STEICO_IBR_Expert_Report

Expert report no. 3020 - 1092
Page 15 of 19
2.4 French VOC ordinance
In order to be brought to market in France, all building products as well as decorative elements
and furnishings have to be identified with an emission class since January 2012 (A+, A, B, C)
based on VOC emission testing according to the ISO 16000 series of standards. For products that
were already available in the French market prior to January 2012, this rule only becomes man-
datory starting in September of 2013. A+ identifies products that are virtually free of emissions,
while the C rating represents a level that is only just tolerable. The appearance of the labels has
been specified in detail.
The building product has to be permanently identified with the emission class in addition to the
CE marking with a minimum size of 15 x 30 mm. Products with emissions that significantly exceed
these requirements may no longer be brought to market in France. Only metallic building ele-
ments, mineral glass products and products used only on the exterior are exempt. The testing
system corresponds to the AgBB (Committee for the Health Assessment of Building Products) re-
quirements in Germany, which are also used as the evaluation standard by the “Deutsches Insti-
tut für Bautechnik” (German Institute for Building Technology) (DIBt).
This validation method constitutes a significant simplification compared to the elaborate tests
according to the AgBB requirements, and provides sufficiently accurate information on the emis-
sion behaviour of a material. Detailed information, e.g. on CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic
to reproduction) substances cannot be derived.
The classification into emission classes is performed by the manufacturer or operator under its
own responsibility. The emission class limit values in μg/m³ refer to the cumulative value of total
emissions as well as the evaluation for 10 significant harmful substances: