Commission Decision (EU) 2016/1332 of 28 July 2016 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for furniture (notified under document C(2016) 4778) (Text with EEA relevance)
Article 1
The product group ‘furniture’ shall comprise free-standing or built-in units whose primary function is to be used for the storage, placement or hanging of items and/or to provide surfaces where users can rest, sit, eat, study or work, whether for indoor or outdoor use. The scope extends to domestic furniture and contract furniture items for use in domestic or non-domestic environments. Bed frames, legs, bases and headboards are included in the scope.
The product group shall not comprise the following products:
- (a) Bed mattresses, which are covered by the criteria set out in Commission Decision 2014/391/EU ([^E0001]),
- (b) Products whose primary function is not to be used as per paragraph 1, including streetlights, railings and fences, ladders, clocks, playground equipment, stand-alone or wall-hung mirrors, electrical conduits, road bollards and building products such as steps, doors, windows, floor coverings and cladding.
- (c) Second-hand, refinished, refurbished or remanufactured furniture products.
- (d) Furniture fitted in vehicles used for public or private transit.
- (e) Furniture products which consist of more than 5 % (weight by weight) of materials not included in the following list: solid wood, wood-based panels, cork, bamboo, rattan, plastics, metals, leather, coated fabrics, textiles, glass and padding/filling materials.
Article 2
For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:
- (a) ‘Aniline leather’ means leather whose natural grain is clearly and completely visible and where any surface coating with a non-pigmented finish is less than or equal to 0,01 mm, as defined in EN 15987;
- (b) ‘Semi-aniline leather’ means leather that has been coated with a finish containing a small amount of pigment, so that the natural grain is clearly visible, as defined in EN 15987;
- (c) ‘Pigmented and pigmented split leather’ means leather or split leather whose natural grain or surface is completely concealed with a finish containing pigments, as defined in EN 15987;
- (d) ‘Patent and patent split leather’ means leather or split leather with generally a mirror-like effect, obtained by application of a layer of pigmented or non-pigmented varnishes, or synthetic resins, whose thickness does not exceed one third of the total thickness of the product, as defined in EN 15987;
- (e) ‘Coated and coated split leather’ means leather or split leather where the surface coating, applied to the outer side, does not exceed one third of the total thickness of the product but is in excess of 0,15 mm, as defined in EN 15987;
- (f) ‘Volatile organic compound’ (VOC) means any organic compound having an initial boiling point of less than or equal to 250 °C measured at a standard pressure of 101,3 kPa as defined in Directive 2004/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0002]) and which, in a capillary column, are eluting up to and including tetradecane (C14H30);
- (g) ‘Semi volatile organic compound’ (SVOC) means any organic compound having a boiling point of greater than 250 °C and less than 370 °C measured at a standard pressure of 101,3 kPa and which, in a capillary column are eluting with a retention range after n-tetradecane (C14H30) and including n-Docosane (C22H46);
- (h) ‘Recycled content’ means the proportion, by mass, of recycled material in a product or packaging; only pre-consumer and post-consumer materials are considered as recycled content, as defined in ISO 14021;
- (i) ‘Pre-consumer material’ means material diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing process but excluding the reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it as defined in ISO 14021 and also excludes waste wood, chips and fibres from logging and sawmilling operations;
- (j) ‘Post-consumer material’ means material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product which can no longer be used for its intended purpose, including returns of material from the distribution chain, as defined in ISO 14021;
- (k) ‘Recovered/reclaimed material’ means material that would have otherwise been disposed of as waste or used for energy recovery, but has instead been collected and recovered/reclaimed as a material input, in lieu of new primary material, for a recycling or a manufacturing process, as defined in ISO 14021;
- (l) ‘Recycled material’ means material that has been reprocessed from recovered/reclaimed material by means of a manufacturing process and made into a final product or into a component for incorporation into a product as defined in ISO 14021, but excludes waste wood, chips and fibres from logging and sawmilling operations;
- (m) ‘Wood-based panels’ means panels fabricated from wood fibres by one of several different processes that may involve the use of elevated temperatures, pressures and binding resins or adhesives;
- (n) ‘Oriented Strand Board’ means multi-layered board mainly made from strands of wood together with a binder, as defined in EN 300. The strands in the external layer are aligned and parallel to the board length or width. The strands in the internal layer or layers can be randomly orientated or aligned, generally at right angles to the strands in the external layers;
- (o) ‘Particleboard’ means a panel material manufactured under pressure and heat from particles of wood (wood flakes, chips, shavings, saw-dust and similar) and/or other lignocellulosic material in particle form (flax shives, hemp shives, bagasse fragments and similar), with the addition of an adhesive, as defined in EN 309;
- (p) ‘Plywood’ means wood-based panels consisting of an assembly of layers glued together with the direction of the grain in adjacent layers usually at right angles, as defined in EN 313. Many different sub-categories of plywood can be referred to based on how the plywood is structured (such as, veneer plywood, core plywood, balanced plywood) or its predominant end use (for instance, marine plywood);
- (q) ‘Fibreboards’ means a broad set of panel types which are defined in EN 316 and EN 622 and which can be split into the sub-categories of hardboards, medium boards, soft-boards and dry-process boards based on their physical properties and production process;
- (r) ‘Readily biodegradable substance’ means a substance that shows 70 % degradation of dissolved organic carbon within 28 days or 60 % of theoretical maximum oxygen depletion or carbon dioxide generation within 28 days using one of the following test methods: OECD 301 A, ISO 7827, OECD 301 B, ISO 9439, OECD 301 C, OECD 301 D, ISO 10708, OECD 301 E, OECD 301 F, ISO 9408;
- (s) ‘Inherently biodegradable substance’ means a substance that shows 70 % degradation of dissolved organic carbon within 28 days or 60 % of theoretical maximum oxygen depletion or carbon dioxide generation within 28 days using one of the following test methods: ISO 14593, OECD 302 A, ISO 9887, OECD 302 B, ISO 9888, OECD 302 C;
- (t) ‘Finishing operations’ means methods where an over-layer or coating is applied to the surface of a material. Methods may include the application of paints, prints, varnishes, veneers, laminates, impregnated papers and finishing foils;
- (u) ‘Biocidal product’ as defined in Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0003]) means:
- — any substance or mixture, in the form in which it is supplied to the user, consisting of, containing or generating one or more active substances, with the intention of destroying, deterring, rendering harmless, preventing the action of, or otherwise exerting a controlling effect on, any harmful organism by any means other than mere physical or mechanical action,
- — any substance or mixture generated from substances or mixtures which do not themselves fall under the preceding paragraph, to be used with the intention of destroying, deterring, rendering harmless, preventing the action of, or otherwise exerting a controlling effect on, any harmful organism by any means other than mere physical or mechanical means, and
- — a treated article that has a primary biocidal function;
- (v) ‘Wood preservatives’ means biocidal products which are applied by surface treatment (e.g. spraying, brushing) or deep penetrating processes (e.g. vacuum-pressure, double vacuum) to wood (i.e., logs received at the sawmill for commercial use and for all subsequent uses of the wood and wood-based products) or wood-based products themselves, or which are applied to non-wood substrates (e.g. masonry and building foundations) solely for the purpose of protecting adjacent wood or wood-based products from attack by wood-destroying organisms (e.g. dry rot and termites) according to the definition agreed upon by the European Committee for Standardisation (source CEN/TC 38 ‘Durability of wood and wood-based products’);
