emissions of regulated dangerous substances from construction products - Determination of emissions into indoor air” in development in working group 2 of CEN/TC 351. Furthermore this research project has lead to the development of new innovative test methods tailored to the specific needs of construction products

Olfactory, chemical and e-nose measurements to characterize odors emission of construct materials for the implementation of the European construction products directive (CPD) on a Belgian level

peer reviewe

Horizontal evaluation method for the implementation of the construction products directive - emissions from construction products into indoor air

peer reviewedWorldwide different (mostly voluntary) approaches exist to evaluate emissions from construction products. The importance of the relation between construction products and health & environment is highlighted in the mandatory European Construction Products Directive (CPD). One of the objectives of the European Construction Products Directive (CPD) is to harmonize the technical specifications with regard to dangerous substances and construction materials as stated in the Essential Requirement N°3 “Hygiene, health and the environment” (ER3). The Belgian Building Research Institute (BBRI) is involved in the implementation of ER3 by participation in standardisation work on CEN (CEN/TC 351) and EOTA (EOTA PT9) level. This paper presents first results of ongoing BBRI research activities in collaboration with VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) and ULg (Université de Liège) concerning “horizontal evaluation method for implementation of the CPD (HEMICPD)”: http://www.bbri.be/go/hemicpd

HORIZONTAL EVALUATION METHOD FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS DIRECTIVE HEMICPD

A. Context One of the objectives of the European Construction Products Directive (CPD) is to harmonize the technical specifications with regard to dangerous substances and construction materials. Construction products could emit or contain dangerous substances that have been defined as dangerous substances under Commission directives and national regulations. In the future construction products may only be placed on the market in the European Union if they accord with the (second generation) harmonized technical specifications including health aspects and bear the CE mark. B. Objectives The goal of this research project is to improve the flow of knowledge and information vis-à-vis normalisation activities in the domain of indoor air measurements, indoor product emission testing, labeling and certification by proposing an evaluation method and standardized assessment methods for a harmonized approach relating to emissions from building materials into indoor air for implementation in Belgium. This approach will comply with current European harmonizing efforts ongoing on European level. C. Conclusions International tendencies as well as national developments indicate the growing importance of building material emission testing Harmonisation of governmental schemes to assess volatile organic emissions in the context of the CPD is necessary to obtain transparency The topic of different limit values in different countries is a difficult problem to solve It was demonstrated that it is possible with alternative methods (µ-chamber and FLEC) to achieve a qualitative and quantitative correlation with the reference method. However there is a need to extend this comparative study to more materials The important influence of the quantification procedure on the emission results was demonstrated The possiblity to investigate microbial resistance of building materials with the so called µ-chamber technique was demonstrated A twofold methodology for the odour determination of building materials was developed: a quantitative method based on intensity and a qualitative method based on hedonic scale. Furthermore the basis for the development of an electronic nose specific for evaluation of building materials was laid down A possible evaluation scheme for Belgium on the basis of AFSSET/AgBB/prEN15052 was proposed with two modifications: - Time path modification (7 or 10 days) - Prescreening with alternative method (< 20 L) D. Contribution of the project in a context of scientific support to transfer of knowledge and innovation This research project for implementation of the essential requirement “Hygiene, health and the environment” of the Construction Products Directive has besides its informative and sensitizing role also performed a supporting role in the development of new innovative low emission construction products. The research project has also ensured a Belgian input in the validation work of the draft standard "Emissions into indoor air" - WI 351009 - Construction products - Assessment of emissions of regulated dangerous substances from construction products - Determination of emissions into indoor air” in development in working group 2 of CEN/TC 351. Furthermore this research project has lead to the development of new innovative test methods tailored to the specific needs of construction products