Concerns of customers rather than tighter health and safety legislation will force manufacturers to commit to developing safer products, says Alec Stacey.
AS a producer of materials used for the installation, treatment and maintenance of wood flooring, often within the home, Bona is increasingly asked about any potential health risks associated with them.
This is understandable as the desired information can be difficult to find or indeed understand for a non-chemist. So how can a homeowner, contractor, or specifier make an informed decision regarding the safety of the products they use?
One system that is well-used in Europe is the EMICODE. This was created in Germany in 1997, by the GEV Foundation (Association for the Control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation, Adhesives and Building Materials), which launched the EMICODE program to offer transparency and serve as a selection guide for building materials/chemicals etc. Since then, EMICODE has developed into an independent, internationally recognised program focused on quality, eco-label guidelines, testing, and safety compliance.
For manufacturers, like Bona, to be allowed to label and advertise products with an EMICODE stamp, they must commit to ensuring the product meets certain environmental criteria. For instance, certain substances aren’t permitted to be used in EMICODE-labelled products.
The restrictions partly depend on the concentration of the material, chemical labelling requirements and the emission values (with coatings for wood and resilient floors, this relates to the solvent content (VOCs (volatile organic compounds) of the product).
The following restrictions apply, providing some clear, basic information regarding a product: The product must not be toxic.
Any chemicals deemed to be carcinogenic, mutagenic (damages DNA and causes mutations) or reprotoxic (damages the unborn baby), known as CMR substances, in addition to substances of very high concern (SVHC), can only be present if they’re below the level requiring chemical labelling. Also, they must be undetectable in an emission test.
Similarly, the products must not contain oximes: methyl ethyl ketoxime, methyl isobutyl ketoxime and acetone oxime, all of which affect the nervous system.
The emissions test is central to the GEV EMICODE and the corresponding ‘seal’ on the outer packaging of any product. The tests, so-called ‘chamber tests’ are made by assessing the emissions of VOCs after 28 days.
Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are assessed after three days. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and total semi-volatile organic compounds (TSVOC) are also measured.
For the most stringent classification, EMICODE EC1Plus, there are additional requirements that need to be met, such as exceptionally low concentrations after 28 days.
In July 2024 the maximum VOC content for the different EMICODE classes was made stricter; the aim to make the EMICODE label even more selective and to encourage the industry to lower VOC levels of their products as far as is technically possible.
This is an excellent driver for product development and gives a clear indication of safety.
So, today, the VOC content of an EC1Plus-labelled product must be below 3%, and that of an EC1-labelled product must be below 5%. For EC2-labelled products, a VOC content of 8% will remain after 1 July changeover.
These changes will have a direct impact on the EMICODE labelling for some existing Bona products as well. As this change was announced a long time in advance, we have worked towards the lower limits in all new product development to be able to offer a wide range of products qualified for EC1Plus or EC1 labelling.
New Bona products launched in the future will also meet the very low emission classification of EC1Plus or EC1.
In addition to making a clear distinction between very low VOC products and others it allows simple product selection based on emissions, the EMICODE also works alongside green building certification systems, such as DGNB (German sustainable building council) and in the UK, EC1 Plus and EC1 qualify for points in LEED and BREEAM certification systems.
The increasing concern of customers will force manufactures to commit to developing safer products without compromising performance and with the clear labelling of EMICODE, allowing the simple selection of the safest and cleanest products.
www.bona.com
Alec Stacey is technical manager, Bona