Certification and Registration
French A+ VOC-certified environmental label
Category:
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Since 2013, according to French Official Gazette Decree No. 2011-321 (Décret n° 2011-321 du Journal Officiel), all construction and decoration products placed on the French market are required to carry an environmental emission label.
The purpose of this regulation is to encourage the use of low-emission building materials. The responsibility lies with manufacturers of products placed on the market. The only mandatory requirement is to attach the specified label on the product or its packaging.
The label provides simple and visible information regarding the emission characteristics of volatile pollutants when the product is used in enclosed spaces. Based on the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions released from products into indoor air, as specified in ISO 16000, products are classified into four emission classes: A+, A, B and C. The emissions are measured after 28 days of installation, application or incorporation into an indoor environment.
The four emission classes (A+, A, B and C) range from A+ products, which have almost zero VOC emissions, to Class C products, which have acceptable emission levels.
The products covered by this regulation include construction materials and/or products intended for indoor use. These products include partition boards, suspended ceilings, floor coverings, wall or ceiling coverings, insulation materials, doors and windows, paints, varnishes, glues, adhesives and other related products. Any products intended for use in indoor environments fall within the scope of this regulation.
What Are VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)?
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) refers to a group of organic compounds that exist in a gaseous state at normal environmental temperatures or have high volatility under such conditions. These compounds can diffuse into the environment, alter its chemical composition, and cause direct or indirect impacts on the environment. VOCs are among the major pollutants contributing to ozone formation and the greenhouse effect.
The following table shows common volatile organic compounds and their pollution sources in residential environments:
|
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) |
Materials and Products |
Applications |
|
Formaldehyde |
Paints, adhesives, building and decoration products; adhesives containing certain chemical reactions between ozone and VOCs in the air |
Tobacco smoke, candles, incense sticks, open fireplaces, gas stoves, paraffin heaters; daily-use products; maintenance and treatment products; personal hygiene and cosmetic products |
|
Acetaldehyde |
Wood panels, particleboards |
Tobacco smoke, photocopiers, laser printers |
|
Toluene |
Paints, varnishes, adhesives, carpets, carpet underlays, fragrances |
Cleaning products |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
Carpets, carpet underlays |
Dry cleaning |
|
Xylene |
Paints, cleaners, adhesives, pesticides |
— |
|
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene |
Varnishes, fuels |
— |
|
1,4-Dichlorobenzene |
Moth repellents, acaricides |
Air fresheners, toilet products |
|
Ethylbenzene |
Waxes, fuels |
— |
|
2-Butoxyethanol |
Paints, varnishes, wood treatment fungicides |
Herbicides |
|
Styrene |
Plastic materials, insulation materials, fuels |
Tobacco smoke, incense, air fresheners |
How to Determine the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) Emission Classification?
1. Analyze the emission characteristics of the product into indoor air.
2. Calculate the exposure concentration.
3. Integrate the results of each pollutant into the corresponding emission class based on the concentration values expressed in μg/m³.
|
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) |
Materials and Products |
Applications |
|
Formaldehyde |
Paints, adhesives, building and decoration products, adhesives containing certain chemical reactions between ozone and VOCs in the air |
Tobacco smoke, candles, incense sticks, open fireplaces, gas stoves, paraffin heaters; daily-use products; maintenance and treatment products; personal hygiene and cosmetic products |
|
Acetaldehyde |
Wood panels, particleboards |
Tobacco smoke, photocopiers, laser printers |
|
Toluene |
Paints, varnishes, adhesives, carpets, carpet underlays, fragrances |
Cleaning products |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
Carpets, carpet underlays |
Dry cleaning |
|
Xylene |
Paints, cleaners, adhesives, pesticides |
— |
|
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene |
Cleaners, fuels |
— |
|
1,4-Dichlorobenzene |
Moth repellents, acaricides |
Air fresheners, toilet products |
|
Ethylbenzene |
Waxes, fuels |
— |
|
2-Butoxyethanol |
Paints, cleaners, wood treatment fungicides |
Herbicides |
|
Styrene |
Plastic materials, insulation materials, fuels |
Tobacco smoke, incense, air fresheners |
French VOC Label Example
Product 1:
The emission test results are shown in the table below. The threshold values for each emission class are expressed in μg/m³.
