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School Environmentand Respiratory Healthof Children

Targeting indoor air qualityin sustainable patterns

The SEARCH initiative is supported by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS)

A SEARCH II project working paper

TA RG E T I N G I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY I N S U S TA I N A B L E PAT T E R N S 1

CO N T E N T S

2 Introduction

5 EU sustainability policies and indoor air quality5 From sustainability to sustainable consumption and production

8 Sustainability and indoor source control

11 Indoor air and chemical safety policies

13 Sustainability policies and exposure control

19 The energy efficiency upgrading of buildingsand indoor air quality: Suggestions for retrofitting19 Overview of retrofitting measures

to improve building energy performance

21 Energy efficiency and indoor air quality

23 The SEARCH II project partner questionnaire23 Introduction

24 Overview of questionnaire results

31 Conclusions

33 Overall conclusions

35 Annexes and endnotes36 Annex I: SEARCH II questionnaire

39 Annex II: EU initiatives on improving IAQ

44 Endnotes

Targeting Indoor Air Quality in Sustainable PatternsA SEARCH II project working paper

December 2013A. Burali • J. Calzoni • E. Colaiacomo • F. De Maio • L. Sinisi

Introduction

2 TARG E T I N G I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY I N S U S TA I N A B L E PAT T E R N S

Several joint environment and health initiatives havealso been implemented on procedures for monitoringindoor pollutants, as well as guidelines and limit valuesfor chemicals in the indoor air (e.g. by the World HealthOrganization, the EC’s Joint Research Centre and the USEnvironment Protection Agency), and upcoming areas ofresearch such as secondary indoor air pollutants. At EUlevel, the environment and health priorities containedin the final proposal for the 7th EU EnvironmentalAction Programme (7th EAP) stress the importance ofaction to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals re-leased from consumer products.1

The SEARCH initiative was launched in 2006 to investi-gate indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and the poten-tial health risks among children (page 3). In the secondphase of the SEARCH project (2010–2013), intercon-nections between energy use in school buildings, build-ing management and the indoor comfort of childrenwere also analysed, and the environment and healthassessment of indoor air pollutants was extended toschools in new partner countries outside the EU.

The SEARCH II project results highlighted, among otherrisk factors, the significance of pollutants emitted fromconsumer products that are usually present in schools

and at home, as well as the impact of building designon IAQ and comfort.

It was also highlighted that, although the importanceof IAQ has received a lot of attention at institutionallevel, at the European and national levels there is stillno joint strategy that appropriately includes IAQ issuesin the implementation of sectoral policies, especiallythose outside the traditional environment and healthdomain, which, via different mechanisms, may have animpact on protecting IAQ.

On the issue of IAQ management, it is generally ac-cepted2 that there are two major strategic areas in miti-gating the health risks from exposure to chemicals:exposure control and source control. The first is linkedto building management and design and is mainly fo-cused on adequate ventilation to preserve IAQ andcomfort, especially when upgrading energy use inbuildings. The source control strategy aims to put inplace measures to eliminate or minimise the release ofhazardous chemicals from indoor sources such as fur-nishings, flooring, building materials, cleaning productsand air fresheners, which are known to have an impacton the quality of the air we breathe inside schools,homes and offices.

Research evidence has been produced at international,European and national level on indoor air quality (IAQ),as well as on the health risks to children and adults of exposureto indoor sources of pollution in vulnerable indoor settingssuch as schools (see Annex II).


This working paper, together with the results of theSEARCH II project, is intended to open a discussionon the role of sustainability policies related to con-sumer products and building design for IAQ manage-ment, in accordance with statements contained in therenewed European Union Sustainable DevelopmentStrategy (EU SDS), approved by the Council of the EUin 2006, about the prevention of unhealthy indooremissions.3 To support further discussion on the sus-tainability process, the paper is ultimately intendedto identify gaps in the knowledge and tools neededfor effective IAQ management through source controland building design.

A brief section is dedicated to presenting recommenda-tions, bearing in mind the potential conflict betweenenergy efficiency policies and IAQ, in particular in con-nection with the retrofitting of existing buildings.

The working paper will also discuss the results of thead hoc questionnaire (Annex I) that was sent to allSEARCH II partner countries to investigate IAQ manage-ment issues in order to share knowledge and best prac-tices and raise awareness among local stakeholders.The information provided by the countries also con-tributed to creating a clear (even if not exhaustive) pic-ture of the situation at national level, especiallyregarding the non-EU SEARCH II countries.

The SEARCH initiative (School Environment andRespiratory Health of Children) is an internationalresearch project launched within the framework ofthe Children’s Environment and Health Action Planfor Europe (CEHAPE), which was adopted in 2004 atthe fourth Ministerial Conference on Environmentand Health organised by the World Health Organiza-tion for the European Region. The initiative, sup-ported and promoted by the Italian Ministry for theEnvironment, Land and Sea (IMELS), is coordinatedby the Regional Environmental Center for Centraland Eastern Europe (REC). During the first phase(2006–2009), IAQ and children’s health were in-vestigated in schools in six European partner coun-tries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary,Italy, Serbia and Slovakia). Based on the SEARCH Iconclusions and recommendations, the initiativewas reaffirmed at the fifth Ministerial Conference onEnvironment and Health, held in Parma, Italy, in2010.With the active involvement of stakeholdersand experts, IMELS launched the follow-up projectSEARCH II (2010–2013) to continue and extendthe valuable research activities. Four new countries(Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine) joinedthe project and undertook environment and healthassessments in selected schools to explore the con-nections between energy use in school buildingsand the indoor comfort of children.

(search.rec.org)

THE SEARCH INITIATIVE

4 TA RG E T I N G I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY I N S U S TA I N A B L E PAT T E R N S


This development has various implications for environ-mental policies and operators in terms of knowledge, skillsand challenges. The present document focuses on the po-tential role of renewed sustainability policies in relation tothe three main strategic areas related to IAQ: (indoor)source control; exposure control; and chemical safety.

In order to describe this challenging scenario, and toenable focused discussion, we propose a framework(see page 8) showing those interconnected EU policiesthat, via different mechanisms, can influence IAQ andchemical safety. The aim is to raise awareness of issuesrelated to the indoor air among operators involved indifferent sectors of the broad (and still developing) areaof sustainable production and buildings. An overview ofthe sustainability process will be followed by a conciseanalysis of key policies.

From sustainability to sustainableconsumption and productionThe 1992 United Nations Conference on Environmentand Development (the Rio Earth Summit) called for aglobal sustainable development approach in order topreserve the integrity of the global environment.

As a concrete response to the Rio Summit, in 1992 theEU endorsed the Fifth Environmental Action Pro-gramme (1993–1999), which recognised the interna-tional concept of sustainable development and calledfor a multi-sector approach, integrating the environ-mental dimension into the main strategic sectors suchas transport, energy and agriculture.

In 2001, the first EU Sustainable Development Strategy

EU sustainability policiesand indoor air quality

Recent concepts such as sustainable consumption and production,eco-innovation, energy efficiency, the environmental performanceof products and lifecycle thinking have enhanced the valueand meaning of sustainability, bringing environmental concernsinto strategic areas of the economy and establishing valuablebenchmarking in market competitiveness.


(the Gothenburg Strategy) was adopted. This was amilestone in European policy and proclaimed a newapproach to policy making in order to foster the inte-gration of the economic, social and environmental di-mensions. One of the specific objectives of theGothenburg Strategy was to address health threats.

In the same year the EU also adopted the Green Paperon Integrated Product Policy (IPP)4, a political instru-ment that opened the way to a new approach in the EUthat also referred to “consumer products”. Following theGreen Paper, in 2003 the EC presented its Communica-tion on Integrated Product Policy: Building on Environ-mental Life-Cycle Thinking, aimed at making productsmore environmentally friendly throughout their life-cycle. The EC communication recommended, amongother things:

• the promotion of lifecycle thinking by makinglifecycle data available and by promoting IPPfor specific products;

• the improvement of product information aimedat consumers; and

• greater attention to environmental criteria in publicprocurement.

In June 2006, the European Council adopted its ambi-tious renewed Sustainable Development Strategy (EUSDS, 10917/06) for an enlarged EU, recognising theneed to gradually change currently unsustainable con-sumption and production patterns and move towards abetter-integrated approach to policy making.

The EU SDS established overall objectives and relatedconcrete actions in seven areas:

• climate change and clean energy;

• sustainable transport;

• the conservation and management of naturalresources;

• social inclusion, demography and migration;

• global poverty and sustainable developmentchallenges;

• public health; and

• sustainable consumption and production.

The overall objective for public health, “To promotegood public health on equal conditions and improveprotection against health threats”, includes:

• improving protection against health threats bydeveloping capacity to respond to them in a coordi-nated manner;

• ensuring that, by 2020, chemicals, including pesti-cides, are produced, handled and used in ways thatdo not pose significant threats to human health andthe environment. In this context, the rapid adoptionof the Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation,Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)will be a milestone, the aim being to eventually re-place substances of very high concern by suitablealternative substances or technologies; and

• improving information on environmental pollutionand adverse health impacts.

These targets are to be achieved through a list of specificactions, including the following: “The Commission shouldpropose a strategy for improving indoor air quality, withparticular attention to VOC emissions…”5

Operational objectives and targets were also set to pro-mote sustainable consumption and production patterns,among them6:

• promoting sustainable consumption and productionby addressing social and economic developmentwithin the carrying capacity of ecosystems and de-coupling economic growth from environmentaldegradation; and

• improving the environmental and social perform-ance of products and processes and encouragingtheir uptake by businesses and consumers.

