CEN/TS 16516:2013

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2013
*UDGEHQLSURL]YRGL2FHQMHYDQMHVSURãþDQMDQHYDUQLKVQRYL'RORþHYDQMHHPLVLMH
YQRWUDQML]UDN
Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Determination
of emissions into indoor air
Bauprodukte - Bewertung der Freisetzung von gefährlichen Stoffen - Bestimmung von
Emissionen in die Innenraumluft
Produits de construction - Détermination des émissions de substances dangereuses -
Détermination des émissions dans l'air intérieur
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 16516:2013
ICS:
13.040.20 Kakovost okoljskega zraka Ambient atmospheres
91.100.01 Gradbeni materiali na Construction materials in
splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN/TS 16516
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
October 2013
ICS 13.040.20; 91.100.01
English Version
Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous
substances - Determination of emissions into indoor air
Produits de construction - Détermination des émissions de Bauprodukte - Bewertung der Freisetzung von gefährlichen
substances dangereuses - Détermination des émissions Stoffen - Bestimmung von Emissionen in die Innenraumluft
dans l'air intérieur
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 25 May 2013 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2013 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 16516:2013: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Introduction .5
1 Scope .7
2 Normative references .7
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations .7
3.1 Terms relating to sampling and products .8
3.2 Terms relating to emissions into indoor air and associated laboratory testing . 10
3.3 Terms relating to determination of emitted substances. 13
3.4 Abbreviations . 14
4 Intended conditions of use, emission scenarios and European reference room . 15
4.1 Intended conditions of use and emission scenario . 15
4.2 Reference room and emission scenario . 15
4.3 Time schedule of emission(s) determination . 16
5 Product sampling and transport to the laboratory . 17
5.1 Introduction . 17
5.2 Objective of sampling . 17
5.3 Preparation of a sampling plan and sampling strategy . 17
5.4 Information from the testing laboratory needed to complement the product sampling plan . 19
5.5 Packaging and transport of laboratory sample . 19
5.6 Sample description, marking of laboratory sample and sampling report . 20
5.7 Chain of custody report . 20
5.8 Dispatch of product samples, time schedule . 20
6 Handling of product samples in the laboratory . 21
6.1 Storage of sample in the testing laboratory . 21
6.2 Preparation of the test specimen . 21
7 Test chamber conditions . 22
7.1 Principles . 22
7.2 Dimensions of test specimen . 22
7.3 Loading factor . 22
7.4 Ventilation . 22
7.5 Air velocity . 23
7.6 Cleanliness of test chamber . 23
7.7 Testing climate (temperature, relative humidity of supply air) . 23
7.8 Storage of test specimen . 23
7.9 Large bulk products . 23
7.10 Volume of test chamber . 23
7.11 Placement of test specimen in test chamber . 24
8 Determination of volatile organic compounds in test chamber air . 24
8.1 Common requirements . 24
8.2 Determination of VOCs and SVOCs in test chamber air . 24
8.3 Determination of formaldehyde and some other volatile carbonyl compounds in test
chamber air . 27
8.4 Quality control – External references . 27
9 Calculation of specific emission rates and expression of results at the reference room . 28
10 Reporting for the horizontal reference method . 31
10.1 General . 31
10.2 Sampling . 31
10.3 Handling of samples in the laboratory, preparation of test specimen . 31
10.4 Test chamber conditions . 31
10.5 Determination of vapour-phase organic compounds in test chamber air . 31
10.6 Calculation and reporting of test results . 32
11 Indirect methods . 32
Annex A (informative) Repeatability . 33
Annex B (informative) Examples of indirect methods (also called simplified, screening,
secondary, derived or alternative methods) . 34
Annex C (informative) Information on very volatile organic compound (VVOC) testing. 36
Annex D (informative) Key concepts for product sampling . 37
Annex E (informative) Example of a form for the sampling report . 49
Annex F (informative) Example form for a chain of custody report . 50
Annex G (informative) Benzene artefact generation on Tenax . 51
Annex H (informative) Information on regulations concerning the emission into indoor air of
dangerous substances from construction products . 52
Bibliography . 54

Foreword
This document (CEN/TS 16516:2013) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 351 “Construction
products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Introduction
This Technical Specification was developed in the frame of the Mandate M/366 "Development of horizontal
standardized assessment methods for harmonised approaches relating to dangerous substances under the
Construction Products Regulation (CPR)" addressing the preparation of horizontal measurement/test methods
for the determination of emission of regulated dangerous substances from construction products into indoor
air. This mandate is a complement to the product mandates granted by the European Commission to CEN
under the Construction Products Regulation. The harmonised products standards (hEN) developed in CEN
under mandates from the European Commission specify construction product(s) as put on the market and
address their intended conditions of use.
