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VOC testing
Laboratory contact information


More information on VOC About VOC

VOC regulations

Low VOC labels

VOC in LEED

VOC testing

EMICODE label

Germany(German version)

The EMICODE® is a label for showing low VOC emissions into indoor air from adhesives, sealants, parquet varnishes and other construction products. The EMICODE is administered by GEV. EMICODE has gone through major revisions in May 2010 with change of testing schedule and with corresponding change of limit values. Achievable classes now are:

  • EMICODE® EC 1 PLUS - very low emissions PLUS
  • EMICODE® EC 1 - very low emissions
  • EMICODE® EC 2 - low emissions

Criteria and limit values

The EMICODE criteria and limit values are the same for all product groups, except parquet varnishes where slightly different limit values apply, and where an EMICODE® EC 1 PLUS class is not yet available. Below listed products can be labelled with an EMICODE®:

  • Adhesives for flooring installation, solvent-free
  • Screeds, solvent-free
  • Related primers, solvent-free
  • Underlays
  • Joint sealants, solvent-free
  • Sealings, foam, foils and tapes
  • Parquet varnishes, water-based and low VOC

Limit values refer to testing in a VOC emission chamber after 3 days and after 28 days, simulating the European Reference Room (12 m² surface, 2.5 m high, 1/2 air change per hour, 23°C, 50% relative humidity in supply air).

Solvent content

Any EMICODE labelled product must contain less than 0.5% m/m solvents, where solvent is defined as VOC with boiling point of max. 200 °C.

The only exception is for parquet coatings which may contain up to 8% m/m VOC (as defined in EU Decopaint Directive). 10% will be accepted until 30. June 2011.

There are also other limitations on content. For details, please see the general classification criteria, and the classification criteria for parquet coatings.

Changes in May 2010

Recent revision of EMICODE by GEV now allows to run many other tests in parallel with an EMICODE test. This helps saving a lot of money when compliance with several specifications shall be shown, such as:

In a transition period, tests in accordance with the earlier EMICODE specification still are accepted for new licences until 31st July 2010.

Earlier EMICODE licences will remain valid until next basic change of product formulation because several comparative testing projects with a significant number of products showed clearly that the earlier classification values after 10 days are equivalent with the new specification. Control tests will follow the specifications as in force the date when the licence was granted by GEV until 30th August 2012. From 1st September 2012 only the new specifications will be the basis for control tests, for all licenced products.

GEV approved a number of editorial updates on 28th July 2010. Most recent versions of GEV documents are available for download from GEV homepage.

Market share and more information

In Germany, EMICODE EC 1 adhesives cover some 80-90% market share of all flooring installation adhesives. Also in several other countries the EMICODE EC 1 is regarded as a label for low VOC emissions with high reputation. You can see:

Eurofins Product Testing A/S is the reference laboratory in case of dispute and performs the majority of EMICODE tests for German adhesives industry. Eurofins contributes to development of EMICODE testing standards as guest of Technical Council of GEV.

Comparison with Blue Angel, AgBB and Section 01350

A comparison between EMICODE - Blue Angel - AgBB/DIBt - CDPH Section 01350 is available in English and in German.

Eurofins services


Eurofins offers documentation of compliance with EMICODE specifications on emissions of VOC and aldehydes by independent testing.

Please note that you have to fulfill also other requirements than low VOC emissions for using the EMICODE, such as avoidance of certain chemicals and low solvent content. And several products will need to be labeled as EC x R for indicating that regulations for workers protection will apply. You cannot read these from a VOC test report. For details please see GEV classification criteria.

Further information


For reading more, please download our technical information flyers in English, French or German, or visit the EMICODE website.

Contact to VOC Testing Laboratories

Please see here contact information of Eurofins VOC testing laboratories in Europe, USA and China:
www.eurofins.com/voc-contacts.

Order forms and testing request forms are available for free download here.

 

EC 3