In July 2008, the EC presented the SustainableConsumption and Production (SCP) Action Plan andSustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan7, adopted bythe EU Council in December 2008.

E U S U S TA I N A B I L I TY P O L I C I E S A N D I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY


The SCP Action Plan provides a dynamic framework formany EU policies and initiatives that are an integralpart of the EU’s renewed Sustainable DevelopmentStrategy (EU SDS) while improving the competitivenessof the European economy and fostering good practiceinternationally for a global sustainable market.8 Thefinal challenge of the action plan is to improve theoverall environmental performance of productsthroughout their lifecycle9, to boost the demand forbetter products and production technologies, to helpconsumers to make informed choices, and, last but notleast, to encourage business and industry to developand take up environmental technologies.

In 2010, the EC defined the Europe 2020 Strategy,the new political framework for European sustain-ability for the coming decade, setting ambitious ob-jectives to be reached by 2020 for which memberstates are called to adopt their own national targets.The strategy also identifies key areas for action — theso-called seven flagship initiatives, including the Re-source Efficiency Flagship. In 2011, the EC adoptedthe Roadmap to a Resource-Efficient Europe, whichanalyses key resources from a lifecycle and value-chain perspective.

The overall process is summarised in Figure 1.


1992Rio Summit

2001Integrated ProductPolicy Green Paper

2002JohannesburgSummit

2003integrated ProductPolicy buildingon environmental

lifecycle

2006RenewedSustainableDevelopmentStrategy

2008EU SustainableConsumption andProduction andSustainable

Industrial PolicyAction Plans

A new approach to reduce thelifecycle environmental impactsof products from raw materialsto production, distribution,use and waste management.Environmental impacts at each

stage of the lifecycle of the product.

Changing patternsof production

and consumption:a preconditionfor achievingsustainable

development ata global level.

The need to change the currentunsustainable consumptionand production patterns and

move towards a better-integratedapproach to policy making.

Improve the environmentalperformance of products and increasethe demand for more sustainable

goods and production technologies.

Efficient useof resources

Environmentalperformance of products

FIGURE 1: From sustainability to sustainable consumption and production policies

Equitable development for all humanbeings, including future generations,

while preserving the integrityof the global environment.

Source: E. Colaiacomo

As already mentioned, several EU policies and initia-tives that act as building blocks of the EU SDS andrelated SCP Action Plan may have a role in one of thethree main interlinked strategic areas of IAQ manage-ment: (indoor) source control, exposure control andchemical safety (Figure 2). Below, we outline the mainprinciples and targets of these policies.

Sustainability andindoor source controlSource control strategies should be aimed at effectivelypreventing emissions of hazardous chemicals to the in-door air from any products or materials used in homes,schools and offices, before those products appear on themarket. With respect to construction products, the 2011Construction Products Regulation (see below) gives atten-tion to the IAQ issue. For certain classes of consumerproducts (e.g. household chemicals and furniture), despitethe mounting evidence already available on their health-related impacts on indoor air chemistry, and despite thestatements contained in the renewed 2006 EU SDS, therole of sustainability policies to prevent unhealthy indooremissions still needs to be further explored.

For this purpose, after a brief analysis of construction prod-uct policies we will focus on green public procurement(GPP) and the Ecolabel scheme, which may be key policyareas in preventing VOCs emissions from indoor sources.

EU Construction Products RegulationEuropean Commission services and researchers areworking towards a harmonised framework for productlabelling schemes in the EU that support the require-ments related to health, safety and the environmentunder the former Construction Products Directive10 andthe subsequent Construction Products Regulation11

(CPR). A requirement of these policies is that no con-struction product should cause harm to the occupantsof a building.

The CPR sets out conditions and harmonised rules formaking construction products available on the mar-ket. Point 1 of Article 3 of the CPR establishes thebasic requirements for construction work and the es-sential characteristics of construction products: “Thebasic requirements for construction works set out inAnnex I shall constitute the basis for the preparationof standardisation mandates and harmonised techni-cal specifications.”



CPR and indoor source control: Regarding VOCsemissions, until the specifications are adoptedat EU level, national regulators may interpret theserequirements differently. Indeed, several EU countrieshave their own labelling systems for VOCs emissions.

FIGURE 2: Sustainability policies and IAQ management: A framework proposal

Sustainability andindoor source control

GPP • EcolabelConstruction Regulation

Environmental policies and indoor air quality in the EU

Sustainability and exposure controlEco design • ETAP & ECOAPEnergy building management

Environmental technology • Verification

Sustainability andchemical safety

REACH • Green Chemistry

Source: E. Colaiacomo, L. Sinisi


Annex 1, point 3 of the CPR, on hygiene, health and theenvironment, states the following:

“The construction works must be designed and built insuch a way that they will, throughout their lifecycle, notbe a threat to the hygiene or health and safety of work-ers, occupants or neighbours, nor have an exceedinglyhigh impact, over their entire lifecycle, on the environ-mental quality or on the climate during their construc-tion, use and demolition, in particular as a result of anyof the following:

(a) the giving-off of toxic gas;

(b) the emissions of dangerous substances, volatileorganic compounds (VOC), greenhouse gases ordangerous particles into indoor or outdoor air;

(c) the emission of dangerous radiation;

(d) the release of dangerous substances into groundwater, marine waters, surface waters or soil;

(e) the release of dangerous substances into drinkingwater or substances which have an otherwise nega-tive impact on drinking water;

(f) faulty discharge of waste water, emission of fluegases or faulty disposal of solid or liquid waste;

(g) dampness in parts of the construction works or onsurfaces within the construction works.”

The Technical Committee for Construction Products ofthe European Committee for Standardization (CEN/TC

351) is working on harmonised rules for the assess-ment of releases of dangerous substances. WorkingGroup 2 is responsible for emissions into the indoor air.

Green Public Procurement:Guiding principles and targetsGreen Public Procurement (GPP) is an EU voluntary in-strument to stimulate sustainable innovation in Europe.More recently, the Europe 2020 Strategy has identifiedpublic procurement as one of the key means of attain-ing smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The EC estimates approximately EUR 2 trillion annuallyfor general expenditures by European public authorities— that is, about 17 percent of the EU’s gross domesticproduct. Environmentally friendly choices in terms of thepublic authorities’ purchasing power for goods, servicesand work will be an important contribution towards sus-tainable consumption and production. Green Public Pro-curement also includes expenditure (up to 50 percent formost governments) for new buildings and/or the renova-tion of existing buildings. Some purchased goods and/orconstruction materials can be a potential source of VOCsemissions, and this may affect a substantial number ofpublic employees (about 15 million in the public admin-istration alone) and vulnerable public settings such asschools and hospitals.

In the GPP framework, specific environmental criteriahave to be met by products and services. Several Euro-


“Green Public Procurement is a process whereby publicauthorities seek to procure goods, services and works witha reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecyclewhen compared to goods, services and works with the sameprimary function that would otherwise be procured.”� COM (2008) 400, Public Procurement for a Better Environment


pean countries have already developed national criteria(so-called minimum environmental criteria). The ECregards as a new challenge the adoption of comparablecriteria between member states to be applied in allpublic tendering processes for public authorities.

The Ecolabel schemeThe EU Ecolabel scheme is part of the efforts towardssustainable consumption and production and is in-tended to promote those products that have a highlevel of environmental performance throughout theirlifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials throughto production, use and disposal. In order to be eligiblefor the EU Ecolabel, specific criteria must be met andthese criteria should take into account the latest tech-

nological developments. The specific criteria for con-sumer products are reviewed/updated on a regularbasis, along with product group development.12

A recent joint initiative of the EU Ecolabel and GPP isthe development of specific Ecolabel criteria for officebuildings, for which a dedicated working group of theJoint Research Centre (JRC) and Italy’s National Institutefor Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) hasbeen established.13

In the Sustainable Consumption and ProductionAction Plan, the EU Ecolabel is strictly linked withEU instruments such as GPP, the Eco-management andAudit Scheme (EMAS), the Ecodesign Directive and theEnvironmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP). Thesame action plan stresses the need for greater coher-ence14 between product policy instruments and theprovisions of the new Ecolabel Regulation. To supportthis policy target, the Product Bureau was created atthe end of 2009 within the JRC in Seville. The estab-lishment of the bureau was based on an agreementbetween DG Environment and the JRC. The objectiveof the bureau is to provide techno-economic analysisand scientific support for the policy-making processtowards the development of the Ecolabel, GPP andEcodesign schemes and other product-related andlifecycle-based policy initiatives.


GPP and indoor air: Generally speaking, indoor airconcerns are not usually built into GPP criteria.The safety of goods and materials is mainly assessedaccording to the Ecolabel scheme and the REACHRegulation. This approach, as discussed below,may not result in the satisfactory preventionof the release of chemicals into the indoor airfrom consumer products.

“A voluntary tool to promote productswith a reduced environmental impact duringtheir entire lifecycle and to provide consumers

with accurate, non-deceptive, science-based informationon the environmental impact of products.”� Regulation (EC) 66/2010


Indoor air andchemical safety policiesChemical safety is one of the biggest concerns amongconsumers worldwide. The implementation of environ-mental policies to protect water, soil and the ambientair from chemical pollution is widely recognised as akey tool to protect the population from harmful expo-sure to chemicals. The inclusion of consumer productsin sustainability policies, however, also requires an ap-proach that focuses on the safety of chemicals used forvarious consumer purposes, including concerns aboutindoor air. Among the various sectoral policies, theREACH Regulation and the Green Chemistry initiative ingeneral appear to be strategic tools to mitigate VOCsemissions to the indoor air.