This Technical Specification has gone through a robustness validation for identifying how small changes in
specific testing parameters can influence the test result. This study also delivered data on repeatability within
one testing laboratory (see Annex A). It is planned to convert the TS into an EN standard immediately after
publication of this TS taking into account any relevant information provided during that process. This may
include data from further round robin tests.
It is vital that such information is clearly linked to a specified product in a product standard. The responsibility
of product specification is with the product TCs, as described in CEN/TR 16496. This determination of
emission into indoor air is to be carried out on products under their intended conditions of use. The intended
use of a construction product is generally specified in the corresponding harmonised product standard. The
specific emission rates determined using this Technical Specification are associated with application of the
product in a defined European Reference Room under specified climate (temperature and humidity) and
ventilation conditions. A reference room is needed since it is not possible to evaluate emissions by testing in
all possible use scenarios.
The reference room dimensions, resulting product loading factors, as well as climate and ventilation conditions
are selected to represent the general indoor environment (see Clause 4). Based on the huge amount of
available European experience, it was possible to identify one emission scenario and one reference room and
associated set of product loading factors to be used.
This Technical Specification specifies the horizontal reference method for testing the emission (release) of
dangerous substances from construction products into indoor air. This method uses a test chamber in which
emissions are generated under conditions which are kept constant during the test. These conditions are
selected so that the test results can be expressed in terms of chemical concentrations in the air of the
reference room (see Clause 7 and Clause 9). It is to be noted that the test chamber is defined in terms of
performance requirements. This responds to the requirement of Mandate M/366 for a horizontal approach but
still maintains sufficient flexibility on chamber dimensions to ensure representative samples of different
materials can be accommodated (see Clause 5). Clause 8 of this Technical Specification specifies how
emitted regulated dangerous substances should be analysed.
This Technical Specification also addresses separately (see Clause 11 and Annex B) indirect methods that
provide, within their specific field of application, a result that is comparable or that correlates with the result of
the reference method. Such methods may be easier to apply and/or be cheaper. They are in accordance with
mandate M/366 provided that their comparability or correlation to the reference test method has been
demonstrated in their specific field of application. They are especially suitable for Factory Production Control
testing (FPC).
The selection of one emission scenario and one reference room for evaluating emissions to indoor air is in
general accordance with the approach taken in existing European national regulations and voluntary schemes
relating to emissions from construction products into indoor air. It also accords with the horizontal
requirements of mandate M/366. The aim of this Technical Specification is not to develop a new testing
method but to combine by normative references the use of existing standards complemented, when
necessary, with additional and/or modified requirements so that – according to the horizontal concept
specified in mandate M/366 – construction products can be evaluated under comparable conditions with
regard to emissions into indoor air.
In summary, the horizontal test method specified in this Technical Specification determines the specific
emission rate of volatile organic compounds from a construction product into indoor air. This can be converted
into a concentration in the air of the reference room by calculation.
This Technical Specification has not been evaluated for the determination of 'steady state' concentration of
formaldehyde.
NOTE A European Standard (EN 717-1) exists for the determination of formaldehyde emissions from wood-based
panels, in terms of 'steady state' concentration.

1 Scope
This Technical Specification specifies a horizontal reference method for the determination of emissions of
regulated dangerous substances from construction products into indoor air. This method is applicable to
volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and volatile aldehydes. It is based on the use
of a test chamber and subsequent analysis of the organic compounds by GC-MS or HPLC.
