Sensory-based Evaluation of Building Product Emissions – Integration of Sensory Tests in the AgBB-Scheme

Abstract

Indoor air quality may be strongly influenced by emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from building products. VOC emissions are frequently accompanied by odours which may also lead to health disorders or lack of concentration. In Germany, in 1997 the Committee for Health-related Evaluation of Building Products was established. This Committee has developed criteria for testing and evaluating VOC emissions from building products in emission chambers establishing a uniform and reproducible health-related evaluation of building products. The AgBB scheme has been integrated into the approval procedure for selected construction products in Germany by the Deutsche Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt) since 2004 and in this context it is a mandatory scheme. According to the AgBB-scheme VOC emissions are measured after 28 days ventilated storage in a test chamber. Due to the potential odour perception caused by VOC the AgBB has also included since the beginning the sensory test as an important element of the evaluation scheme. The methodology for the measurement of odours has been only recently developed. The know-how gained in the last few years will now be tested in a 2-year pilot phase in cooperation with the manufacturers to practically check to what extent the assessment of odours from building products can be made. In the pilot phase the manufacturers are asked to test their products on a voluntary basis. Two round robin tests with the measurement institutes will be performed to test the reproducibility of the methodology for the assessment of odours. The results of the sensory tests will be gathered and evaluated by a coordinating body. The pilot phase will be accompanied by a working group consisting of some AgBB-members, some industry representatives and the coordinating body. The results of the pilot phase will be evaluated in an expert meeting.