Minimal environmental criteria for the procurement of planning and services for new buildings, refurbishments and maintenance of buildings and the management of public administration construction sites

Since 2017 in Italy the requirement to use emission-tested products for the construction and renovation of public buildings is in force.

The Minimal Environmental Criteria (I Criteri ambientali minimi – CAM) are the environmental requirements defined for the various phases of the purchasing process in order to determine the best ecological solution for the project throughout its life cycle, taking into account market availability.

The public administration defines the CAMs within the framework of the plan for the environmental sustainability of consumption, being adopted by decree of the Minister of the Environment for the Protection of Territories and the Sea.

Criteria

The criteria apply

“for the allocation of design services and works for the new construction, renovation and maintenance of public buildings”.

and contain the following:

• For specific construction products, documentation must be available confirming the required emission properties:
  • Interior paints and varnishes;
  • Fillers and plasters;
  • Adhesives and sealants
  • Floor coverings (ceramic tiles and bricks are excluded if they have not been treated after firing with paints, resins or other organic substances);
  • Wall coverings (excluding ceramic tiles and bricks);
  • Finishing boards;
  • Suspended ceilings;
  • Barriers, shields, vapour barriers specifically designed to protect interior insulation.
• Emission measurements are to be performed following EN 16516
•  The substances trichloroethylene, benzene, DEHP and DBP must not be detectable in the indoor air. (This corresponds to the French “CMR regulation”, see infobox).

AgBB and selected quality labels (e.g. GEV Emicode, M1 or eco-INSTITUT-Label) are recognised as proof of conformity with the basic requirements.

Requirements after 28 days testing

The values relate to the total of VOC emissions and the evaluation of 10 single substances (in μg/m³).

There are two different levels of requirements: a basic requirement and a stricter premium requirement.

Basic requirements (SPECIFICHE TECNICHE PER I PRODOTTI DA COSTRUZIONE)

Premium requirements (CRITERI PREMINATI PER L’AFFIDAMENTO DEI LAVORI PER INTERVENTI EDILIZI)

Subject to change; last updated: January 15th, 2026