NOTE 1 Supplemental information is given on indirect test methods (Annex B) and on measuring very volatile organic
compounds (see informative Annex C).
NOTE 2 This Technical Specification describes the overall procedure and makes use of existing standards mainly by
normative reference, complemented when necessary with additional or modified normative requirements.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
CEN/TR 16220:2011, Construction products  Assessment of release of dangerous substances 
Complement to sampling
CEN/TR 16496:2013, Construction Products  Assessment of release of dangerous substances  Use of
harmonised horizontal assessment methods
EN ISO 13137, Workplace atmospheres  Pumps for personal sampling of chemical and biological agents 
Requirements and test methods
EN ISO 16000-9:2006, Indoor air  Part 9: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from
building products and furnishing  Emission test chamber method (ISO 16000-9:2006)
EN ISO 16000-11:2006, Indoor air  Part 11: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds
from building products and furnishing  Sampling, storage of samples and preparation of test specimens
(ISO 16000-11:2006)
EN ISO 16017-1, Indoor, ambient and workplace air  Sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds
by sorbent tube/thermal desorption/capillary gas chromatography  Part 1: Pumped sampling (ISO 16017-1)
ISO 554, Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing  Specifications
ISO 16000-3:2011, Indoor air  Part 3: Determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds in
indoor air and test chamber air  Active sampling method
ISO 16000-6:2011, Indoor air  Part 6: Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and test
chamber air by active sampling on Tenax TA sorbent, thermal desorption and gas chromatography using MS
or MS-FID
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following terms, definitions and abbreviations apply.
NOTE Several of the defined terms on product sampling are closely related, which is also depicted in Figure 1. This
figure and the relevant definitions are taken from CEN/TR 16220:2011.
3.1 Terms relating to sampling and products

Figure 1 — Relation between the key terms of product sampling
3.1.1
composite sample
average sample, aggregated sample
sample that consists of two or more increments, put together in appropriate portions, from which the mean
value of a desired characteristic may be obtained
[SOURCE: adapted from ISO 11074:2005, 4.3.3]
3.1.2
curing
hardening of freshly prepared mixtures under well-defined conditions (time, temperature, humidity, etc.)
specified in harmonised product standards
3.1.3
curing time
minimal time defined necessary for curing before an emission test can be executed to perform relevant test
results
3.1.4
increment
individual portion of product collected by a single operation of a sampling device which is not tested as a
single entity, but is mixed with other increments in a composite sample
Note 1 to entry: Whenever the portion of product collected by a single operation of a sampling device is analysed
individually, the obtained product is called a sample. In such a situation, the quantity of product should fulfil both the
criteria for the size of an increment as well as for a sample.
[SOURCE: adapted from ISO 11074:2005, 4.1.8 as in CEN/TR 16220:2011, 2.4.5]
3.1.5
laboratory sample
sample or sub-sample(s) sent to or received by the laboratory
Note 1 to entry: When the laboratory sample is further prepared by mixing, drying, grinding or by combinations of
these operations, the result is the test sample. When no preparation of the laboratory sample is required, the laboratory
sample is the test sample. A test portion is removed from the test sample for the performance of the test/analysis or for the
preparation of a test specimen.
Note 2 to entry: The laboratory sample is the final sample from the point of view of sample collection but it is the initial
sample from the point of view of the laboratory.
[SOURCE: IUPAC, 2.5.5]
3.1.6
population
totality of items under consideration
Note 1 to entry: See also the term sub-population.
[SOURCE: adapted from ISO 11074:2005, 4.1.11 as in CEN/TR 16220:2011, 2.4.3]
3.1.7
sample
portion of material selected from a larger quantity of material
Note 1 to entry: The manner of selection of the sample should be described in a sampling plan.
Note 2 to entry: The term "sample" is often accompanied by a prefix (e.g. laboratory sample, test sample, test
specimen) specifying the type of sample and/or the specific step in the sampling process to which the obtained material
relates.
