GUT EMISSION TEST


 
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Due to their large surface area, interior decoration materials like   textile floorcoverings, may contribute to the emission of volatile organic compounds.

Textile floorcoverings are therefore analysed for emissions of volatile organic compounds and other selected substances in a test-chamber examination.
(GUT evaluation system)
 

 
  Volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are components which, at room temperature, may be released from materials or products in the form of gases. Classification is conducted by means of the boiling points in compliance with the WHO definition. To differentiate them against other components, compounds in a boiling range from 50 °C to 260 °C are therefore called VOC. Of the multitude of volatile organic compounds, only a very few are able to have an impact on the odour development of materials. To this must be added that, as a rule, odours are not caused by individual compounds but rather by mixtures of substances, and that, in most cases, the odour components occur only in very low concentrations. In general, such odour components are no pollutants. The emission range of volatile organic compounds is characteristic and a fingerprint of the product. The emission behaviour, i.e., the range of volatile organic compounds, is strongly influenced by the material’s age and background, so that emission tests should be conducted primarily on fresh products.
  




The new GUT evaluation system for emissions

Since January 2004 the old GUT thresholds for emissions have been replaced by a new evaluation scheme, which is based on the ECA-18-system and is compatible with other systems such as the procedure suggested by AgBB ( Committee for Health-related Evaluation of Building Products) for the evaluation of building products used for large indoor areas.

In the field of the GUT product test the emissions are evaluated on the basis of the following requirements:
GUT- Criteria for Emissions
Valid since 01.01.2004
The test is made after 3 days ( 72 hrs )
TVOC
 300 µg / m³
VOC without LCI*
 100 µg / m³
R value
 <= 1
SVOC ( C16 to C22 )
 30 µg / m³
Carcinogenic substances
(EU list Classes 1 and 2 )
 not identifiable
 * provisional

For calculation and evaluation of the R-value the actual LCI-value-list as published by AgBB is used.







GUT thresholds valid until 31.12.2003
(measured after 24 hrs)

Component Limit value in
µg/m³
toluene 50
styrene 5
4-vinylcyclohexene 2*
4-phenylcyclohexene  20
total aromatic hydrocarbons 150
total volatile organic compounds 300
  * detection limit
 

 





Development of the GUT limit values

 

 



Chromatogram of an accepted sample
1  toluene
2  cyclohexanol
3  2-ethylhexanol
4  butyldiglycol
5  metheneamine
6  4-phenylcyclohexene 
7  dicyclohexylether
Total VOC emissions < 300 µg/m³


 
 
Chromatogram of a non-accepted sample

Total VOC emissions > 300 µg/m³		   1  toluene
  2  hydroxymethyl-pentanone
  3  dimethylcyclohexanol
  4  2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-
      heptane
  5  2-ethylhexanol
  6  2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethyl-
      nonane
  7  undecene
  8  undecane
  9  alkylated cyclohexanes
10  nonanol
11  alkylated cyclohexanols
12  tridecane
13  tetradecane
14  dodecane carbonic acid
     methylester

 




 
 
Test-chamber examinations:

The emissions of the materials are primarily determined by means of test-chamber examinations. The volatile organic ingredients are determined by means of a test-chamber method under practice-orientated test conditions on freshly produced merchandise.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Test-chamber method:

The test-chamber method used for textile floorcoverings follows the test-chamber method developed within the framework of international standardisation. Merchandise that has been freshly produced is supplied in packing without indication of the manufacturer’s name and is conditioned in a test chamber for 72 hrs. The proportion between the textile floorcovering and the chamber volume conforms with the conditions encountered in practice and amounts to 0.4 m2/m3. In the test chamber there are constant climatic conditions (23 °C and 50 % relative humidity) as well as a constant exchange of air with purified air (0.5/h). After conditioning, the relevant enrichment of the compounds emitted is carried out onto suitable adsorption materials, e.g., Tenax and DNPH. Gas-chromatographic evaluation is conducted as shown here by means of state-of-the-art GC/MS analysis.
 



 

 







 

 
GUT: carpets tested for a better living environment