Umweltbundesamt
Can materials and articles, which are installed in a house, affect human health? This question is addressed by the Committee for Health-related Evaluation of Building Products (AgBB) who developed an evaluation scheme for the health assessment of construction products. read more
Many European Research projects show that the development of low-emission materials and building products is the most effective measure to improve indoor air quality. read more
Here you will find frequently asked questions and answers about the test procedure for formaldehyde emissions from wood-based materials which came into force on 01.01.2020. The information is mainly intended for companies and institutions that manufacture, process, sell, transport, store, export or import wood-based materials or furniture or which test such products for formaldehyde emissions. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
Products 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. read more
From July 2013 a new regulation laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products is effective in the EU. The objectives of the regulation are the same as already in Council Directive 89/106/EEC which it replaces: to promote free trade and use of construction products in the common market – without endangering levels of protection. read more
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.