[SOURCE: IUPAC, 2.1.1]
3.1.8
sampling plan
predetermined procedure for the selection, withdrawal, preservation and transportation of product samples
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 16220:2011, 2.3]
3.1.9
scale
minimum quantity (mass or volume) of the product for which test results are obtained
Note 1 to entry: Information on characteristics of the product, including emission and variations therein, for a quantity
of product smaller than the defined scale, is judged to be not relevant for description of product properties, e.g. for
evaluation of emissions into indoor air.
Note 2 to entry: Sometimes this quantity is called lot or batch.
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 16220:2011, 2.4.4]
3.1.10
sub-population
defined part of the population that is targeted for the purposes of testing
Note 1 to entry: See also the term population.
EXAMPLE Consider a continuous production process that results in a specific product. The population for that
product is all the individual products produced between the moment the production process started (this may be years
ago) and the moment the production process ends (this may be years ahead). From the perspective of testing, this
definition does not provide a practical concept. Products produced in the past are no longer available for testing, while
products that might be produced in the (far) future are neither available. The term sub-population provides a workable
alternative, as the "start" and "end" of the sub-population can be defined in a practical way. For the same product, already
in production for a number of years, the sub-population might be the production of a year, the production of a month, or
what other definition is practical.
[SOURCE: adapted from ISO 11074:2005, 4.1.29 as in CEN/TR 16220:2011, 2.4.3]
3.2 Terms relating to emissions into indoor air and associated laboratory testing
3.2.1
air change rate
ratio of the volume of air brought into the test chamber per hour and the free test chamber volume measured
in identical units
[SOURCE: EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.1]
3.2.2
air flow rate
ventilation rate
air volume entering into the emission test chamber per unit of time
Note 1 to entry: Air flow rate is expressed in litres per second or in cubic metres per hour (l/s, m /h).
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.2]
3.2.3
chamber blank value
test result obtained by carrying out the test procedure in the absence of a test portion/specimen
Note 1 to entry: Blank value is expressed in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m ).
3.2.4
compound recovery
measured mass concentration of a target volatile organic compound in the air leaving the emission test
chamber during a given time period divided by the mass concentration of the same target volatile organic
compound added to the emission test chamber air in the same time period, expressed in percent
Note 1 to entry: The recovery provides information about the performance of the entire method.
[SOURCE: EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.9]
3.2.5
emission
liberation of chemical substances from a construction product into air
Note 1 to entry: Emission may be expressed as an emitted quantity in terms of concentrations in a defined volume of
air or in terms of emission rate per hour and per unit quantity of the construction product (i.e. per area, length, mass,
volume, unit or component).
Note 2 to entry: The terms "emission" and "release" have fundamentally the same meaning. However, by tradition, the
term "emission" is used when describing liberation of chemical substances or radiation into air and the term "release" is
used when describing the liberation of chemical substances into soil or water.
3.2.6
emission test chamber
enclosure with controlled operational parameters for the determination of volatile organic compounds emitted
from construction products
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.6]
3.2.7
emission test chamber concentration
mass concentration of a specific volatile organic compound, VOC, (or group of volatile organic compounds) in
test chamber air measured in the emission test chamber outlet
[SOURCE: EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.7]
3.2.8
intended conditions of use
conditions that a product may experience during service life and that influence its release/emission behaviour
3.2.9
mass concentration of the compound in the reference room air
mass concentration of a specific volatile organic compound, VOCs, (or group of volatile organic compounds)
in a reference room
3.2.10
product loading factor
ratio of exposed dimension of the test specimen to the free test chamber volume
Note 1 to entry: The product loading factor is often expressed as the ratio of the exposed area of the test specimen
2 3
and the volume of the test facility (L expressed in m /m ). The product loading factor can also be expressed as ratio of
A
the exposed length, volume or unit(s) of the test specimen and the volume of the emission test facility (L expressed in
L
3 3 3 3
m/m , L expressed in m /m or L expressed in u/m ).
V U
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.8]
3.2.11
reference room
room with conventional dimensions, climate and ventilation used as reference for any specification of emission
testing and any calculation of VOC concentration in indoor air
Note 1 to entry: In this Technical Specification, a reference room is specified in 4.2.
