Umweltbundesamt
Click to enlargeProducts used in construction contain many organic and inorganic substances. If they are released into the indoor air of buildings, or into the soil and groundwater, they can pose a risk to the environment and human health. Sofar these inputs of contaminants from building products have been quantified only sporadically.
Building products contain various substances that are hazardous to the environment and health. They are present e.g. as solvents in varnishes and adhesives, as biocides in building facades, as plasticisers, binders or as fire retardants in floor and wall coverings. Plastics and wood-based materials, mineral building materials and roofing materials can also contain undesirable substances. Substances which have already been banned may also be included as a result of recycling. Up to today it is not standard procedure to evaluate whether a product releases contaminants prior to marketing. However, consumers have a right to information about whether building products contain Substances of Very High Concern in concentrations of more than 0.1 per cent. In fact, this information has become an obligatory feature on building products with CE marking since 1 July 2013.
The German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) lends support to the development and utilisation of building products that are low in emissions and pollutants by:
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
