The main topic discussed during the meeting was the discussion of the tasks to be developed by the Committee according to their 4th contract with the EC. The list includes the development of the harmonised test methods for the assessment of release of dangerous substances but also other developments. The additional tasks are in general the development of Technical Report on different issues. The majority of them will require further discussion by the relevant working groups.

 

CEN Technical Committee 351 is working on the following initiatives:

 

WG 1 Release into soil and water

- CEN/TS 16637-1 "Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Part 1: Guidance for the determination of leaching tests and additional testing steps” is now under formal vote.

 

- CEN/TS 16637-2 "Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Part 2: Horizontal dynamic surface leaching test” was tested for robustness validation. The results will be used for the transition to EN.

 

- CEN/TS 16637-3 "Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Part 3: Horizontal up-flow percolation test” was tested for robustness validation. The results will be used for the transition to EN.

 

- CEN/TR 17105 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Guidance on the use of ecotoxicity tests applied to construction products” was published. The transition to TS was discussed but the decision will be taken by correspondence.

 

WG 2 Emission to indoor air

- EN 16516 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Determination of emissions into indoor air” will be sent for formal vote and published before the end of the year.

 

- The group discussed the amendment of EN 16516 to include the determination of emissions of ammonia from cellulose insulation products at normal conditions (50% RH) but no agreement was reached.

 

- The Technical Report "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Determination of emissions of ammonia from cellulose insulation products at 90% RH” will be published soon.

 

The group will discuss potential broader application of the model room.

 

WG 3 Radiation

- CEN/TR 17113 "Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Radiation from construction products - Dose assessment of emitted gamma radiation” was published and may be the basis for a future standard.

 

- FprCEN/TS 17216 "Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Determination of the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K using gamma-ray spectrometry” is now under formal vote and will be transformed into standard after a validation campaign.

 

The group will discuss the potential development of a TS for radon exhalation.

 

WG 5 Content and eluate analysis

- FprCEN/TS 17195 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Analysis of inorganic substances in eluates" was approved and will be published soon. The robustness validation was developed and will be the basis for the transition to EN.

 

- FprCEN/TS 17196 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Digestion by aqua regia for subsequent analysis of inorganic substances" was approved and will be published soon. The robustness validation was developed and will be the basis for the transition to EN.

 

- FprCEN/TS 17197 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Analysis of inorganic substances in digests and eluates - Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)" is now under formal vote, future validation is expected.

 

- FprCEN/TS 17201 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Content of inorganic substances - Methods for analysis of aqua regia digests" was approved and will be published soon. The robustness validation was developed and will be the basis for the transition to EN.

 

- FprCEN/TS 17200 "Construction products: Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Analysis of inorganic substances in digests and eluates - Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)" is now under formal vote, robustness validation is now being discussed.

 

- FprCEN/TS 17216 "Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Determination of activity concentrations of radium-226, thorium-232 and potassium-40 in construction products using semiconductor gamma-ray spectrometry" is now under formal vote, robustness validation is now being discussed.

 

The group will discuss the development of documents for pesticide residues in construction products and content of some substances in bitumen and bitumen containing materials.

 

Cooperation with CEN/TC 444

 

CEN/TC 351 experts are working with experts in CEN/TC 444 (Test methods for characterisation of solid matrices) to improve collaboration and common approaches for the development of test methods.