- (w) ‘E1’ means a classification for formaldehyde-containing wood-based panels adopted across EU Member States based on formaldehyde emissions. According to the definition provided in Annex B to EN 13986, a wood-based panel shall be classified as E1 if emissions are equivalent to steady state concentrations of less than or equal to 0,1 ppm (0,124 mg/m3) of formaldehyde after 28 days of a chamber test carried out according to EN 717-1 or that the formaldehyde content is determined to be less than or equal to 8 mg/100 g oven dry board when measured according to EN 120 or that formaldehyde emission rates are less than or equal to 3,5 mg/m2.h according to EN 717-2 or less than or equal to 5,0 mg/m2.h according to the same method but within 3 days after production;
- (x) ‘Coated fabrics’ means fabrics with an adherent, discrete continuous layer of rubber and/or plastic based material on one or both surfaces, as defined in EN 13360, including upholstery materials commonly referred to as ‘faux leather’;
- (y) ‘Textiles’ mean natural fibres, synthetic fibres and man-made cellulose fibres;
- (z) ‘Natural fibres’ means cotton and other natural cellulosic seed fibres, flax and other bast fibres, wool and other keratin fibres;
- (aa) ‘Synthetic fibres’ means acrylic, elastane, polyamide, polyester and polypropylene fibres;
- (bb) ‘Man-made cellulose fibres’ means lyocell, modal and viscose fibres;
- (cc) ‘Upholstery’ means the materials used in the craft of covering, padding and stuffing of seating, bedding or other furniture products and may include covering materials such as leather, coated fabrics and textiles as well as padding materials such as flexible cellular polymeric materials based on rubber latex and polyurethane;
- (dd) ‘Substance’, means a chemical element and its compounds in the natural state or obtained by any manufacturing process, including any additive necessary to preserve its stability and any impurity deriving from the process used, but excluding any solvent which may be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its composition, as defined in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0004]);
- (ee) ‘Mixture’ means a mixture or solution composed of two or more substances as defined in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;
- (ff) ‘Component part’ means rigid and discrete units whose shape and form does not need to be altered prior to assembly of the final product in its fully functional form, although its position may change during use of the final product and includes hinges, screws, frames, drawers, wheels and shelves;
- (gg) ‘Component materials’ means materials whose shape and form may change prior to furniture assembly or during use of the furniture product, and includes textiles, leather, coated fabrics and polyurethane foams used in upholstery. Supplied timber may be considered as a component material but be later sawn and treated to be converted into a component part.
Article 3
In order to be awarded the EU Ecolabel under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, a product shall fall within the product group ‘furniture’ as defined in Article 1 of this Decision and shall comply with the ecological criteria as well as the related assessment and verification requirements set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 4
The EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group ‘furniture’ and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31 December 2029.
Article 5
For administrative purposes, the code number assigned to the product group ‘furniture’ shall be ‘049’.
Article 6
Decision 2009/894/EC is repealed.
Article 7
By derogation from Article 6, applications for the EU Ecolabel for products falling within the product group ‘wooden furniture’ submitted before the date of adoption of this Decision shall be evaluated in accordance with the conditions laid down in Decision 2009/894/EC.
Applications for the EU Ecolabel for products falling within the product group ‘wooden furniture’ submitted within two months from the date of adoption of this Decision may be based either on the criteria set out in Decision 2009/894/EC or on the criteria set out in this Decision.
Applications shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria on which they are based.
EU Ecolabel licences awarded in accordance with the criteria set out in Decision 2009/894/EC may be used for 12 months from the date of adoption of this Decision.
Article 8
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX
FRAMEWORK
EU ECOLABEL CRITERIA
Criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to furniture products:
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- Product description
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- General requirements for hazardous substances and mixtures
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- Wood, cork, bamboo and rattan
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- Plastics
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- Metals
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- Upholstery covering materials
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- Upholstery padding materials
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- Glass: use of heavy metals
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- Final product requirements
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- Consumer information
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- Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel
ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The specific assessment and verification requirements are indicated within each criterion.
Where the applicant is required to provide declarations, documentation, analyses, test reports, or other evidence to show compliance with the criteria, these may originate from the applicant and/or his supplier(s) and/or their suppliers, etc., as appropriate.
Competent bodies shall preferentially recognise attestations which are issued by bodies accredited according to the relevant harmonised standard for testing and calibration laboratories and verifications by bodies that are accredited according to the relevant harmonised standard for bodies certifying products, processes and services.
Where appropriate, test methods other than those indicated for each criterion may be used if the competent body assessing the application accepts their equivalence.
Where appropriate, competent bodies may require supporting documentation and may carry out independent verifications.
As a pre-requisite, the product must meet all respective legal requirements of the country (countries) in which the product is intended to be placed on the market. The applicant shall declare the product's compliance with this requirement.
The EU Ecolabel criteria reflect the best environmental performing products on the furniture market. The criteria are focused on a ‘per material’ basis for ease of assessment given that many furniture products will only contain one or two of the above listed materials.
Whilst the use of chemicals and release of pollutants is part of the production process, the use of hazardous substances are excluded whenever possible or limited to the minimum necessary to provide an adequate function and at the same time strict quality and safety standards for furniture products. For this purpose, derogation conditions for specific substances/groups of substances are granted in exceptional circumstances, in order not to shift the environmental burden to other life cycle phases or impacts and only when there are no viable alternatives existing on the market.
Criterion 1 — Product Description
Technical drawings that illustrate the assembly of component parts/materials and sub-component parts/materials that form the final furniture product and its dimensions shall be provided to the competent body along with a bill of materials for the product that shall state the total weight of the product itself and how this is split between the following different materials: solid wood, wood-based panels, cork, bamboo, rattan, plastics, metals, leather, coated fabrics, textiles, glass and padding/filling materials.
Any remaining materials that do not fall within the categories above shall be listed as ‘other’ materials.
The total quantity of ‘other’ materials shall not exceed 5 % of the total product weight.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide documentation to the competent body containing:
- (i) Technical drawings that illustrate the different component parts/materials and sub-component parts/materials used in the assembly of the furniture product;
- (ii) An overall bill of materials stating the total weight of the product unit and how the weight is split amongst solid wood, wood-based panels, cork, bamboo, rattan, plastics, metals, leather, textiles, coated fabrics, glass, padding/filling and ‘other’ materials. Weights of different materials shall be expressed as grams or kilograms and as a percentage of the total product unit weight.
Criterion 2 — General requirements for hazardous substances and mixtures
The presence in the product and any component parts/materials thereof, of substances that are identified according to Article 59(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) or substances and mixtures that meet the criteria for Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0005]) for the hazards listed in Table 1, shall be restricted in accordance with criteria 2.1, 2.2(a) and 2.2(b).
