EN 16516:2017/FprA1

Overview

EN 16516:2017/FprA1 is a key European standard developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) under Technical Committee CEN/TC 351. This standard specifies a horizontal reference method for the assessment of emissions of dangerous substances from construction products into indoor air. It addresses the need for a consistent and reliable procedure to determine the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), very volatile aldehydes, and ammonia – substances critical to indoor air quality and human health.

The standard utilizes a test chamber approach combined with advanced analytical techniques such as GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) for organic compounds. For ammonia determination, spectrophotometric methods, ion chromatography, or ammonium-specific electrodes can be applied. EN 16516:2017/FprA1 is essential for manufacturers, laboratories, and regulators to evaluate product emissions consistently and ensure compliance with indoor air quality requirements.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability

  • Measurement of emissions of regulated dangerous substances from construction products into indoor air.
  • Applicable to VOCs, SVOCs, very volatile aldehydes, and ammonia.
  • Test chamber method ensuring controlled conditions (23 ± 1 °C, 50 ± 5% relative humidity).

• Analytical Methods

  • Use of GC-MS and HPLC for organic compound analysis.
  • Spectrophotometric analysis (ISO 7150-1) for ammonia, with alternative equivalent methods permitted (ion chromatography, ammonium-specific electrodes).
  • Detailed procedures for air sampling using impingers or sulfuric acid-coated silica gel tubes.

• Test Chamber Setup and Sampling

  • Controlled environment to simulate indoor air conditions.
  • Sampling protocols including duplicate simultaneous or sequential air collection to ensure accuracy.
  • Procedures for neutralizing and analyzing ammonia samples to avoid interferences and ensure valid results.

• Calculation and Reporting

  • Emission rate calculation including background correction.
  • Standardized reporting of ammonia and organic compound concentrations in mg/m³ or µg/m³.
  • Inclusion of test conditions and uncertainties in reported data.

• Annexes and References

  • Supplementary information on indirect test methods and measurement of very volatile organic compounds.
  • Addition of normative Annex I specifically addressing ammonia determination.
  • Extensive bibliography supporting validated testing methods.

Applications

EN 16516:2017/FprA1 has broad practical value across multiple sectors related to construction and indoor environmental quality:

• Construction Materials Testing
  Manufacturers and testing laboratories utilize this standard to evaluate emissions from new construction products such as paints, adhesives, insulation materials, and flooring. This ensures products meet regulatory and voluntary indoor air quality standards.

• Indoor Air Quality Assessments
  Environmental consultants and facility managers can use standardized emission data generated under EN 16516 to assess potential health risks within buildings and guide material selections to minimize harmful exposure.

• Regulatory Compliance
  Regulatory bodies can adopt this method as part of harmonized European or national frameworks for the control of pollutants emitted by construction materials, ensuring safer indoor environments.

• Research and Development
  Researchers developing low-emission building products leverage this standard to validate innovations and benchmark performance against established emission criteria.

Related Standards

• ISO 7150-1: Water Quality - Determination of Ammonium
  Provides the manual spectrometric method referenced for ammonia analysis in EN 16516.

• Standards on VOC and SVOC Analysis
  EN 16516 references existing European and international standards for chromatographic analysis, ensuring consistency in chemical identification and quantification.

• CEN/TC 351 Series
  Part of broader CEN work on construction products' environmental and health impact assessment, integrating chemical emissions testing with sustainability and safety standards.

• Complementary Indoor Air Quality Standards
  EN 16516 supports application of standards related to ventilation, building design, and indoor pollutant limits, contributing to comprehensive indoor environment management.

Keywords: EN 16516, construction product emissions, indoor air quality, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, ammonia emissions, test chamber method, GC-MS, HPLC, spectrophotometric analysis, standardization, CEN, building materials testing, indoor pollutant assessment, European standards for construction products.