Regulation on the Registration,Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictionof Chemicals (REACH Regulation)The REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006) on chemicalsafety in the EU entered into force in June 2007. It pro-vides a dynamic and articulated framework for the vari-ous procedures for the registration, evaluation,authorisation and restriction of chemicals in the EU

area. The registration process concerns all substancesproduced or imported into the EU in quantities above1 tonne per year. Substances defined as priority sub-stances according to volume of production or toxicityare subject to a more detailed risk assessment by thecompetent authorities. The identification of a chemicalas a “substance of very high concern” (SVHC)15, and itsconsequent inclusion in Annex XIV, creates certain legalobligations for importers, producers and suppliers, andrestrictions on the use of the chemical on the market(Article 58). The REACH authorisation procedure aimsto ensure that the risks from SVHCs are properly con-trolled and that these substances are progressively re-placed by suitable alternatives while ensuring thesound functioning of the EU internal market. Amongother things, the regulation considers the intentionaland unintentional release of substances/chemicals frompreparations and articles (e.g. plasticisers frompaints/coatings, chemicals from flooring), as well as ac-cidental or unintentional emissions of chemicals to theindoor environment where these could present a haz-ard. Risk management measures must then be appliedto ensure that exposure to chemical substances re-leased by articles is kept below safe levels throughoutthe whole lifecycle of a product, meaning manufacture,use and disposal.


Ecolabel and indoor air: Many considerations require further discussion among experts:

• The Ecolabel could be a key environmental tool for the control of potential indoor sources of chemicals:several categories that may be sources of indoor pollution are indeed included among Ecolabel productgroups (e.g. cleaning products for homes, offices and schools; paints; furniture).

• Ecolabel assessment is based on a lifecycle approach that may require further attention to be given toIAQ issues.

• The Ecolabel is an important instrument to help consumers make eco-friendly choices. However, consumersmay misinterpret information on product safety: eco-friendly products may be perceived as generallyhealthy, even though ratings for VOCs indoor emissions from final products are not included among theEcolabel criteria. In terms of competitiveness, the procedure may not encourage (or distinguish) companiesthat place chemicals-free products on the market.


Manufacturers and importers are required to gatherinformation on the properties of their chemical sub-stances in order to ensure their safe handling, and toregister this information in a central database run bythe European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)16. If the riskscannot be managed, the authorities may restrict the useof substances in different ways. In the long run, the

most hazardous substances should be substituted withless dangerous ones. A restriction applies to any sub-stance on its own, in a mixture, or in an article, includ-ing substances that do not require registration. It canalso apply to imports. A member state and the ECHA, atthe request of the EC, can propose restrictions if theyfind that the risks need to be addressed on an EU basis.

Green/sustainable chemistryThe Green Chemistry initiative provides a sustainablebasis for eco-innovation to stimulate a competitive,knowledge-based, enterprise-led economy acrossEurope. In 2003, European technology platforms (ETPs)were established to respond to the European Councilrequest to “strengthen the European Research Area” bycreating platforms “bringing together technologicalknow-how, industry, regulators and financial institutions


REACH and indoor air: REACH can be seen as a verydynamic process that is continuously updated withscientific evidence that allows the improvement ofrisk assessment procedures. With respect to indoorVOCs emissions, testing methods and protocols mayneed further agreement at EU level.

“Sustainable chemistry […] seeks to improve the efficiencywith which natural resources are used to meet human needsfor chemical products and services, […] encompassesthe design, manufacture and use of efficient, effective,safe and more environmentally benign chemical productsand processes, […] stimulates innovation across all sectorsto design and discover new chemicals, production processes,and product stewardship practices that will provide increasedperformance and increased value while meeting the goals ofprotecting and enhancing human health and the environment.”� Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), definition of sustainable or green chemistry


to develop a strategic agenda for leading technologies”.The role of ETPs has also been recognised in the EC’sHorizon 2020 proposal. In 2013, the EC endorsed theStrategy for European Technology Platforms: ETP202017 in order to identify the path towards the com-mercial deployment of research, provide strategic in-sights into market opportunities and needs, andmobilise innovation actors across the EU in order toenable European companies to gain a competitive ad-vantage in global markets.

The Green Chemistry initiative aims to reduce theenvironmental impacts of processes and productswhile helping to meet future energy needs, reduceenergy, waste and water consumption, reduce emis-sions of pollutants and improve quality of life inurban areas.

Sustainability policiesand exposure controlBuilding design and the energy efficiency upgrading ofbuildings influence microclimate parameters such asventilation, temperature and relative humidity, whichare relevant to overall IAQ and comfort. In terms of in-door air chemistry, concentrations of chemical pollu-tants released by indoor sources are also affected byventilation and temperature.

A brief overview of the targets and principles of keypolicies in the sustainability framework, which can havea role in preventing exposure to indoor chemicals, aswell as the interconnections between those policies, isprovided below.

However, since all these apply to building policies theyshare critical features that, in pursuit of the objective ofindoor air safety, may deserve further discussion basedon the following considerations:

• Building policies are among the targets of theEurope 2020 Strategy.

• Even if they do not focus on energy saving and theefficient use of resources, these policies are part ofthe dynamic process of sustainability.

• All these policies are strictly interconnected, andare also connected with the Ecolabel scheme and,in general, follow a common lifecycle assessmentapproach.

• There are also interconnections with businesses andthe market, which demand a transparent approachand procedures.

• Even if these policies also have a role in indoorsource control, as discussed above, their targets andprinciples are related more to building design thanto everyday consumer products. A separate discus-sion is therefore justified.

• While the consideration of IAQ is required in the im-plementation of these policies, the evaluation of in-door chemicals such as VOCs will not be included,as ventilation is the only parameter used in assess-ing IAQ.

• In this dynamic and modern approach to buildingpolicies, the inclusion of indoor chemicals monitor-ing in authorisation criteria or procedures may im-prove the effectiveness of preventing andcontrolling the exposure of occupants to hazardoussubstances in the indoor air.

• In relation to IAQ monitoring, many applicable tools(and knowledge) are already available at EU level,although agreements on procedures and authorisa-tions are still under discussion at national level.


Green Chemistry and indoor air: Although thisimportant EU initiative is in a very initial phase, itwill be highly important in terms of reducing indoorair chemical pollution in the future.


Building policies and sustainability:An overview of targets and principlesBuilding policies and the Europe 2020 StrategyBy 2020, buildings and infrastructure will be renovatedand constructed according to high resource-efficiencylevels. The lifecycle assessment approach will be widelyapplied. All new buildings will be nearly zero-energy andhighly efficient in terms of material use, and policies willbe in place for renovating the existing building stock toensure cost-efficient refurbishment at an annual rate of2 percent. A total of 70 percent of non-hazardous con-struction and demolition waste will be recycled.

The EC and EU member states will:

• continuously assess how to support skills investmentplans, apprentice schemes and communication on thebest resource efficiency practices in the industry;

• take measures to stimulate the demand for and up-take of resource-efficient building practicesthrough lifecycle costing and suitable financingarrangements; further widen the scope of theEurocodes to include criteria related to sustainabil-ity; develop incentives to reward resource-efficientbuildings; and promote the sustainable use ofwood in construction;18 and

• continuously assess how best to encourage private-sector innovation in construction.

EcodesignDirective 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and ofthe Council of July 6, 2005, establishing a framework forthe setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-usingproducts (the Ecodesign Directive) covers all energy-usingproducts in the residential, tertiary and industrial sectors.

The Ecodesign Directive does not introduce directlybinding requirements for specific products, but definesconditions and criteria for setting requirements regard-ing environmentally relevant product characteristics(such as energy consumption). This directive applies inprinciple to all energy-using products and covers allenergy sources.

The directive provides a coherent and integrated frame-work that allows the setting of mandatory ecodesignrequirements for some products. Ecodesign require-ments must not lower the functionality of products ortheir safety, or have a negative impact on their afford-ability or on consumer health.

In 2009, the Ecodesign Directive was extended to allenergy-related products (the use of which has an im-pact on energy consumption):

• energy-using products — that is, products thatuse, generate, transfer or measure energy (elec-tricity, gas, fossil fuels), including consumergoods such as televisions, washing machines andcomputers; and

• other energy-related products — that is, productsthat do not necessarily use energy but have an im-pact on energy consumption (e.g. windows, insula-tion materials and bathroom devices such as showerheads and taps).

According to the Europe 2020 Strategy, in order to pro-mote further sustainable consumption and productionthe EC will set requirements under the Ecodesign Direc-tive to boost the material resource efficiency of products(e.g. reusability/recoverability/recyclability, recycled con-tent, durability), and will expand the scope of the Ecode-sign Directive to non-energy-related products.

The Ecodesign Directive is intended to be used to-gether with the Energy Labelling Directive(2010/30/EU). The effect of these two directives can bereinforced if combined with other voluntary schemessuch as the EU Ecolabel scheme, Green Public Procure-ment and financial incentives.

ETAP and EcoAPAs a consequence of increased public awareness ofenvironmental concerns and the related increaseddemand for better environmental conditions, a rise inthe offer of clean technologies and environmentallysustainable products and services has been registeredworldwide in recent years. In Europe, one response was



the adoption of the Environmental Technologies ActionPlan (ETAP) in 2004, an instrument for promoting “eco-logical” technological innovation “aimed at significantand demonstrable progress towards the goal of sus-tainable development, through reducing impacts onthe environment or achieving a more efficient andresponsible use of resources”. The ETAP was also in-tended to overcome many of the barriers (financial,economic and institutional) that hinder the develop-ment of these technologies and to promote their adop-tion on the market.

By making a significant contribution to the growth in thenumber of European industries that pay attention to en-vironmental issues, the ETAP was undoubtedly a success.Nearly half of European companies operating in themanufacturing, agricultural, services, water and food sec-tors have made eco-sustainable innovations since 2004.