For the purpose of this criterion Candidate List SVHCs and CLP hazard classifications are grouped in Table 1 according to their hazardous properties.
Table 1
Grouping of restricted hazards
Group 1 hazards — SVHCs and CLP
Hazards that identify a substance or mixture as being within Group 1:
Substances that appear on the Candidate List for SVHCs
Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and/or Toxic for Reproduction (CMR) Category 1A or 1B: H340, H350, H350i, H360, H360F, H360D, H360FD, H360Fd, H360Df
Group 2 hazards — CLP
Hazards that identify a substance or mixture as being within Group 2:
Category 2 CMR: H341, H351, H361f, H361d, H361fd, H362
Category 1 aquatic toxicity: H400, H410
Category 1 and 2 acute toxicity: H300, H310, H330
Category 1 aspiration toxicity: H304
Category 1 Specific Target Organ Toxicity (STOT): H370, H372
Category 1 Skin Sensitiser H317
Group 3 hazards — CLP
Hazards that identify a substance or mixture as being within Group 3:
Category 2, 3 and 4 aquatic toxicity: H411, H412, H413
Category 3 acute toxicity: H301, H311, H331, EUH070
Category 2 STOT: H371, H373
2.1. Restriction of SVHCs
The product and any component parts/materials thereof, shall not contain SVHCs, at concentrations greater than 0,10 % (weight by weight).
No derogation from this requirement shall be given to Candidate List SVHCs present in the product or any component parts/materials thereof at concentrations greater than 0,10 % (weight by weight).
Textiles that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel based on the ecological criteria established in Commission Decision 2014/350/EU ([^E0006]) are considered to comply with criterion 2.1.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall compile declarations of the absence of SVHCs at or above the specified concentration limit for the product and any component parts/materials used in the assembly of the product. Declarations shall be with reference to the latest version of the Candidate List published by ECHA ([^E0007]).
For textiles that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel in accordance with Decision 2014/350/EU, a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate must be provided as a proof of compliance.
2.2. Restriction of CLP classified substances and mixtures used in the furniture product
The requirements are split into two parts, based on the production stage of the furniture product. Part a) refers to substances and mixtures used during any finishing or assembly operations carried out directly by the furniture manufacturer. Part b) refers to substances and mixtures used during the production of supplied component parts/materials.
Textiles that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel based on the ecological criteria established in Decision 2014/350/EU are considered to comply with criteria 2.2(a) and 2.2(b).
2.2(a) Substances and mixtures used by the furniture manufacturer
None of the adhesives, varnishes, paints, primers, wood stains, biocidal products (such as wood preservatives), flame retardants, fillers, waxes, oils, joint fillers, sealants, dyestuff, resins or lubricating oils directly used by the furniture manufacturer shall be classified with any of the CLP hazards listed in Table 1, unless their use is specifically derogated in Table 2.
2.2(b) Substances and mixtures used by suppliers of defined component parts/materials
This criterion shall not apply to individual component parts/materials from suppliers that: (i) weigh less than 25 g and that (ii) do not come into direct contact with users during normal use.
None of the substances or mixtures used by suppliers that fall within the scope defined below shall be classified with any of the CLP hazards listed in Table 1, unless their use is specifically derogated in Table 2:
- — Solid wood and wood-based panels: adhesives, varnishes, paints, wood stains, biocidal products (such as wood preservatives), primers, flame retardants fillers, waxes, oils, joint fillers, sealants and resins used.
- — Plastics: pigments, plasticisers, biocidal products and flame retardants used as additives.
- — Metals: paints, primers or varnishes applied to the metal surface.
- — Textiles, leather and coated fabric upholstery: dyestuff, varnishes, optical brighteners, stabilisers, auxiliary compounds, flame retardants, plasticisers, biocidal products or water/dirt/stain repellents used.
- — Upholstery padding materials: biocidal products, flame retardants or plasticisers applied to the material.
Table 2
Derogations to the hazard restrictions in Table 1 and applicable conditions
| Substance/mixture type | Applicability | Derogated classification(s) | Derogation conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Biocidal products (such as wood preservatives) | Treatment of furniture component parts and/or upholstery materials to be used in the final product | All group 2 and 3 hazards listed in Table 1 except for CMR hazards | Only if the active substance contained in the biocidal product is approved, or under examination pending a decision on approval, under Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 or included in Annex I of that Regulation, and in the following circumstances, as appropriate: i. For in-can preservatives present in coating formulations applied to indoor or outdoor furniture component parts/materials. ii. For dry-film preservatives present in coatings applied to outdoor furniture only. iii. For preservation treatment of wood to be used in outdoor furniture but only if the original wood does not meet the requirements for Durability class 1 or 2 as per EN 350. iv. For textile fabrics or coated fabrics used in outdoor furniture products. Verification: The applicant shall declare which, if any, active substances contained in the biocidal product have been used in the manufacture of different furniture component parts/materials, supported by declarations from suppliers, relevant SDSs, CAS numbers and results from EN 350 testing, as appropriate. |
| (b) Flame retardants | Textiles, leather, coated fabrics in furniture upholstery covering materials and also padding materials | H317, H373, H411, H412, H413 | The product must be intended to be used in applications in which it is required to meet fire protection requirements for ISO, EN, Member State or public sector procurement standards and regulations. |
| (c) Flame retardants/Antimony Trioxide (ATO) | Textiles, leather, coated fabrics in furniture upholstery covering materials and also padding materials | H351 | ATO is only permitted when all of the following conditions are met: i. The product must be intended to be used in applications in which it is required to meet fire protection requirements in ISO, EN, Member State or public sector procurement standards and regulations. ii. It is used as a synergist with textiles or coated fabrics. iii. Emissions to air in the workplace where the flame retardant is applied to the textile product shall meet an eight hour occupational exposure limit value of 0,50 mg/m3. |
| (d) Nickel | Metal component parts | H317, H351, H372 | Only permitted when used in stainless steel or nickel-plated component parts and when the nickel release rate is less than 0,5 μg/cm2/week according to EN 1811. |
| (e) Chromium compounds | Metal component parts | H317, H411 | Derogation only applies to chromium III compounds used in electroplating operations (e.g., chromium III chloride). |
| (f) Zinc compounds | Metal component parts | H300, H310, H330, H400, H410 | Derogation only applies to zinc compounds used in electroplating or hot-dip galvanisation operations (such as, zinc oxide, zinc chloride and zinc cyanide). |
| (g) Dyestuff for dyeing and non-pigment printing | Textiles, leather and coated fabrics in furniture upholstery covering materials | H301, H311, H317, H331 | When dust free dye formulations or automatic dosing and dispensing of dyes are used by dye houses and printers to minimise worker exposure. |
| (g) Dyestuff for dyeing and non-pigment printing | Textiles, leather and coated fabrics in furniture upholstery covering materials | H411, H412, H413 | Dyeing processes using reactive, direct, vat or sulphur dyes with these classifications shall meet a minimum of one of the following conditions: i. Use of high affinity dyes; ii. Achievement of a reject rate of less than 3,0 %; iii. Use of colour matching instrumentation; iv. Implementation of standard operating procedures for the dyeing process; v. Use of colour removal to treat wastewater [^E0008]. The use of solution dyeing and/or digital printing is exempted from these conditions. |
