Contact
Hanna Leppänen, Product Manager
m1(at)rakennustieto.fi
Jessica Karhu, Team Lead
m1(at)rakennustieto.fi
Customer service
+358 45 4900 747
The Emission Classification of Building Materials can only be granted by Rakennustieto. In addition to laboratory tests, an application for classification is always required. The application must include both the test report and the requested information about the product(s). Classification applications are submitted for processing through the application portal and are processed confidentially by an impartial classification committee.
If the products to be classified are very similar in terms of use and physical and chemical properties, they may be classified as a product group. The product grouping should be done before the testing and classification application phase, so that the classification committee can select the product(s) to be tested and thus minimize testing costs.
Figure below shows an overview of the classification process, the different stages of the process are explained in more detail in the sections How to apply and the different application types, Product grouping, and Testing and classification criteria.
All applications are submitted through the application portal. The application portal can be accessed only with personal credentials, which are created the first time you log in. By submitting an application, the applicant agrees to pay Rakennustieto Oy the valid classification fee and any other fees related to the granting of the classification.
Applications must be submitted no later than four (4) working days before the classification meeting. Please do not combine several different products or product groups in one application. If the application requires supplementation or additional information, it will be requested from the contact person of the application before the classification meeting. If the application does not contain all the information necessary for processing, it will not be presented in the classification meeting until all the necessary information has been submitted. All documents and information submitted will be treated confidentially. Classification meetings are held once a month (excluding July) and the dates of upcoming meetings can be found in the application portal. Normally, the decisions of the classification committee and the classification documents of approved applications are delivered to the e-mail address indicated in the application within two (2) weeks of the meeting.
The validity of the continuation and renewal periods of the classification continues from where the previous classification period ends. I.e., the applicant does not lose out by applying for a continuation or renewal of the classification before the end of the classification period, nor wins anything by applying for an extension late. Continuation and renewal applications can be submitted approximately six (6) months before the classification expires.
If you are looking to M1-classify several products that are very similar in terms of use, physical and chemical properties, please see first section Product grouping.
New classification application
If a product is not yet M1-classified, the manufacturer or importer may apply for an M1 Emission Classification after successful emission testing in an approved testing laboratory. When applying for the classification, the test report shall not be older than one (1) year. The following information is attached to the new classification application:
M1 Classification of a private label product
All M1 Classifications of private label products shall be applied by the company selling or distributing the product under their brand. This ensures that the right to use the classification label is granted to the company marketing the product as theirs, and that customers looking for M1-classified products in the M1 database will find the product under the name of the company marketing and distributing the product under their brand.
No new tests are required if the private label product is identical to the product already approved to the M1, and the holder of the original certificate authorizes the use of their classification and test results as the basis of the classification of the private label product. The M1 certificate of the private label product is valid for the same time as the original certificate, and this might be less than the normal three (3) years, depending on the time point the original product was classified.
Continuation and renewal applications of the M1 Classification for the private label product should be coordinated between the manufacturer and the private label customer so that the applications are in sync. The classification fee for a private label classification is the same as for any product.
If the application for M1 Classification of a private label product is based on the M1 Classification of the manufacturer’s original product, the following documentation shall be attached to the private label product’s classification application:
Classification continuation application
If there have been no changes in the manufacturing method, composition, or other characteristics of the product during the first 3-year classification period, the validity of the classification can be extended by a continuation application for one 3-year period without retesting. Continuation application can be submitted well in advance, approximately six (6) months before the classification expires. The validity of the continuation period of the classification continues from where the previous classification period ends, i.e. the applicant does not lose out by applying for a continuation before the end of the classification period, nor wins anything by applying for an extension late. The following information is attached to the classification continuation application:
Classification renewal application
Once the product has been M1-classified for a total of six (3+3) years, the product must be tested again and the classification renewed. When applying for the classification, the test report shall not be older than one (1) year. Renewal application can be submitted well in advance, approximately six (6) months before the classification expires. The validity of the renewal period of the classification continues from where the previous classification period ends, i.e. the applicant does not lose out by applying for a renewal before the end of the classification period, nor wins anything by applying for an extension late. The following information is attached to the classification renewal application:
Product groups should be brought to the classification committee for evaluation before retesting, so that the classification committee can select product(s) for testing. When renewing a classification, the tested products in product groups are always redefined by the classification committee, even if there have been no changes in the product group.
Voluntary limit value examination
It is possible to combine the M1 Classification with a voluntary emission limit value examination, for the purpose of verifying compliance with the indoor air emission criteria of EU taxonomy or SINTEF approval. The limit value examination can be ordered both as part of the normal classification process (i.e. when making changes to an existing classification decision or when applying for a new classification or continuation/renewal of an old classification) and during an ongoing classification period. The limit value examination is included in the M1 certificate is only available in Finnish and English.