Following the positive experience gained throughthe ETAP, in 2011 the EC launched the Eco-innovationAction Plan (EcoAP) as “a step forward for eco-innova-tion, moving the EU beyond green technologies andfostering a comprehensive range of eco-innovativeprocesses, products and services”. The action planalso focuses on developing “stronger and broader” eco-innovation actions across and beyond Europe.

Energy building managementIn 2010, the EU adopted the Energy Performance ofBuildings Directive (2010/31/EU), the primary objectiveof which is the upgrading of buildings to “nearly zero-energy buildings” (NZEBs). The directive requires mem-ber states to set minimum energy performancerequirements for new and existing buildings and ensurethe energy certification process.

On October 25, 2012, the EU adopted the Directive onEnergy Efficiency (2012/27/EU), establishing a commonframework of measures for the promotion of energy effi-ciency within the EU in order to support the energy tar-gets set by the Europe 2020 Strategy. This directive setsout rules for removing barriers in the energy market andfor overcoming market failures in the supply and use ofenergy, and provides for the establishment of indicativenational energy efficiency targets for 2020.

Within the 2020 Strategy, the Roadmap to a Resource-Efficient Europe underlines that existing policies forpromoting energy efficiency and renewable energy usein buildings “need to be complemented with policies forresource efficiency which look at a wider range of envi-ronmental impacts across the lifecycle of buildings”. Tohelp the EU to address this need, the EC is preparingthe Communication on Sustainable Buildings with thegeneral objective of reducing the environmental impactof buildings by improving overall resource efficiencyand, as a consequence, improving the competitivenessof construction businesses.

Eco-innovationEco-innovation is a fairly recent concept. One of its firstappearances in the literature was in a 1996 publicationby Claude Fussler and Peter James.19 In a later article,James defines eco-innovation as “new products andprocesses which provide customer and business valuebut significantly decrease environmental impacts”.20

The EU defines eco-innovation as “any form of inno-vation aiming at significant and demonstrableprogress towards the goal of sustainable develop-ment, through reducing impacts on the environmentor achieving a more efficient and responsible use


EcoAP for a sustainable future: The EcoAP wasdeveloped in the framework of the Europe 2020Strategy, the “EU's growth strategy” in the words ofJosé Manuel Barroso, president of the EuropeanCommission. It focuses on smart, sustainable andinclusive growth, aimed at supporting the transition toa resource-efficient, low-carbon economy. The EcoAP isintended to expand the focus of innovation policiestowards green technologies and eco-innovation; targetspecific eco-innovation barriers and opportunities; andhighlight the role of environmental policy as a factorfor economic growth.


of resources”. There is no consideration of health inthis definition.

For our purposes, eco-innovation can be defined asthe development of products and processes that con-tribute to sustainable development, using the com-mercial application of knowledge to elicit direct orindirect ecological improvements. This includes arange of related ideas, from environmentally friendlytechnological advances to socially acceptable innov-ative paths towards sustainability.

The term is most often used, in conjunction with eco-efficiency and eco-design, to refer to innovative prod-ucts and processes that reduce environmental impacts.Many industrial leaders have been developing innov-ative technologies in the interests of sustainability.However, they are not always practical, or enforced bypolicy and legislation. Eco-innovation is the processby which responsible capitalism contributes to sustain-ability by developing products that have a generativenature and are recyclable for usage in other industries.


The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is a network of national green building councils in more than90 countries, making it the world’s largest international organisation with an influence on the green buildingmarketplace. Green building councils are member-based organisations and businesses that empower industryleaders to bring about the transformation of the local building industry towards sustainability.

In the WorldGBC report “The Business Case for Green Building”, the chapter on workplace productivity and healthstates: “Research shows that the green design attributes of buildings and indoor environments can improve workerproductivity and occupant health and well-being, resulting in bottom-line benefits for businesses. Despite evidenceof its impact, improved indoor environmental quality has not been a priority in building design and construction,and resistance remains to incorporating it into financial decision making.”

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system is a green building tool and inter-nationally recognised mark of excellence. Its goal is to deliver healthy, environmentally friendly, cost-saving build-ings, homes and communities that conserve energy, reduce water consumption and improve indoor air qualitythrough better building material choices and innovation.

The main LEED credit categories are:

• Sustainable site credits, which encourage strategies that minimise impacts on ecosystems and water resources.

• Water efficiency credits, which promote the smarter use of water and reduce drinking water consumption.

• Energy and atmosphere credits,which promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies.

• Materials and resources credits,which encourage the use of sustainable building materials and the reduction of waste.

• Indoor environmental quality credits, which promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.

The LEED certification for buildings focuses mainly on ventilation requirements.

A VOLUNTARY PRIVATE-SECTOR CONTRIBUTION: THE GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL


Environmental technology verification (ETV)Environmental technology verification helps innovativeenvironmental technologies to reach the market andenhance their environmental added value.

Under ETV, innovative environmental technologiescan be assessed by an independent verification bodythat validates the manufacturer's claims regardingperformance and environmental benefits. This publicinformation can be used to compare performanceparameters, making it a potential tool to enhancemarket value and acceptance.

Environmental technology verification is neither a labelnor a certification scheme, and the performance of thetechnology is not evaluated on the basis of standards orpredefined criteria. The EU is currently trying out ETVon a large scale through a pilot programme.21

Building policies:Relevant concepts and definitionsBiocompatibilityThe most appropriate definition of biocompatibility is“the quality of not having toxic or injurious effects onbiological systems” (Dorland’s Medical Dictionary).

A product may be considered biocompatible if, duringits entire lifecycle, from the design phase to disposal, itdoes not produce detrimental changes to the quality oflife of the living beings with which it interacts in termsof energy and matter by issues of different physicalnature, mostly gaseous.

A biocompatible building is one built with recyclablematerials that are safe in terms of human health anddesigned to take full advantage of natural lightsources and ventilation. It should be, as far as pos-sible, self-sufficient from an energy point of view,using systems for the production of energy fromrenewable sources, for the recovery of water, and forthe reduction of waste.

Eco-buildingsAn eco-building is one constructed “in a way that doesnot harm the environment, for example because it ismade with sustainable materials (ones that will continueto be available and not all be used up) and uses naturalenergy for heat etc. (Cambridge Dictionaries Online).

Green buildingGreen building is the practice of creating healthierstructures and using processes that are environmentallyresponsible and resource efficient throughout a build-ing’s lifecycle from siting to design, construction, opera-tion, maintenance, renovation and demolition. Thispractice expands and complements the traditionalbuilding design concerns of economy, utility, durabilityand comfort. A green building can also be referred to asa sustainable or high-performance building.

Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall im-pact of the built environment on human health and thenatural environment by:

• efficiently using energy, water and other resources;

• protecting occupants’ health and improvingemployee productivity; and

• reducing waste, pollution and environmentaldegradation.



In buildings with complex and sophisticated heating,ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, thereare many possibilities for improving IAQ and comfortand for reducing energy costs, and these can also beconsidered in the case of new constructions.

Leading energy efficiency upgrade programmes havedemonstrated the feasibility of integrating a range ofIAQ and safety improvements. Two such programmesare ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS, developed by theUS Environmental Protection Agency,22 which provideprofessionals with a variety of manuals and informationleaflets on construction practices and technologies inorder to help address both energy efficiency and IAQimpacts from moisture and mould, pests, combustiongases and other airborne pollutants.

Some suggestions are provided below on how to pro-tect IAQ and enhance energy efficiency in existing

buildings, especially those that have only a heating sys-tem — a situation typical in the European region, in-cluding school buildings in countries participating inthe SEARCH initiative. It is important to bear in mindthat the inappropriate renovation of buildings or ofHVAC systems may have a negative impact on IAQ.

Overview of retrofittingmeasures to improve buildingenergy performanceRetrofitting measures can be divided into two maincategories:

• the renovation of the building envelope — that is,the integrated elements (whether opaque or trans-parent) that separate the building interior from theoutdoor environment; and

The energy efficiency upgradingof buildings and indoor air quality:

Suggestions for retrofitting

As inappropriate ventilation, poor maintenance and hazardousemissions from construction materials can negatively affect IAQ,energy efficiency upgrades can only improve the quality of the indoorenvironment and the comfort of building occupants if IAQ concernsare appropriately addressed before retrofitting work begins.

T H E E N E RG Y E F F I C I E N CY U P G RA D I N G O F B U I L D I N G S A N D I AQ

• the renovation of the building’s technical systems,including equipment for heating, cooling, ventila-tion, hot water and lighting.

Renovation of the building envelopeWindow replacementReplacing windows can contribute significantly to reduc-ing the thermal transmittance of these building ele-ments. An old, single-glazed window has a thermaltransmittance of 4 to 5 W/m2K, while in a modern,double-glazed window this value can be as low as <1.5.The general comfort of the building occupants willtherefore be improved if windows are replaced.

On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that win-dows that are very efficient in terms of preventing heatloss will also reduce the natural infiltration of air, whichwill affect the overall ventilation rate and, as a conse-quence, the IAQ.

If the replacement of windows is not accompanied bythe installation of appropriate mechanical ventilation,stricter attention should be given to opening the win-dows regularly in order to ensure appropriate ventila-tion standards. As CO2 levels are a commonly usedindicator of poor air quality23, a portable CO2 detectormay be useful for this purpose.24

Hazardous emissions from energy efficiencybuilding materialsThe EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) de-scribes how building products such as insulation ma-terials and replacement elements can improve theenergy efficiency of buildings (by reducing thermaltransmittance, for example). However, these productscan also be a source of emissions of potentially haz-ardous compounds into the indoor air. As the CPRtakes this into consideration, some harmonised stan-dards for specific construction products already in-clude this aspect.25

Moisture and mouldBefore renovating the building envelope, it is importantto assess moisture problems including wet or damppatches, musty odour, moisture damage to windows, andcondensation on both the inside and outside of walls.