| (h) Optical brighteners | Textiles, leather and coated fabrics in furniture upholstery covering materials | H411, H412, H413 | Optical brighteners may only be applied in the following cases: i. In white coloured printing; ii. As additives during the production of acrylic, polyamide or polyester with a recycled content. |
| (i) Water, dirt and stain repellents | Use in any surface treatments of furniture component parts/materials | H413 | The repellent and its degradation products shall either: i. be readily and/or inherently biodegradable or ii. have a low potential to bioaccumulate (an octanol-water partition coefficient Log Kow ≤ 3,2 or a Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) < 100) in the aquatic environment, including aquatic sediment. |
| (j) Stabilisers and varnishes | Use in coated fabric production | H411, H412, H413 | Automatic dosing and/or personal protective equipment must be used to minimise worker exposure. At least 95 % of these additives must show at least 80 % degradation of dissolved organic carbon within 28 days using OECD 303A/B and/or ISO 11733 test methods. |
| (k) Auxiliaries (comprising carriers, levelling agents, dispersing agents, surfactants, thickeners and binders) | Use in treatment of furniture upholstery covering materials (textiles, leather or coated fabrics) | H301, H311, H317, H331, H371, H373, H411, H412, H413, EUH070 | Recipes shall be formulated using automatic dosing systems and processes shall follow standard operating procedures. Substances classified with H311 or H331 shall not be present on the material at concentrations greater than 1,0 % w/w. |
| (l) Paints, varnishes, resins and adhesives | Any furniture component part/material | H304, H317, H412, H413, H371, H373 | A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of the chemical mixture which clearly outlines the correct Personal Protective Equipment and adequate procedures for storage, handling, use and disposal of these mixtures during use and a declaration of proof of compliance with these measures shall be provided. |
| (l) Paints, varnishes, resins and adhesives | Any furniture component part/material | H350 | Only applicable to formaldehyde-based resins where the free formaldehyde content in the resin formulation (resins, adhesives and hardeners) does not exceed 0,2 % (w/w) as determined by ISO 11402 or equivalent methodology. |
| (m) Lubricating oils | In component parts designed to move repeatedly during normal use | All Group 2 hazards except CMR and all Group 3 hazards listed in Table 1 | Lubricants shall only be permitted for use if it can be demonstrated by relevant OECD or ISO tests to be readily or inherently biodegradable in the aquatic environment, including aquatic sediment. |
Colour removal in wastewater treatment shall be considered as taking place when effluents from the dyehouse meets the following spectral coefficients: (i) 7m– 1 at 436 nm, 5m– 1 at 525 nm and 3m– 1 at 620 nm.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with criterion 2.2(a) and 2.2(b) supported, where appropriate, by declarations from suppliers. Declarations shall be supported by lists of relevant mixtures or substances used together with information about their hazard classification or non-classification.
The following information shall be provided to support declarations of the hazard classification or non-classification for each substance or mixture:
- (i) The CAS, EC or list number (where available for mixtures);
- (ii) The physical form and state in which the substance or mixture is used;
- (iii) Harmonised CLP hazard classifications for substances;
- (iv) Self-classification entries in ECHA's REACH registered substance database ([^E0009]) (if no harmonised classification is available).
- (v) Mixture classifications according to the criteria laid down in the CLP Regulation.
When considering self-classification entries in the REACH registered substance database, priority shall be given to entries from joint submissions.
Where a classification is recorded as ‘data-lacking’ or ‘inconclusive’ according to the REACH registered substance database, or where a substance has not yet been registered under the REACH system, toxicological data meeting the requirements in Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 shall be provided that is sufficient to support conclusive self-classifications in accordance with Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 and ECHA's supporting guidance. In the case of ‘data lacking’ or ‘inconclusive’ database entries, self-classifications shall be verified, with the following information sources being accepted:
- (i) Toxicological studies and hazard assessments by ECHA peer regulatory agencies ([^E0010]), Member State regulatory bodies or Intergovernmental bodies;
- (ii) A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) fully completed in accordance with Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;
- (iii) A documented expert judgment provided by a professional toxicologist. This shall be based on a review of scientific literature and existing testing data, where necessary supported by results from new testing carried out by independent laboratories using methods approved by ECHA;
- (iv) An attestation, where appropriate based on expert judgment, issued by an accredited conformity assessment body that carries out hazard assessments according to the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of the classification and labelling of chemicals or CLP hazard classification systems.
Information on the hazardous properties of substances or mixtures may, in accordance with Annex XI to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, be generated by means other than tests, for instance through the use of alternative methods such as in vitro methods, by quantitative structure activity models or by the use of grouping or read-across.
For the derogated substances and mixtures listed in Table 2, the applicant shall provide proof that all derogation conditions are met.
Textile-based materials that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel in accordance with Decision 2014/350/EU shall be considered compliant with criteria 2.2(a) and 2.2(b), however a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate must be provided.
Criterion 3 — Wood, cork, bamboo and rattan
The term ‘wood’ applies not only to solid wood but also to wood chips and wood fibres. Where criteria refer solely to wood-based panels, this is mentioned in the title of those criteria.
Plastic foils manufactured using Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) shall not be used in any part of the furniture product.
3.1. Sustainable wood, cork, bamboo and rattan
This criterion shall only apply when the content of wood or wood-based panels exceeds 5 % w/w of the final product weight (excluding packaging).
All wood, cork, bamboo and rattan shall be covered by chain of custody certificates issued by an independent third party certification scheme such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or equivalent.
All virgin wood, cork, bamboo and rattan shall not originate from GMO species and shall be covered by valid sustainable forest management certificates issued by an independent third party certification scheme such as FSC, PEFC or equivalent.
Where a certification scheme allows the mixing of uncertified material with certified and/or recycled materials in a product or production line, a minimum of 70 % of the wood, cork, bamboo or rattan material, as appropriate, shall be sustainable certified virgin material and/or recycled material.
Uncertified material shall be covered by a verification system which ensures that it is legally sourced, and meets any other requirement of the certification scheme with respect to uncertified material.
The certification bodies issuing forest and/or chain of custody certificates shall be accredited or recognised by that certification scheme.
Assessment and verification: The applicant or material supplier, as appropriate, shall provide a declaration of compliance supported by valid, independently certified chain of custody certificate(s) for all wood, cork, bamboo or rattan material used in the product or production line and demonstrate that at least 70 % of the material originates from forests or areas managed according to Sustainable Forestry Management principles and/or from recycled sources that meet the requirements set out by the relevant independent chain of custody scheme. FSC, PEFC or equivalent schemes shall be accepted as independent third party certification. In case the scheme does not specifically require that all virgin material is sourced from non-GMO species, additional evidence shall be provided to demonstrate this.
