Topics | Umweltbundesamt

NonHazCity 3 is a European project under the framework of the EU Interreg Program for the Baltic Sea Region. The project aims to reduce hazardous substances in the construction sector and to support circular construction. A NonHazCity Building Award will be given to celebrate the most effective laws and policies for non-hazardous buildings – nominations are welcome! Deadline is the 15th June 2024. 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

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 EU Construction Products Regulation requires from 1st July 2013 new complementary data to accompany construction products with CE marking. If the construction product contains substances of very high concern, these must be declared. Alternatively - if available - a safety data sheet must be enclosed. The Federal Environment Agency hands out advice for the format of the mandatory data. read more

The principle „no data, no market" from chemicals policy can also be applied to construction products. Knowledge on the release behaviour of the own product gained through in-house research helps to reduce future costs of testing. With the release data it becomes possible to optimize the environmental characteristics of construction products already during their development. read more