Harmful and hazardous substances

The topic of harmful and hazardous substances is not trivial and the necessary transparency is often lacking. Added to this is the challenge that a product in the construction sector should only be assessed in its overall context, i.e. in its installed state and in its interaction with other products and influences.

"It always depends on which product is used in what quantities and for what purpose."

A carpet, for example, which is considered particularly sustainable due to its ecological production method, is no longer so as soon as it is attached with the wrong adhesive. A paint can be unproblematic outdoors but hazardous to health indoors. It always depends on which product is used, in what quantities and for what purpose.

Quality assurance is essential!
Anyone who takes construction product-related health and environmental protection seriously relies on quality assurance of the construction and finishing process on the construction site by qualified persons. Materials are often used there that are "just at hand" or have been obtained from somewhere at short notice. There is also quality assurance after completion: indoor air measurement four weeks after completion for the concentration of harmful volatile organic compounds - TVOC and formaldehyde.

Is the product compliant with "DGNB quality level 4"?
There are materials on the market today that can be used to build economically and with very high standards for the avoidance of hazardous and harmful substances. Benefit from the fruits of the work that the DGNB has carried out with experts as part of its certification system with the requirements for the relevant product groups. Many years of practical experience have gone into the requirements. Ask the manufacturer about "DGNB Quality Level 4". If the answer is positive, you are guaranteed to be up to date and on the safe side. You don't have to do anything else.

Is the product label recognized by the DGNB?
Building products are usually designed with labels in mind. But it is important to take a close look. Some labels include requirements for the ingredients, others take into account the supply chain or manufacturing and recycling processes. In order to make this transparent and at the same time offer quality assurance, the DGNB has launched the label recognition scheme. This is where building product labels can apply for recognition. DGNB experts check, verify and classify the labels with regard to the topics and requirement levels. The labels recognized by the DGNB to date can be found here.

Looking into the details of the technical documentation for each individual construction product and paying attention to the ingredients is an enormous effort. It is therefore advisable to give preference to certain design solutions at the planning stage and to set clear requirements for the construction products with regard to harmful and risky substances at the latest at the tendering stage. The fact that proper documentation should ultimately be available and handed over during execution is a great added value for the client.

Fewer harmful substances bring benefits for everyone - document the results

The advantages of avoiding or at least minimizing harmful and hazardous substances and documenting this are obvious:

• Health protection for future building users and the basis for good indoor air quality
• Health protection for the workers on the construction site
• Health protection for the workers of the product manufacturers
• Avoidance of damage to flora and fauna
• Elimination of expensive renovation and conversion costs and reduction of the renovation risk
• Minimization of disposal costs during conversion and refurbishment
• Quality assurance during construction
• Cost-optimized maintenance
• Increase in the value of the building
• Reduction of energy costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions due to lower ventilation requirements

The promise of healthy buildings presents you as a planner with major challenges. There are transparent standards that make your work easier. These include the "DGNB Quality Level 4", recognized product labels and the pollutant lists provided above. Concentrate on the relevant building products. This also avoids unnecessary work. It is best to look at the typical component groups and components by trade and in the context of their respective intended use. Give preference to constructive solutions, set clear requirements for the construction products with regard to harmful and risky substances at the latest during the tendering process - and document the results.