3.2.12
specific air flow rate
q
ratio of air change rate and product loading factor
Note 1 to entry: Specific air flow rate can be expressed as the area specific air flow rate q , equivalent to ratio of the
A
3 2
air flow rate and the surface area of the test specimen in [m /m *h], which is equivalent to the expression [m/h].
Note 2 to entry: This definition includes other specific air flow rates than only the area specific air flow rate. Specific air
3 3 3
flow rates can also be volume specific (q expressed in m /(m *h)), length specific (q expressed in m /(m*h)), mass
v L
3 3
specific (q expressed in m /(kg*h)), or unit specific (q expressed in m /(unit*h)).
m u
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.4]
3.2.13
specific emission rate SER (emission factor)
product specific rate describing the mass of a volatile organic compound emitted per unit of product per unit of
time at a given time from the start of the test
Note 1 to entry: This definition is intended to avoid confusion between the terms q (in 3.2.12) and q (used for specific
air flow rate in EN ISO 16000-9). The specific emission rate can be related to area, length, volume, mass or unit,
expressed as SER in µg/(m²*h), SER in µg/(m*h), SER in µg/(m³*h), SER in µg/(kg*h), or SER expressed in µg/(u*h).
A L V m U
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.11]
3.2.14
test portion
quantity or volume removed from the test sample for analysis purposes, generally of known weight or volume
[SOURCE: IUPAC, 2.5.7]
3.2.15
test sample
sample, prepared from the laboratory sample from which test portions are removed for testing or for analysis
[SOURCE: IUPAC, 2.5.6]
3.2.16
test specimen
test portion specially prepared for emission testing in an emission test chamber in order to simulate the
emission behaviour of the product under intended conditions of use
EXAMPLE In case of floorings the test portion is a defined area of the flooring. The test specimen is prepared from
this by covering the edges and the back of the flooring, because these surfaces do not have contact to the indoor air under
service life conditions.
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.13]
3.3 Terms relating to determination of emitted substances
3.3.1
LCI value
Lowest Concentration of Interest
substance-specific value for health-related evaluation of the emission from construction products
3.3.2
limit value
numerical limit derived from national, European or contractual provisions
Note 1 to entry: Limit values for dangerous substances may be defined for environmental media or for product
performance like emission or content of the product.
3.3.3
non-target compound
compound for which the test result is not compared with a compound specific limit value
3.3.4
R value
sum of all R values
i
3.3.5
R value
i
Ratio C / LCI, where
i i
 C is the mass concentration in the air of the reference room
i
 LCI is the LCI value of compound i
i
3.3.6
semi-volatile organic compounds
SVOC
all organic compounds which, in a gas chromatographic column as specified in 8.2.2, are eluting with a
retention range between n-hexadecane (excluded) and n-docosane (included)
Note 1 to entry: The measurement is carried out using a capillary column coated with 5 % phenyl/95 % methyl-poly-
siloxane.
Note 2 to entry: This definition corresponds to volatile organic compounds with a boiling point approximately higher
than 287 °C.
Note 3 to entry: Other definitions are given by the World Health Organization (WHO) 1987, ISO 16000-6.
3.3.7
target compound
compound for which the test result is compared with a compound specific limit value
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.12]
3.3.8
total semi-volatile organic compounds
TSVOC
sum of the concentrations of the identified and unidentified volatile organic compounds eluting with a retention
range between n-hexadecane (excluded) and n-docosane (included) on a gas chromatographic column as
specified in 8.2.2
Note 1 to entry: The measurement is carried out using a capillary column coated with 5 % phenyl/95 % methyl-poly-
siloxane.
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.14]
3.3.9
total volatile organic compounds
TVOC
sum of the concentrations of the identified and unidentified volatile organic compounds eluting between and
including n-hexane and n-hexadecane on a gas chromatographic column as specified in 8.2.2
Note 1 to entry: The measurement is carried out using a capillary column coated with 5 % phenyl/95 % methyl-poly-
siloxane.
