The environment and sustainability is one of the most important issues facing the construction industry and consumers require materials that do not pollute the air with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and odours. LEED certification also puts pressure on companies to develop sustainable and eco-friendly buildings. This is a particular concern within the flooring industry where there is a growing demand for ecological products which help reduce emissions and diminish health risks. There are also a number of legislations such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) which aim to improve the safety of products and create a healthy work environment.
Fortunately, the days when floor coverings were installed by the use of solvent based products are over. Flooring installation products labelled with the GEV sign EMICODE EC1® are solvent-free, very low emission and guarantee excellent indoor air quality as well as providing the most ecological approach for flooring installations. At UZIN we are especially focused on innovating new environmental solutions to tackle the increasing complexity and demands faced when installing floor coverings. UZIN has developed several solvent-free products with low VOC emissions and have a range ecological products suitable for installing all types of floors. As with all Uzin products, solvent-free means 0% solvents.
A further, premium categorisation, EMICODE EC1 Plus® was introduced in 2010, which set more stringent criteria for emissions and products awarded this accolade present no physiological or ecological risk. Many UZIN products have been awarded the EC1 Plus classification and do not give off emissions of formaldehyde, hazardous materials or volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Although solvent-free products are now available, solvent-free is not equal to pollutant-free. Products may still contain various non-volatile organic materials, which gradually evaporate from the material over a long time and make their way into the air we breathe. This does not occur with Blue Angel labelled products, which provide the highest possible protection against emissions and provide the utmost standards for room air quality in interior spaces. UZIN’s environmentally friendly range of products (Ökoline) have been awarded an EC1 Plus classification as well as a Blue Angel accolade in compliance with RAL-UZ 113. Therefore, UZIN products create a healthy atmospheric environment as well as simultaneously meeting the requirements for occupational health and safety, room air quality and environmental compatibility.
