Finnish emissions label for construction products and furniture
In 1995, the first version of the Finnish emissions classification was developed as part of the Classification of Indoor Climate, Construction, and Finishing Materials by the Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (FiSIAQ) and was awarded in 1996 for the first time.
Today, the Finnish quality label for construction products ranks among the leading quality labels of Scandinavia. It is granted in three categories – of which M1 is the best one and stands for low-emission – by the Building Information Foundation RTS sr.
Testing and criteria
To be granted the quality label, an emission test (incl ammonia, formaldehyde, and carcinogenics) and an odour test have to be perfomed on the construction product. The time period of testing is 28 days.
The criteria and processes are stipulated by the Committee Indoor Air Classification ( PT17) being appointed by the general manager of the Building Information Foundation RTS.
| Criteria / Classification | M1 (mg/m2h) | M2 (mg/m2h) | M3 (mg/m2h) |
| TVOC (Minimum of 70 % of compounds must be marked) | < 0,2 | < 0,4 | > 0,4 |
| Single VOC (in μg/m3) | ≤ EU-LCI | ≤ EU-LCI | |
| Formaldehyde (HCOH) | < 0,05 | < 0,125 | > 0,125 |
| Ammonia (NH3) | < 0,03 | < 0,06 | > 0,06 |
| The emission of compounds (CMR belonging to category 1A or 1B in Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008* (in mg/m3) |
<0,001 | < 0,001 | |
| Odour (dissatifaction must be below 15 %)** | no odour | no odour | odour |
*does not apply to: formaldehyde
** Result of sensory evaluation must be > + 0,0.
About Building Information Foundation RTS sr
The Building Information Foundation RTS sr is research and development association as much as publisher of a variety of media on the topics of construction. The Building Information Ltd is publisher and marketer of construction products and services. Together they operate as Building Information. The foundation’s aim is the promotion of development and appliance of low-emission construction products. The Building Information Foundation RTS is a private foundation with agents of 52 Finnish construction organisations.
