Émissions dans l'air intérieur*

Since Jan 1st, 2012, construction products, decoration and furnishing products to be traded in France for the first time are to be labelled with an emissions classification on the basis of VOC emissions tests. This is stated in the "Décret n° 2011-321" having been published on March 25th, 2011.

From Sept 1st, 2013, this obligatory emissions' classification and labelling regulation will also apply to products which are already on the French market.

This concerns inter alia:

• floor coverings
• paint and varnish
• windows and doors
• wall and ceiling panelling

This mark has to be applied additionally to the CE mark (if required for the respective  product).

The basis of testing is ISO 16000, thus equating that in Germany legally required method the Committee for Health-Related Evaluation of Building Products (AgBB) and the German Institute for Engineering (DIBt) take as basis.

PLEASE NOTE: this new French VOC regulation is not to be confused with tests according to the so called AFSSET scheme. This one will continue to exist, as before on a voluntary basis, being, however, far more detailled and thus more descriptive.

More detailed infos about the new French VOC label you may find in our French VOC label info sheet which you may download. 

Different from the German approval procedure the French specifications are to be provided by the manufacturer who is responsible for the accuracy of statement.

The limit values of the emissions' classes refer to the total of the VOC emissions and also to the evalutation of 10 single substances (in μg/m³⁾.

The limit values, the label template and the final details on the new French regulation are to be found in the "Arrêté etiquetage 2011" having been passed on May 13, 2011.

Décret n° 2011-321 Original document Décret as published on 25/3/2011

Arrêté étiquetage 2011 Orginial document Arrêté as published on 15/3/2011

Infosheet French VOC-Label

Apart from the new French VOC decree, in France a CMR regulation (CMR=carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or reprotoxic substances) is effective since January 2010: i.e. construction products may only be traded in France if, after 28 days,  they feature emissions less than 1μg/m³ of each trichloroethylene, benzene, DEHP and DBP. As norm series the ISO 16000 also is stated. Since DEHP and DPB, however, are not traceable via this specification, we offer you an additional evalutation regarding these substances.