The cause of moisture problems should be addressedfirst. Specific attention should be paid to the fact thatreduced air infiltration rates can increase moistureproblems, and to the fact that the properties of somebuilding elements (such as insulation materials) can beseverely altered by moisture.

Condensation problems can be caused by renovatedbuilding elements and should be appropriately man-aged. It is important to monitor the amount of moisturevapour within the building envelope and to prevent thedew point temperature from being reached (i.e. thetemperature at which condensation first starts to form).This can be done by selecting materials, including insu-lating materials, with an appropriate combination ofthermal characteristics and vapour permeability.

Renovation of technical systemsLightingLighting represents a significant proportion of a build-ing’s general electricity consumption. Total consump-tion for lighting depends on occupants’ behaviour, theuse of energy-efficient light bulbs, and the amount ofnatural daylight available.

In order to make the most of natural daylight, reflectivepaint can be used on ceilings and the upper part of walls,which can contribute to the even distribution of daylightaround a room. Such paints should not be used on thelower parts of walls, where reflection could be a nuis-ance, and information about the chemical safety of suchproducts should always be obained before they are used.

Light pipes, which transport or distribute natural orartificial light, are another potential retrofitting meas-ure in rooms that lack sufficient natural light.

TA RG E T I N G I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY I N S U S TA I N A B L E PAT T E R N S20

T H E E N E RG Y E F F I C I E N CY U P G RA D I N G O F B U I L D I N G S A N D I AQ

HeatingMost energy retrofitting measures related to heatingsystems do not have an impact on IAQ but can lead toimprovements in occupants’ comfort levels.

Replacing conventional boilers with high-efficiencyboilers — or, where technically and economically pos-sible, with biomass boilers or other renewable energytechnologies such as heat pumps, geothermal heatpumps or thermal solar collectors — can contribute toreducing overall energy consumption.

The replacement of a boiler is also an opportunity toassess the possibility of equipment downsizing, espe-cially in association with the renovation and improve-ment of the building envelope. This can contribute toreducing investment as well as energy costs. Particularattention should be given to the appropriate exhaus-tion of flue gases in order to protect IAQ.

The use of variable speed pumps for circulating waterin heating systems can dramatically reduce electricitycosts and can therefore be regarded as an essential as-pect of heating system renovation. Thermostatic radia-tor valves are a simple and cost-effective tool forimproving occupants’ comfort.26 As they contribute toenergy savings while having no negative impacts onIAQ they have an important role in the appropriatemanagement of indoor temperatures.

Energy efficiency and indoorair qualityThe following three points can contribute to ensuringthe efficient use of energy in buildings and can also bekept in mind when considering the energy retrofittingof buildings:

• In summer, the cooler outdoor air at night can beused to cool the building and exhaust accumulatedpollutants (night pre-cooling). When necessary andpossible, it is therefore a good idea to leave thewindows open at night to “flush” the building.

• Natural ventilation should not be reduced in theinterests of saving energy if mechanical ventila-tion is not available. Ventilation standards are in-tended to ensure the dilution of indoor pollutantsby the introduction of outdoor air. Ventilation mustalways be ensured, and the benefits in terms ofIAQ improvement should not be affected byenergy-saving measures.

• Where feasible, HVAC operations should be reducedat night and during periods when the building is notin use, but only in such a way that occupants’ com-fort is ensured at all times.

21TA RG E T I N G I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY I N S U S TA I N A B L E PAT T E R N S

IntroductionThe aim of the questionnaire, which was sent to allSEARCH II partner countries27, was to explore the var-ious mechanisms and tools already in place in thecountries (e.g. legal acts, regulations, voluntaryschemes and guidelines) to support risk managementin the case of indoor sources impacting on IAQ. Thequestionnaire was intended to identify, for example,whether chemical emissions from building materialsor consumer products in the framework of labellingor certification procedures are somehow regulatedbefore those products are placed on the market.

The questionnaire also investigated whether IAQ in rela-tion to chemicals potentially released into the indoorenvironment by these products is monitored regularly oronly for the purposes of research/surveys, and whetherthere are competent authorities for IAQ management.

The questionnaire was organised according to the dif-ferent classes of products that may affect IAQ:

• construction materials;

• heating/cooling systems;

• cleaning products;

• furnishings;

• toys;

• electronic equipment;

• pest control products;

• air fresheners; and

• fireplaces.

Information was obtained from SEARCH II partner countries onexisting legal instruments and preventive tools that can potentiallybe used to improve IAQ in schools. The aim was to investigatewhether these instruments include an assessment of hazardousemissions from a variety of products used in school buildings.

The SEARCH II projectpartner questionnaire

23TARG E T I N G I N D O O R A I R Q U A L I TY I N S U S TA I N A B L E PAT T E R N S

T H E S E A RC H I I P RO J E CT PA RT N E R Q U E S T I O N N A I R E

This classification follows the database structure of theEU project Prioritisation of Building Materials as IndoorPollution Sources.28

Information was gathered from each country for eachproduct category in order to obtain an overview of ex-isting preventive tools that can potentially be used toimprove IAQ. This information is presented in Tables 1to 7 and discussed below.

It is important to underline that the experts were re-quested to give information for quite a broad field ofinvestigation, going beyond the usual environment andhealth aspects. As a result, a detailed description of all(national and local) policies related to the impact ofconsumer products on IAQ cannot be expected. How-ever, the gathered information was sufficient to providean overview of the issue.

The questionnaires for each individual countrycan be found in Annex I to the present document,and the combined questionnaires and Excel tablecan be downloaded from:www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/progetti/searchor search.rec.org.

Overview of questionnaire resultsQuestionnaires were completed by seven of the 10SEARCH II partner countries: Belarus, Bosnia and Herze-govina, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Serbia and Slovakia.The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), an NGOfrom Belgium, also kindly joined the initiative.

Due to substantial changes in the legislation to achievecompliance with the EU aquis by 2014, Albania was notable to provide specific answers in each of the cate-gories. The Ministry of Environment is the competentauthority for the existing legislation on outdoor air and,to some extent, indoor air.29

Other countries are changing their environment andhealth framework. On July 1, 2010, for example, theCustoms Union Agreement between Russia, Belarus andKazakhstan on veterinary and public health measures

entered into force, replacing existing legislation such asthe old hygiene-epidemiological certificate used inKazakhstan (see Kazakhstan questionnaire).

Generally speaking, many countries have regulations formost of the listed product categories, even if there aredifferences in the type of legal act: some have publichealth regulations, while others use rulebooks, nationaldecrees or technical rules, for example. Although posi-tive answers were received in relation to consumerproduct regulation, it was not possible to ascertainwhether chemicals were included in the IAQ definitionor in the monitoring and/or assessment procedures forauthorisation and labelling schemes, mainly due to lan-guage and time constraints.

Competent authorities for IAQ monitoringThe results show that only three countries have compe-tent authorities for IAQ monitoring: Belgium and Hun-gary have specific regulations for schools, hospitals,workplaces, residential dwellings and leisure centres.Italian legislation provides regulations at national levelfor workplaces and health services. Guidelines for theschool indoor environment to prevent respiratory dis-eases among children were approved in 2010 but arenot compulsory at local level.

Construction materialsTable 1 shows the responses related to constructionmaterials, which included the sub-categories of paints,wood, floor covering, windows, wall panels and other.

Of the eight countries, only five stated that IAQ is in-cluded in their legal acts, although they did not specifyto what extent — whether monitoring, management,prevention, a combination of these, or all of them. Inmost cases, IAQ in sustainable building policies refersmainly to ventilation systems, microclimatic parametersin general, or in relation to outdoor air pollution, andthis might also apply in the case of those countries thatstated that IAQ is included in their legal acts. This issuewould therefore need more detailed investigation.



Only four countries responded positively to the ques-tion regarding the existence of voluntary instruments inthis category. Most of them use the Regulation on theEU Ecolabel, ISO standards and technical specificationsor other certification and labelling schemes, and tosome extent IAQ is considered in all of them. However,once again there is no indication of how this is done.

Four countries also use other preventive tools to im-prove IAQ, including projects, studies, guidelines andrecommendations on the possible impacts of buildingmaterials on the indoor air. Only two of the four coun-tries stated that impacts on IAQ were considered inthis category.

Heating and coolingTable 2 shows that seven countries have legal acts reg-ulating this product category, and IAQ is included inonly two countries.

Only one country uses complementary instruments es-tablishing the ecological criteria for awarding the EUEcolabel, while two countries use other tools such asguidelines and projects to improve IAQ by the preventionof heating or cooling emissions, and only one of thosecountries addresses IAQ through a labelling system.

Cleaning productsThis category includes all cleaning products in general.Table 3 shows that seven countries have legal acts reg-ulating this product category, and only one of thesetakes IAQ into consideration. Only one country usesother preventive instruments such as guidelines forimproving IAQ.

Regarding voluntary certification, neither of the two coun-tries that responded to the question considers IAQ directly.

FurnishingTable 4 shows that three countries have legal acts to reg-ulate this product category. One of these includes consid-eration of IAQ. Only three countries use complementary

instruments such as the EU Ecolabel and technical speci-fications, while one of those two countries considers IAQthrough technical specifications. Three countries useother voluntary tools such as technical standards for tex-tiles, which do not concern emissions into the indoor airdirectly, as these standards refer to the safety of productsin the case of fire.

