Emission Classification of Building Materials
M1-classified product has been confirmed to be low emitting, which mean that the product releases only very low levels of chemical compounds into indoor air. The majority of building materials fall within the scope of the classification. An M1-classified product supports also the objectives of the EU taxonomy.
What is M1 Emission Classification?
The Finnish M1 Emission Classification of Building Materials has successfully helped to improve indoor air quality for almost 30 years. The M1 Emission Classification, introduced in 1996, was created to promote the development and use of low-emitting building materials, fixed furniture, and office furniture. Good indoor environment requires that indoor air issues are considered at all stages of design, construction, and operation. The use of low-emitting building materials and fixtures is a significant part of this process, and helps to achieve good indoor air quality.
Benefits
Low-Emitting Products for Better Indoor Air Quality
- Certified for Low Emissions – M1-classified products are scientifically tested to ensure minimal emissions, supporting excellent indoor air quality.
- Odour Control Matters – In addition to low chemical emissions, the M1 Classification requires an acceptable odour level for a truly comfortable indoor environment.
- More Comprehensive Than Others – The Finnish M1 Classification covers a a broader scope than other European emission labels.
- Supporting Sustainability – Using low-emitting materials makes it possible to maintain good indoor air quality with moderate ventilation, reducing energy use without compromising health. Adequate ventilation should always be ensured.
- M1 is a part of the steps for good indoor air - Although the use of low-emitting building materials contributes to creating a pleasant indoor environment, mistakes made in the design and implementation of structures and ventilation cannot be corrected with good building materials
M1-classified product is proven to be low-emitting
The M1 Classification focuses on emissions from building materials and furniture into the indoor air, setting limit values for emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde, and ammonia as well as the acceptability of odour.
The M1 criteria are set for the longer-term emissions that are more relevant to indoor air quality, describing better the long-term exposure of the building user to the chemical emissions of materials. The M1 Classification does not set criteria for the primary emissions which typically decrease rapidly and therefore are not relevant for building users. For this reason, in the emission tests required by the M1 Classification, measurements are carried out after an aging period of 28 days (excluding office chairs, the emissions of which are examined after 3 days).
The M1 Classification label on the product indicates that the product is low-emitting, and its use supports good indoor air quality. The M1 Classification label is a type I ecolabel limited to the product's indoor air emissions in accordance with EN ISO 14024:2018.
The classification system is based on multidisciplinary expertise and impartiality
The Emission Classification of Building Materials is owned by The Building Information Foundation RTS sr and operated by The Building Information Foundation RTS’s subsidiary Rakennustieto Oy. The classification is overseen and developed by the principal committee Indoor Environment (PT 41) appointed by The Building Information Foundation RTS, in which representatives include construction products industry, developers, designers, and research institutes. Classification applications and matters related to classification decisions are handled confidentially by a separate impartial classification committee.
The voluntary M1 Classification for building materials is part of the broader Classification of Indoor Environment (Sisäilmastoluokitus) developed by the Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (Sisäilmayhdistys ry) and Building Information Foundation, RTS (Rakennustietosäätiö, RTS). The Classification of Indoor Environment is used by architects, designers, contractors, and manufacturers when building healthier and more comfortable buildings.
The classification decisions are based on the document Classification of Indoor Environment 2018 (Sisäilmastoluokitus 2018), the general rules of the classification and the classification criteria.
M1 is both a national and an international emission classification
In Finland, there is no legal obligation to test indoor air emissions from building materials or furniture, but the high emissions of building materials are known to reduce indoor air quality. Finland's solution to this challenge is based on a voluntary M1 classification system, which has been developed considering the Finnish concept of good indoor air.
The M1 Classification is more comprehensive than other European emission classifications, which typically focus only on VOC and formaldehyde emissions. M1 Classification differs from the international classifications by acknowledging also the emissions of ammonia and the odour of the product. This has also been noticed in the Nordic and Baltic countries, where the M1 Classification is widely used to demonstrate the low emissions of a product. However, when comparing the criteria of different emission classifications, it should be noted that different measurement and calculation methods may be used in different classifications, in which case the numerical values are not comparable.
Limit value examination & EU taxonomy
M1 limit value examination helps to demonstrate that your products comply with the EU taxonomy.
According to the EU taxonomy, building materials must fulfill certain requirements to be classified as environmentally sustainable. These requirements include restrictions on emissions of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) compounds, as well as formaldehyde emissions.
This means that manufacturers and suppliers of building materials must ensure that their products meet these requirements before being placed on the market. The EU taxonomy limit values apply to both the construction of new buildings and the renovation or renewal of existing buildings. The M1 limit value examination is an additional service of the M1 Classification, which is recommended for all products that are intended to be used inside the vapor barrier.
M1-classified product supports the objectives of EU taxonomy
It is possible to combine the M1 Classification with an limit value examination for building material emission, for the purpose of verifying compliance with the indoor air emission criteria of EU taxonomy or SINTEF approval.
Depending on the intended use, the limit value examination can have two different scopes:
1. emission of formaldehyde < 60 μg/m³ and emissions of carcinogenic compounds < 1 μg/m³ (scope required for taxonomy reporting)
2. emission of formaldehyde < 60 μg/m³, emissions of carcinogenic compounds < 1 μg/m³, and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) < 300 μg/m³ (scope suitable for taxonomy and SINTEF)
In principle, all emission test reports for products with valid M1 Classification are usable for the limit value examination. The limit value examination can be ordered both as part of the normal classification process as well as during an ongoing classification period.
The limit value examination is included in the M1 certificate, in which case the certificate:
- verifies that the product is M1-classified, low-emitting, and supports good indoor air quality
- provides the emission data needed for taxonomy reporting in a standardised, unambiguous and correct format
- the reported emission data is verified by an impartial third party
- eliminates the need to share privileged test reports with third parties