If the product or production line includes uncertified virgin material, proof shall be provided that the content of uncertified virgin material does not exceed 30 % and is covered by a verification system which ensures that it is legally sourced and meets any other requirement of the certification scheme with respect to uncertified material.
3.2. Restricted substances
In addition to the General conditions on hazardous substances set out in criterion 2, the following conditions shall specifically apply to any furniture component parts made of wood, cork, bamboo or rattan or specifically only to wood-based panels where the latter term is mentioned in the criterion title:
3.2(a) Contaminants in recycled wood used in wood-based panels
Any recycled wood fibres or wood chips used in the manufacture of wood based panels shall be tested in accordance with the European Panel Federation (EPF) standard for delivery conditions of recycled wood ([^E0011]) and comply with the limits for contaminants as listed in Table 3.
Table 3
Limits for contaminants in recycled wood
| Contaminant | Limit values (mg/kg recycled wood) | Contaminant | Limit values (mg/kg recycled wood) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic (As) | 25 | Mercury (Hg) | 25 |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 50 | Fluorine (F) | 100 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 25 | Chlorine (Cl) | 1 000 |
| Copper (Cu) | 40 | Pentachlorophenol (PCP) | 5 |
| Lead (Pb) | 90 | Creosote (Benzo(a)pyrene) | 0,5 |
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide either:
- (i) A declaration from the wood-based panel manufacturer that no recycled wood fibres were used in the panel, or
- (ii) A declaration from the wood-based panel manufacturer that all recycled wood fibres used have been representatively tested in accordance with the 2002 ‘EPF Standard conditions for the delivery of recycled wood’, supported by appropriate test reports that demonstrate compliance of the recycled wood samples with the limits specified in Table 3.
- (iii) A declaration from the wood-based panel manufacturer that all recycled wood fibres used have been representatively tested by other equivalent standards that have equal or stricter limits than the 2002 ‘EPF Standard conditions for the delivery of recycled wood’, supported by appropriate test reports that demonstrate compliance of the recycled wood samples with the limits specified in Table 3.
3.2(b) Heavy metals in paints, primers and varnishes
Paints, primers or varnishes used on wood or wood-based materials shall not contain substances based on cadmium, lead, chromium VI, mercury, arsenic or selenium, at concentrations exceeding 0,010 % w/w for each individual metal in the in-can paint, primer or varnish formulation.
Assessment and verification: The applicant or material supplier, as appropriate, shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion and provide the respective SDS from the suppliers of the paints, primers and/or varnishes used.
3.2(c) VOC content in paints, primers and varnishes
This criterion does not apply to untreated wooden surfaces or to natural wooden surfaces treated with soap, wax or oil.
This criterion shall only apply when the content of coated wood or wood-based panels (excluding untreated wooden surfaces or natural wooden surfaces treated with soap, wax or oil) exceeds 5 % w/w in the final furniture product (excluding packaging).
It shall not be necessary to meet the requirements of this criterion if compliance with criterion 9.5 can be demonstrated.
The VOC content of any paints, primers or varnishes used to coat any wood or wood-based panels used in the furniture product shall not exceed 5 % (in-can concentration).
However, higher VOC content coatings may be used, if it can be demonstrated that either:
- — The total quantity of VOCs in the paint, primer or varnish used during the coating operation amounts to less than 30 g/m2 of coated surface area, or
- — The total quantity of VOCs in the paint, primer or varnish used during the coating operation is between 30 and 60 g/m2 of coated surface area and that the surface finish quality meets all of the requirements set out in Table 4.
Table 4
Surface finish quality requirements if VOC application rate is 30-60 g/m2
| Test standard | Condition | Required result |
|---|---|---|
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with water | No change after 24 hour contact |
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with grease | No change after 24 hour contact |
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with alcohol | No change after 1 hour contact |
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with coffee | No change after 1 hour contact |
| EN 12721. Furniture — Assessment of a surface resistance to wet heat | Contact with 70 °C heat source | No change after testing |
| EN 12722. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to dry heat | Contact with 70 °C heat source | No change after testing |
| EN 15186. Furniture — Assessment of the surface resistance to scratching | Contact with diamond scratching tip | Method A: no scratches ≥ 0,30 mm when a load of 5 N has been applied or, Method B: no scratches visible in ≥ 6 slots in the viewing template where a load of 5 N has been applied |
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance, specifying whether compliance is achieved because the furniture product is exempt from the criterion or if it is achieved by the controlled use of VOCs in the coating operation.
In the latter case, the declaration by the applicant shall be supported by information from the paint, primer or varnish supplier stating the VOC content and density of the paint, primer or varnish (both in g/L) and a calculation of the effective percentage VOC content.
If the VOC content of the paint, primer or varnish is greater than 5 % (in-can concentration), then the applicant shall either:
- (i) Provide calculations demonstrating that the effective quantity of VOCs applied to the coated surface area of the final assembled furniture product is less than 30 g/m2, in accordance with the guidance provided in Appendix I.
- (ii) Provide calculations demonstrating that the effective quantity of VOCs applied to the coated surface area of the final assembled furniture product is less than 60 g/m2, in accordance with the guidance provided in Appendix I and provide test reports demonstrating compliance of the surface finishes with the requirements of Table 4.
3.3. Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based panels
This criterion shall only apply when the content of wood-based panels in the final furniture product (excluding packaging) exceeds 5 % w/w.
Formaldehyde emissions from all supplied wood-based panels, in the form that they are used in the furniture product (in other words, unfaced, coated, overlaid, veneered), and which were manufactured using formaldehyde-based resins shall either:
- — Be lower than 50 % of the threshold value allowing them to be classified as E1.
- — Be lower than 65 % of the E1 threshold value, in the case of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) panels.
- — Be lower than the limits set out in the CARB Phase II or the Japanese F-3 star or F-4 star standards.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion, stating that no other further modification or treatment has been applied by the applicant to the panels that would compromise their compliance with the formaldehyde emission limits of the panels as supplied. The assessment and verification of low formaldehyde emission panels shall vary depending on the certification scheme it falls under. The verification documentation required for each scheme is described in Table 5.
Table 5
Assessment and verification of low formaldehyde emission panels
| Certification scheme | Verification documentation |
|---|---|
| E1 (as defined in Annex B of EN 13986) | A declaration from the wood-based panel manufacturer, stating that the panel is compliant with 50 % of E1 emission limits or, in the case of MDF panels, with 65 % of E1 emission limits, supported by test reports carried out according to either EN 717-2, EN 120, EN 717-1 or equivalent methods. |
| CARB — California Air Resources Board: Phase II limits | A declaration from the wood-based panel manufacturer, supported by test results according to ASTM E1333 or ASTM D6007, demonstrating panel compliance with the formaldehyde Phase II emission limits defined in the California Composite Wood Products Regulation 93120 [^E0012]. The wood-based panel may be labelled in accordance with Section 93120.3(e), containing details in respect of the manufacturer's name, the product lot number or batch produced, and the CARB assigned number for the third party certifier (this part is not mandatory if the products are sold outside of California or if they were made using no-added formaldehyde or certain ultra-low emitting formaldehyde-based resins). |
| F-3 or 4 star limits | A declaration from the wood-based panel manufacturer of compliance with the formaldehyde emission limits as per JIS A 5905 (for fibreboard) or JIS A 5908 (for particleboard and plywood), supported by test data according to the JIS A 1460 desicator method. |
Regulation 93120 ‘Airborne toxic control measure to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products’California Code of Regulations.