Depending on the intended use, the limit value examination can have two different scopes:
All new tests carried out in accordance with the M1 test protocol, as well as all tests of products with valid M1 Classification, serve as such as a basis for the examination of limit values. Thus, the limit value examination does not require new tests, but it is a prerequisite that the existing test report contains all the necessary information and is available.
The limit value examination is ordered through the application form. If the limit value examination is ordered during an ongoing classification period without any changes to the content of the classification, the following information shall be included in the application:
Product grouping application
Please see section Product grouping.
Parallel product name
It is possible to add parallel product name(s) both when applying for a classification and during an ongoing classification period. Parallel product names are identical (i.e. 100% the same) in composition and manufacturing process. If the products are only similar (i.e. the composition is very similar, but some modifications have been done) in composition and manufacturing process, they are not parallel product names, but can form a product group. When adding a parallel product name, the following documentation is attached to the application:
Change in an existing product group
Changes (additions or deletions) to a product group can be proposed both when applying for the classification and during an ongoing classification period. When proposing an addition to a product group, the following documentation is attached to the application:
If product names are also deleted in connection with the addition, information on the products to be removed shall be added to the above-mentioned application for addition. If products need to be removed from a product group during an ongoing classification period without any further changes to the group, see the section Removing a product from the classification .
Change in product name
The name of a classified product can be changed both when applying for a classification and during an ongoing classification period. For those looking for M1-classified products to find the products in the M1 database, it is advisable update the product name as soon as possible after the change has entered into force or even before the change takes place (if necessary, both the new and the old names can be M1-classified at the same time, see the section Parallel product name. When changing the name of the product, the following documentation is attached to the application:
Change in company information or transfer of classification to another company
Changes can be made to the information of the classification holder both when applying for a classification and during an ongoing classification period. For those looking for M1-classified products to find the products in the M1 database, the details of the classification holder should be updated as soon as possible after the change has entered into force. When changing the details of the classification holder, the following documentation is attached to the application:
Change in the composition or the manufacturing process of the product
If changes are made to the composition or to the manufacturing process of the product that may have an impact on the emissions of the product, Rakennustieto must be notified of these changes in advance. Based on the information provided, the classification committee assesses whether the product or product group needs to be retested or not. When submitting a notification of changes, the following documentation is attached to the application:
Removing a product from the M1 Classification
The holder of the classification may relinquish the Emission Classification of a product during ongoing classification period, if for instance the product is discontinued. As a result, the product is removed from the M1 database and the right to use the classification label is cancelled. The removal notification shall include a list of product names to be removed.
If the products to be classified are very similar in terms of use, physical and chemical properties, they may be classified as a product group. Please note that different thicknesses or colours/designs of a product with identical (i.e. 100% same) construction (e.g. a gypsum board manufactured in thicknesses 13 mm and 18 mm) is not a product group. For products such as these the thickest version must be tested. Nearly all product types can form product groups, but typical product types to form product groups are for instance screed-type products (e.g. levelling compounds, screeds, fillers, putties and mortars), flooring products, insulation, construction boards, fixtures and furniture, and paint-type products (e.g. paints, varnishes and coatings).
Product groups are formed free of charge by the classification committee based on the applicant's proposal. The similarity required for product grouping depends on the type of product, but, for example, the product grouping of fixed furniture is based on core material (e.g. chipboard and MDF products are in their own groups) and surface treatment (e.g. melamine and painted products are in their own groups). When assessing a product group, the classification committee also decides which product(s) should be tested so that the whole group can be M1-classified based on that testing.
So that the classification committee can assess with sufficient accuracy the chemical similarity and emission potential of the products in the proposed product group, detailed compositional information is needed for the product grouping. Safety data sheets and technical data sheet alone do not provide sufficient information for product grouping, but more detailed prescription information is needed for this. Like all information provided during the classification process, information related to product grouping is treated confidentially. Product type-specific product grouping templates can be requested from the Product Manager of the M1 Classification.
Product grouping application
Product grouping applications (one application per product group) are submitted through the application portal and shall include the following documentation:
Once the product grouping application has been processed and the applicant has been provided with information on which product(s) should be tested (generally within two weeks of the meeting in which the application has been evaluated), the applicant may contact any of the approved laboratories to arrange testing. The laboratory will provide more detailed instructions for sampling, sample delivery etc. Testing fees are paid directly to the testing laboratory by the applicant, Rakennustieto is not involved in the testing or its costs. After successful testing, M1 Classification application for the product group is submitted through the application portal. The classification fee of a product group is based on the number of products in the group.