|
Substance/Emission Class |
A+ |
A |
B |
C |
|
Formaldehyde |
<10 |
<60 |
<120 |
>120 |
|
Acetaldehyde |
<200 |
<300 |
<400 |
>400 |
|
Toluene |
<300 |
<450 |
<600 |
>600 |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
<250 |
<350 |
<500 |
>500 |
|
Xylene |
<200 |
<300 |
<400 |
>400 |
|
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene |
<1000 |
<1500 |
<2000 |
>2000 |
|
1,4-Dichlorobenzene |
<60 |
<90 |
<120 |
>120 |
|
Ethylbenzene |
<750 |
<1000 |
<1500 |
>1500 |
|
2-Butoxyethanol |
<1000 |
<1500 |
<2000 |
>2000 |
|
Styrene |
<250 |
<350 |
<500 |
>500 |
|
TVOC(28days) |
<1000 |
<1500 |
<2000 |
>2000 |
Emission Class — Label
|
Pollutant |
C |
B |
A |
A+ |
|
Formaldehyde |
>120 |
<120 |
<60 |
<10 |
|
Acetaldehyde |
>400 |
<400 |
<300 |
<200 |
|
Toluene |
>600 |
<600 |
<450 |
<300 |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
>500 |
<500 |
<350 |
<250 |
|
Xylene |
>400 |
<400 |
<300 |
<200 |
|
1,2,4- Trimethylbenzene |
>2000 |
<2000 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
|
1,4- Dichlorobenzene |
>120 |
<120 |
<90 |
<60 |
|
Ethylbenzene |
>1500 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
<750 |
|
2- Dioctyl glycol |
>2000 |
<2000 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
|
Styrene |
>500 |
<500 |
<350 |
<250 |
|
TVOC |
>2000 |
<2000 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
Product 2:
The emission test results are shown in the table below. The threshold values for each emission class are expressed in μg/m³.
Emission Class — Label
|
Pollutant |
C |
B |
A |
A+ |
|
Formaldehyde |
>120 |
<120 |
<60 |
<10 |
|
Acetaldehyde |
>400 |
<400 |
<300 |
<200 |
|
Toluene |
>600 |
<600 |
<450 |
<300 |
|
Tetrachloroethylene |
>500 |
<500 |
<350 |
<250 |
|
Xylene |
>400 |
<400 |
<300 |
<200 |
|
1,2,4- Trimethylbenzene |
>2000 |
<2000 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
|
1,4- Dichlorobenzene |
>120 |
<120 |
<90 |
<60 |
|
Ethylbenzene |
>1500 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
<750 |
|
2- Dioctyl glycol |
>2000 |
<2000 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
|
Styrene |
>500 |
<500 |
<350 |
<250 |
|
TVOC |
>2000 |
<2000 |
<1500 |
<1000 |
Product 1:
Although most pollutants in this product meet the A+ emission class requirements, the formaldehyde emission exceeds 120 μg/m³ and is therefore classified as Class C. The final emission classification is determined by the pollutant with the highest emission level among all tested substances. In this case, formaldehyde is the most critical pollutant and falls into Class C. Therefore, the overall classification of this product is Class C.
Product 2:
The highest emission level among all detected pollutants in this product is Class B (1,4-dichlorobenzene). Therefore, the product is classified as Class B.
How to Identify Products with Indoor Air Emission Labels?
All construction and decoration products sold on the French market must carry an environmental emission label indicating their VOC emission class. For easy identification, the indoor air emission classification must be clearly visible on the label or packaging of the smallest sales unit of the product.
SATISFY provides one-stop VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emission testing services, including preliminary assessment, preparation and submission of relevant documents, full test process support, report interpretation, data analysis and improvement recommendations.
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