Criterion 4 — Plastics
Plastics manufactured using Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) shall not be used in any part of the furniture product.
4.1. Marking of plastic component parts
Plastic parts with a mass greater than 100 g shall be marked in accordance with EN ISO 11469 and EN ISO 1043 (parts 1-4). The lettering used in markings shall be at least 2,5 mm high.
Where any fillers, flame retardants or plasticisers are intentionally incorporated into the plastic in proportions greater than 1 % w/w, their presence shall also be included in the marking as per EN ISO 1043 parts 2-4.
In exceptional cases, non-marking of plastic parts with a weight greater than 100 g is permitted if:
- — Marking would impact on the performance or functionality of the plastic part;
- — Where marking is not technically possible due to the production method;
- — Where parts cannot be marked because there is not enough appropriate surface area available for the marking to be of a legible size to be identified by a recycling operator.
In the above cases, where non-marking is allowed, further details about the polymer type and any additives as per the requirements of EN ISO 11469 and EN ISO 1043 (parts 1-4) shall be included with consumer information referred to in criterion 10.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion, listing all the plastic component parts with a weight greater than 100 g in the furniture product and stating whether or not they have been marked according to EN ISO 11469 and EN ISO 1043 (parts 1-4).
The marking of any plastic component parts shall be clearly visible upon visual examination of the plastic component part. Marking does not necessarily need to be clearly visible in the final assembled furniture product.
If any plastic parts with a weight greater than 100 g have not been marked, the applicant shall provide justification for non-marking and indicate where relevant information has been included in consumer information.
In cases of doubt regarding the nature of the plastic for component parts with a weight greater than 100 g and in case suppliers do not provide the required information, laboratory test data using infra-red or Raman spectroscopy or any other suitable analytical techniques to identify the nature of the plastic polymer and the quantity of fillers or other additives shall be provided as evidence supporting the EN ISO 11469 and EN ISO 1043 marking.
4.2. Restricted substances
In addition to the general requirements for hazardous substances established in Criterion 2, the conditions listed below shall apply for plastic component parts.
4.2(a) Heavy metals in plastic additives
Plastic component parts and any surface layers shall not be manufactured using additives that contain cadmium (Cd), chromium VI (CrVI), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) or tin (Sn) compounds.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion.
Where only virgin plastic is used, a declaration from the supplier of the virgin plastic material that no additives containing cadmium, chromium VI, lead, mercury or tin have been used shall be accepted.
Where virgin plastic has been combined with pre-consumer plastic recyclates from known sources and/or with post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) from municipal collection schemes, a declaration from the supplier of the recycled plastic material that no compounds containing cadmium, chromium VI, lead, mercury or tin have been intentionally added shall be accepted.
If no suitable declarations are provided by the supplier, or where virgin plastic is combined with pre-consumer recyclates from mixed or unknown sources, representative testing of the plastic component parts shall demonstrate compliance with the conditions set out in Table 6.
Table 6
Assessment and verification of heavy metal impurities in plastics
| Metal | Method | Limit (mg/kg) | Limit (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | Method | Virgin | Recycled |
| Cd | XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) or acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma or atomic absorption spectrophotometry or other equivalent methods for measuring total metal content | 100 | 1 000 |
| Pb | XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) or acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma or atomic absorption spectrophotometry or other equivalent methods for measuring total metal content | 100 | 1 000 |
| Sn | XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) or acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma or atomic absorption spectrophotometry or other equivalent methods for measuring total metal content | 100 | 1 000 |
| Hg | XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) or acid digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma or atomic absorption spectrophotometry or other equivalent methods for measuring total metal content | 100 | 1 000 |
| CrVI | EN 71-3 | 0,020 | 0,20 |
4.3. Recycled plastic content
This criterion shall only apply if the total content of plastic material in the furniture product exceeds 20 % of the total product weight (excluding packaging).
The average recycled content of plastic parts (not including packaging) shall be at least 30 % w/w.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration from the plastic supplier(s) stating the average recycled content in the final furniture product. Where plastic component parts come from different sources or suppliers, the average recycled content shall be calculated for each plastic source and the overall average recycled plastic content in the final furniture product shall be stated.
The declaration of recycled content from the plastic manufacturer(s) shall be supported by traceability documentation for plastic recyclates. An option would be to provide batch delivery information as per the framework set out in Table 1 of EN 15343.
Criterion 5 — Metals
In addition to the general requirements for hazardous substances stated in Criterion 2, the conditions listed below shall apply for metal component parts in the furniture product.
5.1. Electroplating restrictions
Chromium VI or cadmium shall not be used for electroplating operations of any metal component parts used in the final furniture product.
Nickel shall only be permitted in electroplating operations if the nickel release rate from the electroplated component part is less than 0,5 μg/cm2/week according to EN 1811.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration from the supplier of the metal component part(s) that no plating treatments involving chromium VI or cadmium substances have been used in any metal component parts.
Where nickel has been used in electroplating operations, the applicant shall provide a declaration from the supplier of the metal component part(s), supported by a test report according to EN 1811, where results reveal nickel release rates to be less than 0,5 μg/cm2/week.
5.2. Heavy metals in paints, primers and varnishes
Paints, primers or varnishes used on metal component parts shall not contain additives based on cadmium, lead, chromium VI, mercury, arsenic or selenium, at concentrations exceeding 0,010 % w/w for each individual metal in the in-can paint, primer or varnish formulation.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion and provide the respective SDS from the suppliers of the paints, primers or varnishes used.
5.3. VOC content in paints, primers and varnishes
This sub-criterion shall only apply when the content of coated metal component parts exceeds 5 % w/w in the final furniture product (excluding packaging).
It shall not be necessary to meet the requirements of this sub-criterion if compliance with criterion 9.5 can be demonstrated.
The VOC content of any paints, primers or varnishes used to coat any metal component parts used in the furniture product shall not exceed 5 % (in-can concentration).
However, higher VOC content coatings may be used, if it can be demonstrated that either:
- — The total quantity of VOCs in the paint, primer or varnish used during the coating operation amounts to less than 30 g/m2 of coated surface area, or
- — The total quantity of VOCs in the volume of paint, primer or varnish that is used during the coating operation is between 30 and 60 g/m2 of coated surface area and that the surface finish quality meets the requirements set out in Table 7.