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.14]
3.3.10
very volatile organic compounds
VVOC
all volatile organic compounds eluting before n-hexane on a gas chromatographic column as specified in 8.2.2
Note 1 to entry: This definition corresponds to volatile organic compounds with a boiling point lower than
approximately 68 °C.
Note 2 to entry: Other definitions are given by the World Health Organization (WHO) 1987, ISO 16000-6.
3.3.11
volatile organic compounds
VOC
all volatile organic compounds eluting between and including n-hexane and n-hexadecane on a gas
chromatographic column as specified in 8.2.2
Note 1 to entry: The measurement is carried out using a capillary column coated with 5 % phenyl/95 % methyl-poly-
siloxane.
Note 2 to entry: This definition corresponds to volatile organic compounds with a boiling point in the range of
approximately 68 °C to 287 °C.
Note 3 to entry: Other definitions are given by the World Health Organization (WHO) 1987, ISO 16000-6, Decopaint
Directive 2004/42/EC.
[SOURCE: adapted from EN ISO 16000-9:2006, 3.15]
3.4 Abbreviations
GC Gas Chromatography
HPLC High performance liquid chromatography
LCI Lowest Concentration of Interest
MS Mass Spectrometry
q Specific Air Flow Rate
R Ratio of concentration and limit value
SER Specific Emission Rate
SVOC Semi-Volatile Organic Compound
TSVOC Total Semi-Volatile Organic Compound
TVOC Total Volatile Organic Compound
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
VVOC Very Volatile Organic Compound
4 Intended conditions of use, emission scenarios and European reference room
4.1 Intended conditions of use and emission scenario
The intended conditions of use describe the purpose, place and circumstances of typical application(s) of a
construction product as defined in a product standard. This includes the intended use, (e.g. for what purpose,
how the product typically is installed, etc.), and an emission scenario.
Regarding the determination of emission into indoor air, the emission scenario specifies the climate and
ventilation conditions of the air surrounding the product in a reference room. The actual condition(s) of use in
reality may be different. It is also not possible to evaluate emissions by testing under all possible use
scenarios. Therefore, this Technical Specification specifies a set of conditions that are generally agreed to be
representative of use of the product in "normal" indoor environments, such that all construction products can
be evaluated under comparable conditions.
These defined conditions assume a standardised installation of the product in a reference room with
standardised dimensions, climate and ventilation.
4.2 Reference room and emission scenario
4.2.1 General
In this horizontal Technical Specification, only one reference room and one emission scenario are specified
and used as conventional references for any specification of emission testing and any calculation of
concentration of emitting compounds in indoor air.
If any piece of legislation or a particular application of the test requires a different reference room then the
results may be transformed by calculations within the ranges where such calculations are valid (see Clause 7
and Clause 9).
4.2.2 Dimensions and loading factors in the reference room
The dimensions of the reference room are specified as listed below:
 The walls are 2,5 m high.
 Floor and ceiling both measure 3 m x 4 m resulting in surface of 12 m each.
 There is one door of 0,8 m (width) x 2 m (height) (1,6 m ).
 There is one window of 2 m .
 Then the total wall area (minus door and window) is 31,4 m .
Then the total air volume is 30 m . Using these reference room dimensions, the product standards shall
specify one of the following loading factors L, depending on the product type:
2 3
 1,0 m /m – walls;
2 3
 0,4 m /m – floor, ceiling;
2 3
 0,05 m /m – small surfaces, e.g. a door;
2 3
 0,007 m /m – very small surfaces, e.g. sealants.
If the above surfaces and resulting loading factors do not represent the intended conditions of use of a specific
product, the product TC shall specify that the nearest surface and resulting loading factor shall be applied.
If the intended conditions of use imply the possibility that a product is used on more than one of the above
surfaces, the appropriate surfaces and loading factors either shall be summed, or the largest applicable
surface and loading factor shall be applied.
NOTE In this Technical Specification, the reference room dimensions and associated loading factors are normative
and correspond to a small, normal living room. However, the corresponding loading factors remain similar to those given in
the informative annex of EN ISO 16000-9:2006.