ToysOnly six countries stated that they have specific legisla-tive acts on toys, and only one includes IAQ in the pub-lic health regulation. As shown in Table 5, only onecountry has voluntary instruments that contain consid-eration of IAQ.

Electronic equipmentIn this category, only six countries stated that theyhave legal acts, and only one country considers IAQ.Only one country has methodological guidelines andmeasurement procedures for IAQ. Responses are pre-sented in Table 6.

Pest control, air fresheners and fireplacesThese three categories were included in the same sub-chapter because no answers were received on voluntaryand other tools (Table 7).

With respect to potential emissions into the indoor airfrom pest control products, six countries have legalacts. Only two countries stated that IAQ is included inthese acts, but without specifying to what extent. Withrespect to air fresheners, four countries declared thatthey have legal acts, and only one of them specifiedthat this legal act does not include IAQ. One of thesefour countries is developing a legal act. With respectto potential emissions into the indoor air from fire-places, only two countries stated that they have apublic health regulation, this being also within theDecision on the Customs Union, and of these only onerefers to IAQ.




TABLE 1 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Potential preventive tools in relation to IAQ

Legal IAQ/indoor Voluntary IAQ/indoor Other IAQ/indoor(legislative acts…) emissions certification emissions (guidelines, emissions

included included projects etc.) included

Belarus • 5 public health YES • Wall panels N/A N/A N/Aregulations • Wood

• 5 guidelines YES • Windows• 4 national laws YES • Paint

• Other constructionmaterials (and rules)

Bosnia and • 5 national laws: N/A N/A • Guidelines for N/AHerzegovina 1 national law Fed. BiH

for Fed. BiH4 national lawsfor Rep. Srpska

• 13 technical rulebooks:12 technical rulebooksfor Fed. BiH1 technical rulebookfor Rep. Srpska

• 1 rulebook onlabelling of constructionproducts for Fed. BiH YES

• 1 rulebook onconstruction productcertification for Fed. BiH

Hungary • 2 national YES • Construction materials N/A • Cleaning, ventilation, N/Aministerial decrees • Ecolabel Regulation temperature and

• 1 national regulation YES (EC) No 66/2010 lighting in workplaces• 2 ministerial decrees NO• 1 national regulation NO • Wood and paint YES

Italy • 3 ministerial decrees NO • Standards and YES • Paint YES• 3 legislative decrees YES specifications for paints • Floor covering

and floor coverings• Ecolabel Regulation (EC)

No 66/2010

Kazakhstan • Decision on the NO N/A N/A N/A N/ACustoms Union

Serbia • 1 national regulation N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A• 1 national law

Slovakia • 3 EU regulations YES • Standards and YES N/A N/Aspecifications for paintsand wood

Belgium • Royal decree (project) YES • The Belgian Building YES • Studies assessing YESResearch Institute (CSTC) emissions from differentinforms the public about products and materialslow-emission labels


TH E S E A RC H I I P RO J E CT PA RT N E R Q U E S T I O N N A I R E

TABLE 2 HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS




Belarus • 1 public health YES N/A N/A N/A N/Aregulation

• 1 national YESspecifications and rules

Bosnia and • 2 national laws: N/A N/A N/A N/AHerzegovina 1 national law

for Fed. BiH1 national lawfor Rep. Srpska

• 8 rulebooks5 rulebooks for Fed. BiH YES3 rulebooks for Rep. Srpska

• 2 regulationsfor Rep. Srpska

Hungary • 3 ministerial decrees N/A N/A N/A • Technical standards N/A

Italy • 1 regional legislation NO • Commission Decision N/A • Technical standards• 1 national law 2013/135 • Nordic Ecolabel YES• 3 ministerial decrees • Guidelines

(1 of which under development) • Ministerial decree• 1 presidential decree for schools• 1 ministerial circular • Specifications and standards


Serbia N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Slovakia • 1 national law N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

TABLE 3 CLEANING PRODUCTS




Belarus • 1 public health regulation YES • Technical standards N/A N/A N/A• 2 technical regulations YES

Bosnia and • 1 law for the State of BiH N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AHerzegovina • 2 laws for Fed. BiH

• 4 laws for Rep. Srpska

Hungary N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Italy • REACH Regulation N/A • Ecolabel Regulation N/A • Environmental Product N/A(EC No. 1907/2006) (EC No. 66/2010) Declaration

space holder • International Associationspace holder for Soaps, Detergentsspace holder and Maintenance Productsspace holder • Guidelines on delivery rooms30

space holder • EcoBio certificationspace holder by the Ethical andspace holder Environmental Certificationspace holder Institute (ICEA)


Serbia • Rulebook on detergents NO N/A N/A N/A N/A

Slovakia • 2 EU regulations N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A



TABLE 4 FURNISHING




Belarus • 2 technical regulations YES • Furniture YES • Textiles (cotton and YES• 1 public health regulation YES • Textiles/carpets polyester blends)

Bosnia and N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AHerzegovina


Italy • 2 ministerial decrees NO • Ecolabel for textiles N/A • OEKO_TEX Standard 100 N/Aon textiles (Regulation EC No. 66/2010) (for textiles)



Slovakia N/A N/A • Ecolabel for textiles N/A • OEKO_TEX Standard 100 N/A(Regulation EC No. 66/2010) (for textiles)

space holder • 1 government regulationspace holder on general product safety

TABLE 5 TOYS




Belarus • 2 public health regulations YES • Technical regulation YES N/A N/A• 1 technical regulation YES• 1 hygiene standard YES

Bosnia and • 1 national regulation N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AAHerzegovina • 2 national directives

Hungary • 1 ministerial N/A N/A N/A N/A N/Acommon decree

Italy • 1 legislative decree YES N/A N/A N/A N/A

Kazakhstan • 1 technical regulation NO N/A N/A N/A N/A


Slovakia • 1 national directive N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A• 1 national law• 1 government regulation



TABLE 6 ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT




Belarus • 1 technical regulation • Every approved technical YES N/A N/Aof the Customs Union regulation of the

• 1 technical code YES Customs Union includesof good practice a list of documents

• 1 public health regulation (methodological guidelines,• 1 public health regulation NO procedures for measurements,

instructions etc.)

Bosnia and • 2 laws YES N/A N/A N/A N/AHerzegovina 1 law for Fed. BiH

1 law for Rep. Srpska• 3 rulebooks

1 rulebook for Fed. BiH YES2 rulebooks for Rep. Srpska


Italy • Ministerial decree NO N/A N/A N/A N/A• Legislative decree

on conformity ofelectronic equipment

• Law on security


Serbia • Law on waste NO N/A N/A N/A N/Amanagement

Slovakia N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A



TABLE 7 PEST CONTROL, AIR FRESHENERS AND FIREPLACES


PEST CONTROL AIR FRESHENERS FIREPLACESLegal IAQ/indoor Legal IAQ/indoor Legal IAQ/indoor(legislative acts…) emissions (legislative acts…) emissions (legislative acts…) emissions

included included included

Belarus • 1 public health regulation YES N/A N/A • 1 public health regulation YES• 1 hygiene standards

Bosnia and • 1 national law N/A • 1 law (Fed. BiH) N/A N/A N/AHerzegovina • 1 national regulation • 1 law (Rep. Srpska)

Hungary • 1 ministerial N/A N/A N/A N/A N/Acommon decree

Italy • Presidential decree N/A • Ministerial decree N/A N/A N/Aon pesticides under preparation

• Legislative decree YESon biocides

Kazakhstan • Public health regulation NO • Decision on the NO • Decision on the NO“Sanitary-Epidemiological Customs Union Customs UnionRequirements for HealthFacilities”

Serbia • Law on biocide products N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Slovakia N/A N/A • 1 EU regulation N/A N/A N/A

Belgium • Royal decree N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

ConclusionsThe questionnaire was designed to identify the exist-ence in the SEARCH II countries of legal instrumentsand tools to support risk management in relation to in-door sources of hazardous chemicals; and of plans forvoluntary labelling or certification procedures and/orindoor air monitoring, including chemicals such as VOCs.Although the gathered information cannot be consideredexhaustive, bearing in mind language barriers and thewide field of investigation — which goes far beyond thetraditional environment and health domain — it is never-theless possible to draw some preliminary conclusions.

First of all, the questionnaire results show that almostall SEARCH II countries have several institutional tools

(legal and/or voluntary) that can be considered relatedto the safety of listed consumer goods that, potentially,may influence the indoor air chemistry.

The question remains whether the consideration of“safety” in a single regulation at national level also in-cludes the issue of IAQ and, if so, whether an assess-ment of hazardous chemical emissions from consumerproducts is provided together with the other criteria.

However, considering the increasing knowledge of thisissue, the upgrading of existing tools is desirable andmight also include further discussion on the need for,and role of, an IAQ competent authority to supporteffective IAQ management.



To achieve this goal, further efforts are needed on thepart of researchers and policy makers, and the aim ofthis paper is mainly to raise awareness among them.For this purpose, we would like to share the followingpreliminary conclusions.

All the areas briefly analysed in this document, includ-ing the results of the partner country questionnaires, il-lustrate how IAQ issues need to be further considered inkey policies, and also that an effective operationalframework capable of addressing IAQ in sustainableconsumption and production policies, as well in sustain-able building policies, is both appropriate and desirable.

Ecological schemes and labelling have been very suc-cessful in preventing harmful pollution and improvingresource use, but generally the indoor environment isstill not widely considered as an environmental mediathroughout the lifecycle assessment (LCA) process, sincethe overall approach of such policies is to take into ac-count only potential impacts on “traditional” environ-

mental media such as water, soil and the ambient air.The EU Ecolabel and LCA are interconnected with allpolicies, including those in the sustainable buildingsframework, that have been discussed in this document.

