Vorgehensweise zur gesundheitlichen Bewertung von VOC‐ und SVOC‐Emissionen aus Bauprodukten: Bewertungskonzept des Ausschusses zur gesundheitlichen Bewertung von Bauprodukten (AgBB)

Procedure for assessing potential health effects of VOC and SVOC emissions from building products ‐ assessment concepts proposed by the German Committee for Health‐related Evaluation of Building Products (AgBB). Building products for internal spaces can act as significant emission sources of volatile organic substances and seriously affect the quality of the room air. Public law requirements for building products regarding health protection of occupants are anchored in the European Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) and through implementation in national law, for example the Building Products Act or the regional building regulations. The European Construction Products Directive defines the requirements relating to health, hygiene and the environment, which are elaborated in Baseline Requirements Document No.3 of the European Commission. In particular, they include the requirements regarding emissions of noxious substances from building products and the avoidance and limitation of volatile organic connections (VOC) in internal spaces. Since no official procedure currently exists for the implementation of these health‐related requirements, the German Committee for Health‐related Evaluation of Building Products (AgBB) substantiated and published test criteria for the assessment of potential health effects of volatile organic compounds (VOC and SVOC emissions) from building products. In line with building laws, this procedure provides standardised test procedures and health‐related assessment criteria with the aim of limiting emissions of volatile organic compounds from building products. Against the background of building authority requirements, this objectifiable and particularly transparent approach will enable consumers, architects, planners and building product manufacturers to evaluate building products for internal spaces at an early stage for their relevance in terms of pollutants and emissions, and to use them appropriately.