Finnish emissions label for construction products and furniture
The Finnish emission label for building products and furniture is one of the leading quality labels in the Scandinavian region. In 1995, the Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (FiSIAQ) developed the first version of the label and awarded it to products for the first time in 1996.
Today’s certification body is the non-profit Building Information foundation RTS sr, which issues the label in three categories – M1, M2 and M3 (M1 is the best category and stands for “low-pollutant”). For upholstered office chairs, there is only the M1 category. Special rules apply to wood, glass, metal, stone and ceramic products which are specified in the document “Classification of Indoor Environment 2018”.
The test basis for the quality label is a 28-day emission test (incl. ammonia, formaldehyde and carcinogenic substances) and an odour test.
| Criteria / Classification | M1 (mg/m2h) | M2 (mg/m2h) |
| TVOC (Minimum of 70 % of compounds must be marked) | < 0,2 | < 0,4 |
| Single VOC (in μg/m3) | ≤ EU-LCI | ≤ EU-LCI |
| Formaldehyde (HCOH) | < 0,05 | < 0,125 |
| Ammonia (NH3) | < 0,03 | < 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 |
*does not apply to: formaldehyde
** Result of sensory evaluation must be > + 0,0.
The emissions of the products falling into the category small areas (2m2) and very small areas (0,4m2) can be assessed also as model room concentrations. The M1-limit values (mg/m3) for such products are: TVOC 0.02, formaldehyde and ammonia 0.01 and CMR-compounds 0,001, single VOC (µg/m3) ≤ EU-LCI, the product shall not be odorous.
Products in category small areas are e.g. doors, windows, wooden beams and tiling grout and very small areas e.g. sealants ans some adhesives .
About Building Information Foundation RTS sr
The Building Information Foundation RTS sr is part of the Building Information Group – one of Finland’s leading providers of building information. The private, non-profit foundation consists of representatives from 54 associations and organisations in the Finnish building industry. The aim of Building Information Foundation RTS sr is to promote the development and use of low-emission building materials. The foundation also owns the publishing house Building Information Ltd which publishes various media on the subject of building.
Subject to change without notice; last edit: July 5th, 2021.
