standardisation

For reliable data on pollutant emissions from construction products both validated testing procedures and qualified testing bodies are required. Test methods for determining the release of dangerous substances from construction products have been available in Europe for some time, and the first designated testing laboratories for this purpose have recently been set up in line with EU regulations.

Environmental law comprises all norms designed to protect the environment. The protective laws related to installations, environmental media and substances (pollution control law, water law, soil protection law, waste law, chemicals law) make up the core of environmental law.

Building products which come into contact with groundwater or rainwater should not release harmful amounts of pollutants. An environmentally compatible choice of products requires reliable and comparable data on the leaching of substances. UBA has published reference data based on new European leaching tests, which are now available for producers and users.

The principle „no data, no market" from chemicals policy can also be applied to construction products. Knowledge on the release behaviour of the own product gained through in-house research helps to reduce future costs of testing. With the release data it becomes possible to optimize the environmental characteristics of construction products already during their development.

The European Union combines free trade with safe products. Producers have to test their products only once per characteristic. The EU member states may keep their variably strict levels of protection and limit values. European harmonisation of test methods disburdens manufacturers and allows for a competition with the product performance.