The management of energy use in buildings will re-quire further attention, apart from considerations ofventilation and other microclimate parameters, includ-ing the influence of building energy on the indoor airchemistry as well as the safety of potential emissionsfrom materials used to produce energy.

To achieve compliance with the objectives of the re-newed EU Sustainable Development Strategy, espe-cially the goal of “improving indoor air quality, withparticular attention to VOCs emissions…” 31, in themedium term the introduction of VOCs emissions as-sessments could be a way to improve IAQ managementat local level, boost (safe) green business, and avoidmisleading perceptions among consumers with respectto eco-friendly products.

The rapid integration of sustainability policies into less traditionaldomains such as consumer products and building policies is a challengefor environmental experts, and these policies may representa strategic, if not the only, tool to safeguard the quality of the indoor air.

Overall conclusions


Annexes and endnotes


Annex I: SEARCH II questionnaire

Introduction to the questionnaireThe questionnaire aims to explore mechanisms and toolsin your country supporting the risk management of indoorsources impacting indoor air quality, such as emissionsfrom materials used in the building envelope and furnish-ings as well as other consumer products. We aim to inves-tigate whether regulations, labelling or certificationprocedures related to these products include an assess-ment of hazardous indoor emissions released by themthat can be considered harmful to IAQ and/or health.

The list of products included in the questionnaire is quitebroad, although the main focus is on materials that areused in the implementation of sustainability policiessuch as the energy efficiency of buildings, eco-innovationor sustainable consumption and production. The productlist contained in the questionnaire was inspired by thedatabase of the EU project Prioritisitation of BuildingMaterials as Indoor Pollution Sources (BUMA).32

For each product category, the questionnaire also investi-gates potential preventive tools in your country relatedto indoor air in order to identify whether the marketingof the products is in accordance with legal regulations(e.g. the EU Construction Products Regulation) and/orvoluntary certification schemes (such as the EU Ecolabel),or, in the absence of regulations, national guidance/recommendations. The questionnaire also identifiedwhether indoor emissions are considered in existing pre-ventive tools by exploring whether materials producedand/or purchased as environmentally friendly or eco-friendly products also include an evaluation of IAQand/or hazardous emissions that have an impact on IAQ.

The questionnaire also investigates whether there arecompetent authorities for IAQ monitoring and if this isdone on a regular basis or just occasionally for researchactivities and/or surveys.


Country:

Questionnaire filled out by:

Institution:

Address:

Telephone/Fax:

E-mail:

General informationDo you have a competent authority for indoor airquality monitoring (IAQM) in your country?

� YES � NO

If YES, for which indoor environments is the IAQMcompetent authority responsible?

� Schools � Residential dwellings

� Hospitals � Leisure centres

� Workplaces (public and private)

� Other (please specify)


POTENTIAL PREVENTIVE TOOLS IN RELATION TO IAQ

Legal(legislative acts…)

IAQ/indooremissionsincluded

Y N

Voluntarycertification


Y N

Other(guidelines,projects etc.)


Y N

Productcategories andsub-categories

Constructionmaterials

Notes:




Y N



Y N



Y N


Cleaningproducts

Notes:




Y N



Y N



Y N


Electronicequipment(only potential emissionsof hazardous substances,not electromagneticemissions)

Notes:

Questionnaires sent to each country

A N N E X I : S E A RC H I I Q U E S T I O N N A I R E





Y N



Y N



Y N


Furnishings(e.g. textiles, carpets)

Notes:




Y N



Y N



Y N


Heating/cooling

Notes:




Y N



Y N



Y N


Air fresheners(candles, sprays)

Fireplaces(stoves and woodstoves)

Pest control(herbicides, fungicides)

Toys

Other

Notes:

Annex II: EU initiatives on improving IAQ

EnVIEThe EnVIE project — European Co-ordination Actionon Indoor Air Quality and Health Effects(2003–2008) — developed a new modelling tool toevaluate the quantitative relationship between IAQ-related diseases (allergies, asthma symptoms, lungcancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, air-borne respiratory infections, cardiovascular morbidityand mortality, sick building syndrome), sources of rel-evant indoor exposure, and the impact of policy con-trol measures to address these sources in order tominimise negative impacts on health in terms ofachievable public health benefits, invasiveness, andpolitical, legal, technological, economic and socialfeasibility. The project also recognised that there isstill a long way to go before we are able to charac-terise all the health impacts of certain pollutants attheir current indoor concentrations.

The EnVIE project identified two strategies for control-ling IAQ:

• source control (eliminating or mitigating sources);and

• exposure control (ventilation).

Other EU projectsWithin the framework of the EU Environment andHealth Action Plan (2004–2010), several projectshave been undertaken with the aim of improving airquality in indoor environments and addressing relatedhealth risks. Some of the most recent studies,arranged according to research category, are describedin the following pages.

Prioritising IAQ-relevant pollutantswith respect to health effectsTowards Healthy Air in Dwellings in Europe (THADE),2002–2004The THADE expert consultants identified the main healthdeterminants in dwellings as tobacco smoke, indoor-generated particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbondioxide, formaldehyde, dust mites, pet allergens, cock-roaches, mould, pollen, nitrogen oxide, volatile organiccompounds (VOCs), artificial mineral fibres and radon.

Methods for preventing, reducing or eliminating the ad-verse effects of poor air quality were identified for eachof the above determinants. The suggested measureswill improve IAQ and alleviate the symptoms of allergy,asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, butthey will not necessarily prevent these conditions. Themeasures proposed in the report will enhance qualityof life for everyone.

Critical Appraisal of the Setting and Implementationof Indoor Exposure Limits in the EU (INDEX),2003–2005The scope of INDEX was to identify priorities and assessthe need for an EU strategy and action plan in the areaof indoor air pollution by:

• establishing a list of compounds to be regulated inindoor environments as a priority on the basis ofhealth impact criteria;

• providing suggestions and recommendations onpotential exposure limits for these compounds; and

• providing information on links with existing know-ledge, ongoing studies, legislation etc. on a worldscale.



The Scientific Committee on Healthand Environmental Risks (SCHER)The Opinion on Risk Assessment on IAQ was publishedin May 2007. The SCHER document:

• identifies a risk assessment strategy to support IAQpolicy, taking into account potentially vulnerablepopulation groups such as children, pregnantwomen and elderly people; and considers the prac-ticability of risk assessment on combined exposureand the cumulative effects of specific air pollutants;

• assesses current information and data requirementsin order to fill gaps related to exposure/effect anddose/response relationships, existing measurementstandards, and the knowledge required to helpguide further research and monitoring efforts;

• considers the risks associated with the use of airfresheners; and

• identifies potential areas of concern in relation to:

– specific chemical compounds, taking intoaccount the recent INDEX report preparedby the JRC;

– household chemicals (e.g. decorating materials,cleaners, furnishings etc.); and

– building dampness/moisture and microbialgrowth (moulds, bacteria).

Establishing guideline valuesfor key IAQ pollutantsHealth-Based Ventilation Guidelines for Europe(HealthVent), 2010–2012The project was launched in order to:

• develop health-based ventilation guidelines for new

and existing non-industrial buildings (offices,homes, public buildings, schools, nurseries and day-care centres), reconciling health and energy aspects;

• prevent major diseases, reduce health inequalitiesand promote sustainable health investments atnational and regional level;

• protect EU citizens against health risks due to poorIAQ as a result of deficient ventilation (rates, strate-gies and practices);

• avoid energy investments and costs due to the oper-ation of ventilation systems at ventilation rates notsupported by tangible benefits in terms of health,productivity and welfare;

• ensure the rational use of energy and greater en-ergy efficiency in new and existing non-industrialbuildings in Europe;

• assist member states to revise existing buildingcodes and practices in terms of energy efficiency;

• assist the EU to optimise and revise policies rele-vant for healthy indoor air and dealing with sourcecontrol, urban ambient air quality and low-energybuildings;

• complement existing IAQ guidelines; and

• outline for member states the possibilities for inte-grating IAQ in energy-related inspections and audits.

Monitoring exposure patterns and healthHarmonised Criteria and Protocols for Monitoring KeyIndoor Air Pollutants (INDOOR-MONIT), 2009–2010The aim was to ensure the consistency of IAQ measure-ments and thus increase their comparability across theEU, focusing on:

A N N E X I I : E U I N I T I AT I V E S O N I M P ROV I N G I AQ


• the design of an indoor air monitoring study;

• IAQ monitoring techniques; and

• data collection, evaluation and reporting.

European Indoor Air Monitoring and ExposureAssessment (AIRMEX), 2006–2009The project monitored indoor, outdoor and individualexposure to selected chemical compounds (aromatics,carbonyls, terpenes and other volatile organic com-pounds) in Europe. The AIRMEX output was a data-base containing results for 23 VOCs based onapproximately 1,000 samples taken from 182 differ-ent working environments (offices, classrooms, wait-ing rooms) in public buildings, schools andkindergartens, and from 103 private homes fromadult volunteers (148 samples).

Health Effects of Indoor Pollutants: IntegratingMicrobial, Toxicological and EpidemiologicalApproaches (HITEA), 2008–2013This collaborative project addressed indoor air pollu-tion in Europe with the aim of identifying the role ofindoor (biological) agents that lead to long-term respir-atory, inflammatory and allergic health impacts amongchildren and adults.