4.2.3 Ventilation in the reference room
3 -1
The rate of ventilation with fresh air is specified at 0,5 air changes per hour (15 m h ) for the reference room
to represent, by convention, normal indoor air conditions. In conjunction with the climate and dimensions
conditions this ventilation rate is the reference representing by convention the "general" indoor air conditions.
NOTE 1 Real air change rates have been observed as less than 0,3 air changes per hour in naturally ventilated energy
efficient, air tight buildings to more than 1 air change per hour with continuous mechanical ventilation.
NOTE 2 In Clause 9, a calculation formula is given for recalculation of a test result (when expressed as concentration
in air) to another air change rate than the specified one, within a valid range.
4.2.4 Climate conditions in the reference room
The climate conditions specified in ISO 554 and in EN ISO 16000-9, i.e. 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity,
shall be applied to the reference room to represent, by convention, general indoor air conditions.
4.3 Time schedule of emission(s) determination
The time schedule specified in EN ISO 16000-9 shall be used for emissions evaluation, i.e. short-term
emissions shall be tested at three days and long-term emissions shall be tested at 28 days after installation of
the product.
At 28 days after installation of the product, either steady-state emissions have been reached, or the decay of
emissions has at least slowed significantly. Such a situation may be reached much earlier for some products.
In such cases, an optional shorter testing duration shall be clearly defined in the relevant product standards to
evaluate the emissions at the above reference time schedule, if the comparability with the 28 days testing is
shown in line with the requirements specified for applicability of indirect methods in Clause 11.
NOTE Emissions of some SVOCs can increase after day 3.
5 Product sampling and transport to the laboratory
5.1 Introduction
This clause summarises basic elements of sampling as a complement to specifications on sampling in the
relevant product standards. Product specific details need to be specified in those product standards (see
Annex D).
5.2 Objective of sampling
The objective of sampling from a construction product shall be to obtain a laboratory sample that is:
 sufficiently representative of the quantity of product being assessed, see D.1, D.2 and D.3;
 fulfilling the prerequisites for the test(s) to be performed (e.g. possibility to make a test specimen from the
sample, fitness for the determination of the emission of regulated dangerous substances into indoor air).
5.3 Preparation of a sampling plan and sampling strategy
5.3.1 General
The relevant product standards shall require development of a sampling plan (see D.6) prior to actual product
sampling for assessing the emission of regulated dangerous substances into indoor air.
Existing sampling plans for testing other product properties may not always cover sufficiently the needs of
testing emissions of regulated dangerous substances from construction products into indoor air.
5.3.2 Sampling approach
The most appropriate sampling approach (see D.7.2) shall be selected in the sampling plan, either
probabilistic sampling or judgemental (or informed) sampling.
NOTE This includes balancing the pros and cons of each sampling approach, such as the necessary effort and costs
of sampling, and the practical possibilities for sampling against the (statistical) representativity of the test result for the
sampled sub-population, weighed against the objective of sampling. Such a decision requires detailed knowledge of the
product to be sampled and the process that product originates from.
5.3.3 Population and sub-population
The relevant product standards shall specify how to select the population and sub-population (see D.7.3) for
which emission of regulated dangerous substances shall be determined.
For the determination of the emission of regulated dangerous substances, the same approach for selection of
the sub-population may be used as for sampling of products for testing other properties. It should be noted
however that an approach that works well for these other properties does not necessarily work for emissions
of regulated dangerous substances.
5.3.4 Scale
The relevant product standards shall specify how to select the scale that shall be represented by the
laboratory sample.
In defining the scale for sampling, a practical (first) approach can be to use the same scale as is already used
for the determination of other properties of the construction product. When applying that scale to the
determination of the emission of regulated dangerous substances, it should be evaluated whether the
variability between the results obtained from different laboratory samples within the same scale is limited to an
acceptable level. If not, the scale may be too small for obtaining a sample for determination of the emission of
regulated dangerous substances into indoor air sufficiently with an acceptable uncertainty (see D.7.4).
---------------------- Page
...