Table 7
Surface finish quality requirements if VOC application rate is 30-60 g/m2
| Test standard | Condition | Required result |
|---|---|---|
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with water | No change after 24 hour contact |
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with grease | No change after 24 hour contact |
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with alcohol | No change after 1 hour contact |
| EN 12720. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids | Contact with coffee | No change after 1 hour contact |
| EN 12721. Furniture — Assessment of a surface resistance to wet heat | Contact with 70 °C heat source | No change after testing |
| EN 12722. Furniture — Assessment of surface resistance to dry heat | Contact with 70 °C heat source | No change after testing |
| EN 15186. Furniture — Assessment of the surface resistance to scratching | Contact with diamond scratching tip | Method A: no scratches ≥ 0,30 mm when a load of 5 N has been applied or, Method B: no scratches visible in ≥ 6 slots in the viewing template where a load of 5 N has been applied |
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance, specifying whether compliance is achieved because the furniture product is exempt from the criterion or if it is achieved by the controlled use of VOCs in the coating operation.
In the latter case, the declaration by the applicant shall be supported by information from the paint, primer or varnish supplier stating the VOC content and density of the paint, primer or varnish (both in g/L) and the effective percentage of VOC content.
If the VOC content of the paint, primer or varnish is greater than 5 % (in-can concentration), then the applicant shall either:
- — Provide calculations demonstrating that the effective quantity of VOCs applied to the coated surface area of the final assembled furniture product is less than 30 g/m2, in accordance with the guidance provided in Appendix I.
- — Provide calculations demonstrating that the effective quantity of VOCs applied to the coated surface area of the final assembled furniture product is less than 60 g/m2, in accordance with the guidance provided in Appendix I and provide test reports that show compliance of the surface finishes with the requirements of Table 7.
Criterion 6 — Upholstery Covering Materials
Upholstery covering materials manufactured using Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) shall not be used in any part of the furniture product.
6.1. Physical quality requirements
Any leather used as upholstery covering material shall comply with the physical quality requirements presented in Appendix II.
Any textiles used as upholstery covering material shall comply with the physical quality requirements presented in Table 8.
Any coated fabrics used as upholstery covering material shall comply with the physical quality requirements stated in Table 9.
Table 8
Physical requirements for textile fabric covering materials in furniture upholstery
| Test factor | Method | Removable and washable coverings | Non-removable and washable coverings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensional changes during washing and drying | Domestic washing: ISO 6330 + EN ISO 5077 (three washes at temperatures as indicated in the product with tumble drying after each washing cycle) Commercial washing: ISO 15797 + EN ISO 5077 (at minimum of 75 °C) | woven furniture upholstery fabrics: ± 2,0 % woven furniture ticking fabric: ± 3,0 % non-woven furniture ticking: ± 5,0 % non-woven furniture upholstery fabrics: ± 6,0 % | N/A |
| Colour fastness to washing | Domestic washing: ISO 105-C06 Commercial washing: ISO 15797 + ISO 105-C06 (at minimum of 75 °C) | ≥ level 3-4 for colour change ≥ level 3-4 for staining | N/A |
| Colour fastness to wet rubbing [^E0013] | ISO 105 X12 | ≥ level 2-3 | ≥ level 2-3 |
| Colour fastness to dry rubbing [^E0013] | ISO 105 X12 | ≥ level 4 | ≥ level 4 |
| Colour fastness to light | ISO 105 B02 | ≥ level 5 [^E0014] | ≥ level 5 [^E0014] |
| Fabric resistance to pilling and abrasion | Knitted and non-woven products: ISO 12945-1 Woven fabrics: ISO 12945-2 | ISO 12945-1 result > 3 ISO 12945-2 result > 3 | ISO 12945-1 result > 3 ISO 12945-2 result > 3 |
Does not apply to white products or products that are neither dyed nor printed.
A level of 4 is nevertheless allowed when furniture covering fabrics are both light coloured (standard depth < 1/12) and made of more than 20 % wool or other keratin fibres, or more than 20 % linen or other bast fibres.
Table 9
Physical requirements for coated fabric covering materials in furniture upholstery
| Property | Method | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ISO 1421 | CH ≥ 35 daN and TR ≥ 20 daN |
| Tear resistance of coated fabrics by the trouser tear method | ISO 13937/2 | CH ≥ 2,5 daN and TR ≥ 2 daN |
| Colour fastness to artificial weathering — Xenon arc fading lamp test | EN ISO 105-B02 | Indoor use ≥ 6; Outdoor use ≥ 7 |
| Textiles — abrasion resistance by the Martindale method | ISO 5470/2 | ≥ 75 000 |
| Determination of coating adhesion | EN 2411 | CH ≥ 1,5 daN and TR ≥ 1,5 daN |
| Where: daN = deca Newtons, CH = Warp and TR = Weft | Where: daN = deca Newtons, CH = Warp and TR = Weft | Where: daN = deca Newtons, CH = Warp and TR = Weft |
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration from the leather supplier, textile fabric supplier or coated fabric supplier, as appropriate, supported by relevant test reports, stating that the upholstery covering material meets the physical requirements for leather, textile fabrics or coated fabrics as specified in Appendix II, Table 8 or Table 9 respectively.
Textile-based materials that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel in accordance with Decision 2014/350/EU shall be considered compliant with this criterion, however a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate must be provided.