The project is divided into three parts:

• assessment of exposure to biological agents inschools across Europe in order to investigate theeffects of multiple exposures on children's andteachers' respiratory health;

• extensive assessment of exposure to biological andother relevant agents in the indoor home environ-ment in several regions of Europe; and

• assessment of exposure to biological agents amongEuropean population groups, emphasising long-term health impacts.

Emissions, Exposure Patterns and Health Effects ofConsumer Products in the EU (EPHECT), 2010–2013The project focused on consumer products, potentialsources of hazardous air pollutants, and other air pollu-tants in households that are relevant to health.

The main aim was to identify a set of key indoor airpollutants and pollutants emitted by a selection ofconsumer product classes (personal care products, airfresheners, cleaning agents and sprays) in order to re-duce the risks associated with the indoor use of suchconsumer products and to contribute to a healthierindoor environment.

The data will contribute to the development of thebuilding materials and consumer products (BUMAC)database. The overall risk associated with inhalation ex-posure will be studied and evaluated in order toachieve appropriate risk assessment, guidance and pol-icy recommendations on exposure reduction, with at-tention to vulnerable groups such as children andelderly people.

Identifying and addressing sourcesof indoor air pollutionPrioritisation of Building Materials as IndoorPollution Sources (BUMA), 2006–2009The BUMA project database is integrated into the web-site www.buma-project.eu and contains more than 400building materials (floorings, wood-based panels, car-pets, paints, adhesives etc.), 400 emitted substances



and 8,000 emissions data. It is intended for use bystakeholders such as policy makers, health profes-sionals, industrial and building professionals, buildingoccupants and building owners in order to:

• obtain up-to-date data regarding emissions frombuilding materials;

• make comparisons between specific materials andoptimum choices in terms of emissions; and

• estimate indoor levels of exposure to emissionsfrom building materials in microenvironments.

Reducing exposure patternsto key IAQ pollutantsClean and Resource-Efficient Buildings for Real Life(CLEAR-UP), 2008–2012The goal was to reduce energy use in existing buildingsby developing sustainable approaches to the manage-ment of the indoor environment.

The CLEAR-UP approach was to use sensors and intel-ligent control to provide a low-energy optimised in-door environment with active and passive systems forlighting, ventilation and temperature control usingboth natural and technological solutions. The ap-proach was applied in order to improve both existingand new buildings.

Radon Prevention and Remediation (RADPAR),2009–2012The RADPAR project aimed to help reduce the signifi-cant public health burden of radon-related lung cancerin EU member states.

The specific objectives were to:

• help improve the strategies currently in placeand reduce the health burden of radon on the EUpopulation;

• develop radon risk communication strategies and ap-proaches for different population groups in the EU;

• establish measurement procedures for radon controltechnologies and sources;

• assess the cost-effectiveness of existing and poten-tial radon prevention and remediation strategies inthe EU;

• design training courses for radon measurement,prevention, remediation and cost-effectivenessanalysis; and

• assess the potential conflicts between energy con-servation in buildings and radon exposure reduction.

On the Reduction of Health Effects from CombinedExposure to Indoor Air Pollutants in Modern Offices(OFFICAIR), 2010–2013The specific objectives of the collaborative EuropeanOFFICAIR project, which received funding under the EU7th Framework Programme, were to:

• establish a framework, including databases, model-ling tools and assessment methods, that providesnew knowledge towards an integrated approach toassessing health risks from indoor air pollution, fo-cusing on modern office buildings; and

• support current EU policies, such as the ThematicStrategy on Air Pollution, and the European Environ-ment and Health Strategy and Action Plan.



Understanding the factors affecting IAQin specific indoor environmentsand the associated health of specificpopulation groupsSchools Indoor Pollution and Health:Observatory Network in Europe (SINPHONIE),2010–2012The project aimed to:

• review previous research on IAQ and its impact onhealth in schools, and assess the policy relevance ofthe research objectives and conclusions;

• assess the outdoor/indoor school environment andits impact on health;

• manage risks and develop guidelines/recommenda-tions; and

• disseminate these guidelines/recommendations torelevant stakeholders.

Integrated Exposure for Risk Assessment in IndoorEnvironments (INTERA), 2010–2012This project aimed to improve understanding of humanexposure to air pollutants in homes by defining optimalmethodologies for predicting indoor exposure to chem-ical contaminants and their interrelationships.

Labelling schemes and IAQ:Harmonisation of information on indooremissions from materials in the EUDue to the various labelling systems in use across theEU, and in relation to emissions to the indoor air frommaterials (consumer products), the EC initiated an in-ventory of labelling schemes in 2005.33

The report conclusions emphasise the importance ofharmonising indoor material emissions labellingschemes. Ideally, each individual test would providesufficient information for several labels.

In the interests of further harmonisation, the studyrecommends that labelling systems be required to usecommon procedures for testing and analysis (includingsensory tests if relevant). Further work should also beundertaken towards the convergence of existinglabelling systems. The experience gained through theestablishment of existing labelling systems for VOCsemissions from building materials should be taken intoconsideration in the framework of implementing thethird basic requirement for construction works, relatedto hygiene, health and the environment (see Annex I ofthe CPR), which replaces Essential Requirement No. 3 ofthe CPD.



Endnotes

1 7th EAP, Priority Objective 3: “In order to safeguard EU citizens from envi-ronment-related pressures and risks to health and wellbeing, the programmeshall ensure that by 2020 the combination effects of chemicals and safetyconcerns related to endocrine disruptors are effectively addressed, and risksfor the environment and health associated with the use of hazardous sub-stances, including chemicals in products, is assessed and minimized.”

2 See, among others, the EnVIE project (European Coordinated Action on In-door Air Quality and Health Effects), FP6, 2003–2006.

3 The EU SDS was adopted by the Council of the European Union on June26, 2006 (10917/06). It states that “the Commission should propose astrategy for improving indoor air quality, with particular attention to VOCemissions…”

4 COM(2001) 68 final.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.

7 COM (2008) 397.

8 Ibid. “Sustainable consumption and production policies will be promoted,as part of the United Nations Sustainable Consumption and Production 10-Year Framework of Programmes (Marrakesh Process).”

9 The “lifecycle approach” assesses the environmental impacts associatedwith all stages of a product’s life, from cradle to grave (i.e. from raw mate-rial extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use,repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling).

10 Directive 89/106/EEC.

11 Regulation 305/2011/EU.

12 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/products-groups-and-crite-ria.htm.

13 http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/buildings/whatsnew.html.

14 Since 2010, criteria development has been undertaken concurrently forthe Ecolabel and GPP when the product group is considered relevant forboth instruments.

15 Substances of very high concern are defined in Article 57 of the REACHRegulation and include substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic ortoxic to reproduction (CMR); persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT); orvery persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB). They also include sub-stances identified, on a case-by-case basis, via scientific evidence, as caus-ing probable serious effects to human health or the environment of anequivalent level of concern as those above (e.g. endocrine disruptors).

16 http://echa.europa.eu. The ECHA is the driving force among regulatoryauthorities in implementing the EU's groundbreaking chemicals legislationfor the benefit of human health and the environment as well as for innova-tion and competitiveness. The ECHA helps companies to comply with thelegislation, advances the safe use of chemicals, provides information onchemicals, and addresses chemicals of concern.

17 Staff Working Document (SWD) (2013) 272 final.

18 Communication on the Sustainable Competitiveness of the ConstructionSector, 2011 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0433:FIN:EN:PDF); Communication on Sustainable Buildings, 2013(http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs/2013_env_008_sustainable_buildings_en.pdf).

19 C. Fussler and P. James, 1996. Driving Eco-Innovation: A Breakthrough Dis-cipline for Innovation and Sustainability. Pitman Publishing: London.

20 P. James, 1997. “The Sustainability Circle: A new tool for product devel-opment and design.” Journal of Sustainable Product Design 2:52:57,http://www.cfsd.org.uk/journal.

21 For more information, see http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/etv/about-etv.

22 http://epa.gov/iaplus01/index.html.

23 According to several documented studies, proper ventilation in schoolshas been shown to increase productivity and learning performance, and wasincluded in the SEARCH II assessments.

24 See, for example, www.CO2Meter.com.

25 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/construction/cpd-ds/index.cfm;http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/publikation/long/3018.pdf

26 Temperature measurements show that average temperatures in differentclassrooms within the same school may differ significantly, and thermo-static valves may help to address this problem.

27 Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan,Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

28 http://www.uowm.gr/bumaproject/

29 Environmental Framework Law No. 10431 of June 9, 2011, on the Pro-tection of the Environment; Framework Law No. 8897 of May 16, 2002, onthe Protection of Air from Pollution, as amended; and CMD No. 1189 of No-vember 18, 2009, on Rules and Procedures for the Development and Imple-mentation of the National Programme of Environmental Monitoring.

30 Preventive guidelines on safety and hygiene in the delivery room,especially related to risks associated with glutaraldehyde.

31 Council of European Union, June 26, 2006 (10917/06).

32 www.uowm.gr/bumaproject.

33 European Collaborative Action on Urban Air, Indoor Environment andHuman Exposure (ECA), Report No. 24, “Harmonisation of indoor materialemissions labelling systems in the EU. Inventory of existing schemes.”http://ihcp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/our_activities/public-health/indoor_air_quality/eca/eca_report_24

CreditsText: Alessandra Burali, Julio Calzoni, Elisabetta Colaiacomo,

Francesca De Maio, Luciana Sinisi

Copyediting and proofreading: Rachel Hideg

Design: Sylvia Magyar

Photos: CAREC, iStock, Anita Kocic

Printing: Typonova

All REC publications are printed on recycled paper or paper produced

without the use of chlorine or chlorine-based chemicals.

The SEARCH initiative is supported by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS)search.rec.org

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