6.2. Chemical testing requirements
This criterion applies to the upholstery covering materials in the final treated form that they are to be used in the furniture product. In addition to the general conditions on hazardous substances set out in criterion 2, the following restrictions listed in Table 10 shall specifically apply to upholstery covering materials:
Table 10
Chemical testing requirements for leather, textiles and coated fabric covering material
| Chemical | Applicability | Limits (mg/kg) | Limits (mg/kg) | Test method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted arylamines from cleavage of azodyes [^E0015] | Leather | ≤ 30 for each amine [^E0015] | ≤ 30 for each amine [^E0015] | EN ISO 17234-1 |
| Restricted arylamines from cleavage of azodyes [^E0015] | Textiles and coated fabrics | ≤ 30 for each amine [^E0015] | ≤ 30 for each amine [^E0015] | EN ISO 14362-1 and EN ISO 14362-3 |
| Chromium VI | Leather | < 3 [^E0016] | < 3 [^E0016] | EN ISO 17075 |
| Free formaldehyde | Leather | ≤ 20 (for children's furniture) [^E0017] or ≤ 75 for other furniture | ≤ 20 (for children's furniture) [^E0017] or ≤ 75 for other furniture | EN ISO 17226-1 |
| Free formaldehyde | Textiles and coated fabrics | ≤ 20 (for children's furniture) [^E0017] or ≤ 75 for other furniture | ≤ 20 (for children's furniture) [^E0017] or ≤ 75 for other furniture | EN ISO 14184-1 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Leather | Arsenic ≤ 1,0 | Antimony ≤ 30,0 | EN ISO 17072-1 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Leather | Chromium ≤ 200,0 | Cadmium ≤ 0,1 | EN ISO 17072-1 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Leather | Cobalt ≤ 4,0 | Copper ≤ 50,0 | EN ISO 17072-1 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Leather | Lead ≤ 1,0 | Mercury ≤ 0,02 | EN ISO 17072-1 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Leather | Nickel ≤ 1,0 | EN ISO 17072-1 | |
| Extractable heavy metals | Textiles and coated fabrics | Arsenic ≤ 1,0 | Antimony ≤ 30,0 [^E0018] | EN ISO 105 E04 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Textiles and coated fabrics | Chromium ≤ 2,0 | Cadmium ≤ 0,1 | EN ISO 105 E04 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Textiles and coated fabrics | Cobalt ≤ 4,0 | Copper ≤ 50,0 | EN ISO 105 E04 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Textiles and coated fabrics | Lead ≤ 1,0 | Mercury ≤ 0,02 | EN ISO 105 E04 |
| Extractable heavy metals | Textiles and coated fabrics | Nickel ≤ 1,0 | EN ISO 105 E04 | |
| Chlorophenols | Leather | Pentachlorophenol ≤ 0,1 mg/kg Tetrachlorophenol ≤ 0,1 mg/kg | Pentachlorophenol ≤ 0,1 mg/kg Tetrachlorophenol ≤ 0,1 mg/kg | EN ISO 17070 |
| Alkylphenols | Leather, textiles and coated fabrics | Nonylphenol, mixed isomers (CAS No 25154-52-3); 4-Nonylphenol (CAS No 104-40-5) 4-Nonylphenol, branched (CAS No 84852-15-3) Octylphenol (CAS No 27193-28-8) 4-Octylphenol (CAS No 1806-26-4) 4-tert-Octylphenol (CAS No 140-66-9) Alkylphenolethoxylates (APEOs) and their derivatives: Polyoxyethylated octyl phenol (CAS No 9002-93-1) Polyoxyethylated nonyl phenol (CAS No 9016-45-9) Polyoxyethylated p-nonyl phenol (CAS No 26027-38-3) Sum Total limit value: ≤ 25 mg/kg — textiles or coated fabrics ≤ 100 mg/kg — leather | Nonylphenol, mixed isomers (CAS No 25154-52-3); 4-Nonylphenol (CAS No 104-40-5) 4-Nonylphenol, branched (CAS No 84852-15-3) Octylphenol (CAS No 27193-28-8) 4-Octylphenol (CAS No 1806-26-4) 4-tert-Octylphenol (CAS No 140-66-9) Alkylphenolethoxylates (APEOs) and their derivatives: Polyoxyethylated octyl phenol (CAS No 9002-93-1) Polyoxyethylated nonyl phenol (CAS No 9016-45-9) Polyoxyethylated p-nonyl phenol (CAS No 26027-38-3) Sum Total limit value: ≤ 25 mg/kg — textiles or coated fabrics ≤ 100 mg/kg — leather | For leather: EN ISO 18218-2 (indirect method) For textiles and coated fabrics: EN ISO 18254 for alkylphenolethoxylates. For alkylphenols final product testing is to be carried out by solvent extraction followed by LC-MS or GC-MS |
| Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons | Textiles, coated fabrics or leather | PAHs restricted under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: Chrysene (CAS No 218-01-9) Benzo[a]anthracene (CAS No 56-55-3) Benzo[k]fluoranthene (CAS No 207-08-9) Benzo[a]pyrene (CAS No 50-32-8) Dibenzo[a,h]anthrancene (CAS No 53-70-3) Benzo[j]fluoranthene (CAS No 205-82-3) Benzo[b]fluoranthene (CAS No 205-99-2) Benzo[e]pyrene (CAS No 192-97-2) Individual limits for 8 PAHs listed above: ≤ 1 mg/kg Additional PAHs subject to restriction: Naphthalene (CAS No 91-20-3) Acenaphthylene (CAS No 208-96-8) Acenaphthene (CAS No 83-32-9) Fluorene (CAS No 86-73-7) Phenanthrene (CAS No 85-1-8) Anthracene (CAS No 120-12-7) Fluoranthene (CAS No 206-44-0) Pyrene (CAS No 129-00-0) Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (CAS No 193-39-5) Benzo[g,h,i]perylene (CAS No 191-24-2) Sum Total limit for 18 PAHs listed above: ≤ 10 mg/kg | PAHs restricted under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: Chrysene (CAS No 218-01-9) Benzo[a]anthracene (CAS No 56-55-3) Benzo[k]fluoranthene (CAS No 207-08-9) Benzo[a]pyrene (CAS No 50-32-8) Dibenzo[a,h]anthrancene (CAS No 53-70-3) Benzo[j]fluoranthene (CAS No 205-82-3) Benzo[b]fluoranthene (CAS No 205-99-2) Benzo[e]pyrene (CAS No 192-97-2) Individual limits for 8 PAHs listed above: ≤ 1 mg/kg Additional PAHs subject to restriction: Naphthalene (CAS No 91-20-3) Acenaphthylene (CAS No 208-96-8) Acenaphthene (CAS No 83-32-9) Fluorene (CAS No 86-73-7) Phenanthrene (CAS No 85-1-8) Anthracene (CAS No 120-12-7) Fluoranthene (CAS No 206-44-0) Pyrene (CAS No 129-00-0) Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (CAS No 193-39-5) Benzo[g,h,i]perylene (CAS No 191-24-2) Sum Total limit for 18 PAHs listed above: ≤ 10 mg/kg | AfPS GS 2014:01 PAK |
| N,N-Dimethylacetamide (CAS No 127-19-5) | Elastane or acrylic-based textiles | Result ≤ 0,005 % w/w (≤ 50 mg/kg) | Result ≤ 0,005 % w/w (≤ 50 mg/kg) | Solvent extraction followed by GCMS or LCMS |
| Chloralkanes | Leather | C10-C13 (SCCP) chloralkanes not detectable C14-C17 (MCCP) chloralkanes ≤ 1 000 mg/kg; | C10-C13 (SCCP) chloralkanes not detectable C14-C17 (MCCP) chloralkanes ≤ 1 000 mg/kg; | EN ISO 18219 |
A total of 22 arylamines listed in Entry 43 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 plus two other compounds (see Table 1 in Appendix III for a full listed of the arylamines to be tested). Limit of detection for EN ISO 17234-1 is 30 mg/kg.
The detection limit for the EN ISO 17075 is generally assumed to be 3 mg/kg.
Furniture designed specifically for babies and children less than 3 years old.
If the tested textiles have been treated with ATO as a synergist, in accordance with the derogation conditions for ATO use in entry (c) of Table 2, then it shall be exempted from compliance with the leaching limit for antimony.
Assessment and verification: The applicant shall provide a declaration that the leather, textile fabric or coated fabric upholstery covering material complies with the limits specified in Table 10, supported by test reports.
Textile-based materials that have been awarded the EU Ecolabel in accordance with Decision 2014/350/EU shall be considered compliant with this criterion, however a copy of the EU Ecolabel certificate must be provided.
6.3. Restrictions during production processes
If the upholstery covering materials account for more than 1,0 % w/w of the total furniture product weight (excluding packaging), the supplier of the material shall comply with the restrictions specified in Table 11 on the use of hazardous substances during production.
Table 11
Restricted substances used in leather, textile and coated fabric production stages
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